[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: The Courage to Be Honest With Him

"Matteo isn’t spoiling me because he’s rich. He spoils me because that’s how he chooses to love me. He sees me as someone precious, someone he wants to give the very best to."

Adrian’s expression turned serious.

"But none of that happened because I stayed silent. It happened because I told him what I needed, and he listened. He also told me what he wanted from me, and I listened because I respect him as my partner. That’s how relationships grow. He’s the man I want to spend forever with."

He looked at Charles.

"Mark sees your value too, Charles. You’re worth more than you give yourself credit for. You deserve to be treated with love, respect, and care. So tell Mark what you want. Speak up when something he says hurts you. Let him understand you. Let him see your worth."

Adrian’s voice turned serious. "And stop acting as though you’re the only lucky one in this relationship. Make him realize he’s lucky to have you too. Not by playing games or making him jealous, but by knowing your own value. When you value yourself, the people who truly love you will value you too."

Adrian’s expression turned earnest.

"If Mark didn’t love you, he wouldn’t have taken you to meet his mother. He wouldn’t have turned his entire life upside down to be with you."

Adrian rested a hand against his chest.

"Charles, I understand him because I used to be just like him. I was straight before I met Matteo. Falling in love with another man was never something I imagined would happen to me. It took everything for me to open my heart to him. And once I did..."

He smiled faintly.

"I’ve never regretted it. Matteo will always be the only man I’ll ever love. I didn’t fall in love with men, Charles. I fell in love with Matteo. He’s the only man my heart will ever choose."

He looked at Charles.

"Mark was straight too. If he’s come this far with you, introduced you to his mother, and is willing to build a future with you, then believe me... There will never be another man for him. There will only ever be you. So stop telling yourself that his love isn’t enough to make him stay. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t still be beside you."

Charles let out a shaky breath, the thick fog of fear finally beginning to lift from his mind.

Adrian said. "Trust me, Charles. Be brave. Take the risk. Let him see your worth so you can finally stop wondering whether your boyfriend truly loves you."

He gave Charles’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Go and talk to him. Tell him everything. I trust Mark. I don’t believe he’ll judge you for your past if you’re honest with him. But if you keep everything bottled up, he’ll be left to make his own assumptions. And sometimes those assumptions hurt far more than the truth."

"Don’t let Owen take away something beautiful because you’re too afraid to trust the man who loves you."

Charles nodded slowly as tears of relief streamed down his face.

"Okay..." he whispered. "I will."

Unable to hold back any longer, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Adrian.

Frank smiled warmly before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around both of them, pulling them into a tight group hug.

"When did our Adrian become this smart and mature?" Frank teased.

Adrian pulled back with a proud grin.

"Ever since I made it my life’s mission to stay with Matteo," he replied. "It takes someone brave and smart to keep up with a man like him, so I had no choice but to become both. I have to be strong for my baby."

The three of them laughed together, and for the first time that day, the heavy atmosphere inside the apartment began to fade.

Just then, Charles’s phone vibrated on the couch.

He picked it up and glanced at the screen.

It was a message from Mark.

Hey, pretty, I’ll be at your place in fifteen minutes.

Charles looked up at his friends, his heart suddenly racing with a different kind of nervousness.

"Mark’s coming," he said. "He’ll be here in fifteen minutes."

Adrian smiled. "That’s perfect. I guess it’s time for us to leave."

Charles looked at both of them. "Won’t you stay a little longer?"

Adrian chuckled and shook his head.

"No. I need to go home, get myself looking pretty, and wait for Daddy to come back from work."

Frank burst into laughter, shaking his head.

"You really have no shame."

Adrian shrugged proudly.

"Not when it comes to my man."

He rose to his feet, smoothing the front of his shirt.

"Be brave," he said. "Tell him everything. Not just about the videos, but about everything you’ve been carrying inside."

Adrian paused, thinking about his own journey. "Your partner should be the one person you trust the most. The one you can tell absolutely anything. I never realized how wonderful it feels to share everything with the person you love until recently."

He looked at Charles.

"So tell Mark everything. I want you to experience that kind of peace too. Mark is a good man, just like Matteo. Stop thinking less of yourself. Trust him, and talk to him."

Frank also rose to his feet beside Charles, giving him a reassuring nod. "He’s right, Charles. There’s no point in staying in a relationship if you’re carrying this much fear. Talk to him. Tell him everything, okay?"

"Okay," Charles whispered, a newfound determination settling in his eyes.

Adrian smiled. "Good. Then we’ll leave before Mark gets here so the two of you can talk in private."

Charles nodded gratefully as he rose to his feet.

"Thank you... seriously. Thank you both."

The three friends shared one last heartfelt hug.

Charles walked them to the door and watched as Adrian and Frank stepped out into the corridor.

"Good luck," Frank said with a small smile.

Adrian gave him an encouraging nod before the two of them turned and headed down the stairs.

Charles remained standing in the doorway for a few moments before quietly closing the door behind him, preparing himself for the conversation that could change everything.

Hoping to calm his nerves, Charles went to his bedroom and changed out of his work clothes, slipping into a pair of comfortable shorts and a soft T-shirt.

A few minutes later, the quiet apartment was broken by the soft electronic beep of the door lock.

Someone was entering the security code from outside.

Charles’s heart immediately began pounding against his ribs.

There was only one other person who knew that code.

The lock clicked.

A second later, the door slowly opened.

Mark stepped inside.

Charles quietly walked out of the bedroom into the living room.

Unlike every other day, he didn’t run over to greet Mark or throw himself into his arms.

Instead, he stopped a few feet away, nervously clutching the hem of his T-shirt, looking small and fragile.

Mark closed the door behind him and turned around.

The moment he saw Charles, concern immediately filled his eyes.

Without hesitation, he crossed the room in a few quick strides.

Reaching out, he gently cupped Charles’s chin and lifted it slightly until their eyes met.

For a long moment, Mark searched his eyes in silence.

Then he leaned down and captured Charles’s lips in a slow, lingering kiss. It wasn’t demanding or passionate, just gentle, warm, and reassuring. When he finally pulled away, his thumb softly brushed across Charles’s cheek.

"Pretty..." Mark murmured, his voice filled with concern. "Why is your face so red and swollen? Have you been crying?"

Charles looked into Mark’s devoted eyes, his throat tightening.

This time, he didn’t try to hide it.

He gave a small nod.

"Yes."

Mark’s expression softened even more.

"Come here," he whispered.

Charles took a small step forward, and Mark immediately wrapped both arms around him, pulling him tightly against his chest.

Charles buried his face in Mark’s shirt, his fingers clutching the fabric at his back.

"Do you love me?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "Will you... Will you ever leave me?"

Mark didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he slid his hands beneath Charles’s thighs and effortlessly lifted him into his arms. Charles instinctively wrapped his legs around Mark’s waist as Mark held him securely against his chest. Mark carried him over to the living room sofa and sat down, keeping Charles comfortably settled on his lap.

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

Charles slowly raised his head, his tear-filled eyes searching Mark’s face, silently waiting for his answer.

Mark met his gaze, his expression completely sincere. "Just telling you how much I love you will never be enough to express what you truly mean to me, Charles."

He smiled gently.

"So let me tell you this instead. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to be my home, my happiness, my safe place... my everything. I love you more than words could ever describe."

Fresh tears spilled down Charles’s cheeks as a broken sob escaped his lips. "You’ll never leave me... right?" he whispered. "Promise me."

"Never," Mark answered without hesitation.

He gently wiped Charles’s tears away with his thumbs before his expression gradually turned serious.

"Charles..." he said quietly. "Is all of this because of Owen?"

Charles’s head snapped up. His eyes widened in shock. "H-How... how did you know?"

"Matteo told me," Mark replied. "Well..."

He let out a quiet sigh.

"At first, he refused to say anything. He said it wasn’t his place and that you should be the one to tell me."

Mark gently stroked Charles’s cheek.

"But I was worried sick about you. You barely touched your food yesterday. I’m sure you didn’t eat anything today either. And I know you didn’t sleep last night."

He shook his head.

"I couldn’t just sit there pretending everything was okay. So I went to Matteo and begged him to at least tell me who that man was."

His eyes searched Charles’s face.

"You were completely fine before he showed up at Maya’s wedding. Everything changed the moment you saw him. So tell me the truth... Is all of this because of Owen?"

Hearing how much Mark had been worrying about him, a wave of guilt crashed over Charles.

"I’m sorry," Charles sobbed, covering his face with his hands.

Mark gently took hold of his wrists and lowered his hands, making Charles look at him.

"For what, baby?"

Charles swallowed hard, his voice breaking.

"I lied to you."

Mark shook his head gently.

"Hey, it’s okay," he said softly. "I understand why you couldn’t tell me right away."

He kept holding Charles’s hands.

"I just want to understand what’s been going on. It can’t be just because you saw Owen. Tell me, baby... is there something else I should know? You can tell me anything."

Charles nodded weakly.

"Yes... There is something you should know."

He lowered his eyes. "But I’m scared."

Mark didn’t hesitate.

"Then let me make you a promise."

He looked at Charles with complete sincerity.

"No matter what you tell me, I’ll listen until the end. I won’t judge you, and I won’t walk away before hearing your side of the story. You have my word."

Charles swallowed hard. Mark’s promise gave him just enough courage to finally speak.

"There’s something I’ve never told you...