THE D'ARGENTO SECRETS

EPISODE 6

THE DAGGER OF WORDS

The café was quiet, its soft music a distant hum as Julian and Leo sat across from each other. The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to feel like a suffocating fog. Julian had come here with a thousand things he wanted to say, but now that the moment had arrived, he found himself at a loss.

Leo, as always, was stoic. The man he had become was a far cry from the boy Julian had once known—the boy with laughter in his eyes and a warmth that could melt the coldest of hearts. Now, Leo was an enigma, a powerful, distant figure whose heart seemed locked away behind walls so high, Julian couldn’t even see the cracks.

It had been decades since they had been this close, and even in the small time that passed, Julian could feel the distance between them. The bond they once shared had been buried under layers of time and misunderstanding.

Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Julian. He had been prepared for this meeting, knowing full well that Julian had a reason for showing up after all these years, but nothing could have prepared him for the gravity of this moment. The man across from him—the one who had left without a word—was still, in many ways, a stranger.

Finally, Julian broke the silence, his voice low but steady. “I owe you an explanation, Leo. I should’ve told you why I left, but I was too proud, too afraid. I thought it would hurt you more if you knew the truth. But I can’t keep running from it anymore.”

Leo’s eyes flickered with curiosity, though his expression remained impassive. “I’m listening,” he replied, his tone detached.

Julian took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He hadn’t expected this to be easy. Hell, he hadn’t even expected Leo to listen. But here they were. And Julian was going to finally explain himself, even if it cost him everything.

“I left because I needed to. I was a mess, and I couldn’t drag you into my chaos. You deserve better than that. There were things going on, things that... I didn’t want you to get caught up in. I never wanted to hurt you, Leo. You were my best friend, and I loved you. And when I saw how much you were changing, how much you were becoming someone else... I just couldn’t stay. I wasn’t good enough for you.” His voice cracked on the last sentence, the weight of his own words cutting deep.

Leo remained silent, his gaze unwavering. It was as though he was waiting for something more, something that could bridge the gap between them. But Julian didn’t offer it. He couldn’t.

“I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything. I should’ve at least told you why I was doing it. But I didn’t know how to.” Julian looked down at his hands, unsure of what he was waiting for, but knowing it would never come.

There was a long silence, the kind that felt like an eternity. Leo processed Julian’s words, his mind racing through the years, the unanswered questions. He hadn’t expected an apology, but here it was. The truth—Julian’s truth, though not entirely.

“So, now you’re back,” Leo finally said, his voice colder than Julian had expected. “What do you want now? After all this time... What could you possibly want from me?”

Julian swallowed hard, the question hitting him like a punch to the gut. He had wanted to say it. He had wanted to tell Leo the truth, to admit that he had come back because he couldn’t bear the thought of never being close him again. That every moment apart had been like a slow, gnawing ache in his chest. But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t risk it. He had spent years keeping his distance, keeping his feelings buried deep within, afraid that they would ruin everything. And he still wasn’t ready to lay himself bare in front of Leo, to let him see the raw vulnerability he had kept hidden for so long.

So, Julian simply said, “I don’t expect anything. I just wanted you to know why I left. I never wanted to hurt you, Leo. But I understand if you can’t forgive me.”

Leo leaned back in his chair, his eyes sharp as they studied Julian. His expression softened, just barely, before the walls around him snapped back into place.

“I appreciate you telling me the truth,” Leo said, his voice low. “But that’s where it ends. We can’t go back to what we were. I can’t just let you walk in and out of my life like you own it. You disappeared without a trace, Julian. You can’t expect me to treat you the same way I did when we were kids and our teens”

Julian’s heart sank at the words. It was exactly what he had feared, what he had known deep down but had hoped would never come to pass. Leo had already made up his mind. The Leo he once knew was gone.

“I understand,” Julian said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked away, blinking back the sting of tears that threatened to fall. He had expected this. But hearing it from Leo’s mouth still cut deeper than anything he could have imagined.

“I never meant to hurt you, Leo,” he repeated softly, as if the words could somehow heal the wound. “But I’ll respect your wishes. I won’t push myself into your life anymore.”

Leo’s expression softened, though his gaze remained resolute. “Thank you,” he said, his voice almost tender, but still guarded. “I just... I can’t let things go back to how they were. I don’t think it’s healthy for either of us.”

Julian nodded slowly, his heart heavy as he stood from the table. He had come here seeking closure, but it seemed that it was something neither of them would ever truly find.

Without another word, Julian turned to leave. But before he walked out, he paused, looking back one last time at Leo, who was staring at him with an unreadable expression.

“Goodbye, Leo,” Julian said quietly, his voice breaking slightly.

And with that, he walked out of Leo’s life once again—this time, for good.

---

Moving Forward

Leo had always been in control. The heir to an empire that spanned continents, an unshakable presence wherever he went—cold, domineering, and unwavering. He knew his role, knew the expectations placed on him. But that day at the café, when Julian had left, something had shifted inside him again, even if he refused to acknowledge it.

As the door clicked shut behind Julian, Leo had gone through the motions—finishing his coffee, standing up, paying the bill—but there was an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach, one that refused to go away. He had made his decision, his mind clear. No one could walk in and out of his life like that. Not again.

Still, as he sat in the back of his black limousine on the way to his next meeting, his thoughts strayed to the café again. Julian’s words echoed in his mind. I just wanted you to know why I left.

But Leo had to focus. He couldn’t let himself be distracted. Julian had walked out of his life once before. This time, it was his turn to be the one to walk away.

---

The days that followed were filled with the usual routine. Work. Endless meetings. Reports. Deals to close. No room for distractions. Leo poured himself into his responsibilities, just as he always had. The cold exterior was a shield he’d perfected, and nothing—no one—was going to break through it.

But there was something that gnawed at him every time he looked at his phone or found a quiet moment to himself: Julian. He couldn’t erase him, no matter how hard he tried. He hadn’t realized just how much Julian had meant to him all those years ago, not until the man had walked back into his life.

A knock on the door broke his train of thought. His assistant, Claire, entered with a stack of documents in her hands.

“Mr. Astor, the board is waiting for you in the conference room,” she said politely, though Leo could tell she was waiting for him to acknowledge something else. Her eyes flickered to his phone, which was still open on the café picture Julian had sent him.

He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze hardening. “Send them in. I’ll be there in five.”

Claire hesitated, clearly sensing the tension in the air, before nodding and leaving the room.

With a sigh, Leo stood and adjusted his suit, the motions automatic. He had to push Julian out of his mind. Work. His empire. That’s where his focus needed to be.