Black Pearl in Raging Fire

17. His ex

A slightly wet blazer placed on the sofa. Liam closed his eyes and sat up, looking lazy. Riza sat in front of him watching him.

"He is Finlay, Adriel's ex-boyfriend." Riza started, shrugging. "I don't know why that bastard was here before. I think if he did spill alcohol on you on purpose, he must be after you."

Liam was already a bit groggy from the hangover. When he heard this, there was no expression on his face.

His ex-boyfriend?

Sure enough, it was exactly like their description. All of Adriel's former lovers in the past bear a resemblance to him; not only body posture and face type, they even really look alike more than 80 percent.

He didn't know who originally made Adriel choose this kind of boyfriend criteria, until Adriel stopped at him. Who else looked like him? Is there anyone else out there besides Finlay?

"Well, but that's in the past. You don't have to think about it."

"Why did I even think about it? I don't care." Liam said emotionlessly.

Riza laughed dryly. If Adriel were to hear these words, what would he do?

He had long suspected that Liam wasn't an innocent and stupid person—unlike Adriel's other exes. Seeing how Liam was acting cold and indifferent, he could guess that Liam didn't put Adriel in his eyes at all. This is what made him have a bad impression of Liam at first. Even if he was forced to marry Adriel, at least Adriel was a person who helped his family, couldn't he just pretend?

The more curious he is about Liam, the more he understands that honestly Liam is still better than Adriel's other exes.

…… Those who pretend to be pure and innocent, pretending to be kind while harboring a cunning plan behind their hands.

Considering this pissed him off, he said, "Hey, man. I know you don't like him, but can you at least pretend? You can pretend to like him so you can make a profit. Isn't that a good plan?"

Liam, "If I hadn't put on an act there would be no way I would be here."

"f**k! Is it true?"

But Riza didn't see it that way. Liam thought that he's pretending, but everything he did was not pretending. He knew Adriel had a stomachache and drank all the alcohol Adriel should have had.

How ridiculous. And you still think it's pretend?

"I'm just a mere toy for him. Playing husband and wife is what I have to do, weren't you the one who told me to?"

"I told you and you f*****g did? Are you my errand boy?" Riza took a sip of his whiskey.

"... Um."

"How cold-hearted."

"Is that a compliment?"

Although Liam is indifferent and ignorant, he is always kind to others. If someone said that he was cold-hearted, he believed it—because he would be like this to people he didn't like.

He doesn't like Adriel. That's a fact.

When he accepted Adriel's proposal, he thought he can treat him the way he treats others without showing his true nature. But apparently he could never hold himself back in front of the bad-tempered Adriel.

Perhaps due to the influence of the alcohol, he couldn't stop his mouth from saying, "Do I look like him?"

"What?"

"His ex."

His voice was weak and low, Riza must have heard it clearly. Because the next second he was laughing.

"Don't act like you're jealous and protesting."

Liam, "..."

Jealous?

Riza poured whiskey from a new bottle. "Finlay does look like you, so what? Do you want to get mad and ask him to change his face?"

Liam still didn't speak.

Almost all of Adriel's former lovers have facial resemblance to him. What he hear must be the truth.

A glass of whiskey was pushed towards him. Liam looked down and stared blankly at the glass on the table.

"Want some toast?" Riza raised his glass and grinned.

Liam took a glass too. Without clinking his glass at Riza, he downed the entire contents. He put the glass back on the table, gave Riza a cold glance, before collapsing onto the sofa.

Couldn't remember how much he drank and his head was starting to hurt. The air conditioner in the lounge was cold, he was not wearing his blazer, but his body was hot from the alcohol. His face was red.

"It's finished?" Riza said.

Liam glanced and saw Riza talking to the person who just came.

Dimitri glanced at the dazed Liam and replied, "Yeah that little w***e did it on purpose. I told him."

"Did that trigger him?"

Dimitri shrugged. Pointing somewhere. "They are there."

At the designated place, Riza saw Adriel and Finlay standing opposite each other. It wasn't very clear from where he was, but he could see the cigarette in Adriel's fingers.

"The f**k? That b***h really doesn't give up?" Riza sneered. Instantly he had the urge to smoke too.

When he turned his head he found Liam sitting up straight and looking in the same direction.

Dimitri noticed it too.

"I'm telling you, this one is really persistent," he told Liam.

"Don't pretend to be on his side. Weren't you the one who brought Finlay here, you wanted to see a show, didn't you?" Riza looked at him in disdain.

"I don't."

"So this clubhouse has changed ownership? When did you sell it? Why didn't I know?"

"Come on, this club is still mine, but that doesn't mean I care about recruiting, ok?" Dimitri chuckled softly.

"You think i believe?" Riza snorted.

"You also employ other people in this event, am I interfering?" Dimitri said calmly.

The ones in question were Jena, Isabel and Yuno. It was Riza who hired them, but he paid them, so it had nothing to do with Dimitri.

Riza's eyes darkened when he saw Finlay making a pitiful face on the other end. It was as if he had a pitiful gaze directed at himself and he felt disgust.

"Fire him," said Riza coldly, "He is slick."

"He owes a huge debt to a VIP customer here. Even if I fire him he won't want to."

Riza, "What do you mean?"

Dimitri shrugged. "He reasoned is working to pay off his debts, if he doesn't have another job then he will be sent to a cruise ship to become a s*x slave of gamblers there. You know the consequences of his end."

"Do I care?" Riza's face became ugly.

Finlay broke up with Adriel about three years ago. At that time he cheated Adriel's money and fled abroad without a word. With that huge of money, he could support himself for at least another two years. Why did he come back so soon?

Dimitri sighed. "You think I care too? He worked here since two days ago. I heard from one of my employees, he wants to be placed in this event, doesn't even mind if he doesn't get paid. He's mad. He's aiming for today."

Riza laughed at this scenario. "So he created this coincidence to get close to Adriel again. Is he shameless?"

"You can do crazy things if you're pressed for it."

Riza clicked his tongue.

As for Liam, from start to finish he heard everything they had to say.

Listening to the story his mind became clear and he didn't miss a word. His gaze fell on the frosted glass of the balcony, narrowing his eyes.

Finlay targeted him to get rid of him and returned to Adriel's side?

He was uncomfortable from thinking about it.

When he suddenly stood up, it shocked two people at once.

***

Adriel leaned against the balcony railing. The ash from the cigarette in his hand burned away, but he didn't take a drag. It was clear his mind was wandering far away.

The sound of the door opening from inside. The screech jolted him slightly and he turned his head.

Finlay was still wearing a waiter outfit. His little face looked down in embarrassment as he entered. "Adriel ..."

Adriel snorted coldly.

"It's cold in here. Don't you want to come in?" Finlay asked nervously.

Adriel smoked a forgotten cigarette. Completely considered others not to exist.

Finlay was embarrassed. "I just wanted to talk to you. It's been a long time. How are you?"

"Is that what you have to say?" Adriel replied nonchalantly.

"Huh?" Finlay looked up.

Cigarettes were thrown on the ground, Adriel used his expensive shoes to grind the remaining cigarettes, his eyes darkened. "I think you have more important things to say here."

Finlay looked down. The corners of his eyes reddened.

He knew Adriel was angry.

"I ... I'm sorry."

There was no response from the other party at all, he bit his lip in exasperation.

Then he remembered with something that was carried in his hand. He held out a fancy little bowl to Adriel. "Here. I brought this for you. Consider it my apology. Will you forgive me?"

This time Adriel glanced into the bowl. Those were seaweed muffins.

"You really like seaweed, don't you? I made this especially for you." Finlay smiled. "Don't be angry and accept this, ok?"

If anyone else heard this guy's spoiled and soft voice they would melt. Unfortunately it was Adriel who had been conned by this little traitor, so he didn't care.

In the past, he had thought of his lover as a mere toy. Despite that, he treated them kindly; never rude and force them to do anything. When he broke up with them, he would charge the breakup accordingly. All his relationships with his boyriends always end in harmony.

Unlike Finlay. Adriel really appreciated it before, but now he hates it.

With a face similar to Liam's, for the first time he felt disgusted. He wanted to rip this face off after he was deceived and framed in such a way by his cunning wits.

Don't be fooled by this innocent face, he is the real wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Adriel?" Finlay tilted his head innocently.

"I'm allergic to seaweed," Adriel replied coldly.

Finnay was shocked. "No way. You, you really like seaweed. You really like anything with seaweed. You even like it when I make you seaweed paste, right? There's no way you're allergic to it."

Adriel said, "I just had this allergy, can't I?"

The cold light in Adriel's eyes chills Finlay. "You're still angry, right?"

"Angry? Me?" Adriel snorted.

"Adriel ... what happened in the past, I can explain." Finlay said frantically. "At that time I didn't go because I wanted to, something had happened and someone had threatened me."

Adriel laughed coldly. "Is that so?"

The corners of Finlay's eyes were red again, and he looked like he was about to cry. He drew closer to Adriel. "You have to believe me. As long as you believe, I can come back to you. I'm sorry for leaving without words. I'm sorry for hurting you."

Back to him?

This b***h has no shame.

"A-Adriel ..."

Finlay hadn't finished yet, but his hand that had grabbed the hem of Adriel's shirt was slapped hard and he was pushed to the ground. He stared at Adriel in shock.

"How dare you touch me." Adriel looked at him like he was some disgusting germ.

Finlay's tears spilled out. His expression was hurt and helpless. "Why? Why did you change? You weren't like this before."

Adriel had a headache watching him act. "What are you using an expression like that for? You think I didn't know you were here today to harass my wife?"

"I-I, I didn't—Adriel, so you're angry about that? I really didn't do it on purpose. Trust me. He passed in front of me while I was in a hurry, it wasn't on purpose!"

Adriel asked in disbelief. "You mean my wife is wrong?"

"... That is not what I mean." Finlay panicked and got up from the ground. "That time we collided accidentally. It was an accident."

Adriel said coldly, "Finlay, you still want to deny it? Do you know what I would do to that bastard who bullied my wife?"

The clubhouse owner, Dimitri, has checked the surveillance cameras. After he saw it, he told Adriel the truth. Finlay didn't know about this.

From the way he defended himself, it was really sickening. He said as if he's headed in the right place and Liam suddenly gets in his way.

What nonsense!

Finlay was stunned. "That wife of yours ... don't you think he looks too much like me? I know you married him to get back at me, right?"

These confident words almost made Adriel spit.

"Adriel, I know what I did in the past is unforgivable. But you have to hear my explanation, then you can judge what is good and what is bad." Finlay said shakily, "Can you give me a chance? Me, I'm better than him, can't you see?"

Adriel sneered. "Of course I can see it. The more I look at you the more disgusted I feel. Besides, you're just grass on the ground and he's a sunflower in bloom, how can that compare? Don't praise yourself to the sky, the world doesn't just revolve around you. Ask to yourself, what kind of person am I, do you think I don't know what really happened in the past? You see me as a joke!"

Finlay froze in place, unable to say a word of rebuttal, the expression on his face that seemed to cry again.

Adriel saw Finlay's expression and walked closer to him slowly. Finlay freaked out and backed away, but the wall was behind him. He flinched as Adriel slapped the wall on the side of his head.

"This is your last warning; don't bother my wife or I will kill you."

The words were spoken in a low voice without intonation, but Finlay could feel the other party's oppressive pressure weakening his legs.

Adriel didn't want to look at him anymore. "Get out."

Finlay's body trembled. "A-Adriel—"

"I said get the hell out!"

Finlay gasped in fright. Tears in the corners of his eyes. The threat from the eyes of the man in front of him almost froze him. His heart was cold.

No, no, how could it be like this? He just returned to Adriel like before, Adriel must still love him!

But those eyes were scary.

The door suddenly creaked, cutting the tense atmosphere around. Adriel finally let him go.

As Finlay looked to the side he saw the man again; so much like him. It was just that the man had thinner and sharper eyes.

Adriel's expression immediately changed after seeing the man. It was as if his anger had never existed and his eyes were full of gentleness. "You drunk? Why are you here?"

Liam didn't answer, glancing at Finlay.

He walked unsteadily towards the two of them. The wind on the balcony was very strong at night, and he was shivering slightly. He paused briefly to hug himself. His cold expression was so cute.

"I wanna go home."

Adriel was stunned. He took off his coat and put it on Liam, saying, "The party has just started, why do you want to go home?"

Liam didn't speak. Due to his drunkenness, his mind was not very clear. His lips pursed as he glanced at Finlay again.

Finlay, who was being stared at, forced a fake smile, but his hands were clenched.

"I wanna to go home." Liam repeated, then he looked down at the broken bowl with the seaweed muffins scattered around.

Adriel tugged at his chin. "Don't look at those messy things. Watch where your feet are, don't get hurt."

Adriel's voice when speaking to Liam was so soft, Finlay couldn't help but be jealous. Right now, in the face of these two people, he was only considered like air.

Adriel didn't care about Finlay's thoughts, he closed his coat on Liam's body, half hugging him. "You really want to go home?"

Liam nodded like a robot.

"... Tired."

Then his drunken body fell forward. Adriel immediately hugged his body protectively. Seeing him like this, he was sure that Liam was really drunk, otherwise he wouldn't have done this.

Liam's right cheek was right on Adriel's chest, listening to his steady beating heart. His left eye couldn't help but glance at the other person leaning against the wall.

Liam looked at Finlay. Slow blinking.

Liam, "Do I look like him?"

His finger was right in front of Finlay's nose.

"Hmm?" Adriel frowned. "How come you look like this pig brain?"

Finlay was stunned. "Adriel ..."

His words trailed off when Adriel gave him a cold look. He looked down and clenched his fists.

Adriel smiled at Liam. "Since you want to go home, let's go home. I didn't drink today thanks to you, I'll drive."

The mind of a drunk person is slow and complicated. Liam only heard the sound, but doesn't understand what it meant. He too saw Finlay's envious look, but couldn't digest it.

He was like a dead doll being held in two warm arms gently. He still wanted to glance at Finlay, almost instinctively, only Adriel pinched his chin and made him turn his head.

"Don't look at him anymore, I might get jealous." Adriel was talking nonsense.

"I'm not jealous," Liam said.

"Not you but me."

"I'm the jealous one?"

"So you're jealous?"

"... Yes."

This short and flat answer made Adriel laugh out loud. He didn't think much of it. He walked up to his friends and said that he was going home. The party can go on without them. All party expenses will be counted in his budget. Everyone didn't mind.

Luckily Liam didn't make it difficult while drunk. He obeyed like a doll. In the end they made it to the car.

Adriel helped him with the seatbelt. "Do you have a headache?"

Liam's drunken face was cute. His expression was flat. If it wasn't for his blushing face, no one would know that he was drunk. The tip of his nose was even as red as a cherry. Cute.

Instead of answering, Liam looked to the side. His hand reached out to touch Adriel's cheek, making Adriel surprised for a moment.

He stared at the unfocused eyes in front of him in amusement, waiting for him to come up with something.

What he didn't expect was when Liam's face suddenly came forward and he touched Adriel's lips with his. Adriel shocked.

"Heh. Is this your own initiative?"

The kiss was brief, he licked his lips.

Liam stared at him blankly.

Watching this innocent, harmless face, Adriel couldn't help himself. He caressed Liam's face, intending to kiss him back. But before he could, Liam's head fell onto his shoulder. Fainted.

Adriel was stunned. Then his shoulders shook with laughter.

... to be continued ...