Black Pearl in Raging Fire

9. Rage

Liam has always been very strict. After letting go of the distraction of Adriel's troubles, he decided to organize a charity event as he does every year. He couldn't miss it.

Even though the event this time was done in a hurry, Jena was very efficient. Even before Liam gave the arrangements, she had made notes on this annual routine. They chose an orphanage on the outskirts of town to host the meal. The name of the orphanage is Happy Home Foundation.

Liam helped the orphanage staff to distribute snacks to the children after eating. Children were very happy to receive whatever is given, they are good at being grateful.

"Are you finished here?"

Someone's voice distracted Liam, he looked up and saw that one of his charitable foundation donors was there.

"You want to come back?" Liam asked while casually brushing off the confetti marks on his head.

The man in front of him accidentally looked at the ring on his ring finger, and his expression was a bit complicated. "I want to give you something. Can you come with me?"

Liam frowned and said, "You can give it to Jena or Isabel. I'm still not done here."

"No. This is your gift. How can it be given to someone else?" The man smiled.

Liam was actually still busy, but he finally followed the other party to his car. He knew what was waiting for him, because every year this man in front of him would always give him a birthday present, even though he had refused, this man was stubborn.

"Here's your present." The man handed over two large and small square boxes wrapped simply in blue paper, both with elaborate ribbons on them. "Happy birthday to you, Liam."

Liam grabbed it. "Thank you, Louis. Why are there two this time?"

The smile on Louis' face was still the same as he explained, "One for your wedding gift and one for your birthday. Sorry for giving it late, I just found out that you are married from Isabel."

Liam looked at the two gifts and felt bad in his heart.

At his wedding, it seemed a secret, but that doesn't mean he kept it a secret. He just didn't invite anyone.

"You're troubling yourself," he said quietly.

"No problem. It's just a present after all. If after you open it and you don't like it, you can return it to me. You know, I have no idea what a gift is for someone who just got married." Louis cut him off and his smile was very gentle. "Is there something you want right now?"

Liam shook his head. Not interested in answering.

Even though Louis's intentions weren't bad, Liam couldn't take gifts all the time. Because that meant he had to pay back when Louis had a birthday and it was a bit of a hassle for him.

He didn't hate Louis. In fact Louis was one of the few people he could trust, whom he considered a friend. Louis Maikel is a good man, and is one of the regular donors at his small charity foundation since four years ago. Louis' parents are well-known real estate entrepreneurs from the capital, who have also developed a business in the education sector by building colleges, schools and libraries. But rather than following his father's business, Louis is currently focusing on volunteering at underprivileged rural schools.

The two of them became close four years ago, when Liam attended a charity seminar held at one of Louis' family's universities and Louis happened to be a speaker there.

Louis closed his car and asked Liam to sit in one of the park bench. "Why is this year's event a bit late? It's usually never past your birthday. I thought you'd miss it."

When he heard this question, Liam remembered about Adriel. He lowered his eyes slightly. "There's a problem going on."

"Oh. Do you need my help?" he asked.

"No. It's been resolved." Liam looked down, subconsciously fiddling with the ring on his ring finger with his other fingers.

Louis averted his eyes from looking at the ring. "That's good. I've heard about the matter regarding your father's company. So your recent troubles are related to that, right?"

"Something like that." Liam answered briefly.

"You know, if you need my help I might be able to help. My father is also a businessman, he set up his business ventures when he was young. He is experienced. I can talk to him for you." Louis said.

When Louis said this, Liam thought back to why he married Adriel and his heart turned sour. He didn't want to care anymore about the company's business.

But Louis's family owns a large business empire, which is also involved in education which he is interested in, maybe he can start investing in it. Seems like a great idea.

Forget it. He couldn't do it now, given his meager savings.

"You don't need to worry, everything is resolved. My father's company is fine now." Liam said.

"Glad to hear that. But the offer still stands any time you need help. Amanda and Fran will be eager to help you too."

Amanda and Fran are also regular donors to his charitable foundation. They are also good friends.

"Thank you. I'll remember that."

Louis saw the present he had given him pushed aside on another chair and said, "You're not opening your gifts now?"

Liam looked at the gifts. "It's fine."

Louis was not offended by Liam's flat answer. From the first time he knew him, Liam had this kind of attitude; far away and hard to touch. Even so, he wasn't a bad person.

After the two of them fell silent, the atmosphere became awkward.

"Ah, so when are you going to introduce your partners to us? Last time Fran suggested a little party for you two." Louis broke the ice.

Party? Liam didn't think about it.

"I'll talk to my partner about it," Liam replied.

The wind suddenly blew hard. This was autumn, the warm wind usually blows away the dust and dry leaves. Something went into Liam's eyes, and he groaned.

"What is it?" Louis watched him close his eyes.

Liam tried to wipe his eyes with his finger. "Something got into my eye."

"Don't rub it like that. Let me see."

Louis took Liam's hand. Liam's right eye was closed and a single tear fell down his cheek. Louis stroked him and asked him to open his eyes slowly.

Opening his eyes was very uncomfortable. The more he moved his eyes, the more sore his eyeballs. He felt warm breath blowing on him gently.

"Is it done?" he asked.

"No. That thing is still inside." Another drop of tear fell as Liam closed his eyes.

Louis' long fingers opened slightly red eyes in front of him and blew them back.

His mind was a mess because they were too close. Seeing Liam's white and flawless skin, his gaze flashed. When he stared at the black eyes in front of him that were like jewels, it made the turmoil he had been harboring pounding loudly.

Louis lips smiled wryly. If he didn't hesitate to confess his love to Liam, maybe now Liam belongs to him.

He has liked Liam since they first met. But what's the use of that? Liam is married to someone else now.

Just because he's afraid that Liam isn't gay, he gave up his feelings. Now he's regret.

"How about now?" Louis lowered his eyes.

Liam answered with a light grunt.

With this position it is very easy to be misunderstood by others in certain angles. Liam wanted to back away, but Louis' hand was still holding his cheek and wiping away the tears from his cheek.

Liam, "!!!"

Liam wanted to get rid of Louis' hand, but before he could move, there were footsteps nearby and someone grabbed Louis' hand from him roughly.

"So you're having fun with other guys behind my back?"

This familiar voice entered Liam's ears.

He turned and just in time saw Adriel slapping Louis' hand aside.

Liam frowned. "You, why are you here?"

Adriel's voice was not loud but annoying. "Shouldn't I be here? If I don't act quickly won't my wife be making out with lots of men out there?"

Louis stood up, still a little surprised. He stared at the blonde haired man with cold blue eyes. With a tall stature, a leather coat and jeans suit him perfectly. Not only did he look young, but also somewhat domineering.

Who is this man? He calls Liam his wife?

Liam looked at Adriel, glanced at the light bandage on his forehead. "Stop talking nonsense."

"Is seeing my wife kissing another man bullshit?" Adriel raised an eyebrow.

"Kissing?" Liam was confused.

"You're caught off guard, don't you have to explain something here? You kissed another man when your husband wasn't around. How embarrassing is that." Adriel seemed oblivious.

Liam suppressed his emotions, on the outside his face was still expressionless. "Do you think I'm that cheap?"

"Don't you?"

Liam was furious at the accusation, but before he could respond, Adriel took his hand, pulling him to his feet. He felt cold fingers pinch his chin. A gentle kiss pressed against his eyelids.

"Why are your eyes red?" Adriel looked at him closely.

Liam could feel Adriel's warm breath on his cheek, he immediately brushed away the hand on his chin. This gesture was like a refusal of disgust, Adriel was angry and pinched Liam's chin again, a little hard, his gaze was burning before he kissed the lips in front of him.

Once again Liam was caught red-handed. Because it was too sudden, he was still in a daze, realizing the hard kiss suppressed him impulsively, he tried to break free. Soft dry lips don't let it, hot tongue forced its way through closed lips, Liam lost.

The kiss was immediately passionate. The other party's tongue actively opened its teeth, playing with its passive tongue. When he felt the strong dominance of the game inside his mouth, his scalp went numb, his chest exploded with a draining thump, he felt dizzy and his legs became jelly.

He was clearly about to slump over, clutching the hem of the coat near him as his life's straw, but strong hand gripped his waist protectively.

After a few minutes of his mouth making out, the oxygen was almost gone from his head, his mind went blank. He pushed, this time the kiss was released.

A red chaotic face with panting breaths in front of him, making Adriel's lips smirk.

"Not bad."

His face was full of childish satisfaction. Completely ignored other entities around him.

Liam rubbed his swollen mouth. A hateful gaze was directed at Adriel.

"With a little study, you will be good at kissing in the future," said Adriel like a teacher advising his students.

Liam, "..."

After a few moments, Liam felt strength in his legs and wanted to leave, but Adriel still held him back.

"Let me go." His voice was much quieter.

"No. What if you fall? You could get hurt." Adriel's fingers crept up his waist through the thin shirt carelessly, Liam's brow furrowed.

Liam, "Let go."

Adriel, "No."

"Are you shameless?"

"Of course."

They fully thought Louis was a lifeless rock.

Liam tried to pull himself up again, but the strength wasn't worth it even with Adriel's one hand on his waist. The heat from Adriel's palm seeped into his skin despite the thin cloth, it tickled him.

Louis, who had been silent watching the whole scene, finally couldn't stand it. He grabbed Adriel's arm. "Let him go. Can't you see he's uncomfortable?"

Adriel was touched on the injured arm, he frowned faintly, Liam accidentally saw this expression.

"Who are you?" Adriel looked at him coldly. Without waiting for the other party's reply, he continued, "I touched my own wife, where did I go wrong?"

Louis couldn't answer for a while, almost agreeing. Right, what's wrong with touching your own wife?

But then he felt it was also wrong and kept on saying, "Is it okay to kiss someone by force? And you are hiding behind the words that he is your wife. Can't you see Liam doesn't like it? After seeing this I believe that if some say that Liam married you it was forced."

Adriel really kept his face in front of other people. Being dictated by an unknown person and 'maybe' his love enemy, he couldn't accept it.

Even Louis dared to remind him loudly that Liam married him under duress.

He let go of Liam's waist, grabbed Louis by the collar and pulled him tight. His eyes were extremely sharp looking at the man in front of him, blue veins protruding on his forehead, ready to be angry. He recalled what he saw from the moment he got out of the car. Seeing this man so close to Liam, it almost looked like they were kissing, even though that wasn't the case, his blood still boiled.

All the ugliness he saw from this man was mixed up in his brain, making a mess. His white eyes turned blood red, the muscles in his hands bulged, displaying strength that was about to erupt. Immediately what Adriel saw was darkness turning red everywhere, igniting something dark in his heart.

Louis felt that something was not right about the person in front of him. The grip on his collar began to choke him.

There's no way Liam wouldn't see this. Yet he stood stiff, unable to move. This was the second time he had seen first-hand how Adriel was in the process of being in rage. Shari reminded him to stay away if that happened, he wanted to, but his feet froze.

He turned to see Louis whose face had turned red from being strangled; try to escape.

The sounds around him were temporarily silent, Liam could only hear the others' angry breaths and the bones moving under Adriel's skin. Then as fast as lightning he saw Adriel easily pushing Louis with a loud crack until he crashed into a tree behind him.

It is not good. Adriel is not himself anymore!

Just as he saw Adriel's hand rise to hit something in front of him, which was Louis' face, he imagined the worst scenario that the punch would crush the man's face. This time Liam no longer hesitated, jumped up shakily, hugged Adriel from behind, pulled him with all the strength he had.

... to be continued ...