Dean's chest contour is in acute pain. His heart is being pinched. He bites his lips, suppressing the pain."Please, my angel, eat dinner." Nathan was sitting in front of a handcuffed man.Nathan closed his eyes and controlled his anger. For the umpteenth, he is requesting the tied-up man to open his mouth and eat.Dean continued to ignore him and refused to acknowledge Alfie, who was looking at him with regretful eyes."If you don't eat something, how can we take your medicine?" Nathan whispered. "Fine. If not food, the soup will be good, right?"Nathan keeps the tray aside and gestures for Alfie to get the soup. Alfie quickly nods and steps out of the room."Why are you being stubborn?" Nathan raised his hand to caress Dean's cheek. However, Dean pushed his hand away."Just let me go." Dean glares at the man. "You are wasting my time." He looks away. "I'll pretend this never happened."Nathan's jaw clenched as he sighed, holding his temper. "Previously, you would glow with shyness when I caressed your cheek."Dean snaps his gaze back at Nathan. "Because he was different. You are not the one who made me shy. Rather, you're making me uncomfortable and regretful."Nathan's eyes narrowed as he held Dean's chin tightly. "Don't test my patience. I held enough patience these four years without you." His gaze falls on Dean's lips. "You have no idea how I want my lips all over you."Dean shuddered with disgust. "I'm glad; we never had that moment."Nathan chuckled humorlessly. "We will see about that."They heard a knock on the door.There stood a man in his forties, clad in a white suit. He steps inside the room.Nathan instantly stood straight with a little stumble."Da-dad,"A sharp slap resonates in the room, with Nathan's eyes locking with Dean's wide eyes."I don't care what you do. Don't ruin my reputation!" The old man glared at his son with pure rage. He gave another slap, unable to control his temper."Congratulations! That man's family is searching for him." The tycoon shouts, pointing at Dean.Dean's eyes gleam with hope.My family knows about my absence.Nathan stutters, "I love him," with a kick on his shoulder, pushing his son back on the floor."Did I ask you to speak?" The old man sighs and looks at Dean.He looks back at Nathan. "Make this kid your love, or anything." He ducks down, watching Nathan's quivering lips. "Your gayness stays inside this room. For the world, you are a straight man going to marry a woman."He stood up, glancing at Dean. "I've paid those officers to delay this case." He continues looking at him. "How about declaring him dead?"Dean's breath hitched. His eyes were looking around, trying to comprehend what he just heard.The old man continued, "This way you can have this kid. I'll have my reputation."Dean snaps at the old tycoon and mutters. "It's not going to happen. My family will never believe nonsense."The old man laughed. "This isn't the first time; I'm doing it." With an egoistic mind, he further added. "The lady's heart you have." He smirks. "It wasn't just an accident."Dean's blood turned colder than winter. He couldn't believe his ears.Watching the pale face of Dean boosted his mind to feel more power."I wanted to get rid of you. Your father wanted money and help." He steps closer to Dean. "I found a donor and got a heart for you."He looks deeply into Dean's eyes. "Honestly, you should appreciate us. We gave you a new life after all." He looks back at Nathan. "Why don't you entertain my son? It's the best way of showing gratitude."The old man laughed, watching tears brim in Dean's eyes. "Oh, poor boy. Are you crying?" He pats Dean's cheek. "So grateful that you are feeling overwhelmed?"They heard a knock and saw Alfie standing with a tray of veggie soup."Dinner being served on bed?" He looks back, Dean. "Not bad. Getting princess treatment, huh?"He looks at Nathan with sharp eyes. "I want you in the office at nine in the morning."Nathan quickly nodded without looking at his father's retreating.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Ethan looks everywhere in the police station, trying to understand what just happened in a span of a few hours.He reached home to apologize to his brother for being mean and not being a good brother.However, he saw his mom crying and murmuring prayers while his father was calling someone."So, he was last seen in kindergarten school?" An officer asked, gaining the attention of the brother."Uh? Yeah, yes. He works there." Ethan sat straight, glancing at his father, who was very quiet for his liking.The officer furrowed his eyebrows and wrote down the details. He nodded, looking back at the father and son."Does anyone hate or have any personal enemies?"Ethan shook his head. "He is a very kind soul. He wouldn't-""He may not fight with anyone. In case someone is jealous and wants him out of their life or something." The officer leans back and continues. "My words may sound absurd, but, usually in these types of cases, the victims..." He looks at Mr. Rayden. "...mostly are killed."Ethan's blood turned cold as his heartbeat slowed."Isn't it, your job to search for my son before anything as such happens? Aren't you supposed to be assuring us that you'll do your best?" Mr Rayden snaps, standing from his seat. "No wonder people stopped trusting the law."Mr. Rayden walked out of the station. Ethan looks back and forth, not understanding how to handle this situation."Sir, you have his photo and phone number too. Please track him or do any possible thing to find him. We'll cooperate with you." Ethan stood up. "Please find my brother. I'll have hope in the law."Ethan follows his father, who is on call. He knows it must be his mom. After all, the lady was almost panicking."Please calm down. You need to be strong for us, right?"Ethan steps closer."Honey, please..." Mr. Rayden rubs his forehead. "I'm... I'm trying to be strong. Don't make it hard for me." He blinked continuously. "You're my strength, right?""No, you stay home. What if Dean reaches home and nobody is present?""Okay, okay. I'll keep updating you. Alright, take care. Eating something too. You need to take your medicines too."Mr. Rayden cuts the call with a long sigh.With calculating steps, Ethan nears his father. "Dad, we will see Dean, right?"Mr. Rayden pats his elder son's shoulder with a nod. "Of course, what can happen to him? He is strong. He will not give up easily." He looks at the dark sky. "After all, the past has been a good teacher in Dean's life."Ethan nodded, looking at his feet. "Dad, I was an awful brother to Dean. I...I told him to not cause trouble in sir's life."Mr. Rayden's eyes held confusion. "Who is this sir?"Ethan fisted his palm and explained everything to his father, whose eyes kept widening."You!" Mr. Rayden raised his hand. However, he stops in mid-air and looks away. "You clearly know how awfully quiet he turned after he understood his mistakes." He looks back at Ethan. "And your words might have triggered the same buttons in him." He looks away. "Just hope," lips wobbling, "he will not give up on himself."Ethan's teary eyes look at his father's retreating figure. He is a human too. He can make wrong judgments and mistakes. Just because he's an older son doesn't mean he can't make mistakes.He blinks his eyes, looking at his watch, reading two in the morning. He steps towards the station and waits for the officer to take action.Waiting is the only possible solution for now."We are trying to track his number." Ethan heard the officer speaking to his father.He carefully sat next to his dad.The officer spared a glance towards him and continued, "Once we can track his last known location, We can get hints and go further with the investigation."The telephone rang on the officer's table as he excused himself."Hello, this is XYZ police station. Officer Justin is speaking."[Justin, this is Chief Aaron.]Justin stood up from his seat.[Justin, you might have got Dean Rayden's missing case.]The officer glanced at Mr. Rayden.[I want you to delay the case as much as possible.]"But, sir-"[This is an order from higher authorities. If you go against it, I don't know where your next transfer will be.]The officer sighed and nodded. "Alright, sir. I'll do it."[I'll help you to close this case within the next 12 hours. Till then, delay the case without the family members knowing it.]"Roger sir."The officer keeps the receiver back in its place. He looks at the Rayden family. For once, he felt pity for them. He knows how the chief can close the case early."Two search teams are looking for your son. I've sent pictures to other stations. They'll help too." He looks at Ethan. "For now, you guys go home. I'll keep you updated." He gives a book to Ethan. "Please write down all your available contact numbers. If one number is busy, we can—""No, no, sir. We won't be busy. You can contact us anytime." Mr. Rayden whispered, looking back at Ethan. "Please write it fast."Justin clasped his fingers together. "Please try to remember whom you have offended."Ethan looks above the book. "Pardon?"The officer leans forward and says, "The kidnapper. I mean, if you guys fought with someone and they're taking revenge on you, type..."Justin hopes they get the hint."They can do anything to destroy your happy family." Justin let out a sigh and smiled with assurance as Ethan handed him the book."Rest assured. We'll do our best."Ethan nodded his head and gestured for his father to start walking.Once stepping out of the station. A young officer was clad in a new uniform as the fabric looked new and unfaded compared to others.The young man steps towards his senior. "Sir, we didn't send any search teams, right?"Justin threw a glare at the officer. "Mind your business. Did you finish the documentation for all the cases?""Yes, I wanted to write about this case as-""Ok, write that the victim was dead." Ignoring the gasp from the new officer. "Method of dead, you'll know soon.""Sir, what does it mean?""Yes, some higher authorities ordered it, and I'm bound to follow them."Ethan stumbles back with wide eyes. His ears are still ringing.The victim was dead.You'll know the method of death soon.The victim was dead.Will Dean be declared dead?An involuntary sob slips past his lips. He quickly held his mouth, hoping his father was waiting near the cab."Who should I seek help from?" He mumbled to himself in an attempt to get an idea.When things don't go as we wish. Often, our mind just stops working. Nothing feels like hope anymore. Eyes don't seek the warmth of happiness. Blankness feels right and perfect. Joining the dots of life decisions, we often feel, Where is this going? Who can tell me whether what I have chosen is correct?! Is there any way to know what is right for me?⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"Only the bracelet?" Alfie asked, taking a photo of Dean's wrist.Nathan shook his head and gently pushed Dean's head to the side. "His left ear is pierced and no jewel."Dean's body lay limp on the bed with a void mind. He can't understand how to get out of here. Moreover, with the newfound information about his donor.No wonder the case was closed.No wonder her death was declared an accident.
No wonder Roman couldn't fight back.
Dean's eyes flicker with a question. "How did he know about Amelia?"Nathan narrowed his eyes as he held Dean's chin, forcing the man to look at him. However, Dean's glaze didn't leave the mirror."Fucking look at me!"Alfie flinched in his place as he quickly sent the data. "His height and weight are noted." He avoids Dean's eyes. "Anything else to note?""Since the body will be shown as burned, those things are sufficient," Nathan replied, looking at Dean's cheek."You may go." Nathan gestured at Alfie, who stepped out in an instant."At first, I wanted you to write a letter to your dear family saying that you had run away." Nathan caressed Dean's cheek, who shook his head away.With gritted teeth, Nathan hugs Dean's waist. He held a fistful of Dean's hair, who pushed Nathan with his cuffed hands.Dean's eyes held angry tears, which glared at Nathan.He chuckled and continued, "However, this sounds better." He again held Dean's hair and bared his neck.He leans forward to touch the skin through his lips. "They'll stop searching for you."Using his feet, Dean gave a swift kick to his pants.The impact threw Nathan on the floor, who was gasping for air while holding his main part."Never heard; a defeated person is more dangerous," Dean said while crawling off the bed to kick the man again.Yet Nathan held Dean's feet. "Don't hurt yourself, angel." He pushes the rope aside from Dean's ankles. "Look, how you have bruised your honey skin.""I feel sick. I can't believe how you have changed." Dean takes his feet away from the man.Nathan chuckled and looked at the soup, which was still untouched."Jokes apart." He sat on the bed. He was thankful that the kick was not strong. Probably because they're tied together and Dean couldn't use full force."You have to take your medicines too," Nathan said he was taking the soup and dipping a spoon in it.Dean ignored him."Don't forget you need to take your anti-rejection pills." He pulls Dean's wrist closer to himself."I'm tolerating your stubbornness because I love you." He forcefully parted Dean's lips by holding his chin tightly."I got you after a lot of hardships." Shoving the spoon in Dean's mouth.