Ethan stood outside the small, dilapidated apartment building, his heart racing with anticipation. He had never imagined that Adrian, his dear Adrian, had been reduced to living in such a place. The mere thought of it made his blood boil with anger at Wuner Hudel and everyone who had hurt the person he loved most.
Mathew stood beside him, his expression equally grim. "Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Mathew asked softly, concern evident in his voice.
Ethan nodded, determination hardening his features. "Yes. I need to see him alone first. Adrian's been through enough, and I don't want him to feel overwhelmed." He glanced at the small apartment door ahead, his heart heavy with worry. "This is something I need to do myself."
Mathew gave him a supportive nod, staying back while Ethan approached the door. The old wooden door looked fragile, as though one strong gust of wind would knock it down. Ethan's hand trembled slightly as he raised it to knock, the weight of everything that had happened between them bearing down on him.
He knocked once, then twice, each time a little harder, but there was no response. The silence behind the door gnawed at his nerves. His heart began to pound in his chest, anxiety creeping in. He knocked again, this time louder, almost pounding on the door.
"Adrian!" Ethan called out, his voice shaky. "It's me! It's Ethan. Open the door."
Still, there was no response.
His stomach twisted with dread. He knocked again, his fist slamming against the door with more force. "Adrian, please! Open the door. I'm here now!"
The silence was deafening. Ethan glanced back at Mathew, who was watching from the car, worry etched into his face. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He had to get in there, and he had to get in fast.
Turning back to the door, Ethan didn't hesitate. With a deep breath, he slammed his shoulder into the door with all his might. The old wood groaned under the pressure, and with a loud crack, it gave way, the door swinging open.
Ethan rushed inside, his heart pounding with fear and adrenaline. The apartment was small and dimly lit, with barely any furniture to speak of. It was cold, almost lifeless, the walls bare except for a few scattered canvases leaning against them. Paintbrushes and tubes of paint were strewn across the floor, as if Adrian had been working feverishly.
"Adrian?" Ethan called again, his voice trembling as he stepped further into the room.
Then, he saw him.
Adrian lay motionless on the floor of the living room, his body curled in on itself as if he had collapsed where he stood. His face was pale, his skin almost translucent in the dim light. His once-vibrant silver eyes were closed, and his long black hair, tangled and unkempt, spilled over the floor like ink.
"Adrian!" Ethan shouted, panic gripping him as he rushed to his side. He knelt down and gently shook Adrian's shoulders, trying to wake him. "Adrian, wake up! Please, wake up!"
There was no response.
Ethan's hands trembled as he checked Adrian's pulse, his heart racing with fear. His breath caught in his throat when he felt a weak, irregular heartbeat beneath his fingertips. Adrian was alive, but his breathing was shallow and unsteady.
"Mathew!" Ethan called out, his voice breaking. "Get help! He's not responding!"
Mathew was already running toward the apartment, his phone in hand as he called for an ambulance. Ethan didn't wait for help to arrive. He knew there was no time to waste. Gently, he scooped Adrian's fragile body into his arms, cradling him against his chest. Adrian's head lolled against Ethan's shoulder, his body limp and unresponsive.
"Stay with me," Ethan whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he carried Adrian toward the door. "I'm not letting you go. Not now. Not ever."
Mathew opened the car door for Ethan, his face pale with concern. "The ambulance will take too long," Ethan said urgently as he laid Adrian gently in the back seat. "We need to get him to the hospital now."
Mathew nodded quickly, jumping into the driver's seat as Ethan slid in beside Adrian, keeping a firm grip on his hand. The car sped through the streets, the tires screeching as Mathew navigated the fastest route to the hospital. Ethan couldn't tear his eyes away from Adrian's face. His heart ached as he watched the person he loved more than anything in the world lying there, so fragile, so vulnerable.
"Adrian, please," Ethan whispered, brushing a strand of hair from Adrian's face. "Don't leave me. I need you. I love you."
--
At the hospital, Ethan paced back and forth in the waiting room, his hands running through his hair over and over again. Mathew stayed nearby, silently watching but giving Ethan space. Every second that passed felt like an eternity.
Finally, a doctor emerged from the emergency room, his face stern but calm. Ethan rushed over, grabbing the man's arm before he could say a word.
"Is he okay? Is Adrian going to be alright?" Ethan's voice was barely a whisper, thick with worry.
The doctor nodded slowly, though his expression remained serious. "Adrian is stable for now, but he's incredibly weak. Physically, he's exhausted. He's been under severe stress for a prolonged period, and it's taken a toll on his body."
Ethan let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him. "Thank god. But... why was he so weak? Is it just exhaustion?"
The doctor hesitated, glancing at Ethan with a contemplative look before speaking again. "There's something else you need to know."
Ethan frowned, his heart skipping a beat. "What is it?"
The doctor took a deep breath, clearly weighing his words carefully. "Mr. Adrian Hudel is pregnant—about a month along."
The words hit Ethan like a punch to the gut. His mind went blank, and for a moment, he couldn't comprehend what the doctor had said. Pregnant? Adrian?
"What... what do you mean?" Ethan stammered, his face draining of color. "He... he's pregnant?"
The doctor nodded. "Yes. This is part of why his condition is so fragile right now. His body has been under immense strain from the pregnancy, combined with the stress and exhaustion. If he had not been found sooner, it could have been life-threatening."
Ethan staggered back, his mind racing. Adrian was pregnant? And he hadn't known?
"Can I see him?" Ethan's voice trembled as the weight of the situation crashed down on him.
"Yes, you can," the doctor said gently. "But please, don't stress him further. He needs time to recover."
Ethan nodded, barely hearing the rest of the doctor's words. He felt like the ground had shifted beneath him, his world spinning. Without another word, he pushed open the door to Adrian's hospital room.
Adrian lay in the bed, looking impossibly small and fragile against the white sheets. His face was still pale, his silver eyes closed in a restless sleep. Ethan approached quietly, his heart hammering in his chest. He sat down beside the bed, his eyes never leaving Adrian's face.
He was going to be a father.
The realization hit him again, but instead of fear, a strange warmth filled his chest. He leaned forward, brushing a stray lock of hair away from Adrian's face, his fingers trembling.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ethan whispered, his voice hoarse. "Why didn't you let me take care of you?"
Adrian stirred slightly, his eyelids fluttering as if he was fighting to wake up. Ethan's hand hovered over his, hesitating before gently clasping it, feeling the warmth of his skin against his own.
"I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have let you go through all of this alone."
Adrian's eyes slowly opened, glazed with exhaustion. He blinked, confused at first, but when his eyes focused on Ethan, they widened in shock.
"E-Ethan?" Adrian's voice was raspy, weak.
"I'm here," Ethan whispered, leaning closer. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Adrian blinked again, tears welling up in his eyes as reality sunk in. "I... I"
Ethan stopped him from speaking, "Hush, I am here. Everything is fine."
He sank into the chair beside the bed, taking Adrian's hand in his own and holding it tightly. "I'll never leave you again. I promise."
Adrian's eyes met his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, a faint, tired smile appeared on his lips. "You found me…"
Ethan squeezed his hand, tears welling in his eyes. "I'll always find you."
Outside the room, Mathew stood near the door, glancing at his phone. He had already contacted Leclair and Augustin, informing them of Adrian's pregnancy. Augustin had responded with immediate concern, while Leclair's reaction was a mixture of fury at the Hudel family and joy that Ethan was stepping up as a father.
"Let's hope things stay calm," Mathew muttered to himself as he leaned against the wall. But he knew better—nothing about Ethan and Adrian's life was calm, especially with the shadows of Lady Sachel and the Hudel family looming over them.
For now, though, all that mattered was that Adrian was safe, and Ethan was finally where he belonged.