The bachelor party was exactly as boring as Adrian had expected.
The venue was Harrison's own club, Elysium, located in prime downtown real estate. The place screamed luxury. While the second and third floors housed VIP rooms and a rooftop terrace, the first floor featured a DJ booth and dance floor with an extravagant centerpiece - a massive swimming pool. It perfectly matched Harrison's flashy style.
The moment Adrian walked in, all eyes turned to him. Harrison, already drunk, excitedly threw an arm around Adrian's shoulders and jumped onto the stage.
"Yo people! The legendary Adrian fucking Blackwood is in the house! My big bro's here to party! We ain't leaving till we're wasted as hell! I'm feeling generous - open bar for everyone, bitches!"
The crowd erupted in excited screams.
Ignoring him, Adrian headed straight to the second-floor VIP room with James, where Ryan and Chase were waiting for their poker game.
Harrison was getting married next month to an equestrian club owner's daughter - a match arranged by their families. His family owned the biggest nightclubs in the city, along with real estate and entertainment businesses. A perfect match of wealth and status - if only he wasn't currently draped over two scantily-clad girls.
The four of them had been college friends for over a decade, with Adrian as the eldest and natural leader. Harrison, despite his age, still acted like a wild trust fund kid, partying hard with no signs of settling down. Nobody quite understood why he suddenly decided to get married.
Knowing Adrian's tastes, Harrison had cleared the VIP room of all plants, leaving only dark grey luxury couches and marble bars. The one-way windows overlooking the pool below, a total Harrison pervert move.
After winning several rounds of poker, Adrian stepped away for air. Through the glass, he watched the crowd below.
As night deepened, the club grew livelier. The thousand-square-foot space pulsed with bass, lights, alcohol, and young hormones. Only Adrian stood apart, in his black suit, nursing a whiskey on ice, eyes narrowed, silent and detached from the chaos below.
"How's Ethan's situation?" Ryan came over, cigarette in hand.
Though the Blackwoods had kept Ethan's condition quiet, their inner circle knew. They'd all met Ethan back in college when he was still in high school. The brothers looked alike but couldn't be more different in personality.
The whole thing was just damn tragic.
Adrian watched the ice slowly melt in his glass, saying nothing.
"Same," he finally muttered, watching Harrison making out with some blonde downstairs, his hands all over her chest.
"Gotta trust the docs," Chase took over the conversation. "Hey, didn't Ethan get married a few years back? His wife was quite the beauty, really sweet too. Damn shame..."
Adrian took a drink. Suddenly, all he could think about was Christine on her knees, his cock in her mouth, calling him "big brother."
His body instantly responded, making him frown as he swallowed his whiskey.
Seeing Adrian's silence, they dropped the topic. Ryan gave his shoulder a supportive pat, a silent reminder to stay strong.
Suddenly, the crowd downstairs erupted as the DJ announced the pool party kickoff. Girls started stripping down to their bikinis, curves on full display as they jumped into the cool water with playful squeals. The mix of bare skin and alcohol had the place burning hot.
Word had gotten around that some real money were in the VIP section. A few bold girls decided to try their luck, heading straight for the second-floor lounge.
James, knowing how Adrian hated thirsty girls throwing themselves at him, turned them away - polite but cold.
Adrian watched the scene below for a moment before getting bored. He set down his glass and was about to leave when Harrison caught him.
Harrison was clearly wasted, grinning as he pushed Adrian back into the VIP booth. He leaned in close, slurring into Adrian's ear: "Hey hey hey bro, don't leave yet! Just wait - got something wild planned for you."
He snapped his fingers at the security guard. Soon, over a dozen girls in bikinis strutted up to their VIP booth. Each one was stacked with a tiny waist, pretty face, and skin like silk.
In their high heels, the girls scanned all four guys before their eyes locked onto Adrian.
"Heh, what do you think?" Harrison looked smug as hell, throwing an arm around Adrian.
"Know you've been down lately. I hand-picked these hotties myself. See any you like? Hell, if you want 'em all, they're yours! Chase, pass my bro one of those pills you've got."
"Fuck off! What pills? Don't drag me into your bullshit!"
Chase's face turned red as a beet. He'd partied too hard with girls last year, wrecked his body. Doctors told him to keep it in his pants this year. But this idiot was still popping Viagra while chasing tail.
"Oh yeah?" Harrison was quick, snatching a pack from Chase's pocket with a grin. "What's this then?"
Chase exploded: "Harrison, you little shit! You really wanna go there? I'll kick your ass!"
Jokes between bros were one thing, but with all these girls watching, Harrison was being a real dick. Chase was ready to throw hands.
During their squabble, one girl made her move on Adrian, but James blocked her path.
She froze awkwardly, biting her lip, still hoping. But James was like a stone-cold bouncer, giving her zero chance.
The girls' bouncing tits were making Adrian restless.
The scene triggered memories of Christine: her teary eyes, red nose, long hair swaying with his thrusts, those perfect tits bouncing in the air, and those long trembling legs...
"Out."
Adrian stood up, grabbing his phone from James.
He dialed a number, turning slightly as he headed downstairs. The alcohol and lights carved shadows across his face, his expression cold and elegant. His black suit showed off his perfect build, his presence commanding respect everywhere he moved.
Everyone thought he was pissed.
No one could've guessed what he said into the phone as he pushed through the crowd: "The box. Know how?"