Chapter 118

No more.

Greyson could instinctively tell. If he crossed the line any further, Dane would immediately rebel. Perhaps their relationship would deteriorate beyond repair.

But even so, Greyson couldn't easily back down. If he gave up here, he might never know about Dane. What he was hiding, what past was concealed inside him. Greyson wanted to know. Even if it cost him his life.

"Dane."

This time, Greyson softened his tone and called his name.

"We're lovers, there shouldn't be secrets between us. Until now, I haven't heard anything about you. How many family members you have, what your childhood was like, not even what kind of donut you like. Does this make sense? Lovers are supposed to share everything with each other, even the trivial things."

His words were somewhat true. Most people form relationships that way. The trap was in the word 'most.'

Dane slowly got up. As he straightened his back and stood, his eye level became much higher than before.

"No, you idiot. Neither you nor anyone else in the world has such a right."

Dane ground his teeth as he spat out the words. At this point, Greyson should have stopped. His instinct was clearly telling him so. It wasn't even a difficult thing to do. He just had to close his mouth and it would be over.

But unfortunately, Greyson didn't stop.

"Dane, you keep trying to push me away. That's not right, it would be better for you too if you shared everything with me..."

"Shut up!"

Dane shouted. At the sudden outburst, Greyson snapped to attention. To him, who was blinking in surprise, Dane continued to press with a loud voice.

"Don't force me, I have no intention of interacting with anyone! Don't get the wrong idea just because I accepted you for a while, don't cross the line as you please! You fucking bastard!"

"Dane, I..."

"How dare you!"

Greyson tried to say something, but Dane didn't stop.

"Someone like you is nothing in my life, less than dust! And you dare what? Tell me to share everything? You need to know about me? Who are you! You crazy bastard!"

"Dane, don't be like that... I can help you with anything..."

"Help? What? How? How can you help me?"

The veins on Dane's neck bulged. He was genuinely angry. This was the first time he had shown such anger. He needed to calm Dane down. What Dane wanted, what he could help with. Greyson quickly racked his brain.

"Should I kill that man for you?"

"What?"

For a moment, Dane hesitated. Seeing his confusion, Greyson continued to pour out words enthusiastically.

"You wanted to kill that man, right? I can kill him for you. Should I do it right now? What do you think? Would that work?"

Dane was so dumbfounded that he momentarily lost his words. What the hell is this bastard babbling about...

Greyson interpreted his silence differently. He quickly continued.

"I'll do it, Dane. How should I kill him? Tell me any method you want, any method is fine. That would work, right? Then I qualify as your lover? Huh? We're lovers, right?"

Greyson kept repeating the same words as if urging him. The more he did, the more the color drained from Dane's face. Greyson, who had been speaking urgently and hopefully in succession, felt something unpleasant at his reaction.

Isn't this it? Why isn't he happy? Wasn't this what Dane wanted? Then what should I do? How?

"Crazy..."

Dane muttered after a long while. His pale face was full of contempt and disgust mixed with anger. It was the exact same face Ashley Miller had when looking at Greyson.

Ah.

Only then did Greyson realize that he had made a mistake. At his face, which immediately turned pale, Dane turned away without saying anything more.

"Dane!"

Greyson belatedly called his name and rushed after him. It wasn't difficult to catch Dane. Soon after grabbing his arm, he hesitated at Dane's angry face. But even so, he couldn't let go. Because if he released his hand, Dane would turn around and leave forever.

"Th-then what should I do?"

His breath quickened involuntarily from anxiety. He tried to smile as usual, but the corners of his mouth wouldn't lift at all. Struggling to pull up his stiff lips, he continued.

"We're lovers. I'll be of help to you in any way. Tell me, I'll do anything. Please, Dane. I was wrong, Dane!"

His trembling voice gradually grew louder. But the answer that came back was just one word.

"Let go."

Greyson froze at the cold face. Dane, who had ruthlessly shaken off his hand that was holding his arm, ground his teeth and spat out.

"You really make me sick."

His face was full of hostility. Greyson thought, ah. Dane's tone and expression had returned to when they first met. Suddenly, he felt a chill as if all the blood was draining from his body.

"Dane."

Greyson called his name again, but that was his limit. He couldn't move as he watched Dane turn away. With one hand still suspended in the air, unable to withdraw it, he could only watch his retreating back.

I barely made it this far.

He barely recalled with his empty mind. Are we going back to square one again?

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Though the sun was still hot, he felt cold under the pouring western sunlight.

Why did I say that? What effect did I think it would have?

In the end, he had only thickened Dane's defensive wall. Now Dane would be even more reluctant to talk to him. Then, if that's the case.

What will become of us now?

Greyson could only stand there, pale-faced.

* * *

[I'm sorry, Dane. I was wrong.]

[Dane, let's talk.]

[What would you like me to do? I'll do anything, so please talk to me.]

[Dane, at least read the messages.]

[Dane.....]

Greyson let out a deep sigh as he looked at the accumulated messages. The number in front of the messages showed no sign of disappearing. Before, Dane would at least read the messages, but now it seemed he wasn't even opening them. Even the dots he used to send one by one were gone.

After that, Dane treated Greyson as if he didn't exist. When spoken to, he just passed by; when grabbed, he shook it off; and there were many days when he wasn't at the fire station at all, saying he was going for training or being dispatched to another area. It was clear that Dane was deliberately avoiding him.

"You're very diligent these days. Good, I really like that attitude."

The chief patted Dane's arm with excitement and satisfaction, but the more he did, the more Greyson's mood sank to the bottom. Dane, who had hated bothersome tasks and often ran away to avoid work as much as possible, was now voluntarily taking on work—didn't this mean he disliked Greyson even more than the 'work' he so hated?

What should I do?

Greyson covered his face with one hand and let out a deep sigh. He couldn't think of a solution at all. If killing someone would turn Dane's heart around, he would have done so without hesitation. But recalling the expression Dane had made when he had said that, it was clearly something he should never do.

Then what more should I do?

He had bought items for Darling and left them in front of the room, but they were returned to Greyson's door the next day, exactly as they were. Greyson then realized that Dane only showed his materialistic tendencies to those who had broken down his mental walls to some extent.

The only reason Dane wasn't leaving Greyson's mansion was probably because of the damn promise. He should be grateful that Dane was fulfilling the three months. He had bought time with that, but he couldn't think of a solution. It was when he let out another deep sigh.

A loud siren sounded, and the staff on standby rushed out urgently. Seeing Dane among them, Greyson immediately followed.

"Hey, what the?"

As he pushed aside a guy who was about to get into the car and got in, the other person blinked as if in disbelief and then, with a "tsk," headed to another car. Greyson paid no attention and closed the door. Inside the car was Dane. It was the first time they had been in such a confined space together since that day. Though Greyson's pheromone scent intensified from tension, Dane only looked out the window without reacting at all. With Greyson's insides burning up, the car sped toward the scene.