After finishing their breakfast, Tim and Willy went out for a quiet walk along the shore. The autumn air was quite chilly, since October was drawing to a close, and the beach was completely peaceful. Walking beside Tim, Willy understood perfectly why his husband had wanted to escape here for a few days; the quietness was exactly what they needed.
Tim looked toward the beach house as they walked. "I'll clean up the rooms before the others get here."
Willy smiled, reaching for his hand. "I'll help you."
"There's no need, love. I can handle everything myself."
Tim always did this. He had a habit of taking every single chore upon himself. At the beginning of their relationship, Willy had been happy to be pampered, but lately, he truly wanted to share the weight. It felt as though Tim did everything while he contributed almost nothing in return.
Willy shook his head, refusing to back down. "No, I'm helping you. You always do everything around here. I want to actually do something useful and be of help to you."
Tim looked at him, his expression softening. "Okay, whatever you want." He had absolutely no desire to argue over something so small.
Once their walk was over, they headed back inside. Since they weren't sure if their friends would end up staying the night or leaving early, they decided to give the entire house a thorough cleaning.
Willy went over to the living room counter. "Mind if I put on some music?"
Tim smiled, wiping down a dusty shelf. "Go ahead. I actually like listening to songs when I'm working."
Willy turned around, realized something, and looked at him curiously. "You know, I never asked you before. Who is your favorite singer? Or what kind of music do you usually listen to?"
Tim paused to think about it for a moment, as he didn't really follow a specific genre. "I don't stick to one particular style. As long as a song connects with me, it doesn't matter what genre it is or what language it's sung in. I don't really have a favorite artist either, but there is one group I've been listening to for over five years now."
Willy's eyes widened in surprise. "Five years? Are you serious? I don't really follow one genre either, but I get bored way too quickly. If I find a song I like, I'll listen to it on repeat all day long until I absolutely can't stand it anymore. What's your absolute favorite song? Tell me, and I'll play it right now."
His absolute favorite song? Tim had quite a few tracks that he kept close to his heart. Before meeting Willy, he used to listen to one particular song constantly, believing he would never grow tired of it. But the moment Willy entered his life, his entire world had shifted.
Tim smiled gently. "I have a couple of favorites. There's one I've listened to for years without ever getting tired of it. It used to be my absolute number one, but ever since I met you and fell in love, a different song took its place. Which one do you want to hear?"
Willy smiled warmly, leaning against the counter. "Both. I want to know which song used to hold your heart and which one holds it now."
Tim pulled out his phone, typed a title into the search bar, and pressed play. Willy wasn't expecting the kind of track that began to fill the room; the lyrics were incredibly heavy and sad.
"... I can see it, your ghost that's smiling at me.
The calendar that's taking a step backwards it's driving me crazy.
So many memories, fade and dissolve
Somebody please stop this..."
Hearing the words, Willy felt a tight squeeze in his chest. This song clearly reminded Tim of his late brother and cousin, reflecting all the agonizing years he had spent processing his grief in total isolation. That was undoubtedly why the melody had meant so much to him for so long.
Then, Tim tapped the screen again, and the second song began to play. It was entirely different from the first.
"... You're always by my side
You've filled up all my youth with your warmth
The warm waves of your breath made my cold world finally bloom like spring..."
Listening to the beautiful lines, Willy felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He realized all over again just how deeply and truly Tim loved him. With his appearance in Tim's life, a cold, isolated winter had finally broken, bringing a beautiful, permanent spring into his world.
Moved by the music, Willy immediately threw his arms around Tim, hugging him tightly.
Tim let out a breathless laugh, wrapping his arms around Willy's waist. "Willy... I can't breathe..."
Willy hid his face against Tim's shoulder, holding him even tighter. "I love you so much. From now on, I promise there will always be spring in your life."
Tim smirked, a playful glint returning to his dark eyes. "Only spring? Personally, I want some summer in my life too... a little heat... some steam..."
Willy pulled back, blushing slightly as he punched Tim playfully on the shoulder. "You've changed so much, you know. When I first met you, you didn't even know how to kiss properly."
Tim laughed, catching Willy's hand and pulling him back close. "Who told you I didn't know how? 'Never doing it' and 'not knowing how to do it' are two completely different things, my love."
Giggling, they returned to their chores, wiping away the dust and making the old beach house look alive again. Afterward, they moved to the kitchen to prepare a large meal, knowing their guests would be arriving before long.
Logan and Ethan were the first to arrive. Walking through the front door together, it was obvious that a cold silence still remained between them and the other brothers. Tim had anticipated that things would be tense, which was precisely why he had insisted on gathering everyone in one place. He had absolutely no intention of letting a beautiful circle of friends fracture because of his past.
Tim walked over, offering them a grateful nod. "Thank you both. I know you did everything you could to defend me back at the bar. The others should be here soon, and we'll all talk together."
Ethan sighed, his expression worried. "Did you really invite Miles and the others here too, Tim? They are completely convinced you two should break up."
Tim replied calmly, "That's exactly why I want to speak with them. It's time to explain the whole story."
Logan shook his head tightly. "It's not going to be an easy conversation, Tim."
Tim offered a small, confident smile. "Believe me, Logan, I've survived much more difficult trials than a tough conversation."
Willy walked over and sat down on the living room sofa, and Tim took his place right beside him, their fingers interlocking in a quiet show of unity.
A short while later, the sound of tires on the gravel announced the arrival of Miles, Seb, and Al. As they stepped into the living room, their postures were stiff and defensive. They clearly disliked being in the same space as Tim, their minds still clouded with heavy doubts and suspicions.
Tim waited until everyone had taken a seat before he spoke, breaking the thick silence. "Since everyone is finally gathered here, I'm going to lay out the entire truth. I intend to answer your questions, though there are still a few specific details I am legally and safely forbidden from revealing just yet. Before I begin unrolling my past, if any of you hold an immediate question, you may ask it now."
The room fell completely silent, everyone waiting anxiously to hear what Tim had to say.
Tim took a deep breath, his eyes steady. "Alright, then let me start from the beginning. Years ago, I came home and found my biological brother dead. There was absolutely no one else present in that house except for me. A few days following that tragedy, my uncle and cousin were also killed, and the authorities discovered me standing at the exact scene of the crime. From the outside looking in, who else would the world blame for those slaughters if not me? It was simply the easiest conclusion for everyone to accept. And the public became even more convinced of my guilt when my father secretly paid an immense sum of money to the department to have the entire case closed and buried."
Miles frowned, leaning forward. "Why would your own father do that if you were innocent?"
Tim looked at him directly. "Because back in those days, my father was on the absolute verge of being appointed a high-ranking international ambassador. It would have completely destroyed his political career if the media reported that his surviving son was tied to a multiple murder investigation. He paid to hide the scandal, not to shield me. That is the exact reason Connor and the rest of the world grow up believing I am a monster. But I cannot broadcast the full truth to the public yet. I know exactly who ended the timelines of my brother and my family. My brother's actual killer is already dead, though my hands did not take his life. I cannot reveal anything further regarding the identity of the remaining threat because one lethal killer is still out there, free in the world. I returned to this city specifically to finalize this case and bring it to a close. I am the primary target of this enemy, which is why I kept my distance from you all. But you are in absolutely no danger, because my security forces are constantly monitoring and protecting your safety."
Miles shifted restlessly in his seat, his voice tight with frustration. "Why are you only choosing to reveal this now? Why didn't you unroll this narrative to our faces from the very start? You deliberately hid your identity for as long as you possibly could, didn't you? Why on earth should we blindly believe your words now?"
Tim's expression remained perfectly calm, used to the hostility. "I am entirely accustomed to the reality that no one believes my voice. Whether you choose to invest your trust in my words or reject them completely is an independent choice for your own mind to make. I have absolutely no intention of forcing your hand."
Seb swallowed hard, looking uneasy. "Are you planning to hunt this remaining killer down and kill him?"
Tim shook his head. "Why would I ever want to take a human life? I have never slaughtered anyone, and I hold absolutely no desire to start now. Why would I ever want to stain my own hands with blood?"
Miles crossed his arms, looking around the well-kept house. "Then what about this massive mountain of wealth? What about this endless army of hired security guards?"
Tim let out a soft, dry chuckle, genuinely puzzled by the reaction. "What exactly am I supposed to say to that, Miles? Is it a crime for a person to possess financial success? I don't understand why people react with such shock whenever they discover I have money."
Miles narrowed his eyes. "I simply want to know how a young guy makes that much capital entirely in the dark."
Tim's eyes turned serious. "I worked myself to the absolute bone for every single cent, Miles. Do you want to know why I command so many diverse skills and know how to navigate almost any crisis? It's because, unlike the rest of you, I have practical experience working in almost every grueling job imaginable. Perhaps I was able to accomplish so much because, for years, I remained awake and working for twenty to twenty-one hours every single day. There was absolutely no family standing by my side to take care of my needs. While your circle was enjoying your youth and playing games, I was studying, working multiple jobs, and keeping myself alive. My childhood officially ended the very day my brother died. I didn't even have the luxury of admitting I was sick. I was forced to stay hidden my entire life because a long list of enemies wanted me dead, and if I dropped my guard for a second, I would have been the next body in a grave. After surviving a history like that, no one should be surprised if I had actually turned into a criminal or a killer honestly, I had every reason to become one. Yet, despite all the darkness thrown at me, I have spent my entire life shielding, protecting, and taking care of the people around me. Now, the choice belongs to you. Believe it or reject it. I am completely finished justifying my existence to this table."
Ethan stood up, stepping over to stand firmly behind Tim's shoulder. "I want to add something to this conversation... I have known Tim since our earliest childhood chapters. We grew up side by side, and he was my absolute best friend until the day he suddenly vanished into thin air with his family. Even after he left, he continued to secretly finance my life and watch over my safety for years without me holding a single clue about it. It is entirely thanks to his private scholarship fund that I am even standing within the university today. No matter what trials unfold in our future, I will always anchor my presence by his side. He is my best friend, and he has my absolute trust."
Logan stood up next, offering a warm nod. "I also believe in him and trust his character completely. Tim has done nothing but look out for our group since the day we met. He notices the quiet pains and understands the hidden dynamics that you guys completely fail to see. To be honest, there are times when I feel entirely left out by this childhood circle... and Tim noticed that pain instantly. I know with absolute certainty that he will always listen to my voice and offer his help whenever I am in need. That's why I'm telling you all that you need to stop judging him from a distance and actually try to get to know the real man."
Looking up at his two friends, a rare wave of genuine happiness washed over Tim. Throughout his long, isolated life, he had never possessed such fierce, loyal companions.
Willy looked around the room, tightening his grip on Tim's hand. "I won't waste words repeating what's already clear. You all know how deeply I love my husband. No matter what storms come our way, I am staying right here by his side. I will never leave him, because he is my absolute, singular love."
Miles, Seb, and Al sat in a heavy, stunned silence, completely unsure of how to respond. The deep-seated doubts in their minds hadn't completely vanished into thin air, but it was obvious that those barriers would only melt away if they actually took the time to understand Tim.
Miles let out a long breath, his defensive wall cracking just a fraction. "I can't say I trust your word completely yet, Tim... but I am willing to give you a fair chance so our circle can get to know you better."
Seb offered a soft, apologetic look toward Willy and Ethan. "I can understand why you guys are defending him so fiercely; he's your friend and your husband. But you have to understand our perspective too; we love Willy, and we were terrified for his safety. That's the only reason we reacted so harshly."
Al nodded in agreement, his posture finally relaxing. "I'm with Seb on this one. We just need some time to get to know who you really are, Tim."
As the heavy conversation drew to a close, the thick layer of ice that had frozen over the group finally began to melt just a little bit. It was far from a perfect resolution, but a long road lay ahead of them. They had plenty of time for the remaining walls to crumble down completely.