Leo's cheeks flushed a deep pink as he bobbed his head enthusiastically, unable to hide the spark of excitement in his wide doe eyes. Adrian's lips curved into a rare laugh which was rich and velvety, the sound alone sent a shiver down Leo's spine.
"Eager little thing," Adrian murmured under his breath.
The day dragged on in a blur and Adrian's reputation for overwork held true as the office emptied. Only then did he rise from his desk and look over to his little Husband who was fighting hard not to doze off.
"We're eating out tonight," Adrian announced to Leo, who perked up like a puppy promised of a treat. Adrian suppressed a laugh and pulled out his phone to shoot a text to Aaron about the evening plans.
However, before they could leave the doors burst open, and in swept a woman. Her emerald eyes set on both of them and her expression didn't seem so good.
Adrian closed his eyes and exhaled sharply in annoyance. "Mom, Why are you here?"
Madam Elara ignored him, her gaze raking the room desperately. "Where is she? Where did you hide her?"
"Hide who?"
She glanced at her son, her cherry red lips spreading into a big smile. "My daughter-in-law, of course."
Leo's heart skipped, plummeting into icy dread. He froze behind Adrian, twisting his fingers nervously.
Meanwhile, Madam Elara scanned the space once again. "I've been informed my daughter-in-law is here. Don't play games with me, Addy."
Finding no one, she planted herself before him and glared at him with the same identical fire in their eyes. "How dare you marry without telling me? After all my sacrifices?"
Adrian's jaw clenched as well, someone's murder was visible in his eyes. "How did you find out?"
She flicked her wrist dismissively. "Irrelevant. Just tell me where you've hidden her."
"There's no daughter-in-law," Adrian bit out, crossing his arms like steel bars.
"MADAM ELARA!" Just then, Aaron barreled in panting. Adrian's glare pinned him like the traitor that he was. He and his loud mouth. Aaron sidestepped those devilish eyes and turned to Madam Elara with a fearful gulp. "Madam Hale, please, it's not-"
"You!" Elara snapped at him before he could finish. "You said Adrian brought my daughter-in-law to the office. So where is she?"
Aaron swallowed a thick lump in his throat, not daring to face his boss. He could feel that any moment his neck was going to be snapped either by his devil boss or his mother. He really needs to work on his nosy habits. It's really going to get him killed one day.
"She...she's right in front of you, Madam."
Elara frowned. Right in front of her? Where? Why can't she see her daughter-in-law? Ahead stood Adrian, his assistant Aaron, and...a boy? Wait-a boy?
Her eyes locked on a boy standing just behind Adrian. She blinked between Adrian and the boy and back to Aaron to make sure her eyes weren't betraying her.
Aaron nodded frantically and pointed at Leo before he lost his job. "Madam Hale, meet Leo Ward, the youngest son of the Ward family. And y-your daughter in law."
Her eyes widened like saucers and she almost couldn't blink for a long while. It's not like she has never heard of wards, in fact, she has even visited them on Mrs. Ward's birthday party where Selene had tried to shove the idea of marrying her gold digger daughter Emily to Adrian. But Elara had sniffed out the greed instantly. However, what Madam Hale couldn't ignore was the silent one in the corner of the Ward house. A boy so pure and unassuming who stole her attention. He looked thin and malnourished to the bone, barely acknowledging the world. But for a moment, he seemed perfect for her son.
So, you're telling that the boy standing in front of her was the same boy she saw that day. But why couldn't she recognise him anymore? The boy standing in front of her no longer appeared like a skeleton. The baggy shirt couldn't conceal his thin allure, but it boosted his terror.
"Oh," Elara's hand flew to her mouth in shock and amazement. Joy cracked inside her. She almost cried. Her wish to make the boy her daughter-in-law came true and that without her scheming anything. She wiped her fake tears and lunged forward to pull Leo into her overly motherly embrace. "Oh, darling!"
Leo let out a silent and breathless gasp, glancing wildly at Adrian for rescue, hands hovering everywhere unsurely.
Scared she'd shatter the fragile new life, Aaron tried his best. "Madam, please let him go first! We can talk calmly."
"Oh, darling!" Elara pulled back dramatically, cradling Leo's face tenderly. "You have changed so much! You've blossomed! Perfect for my son!"
She beamed at Adrian, who stood like a statue of ice. "You devil. You got married to such a cute boy and didn't tell your own mother."
Adrian's eyes narrowed lethally. "Mom, release him." His hand clamped Leo's shoulder progressively. "This isn't a circus. Stop making a scene."
"Nonsense! My daughter-in-law is coming with me. I have to talk so much with him. Aaron, redirect to the Hale suite at La Royale." She looped Leo's arm, not giving a damn about anyone and anything else. "Those Wards never deserved you, sweetling. Adrian's lucky to have you. Come, mommy will feed you all the delicious food in the world."
Leo felt overwhelmed by Madam Elara's excitement, her perfumed hugs, and endless cooing. His grey eyes widened in panic, chest heaving as he shrank against Adrian's side, fingers clutching his husband's sleeve like a lifeline. Adrian noticed his fright instantly, his sharp gaze softening just a bit as he clocked Leo's trembling form. Adrian's grip tightened reassuringly around him, his chill facade hiding a spark of possessive heat.
"Aaron?!" Adrian barked in rage. "Take this woman home. Right. Now."
Elara clutched Leo's arm tighter. "Absolutely not! I won't budge until you at least promise to bring my daughter-in-law to the official Hale estate tomorrow!"
Adrian's jaw tightened, losing his patience. He knew that stubborn glint, Elara Hale bent for no one.
"Fine," he growled. "Tomorrow. Now get out."
Victorious, Elara turned back to Leo, cupping his flushed cheek with tear-filled emerald eyes. "Oh, my precious boy-wait no, my sweet daughter-in-law! I can't wait to introduce you to my circle."
She planted a lipstick-smudged kiss on his forehead before Aaron, apologising nervously, escorted her out. "They'll be green with envy. My son is a married man now. They'll die of jealousy! WE WILL MEET TOMORROW! BE ON TIME-"
The doors clicked shut. Adrian sighed deeply, rubbing his temple. He glanced at Leo, whose overwhelmed expression still lingered. "She's a bit weird. I'm sorry about her."
Leo's grey eyes rose at him for a second before shaking his head as if saying it's okay. Adrian understood him and nodded. "Alright, let's get you to eat something."
Leo's eyes lit up like stars at those words, forgetting everything that had happened. Adrian stared for a heartbeat, the boy's innocent glow pulling at something deep in his chest. Leo ducked his head first, lashes fluttering shyly.
Adrian cleared his throat. "Let's go. Eating out, and then shopping."
Leo nodded again, beaming inwardly. After a trip to the restaurant, he also got the clothes that wouldn't tear or get snatched by his family's claws back home this time. Still, a secret part of him yearned to keep drowning in Adrian's oversized shirts which smelled like safety.
But no-he wouldn't be needy or annoying. Adrian hates that and he won't do anything that his husband hates.
Post-dinner, they hit the upscale mall and then home. Leo was almost asleep in the car when it hit the red light. It was a pretty active day for his not-so-busy life.
Aaron was waiting for the light to turn green when he heard something tapping on the window. Turning his head, he saw a grinning street vendor holding colorful cotton candies waving at him.
"Fresh spun, sir! Only for two bucks!"
Aaron was about to refuse but when he saw Leo through the rear-view mirror, his eyes lit with parental mischief. "Leo, do you want some? Sir, should I buy it?"
Adrian rolled his eyes skyward. He definitely needs to fire this idiot. Who eats cotton candies at this age-
He opened his mouth for a scold when his gaze snagged on Leo. The boy was staring unblinking at the candy, his grey eyes had turned huge and mesmerized, like a kitten spying yarn. In the dashboard glow, Leo's profile was ethereal, silky lashes casting shadows on his rosy cheeks, plump lips parted in wonder.
The way his fingers twitched subtly, yearning without demanding anything, hit Adrian like a sucker punch. The devastatingly pretty view pulled the devil's ironclad control.
What possessed the Devil himself? Nobody knows but he pulled the window down and thrust bills at the vendor. "Gimme all of it."
The vendor beamed and piled everything into Adrian who transferred them into Leo's lap. He ordered while glaring at Aaron's head. "This is all for you. Don't share with anyone else."
Aaron blinked in confusion. What just happened? The boss has gone crazy again. Does he really think he would steal from a kid? Humph! Boss really thinks of him as stingy.
Meanwhile, Leo twinkled those little grey eyes up at Adrian, then down at the mountain in his lap. It's as if those eyes were smiling at Adrian. Can eyes even smile?
What the hell am I even thinking? Adrian whipped his head to the window, cheeks faintly warm. What the hell am I doing?
The elites whispered of him as the Devil. If the circle knew that the infamous Hale was buying cotton candy for his little mute husband? It would be a scandal.
A small nibbling sound pierced his ears. He tried to ignore it but his curiosity won yet again. Just what's so fun about watching this hamster eating? He'd never understand. Turning his head against his own will, he found his little husband picking at a pink candy, pink sugar dusting his already red lips as his tongue darted out cutely to lick a stray strand. Strands clung to his cheeks, his nibbles were precise and adorable, his grey eyes content as he savored each melt.
While there was nothing to be mesmerised, Adrian was the opposite of it. He sighed sharply. I really need to see a doctor.
When they reached home, Aaron was the first one to hop out and open the doors for both of them.
He grabbed the shopping bags from the trunk, piling them neatly by the entrance before bowing. "Goodnight, boss. Sweet dreams!"
And he didn't forget to turn to Leo as well, flashing a silly exaggerated wave and a goofy grin. "Night-night, little madam!"
Arms overflowing with cotton candy bags, Leo froze awkwardly. How would he wave back to Mr. Nice assistant? The nice assistant was always so good to him. Won't he feel bad?
Seeing his panic, Aaron chuckled and peeled away in the car, taillights fading into the night.
Adrian strode ahead without a backward glance. "Don't dawdle, come inside quickly."
Leo scurried after him candy clouds bobbing precariously. Inside, he plopped the bags on the vast quartz island, surrounded by high-end appliances that still intimidated him.
So much candy... Leo's heart fluttered happily. He'd devoured half already. A childish joy he'd never known in the Ward neglect.
Though a sudden yell shattered his peace when a thunderous voice boomed from upstairs. Leo flinched hard at that. He'd watched Adrian eviscerate employees all day. It would make his knees weak and pulse race, yet weirdly, he would still feel safe near his husband.
Curiosity tugged him to the curving staircase. Halfway up, voices clarified and he could hear Adrian's unmistakable screams.
"Mom, you're banned from ever setting foot in this house! Do you hear me? Banned!" The phone must be on speaker because Elara's indignant reply crackled through the walls.
"Adrian Hale, you ungrateful brat! I was thrilled to see you finally married. So, I just thought of a little welcome-home surprise-"
"Surprise?" Adrian snarled angrily, pacing audible even from Leo's spot. "You really overstepped this time. This is my house. How dare you touch my things?!"
"Of course I have to. Why are you two living separately? You both are married."
Leo's heart threatened to skip a beat when he heard those words. It's not what he thought it was, right?
All his questions were answered when he opened his room. A gasp escaped his still sugar-stained lips.
His room had transformed completely. It was no longer dull, rather it was turned into a romantic fever dream. It was fully decorated. The King bed was drowning in the crimson silk sheets strewn with rose petals in heart shapes. There was also a bottle of champagne, strawberries dipped in chocolate on a silver tray. Scented candles beside a tray of massage oils, silk restraints peeking coyly from a drawer. A massive mirror angled toward the bed, and on the nightstand? Lingerie in Leo's size was folded with a note.
For my daughter-in-law's first night -Mama Hale.