The soft, early morning light filtered through the coastal windows, but the warmth of the bed was gone. When Tim blinked his eyes open and reached out, his hand brushed against cold, empty sheets. Willy wasn't by his side. A sudden, sharp spike of panic hit his chest, and within seconds, Tim was throwing the covers off and sprinting down the grand staircase. His heart hammered against his ribs, a lingering, childhood fear clawing at his throat that his sanctuary had somehow vanished overnight.
But the moment he reached the lower pavilion, the tense posture melted away.
Willy was standing quietly in the kitchen, a soft hum escaping his lips as he carefully flipped bacon in a sizzling pan. The warm, comforting aroma of coffee filled the air. Seeing this quiet, domestic scene, the icy knot in Tim's chest completely dissolved.
He approached from behind with silent, soft steps, wrapping his strong arms securely around Willy's waist. He leaned in close, resting his heavy chin comfortably on Willy's shoulder, exhaling a long, ragged breath against his neck.
Tim whispered, his voice still thick with sleep, "What are you doing down here all by yourself? I woke up and you were gone... It terrified me."
Willy didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned back into the embrace, a fond smile breaking across his face as he stirred the eggs. "I'm making us breakfast, silly. You are always the one taking care of the kitchen and looking after me. I wanted to wake up early and surprise you for once."
Tim leaned up slightly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the warm skin of Willy's neck. "There was absolutely no need for you to do that, my love. My only job in this world is to take care of you. You just need to stay right by my side and let me handle the rest."
Willy turned his head slightly, his eyes melting with an intense, quiet sincerity. "Tim, we are a family now. We are supposed to look after each other. Don't tell me not to take care of you, because it's not a chore, it's what I want to do. And even if we hadn't crossed that line, I would still do it. I would look after you simply because I love you."
Tim's grip around his waist tightened, his eyes darkening with absolute devotion. "But I don't ever want you to get tired, and I certainly don't want you hurting your hands in the kitchen. I just want you to focus on whatever makes your soul happy. I want to be the one who builds your dreams."
Willy turned completely around in his arms, wrapping his hands around Tim's neck. "You already make me happy, Tim. You are my dream come true."
Before Tim could respond to the weight of those words, Willy leaned up and pressed their lips together in a deep, sweet morning kiss.
When they parted, Willy smiled beautifully, his thumbs tracing Tim's jawline. "You are the absolute best thing that has ever crossed my path."
"I should be the one saying those exact words," Tim murmured, his eyes locked onto Willy's face. "For the first time in ten years, I'm actually happy to wake up every morning, simply because I know your face will be the first thing I see."
Willy huffed a soft, amused laugh. "Oh, so that is why you came charging downstairs like a lunatic. Alright, from now on, I promise I won't slide out of bed until your eyes are wide open."
Overjoyed, Tim pulled Willy into a sudden, crushing hug. He squeezed him so tightly against his chest that Willy's breath caught completely.
"Tim... wait, I physically cannot breathe," Willy gasped out, laughing against his shoulder.
"Sorry, honey," Tim chuckled softly, loosening his grip just a fraction, but he still refused to let go, keeping his arms locked around Willy's waist like an anchor.
Willy patted his arm playfully. "Come on, let's sit down and eat before everything gets completely cold. Though, fair warning... I didn't actually taste it while cooking, so the food might be a little salty."
Tim smirked, finally letting him move. "It doesn't matter. I love salty food. And even if it tastes terrible, I will still swallow every single bite because your hands made it for me."
They sat down at the small terrace table, and Willy watched him like a hawk, nervously biting his lip as Tim picked up his fork and took a massive bite of the eggs. Willy waited anxiously for a reaction, wondering if his culinary skills were even remotely passable.
Tim chewed thoughtfully, his expression turning into one of pure, unadulterated awe. "Willy, this is incredible. I don't think I have ever eaten a meal this delicious in my entire life."
Willy blinked, a sudden wave of suspicion hitting him. Is it really that good? Skeptical, Willy picked up his own fork and took a small bite. The second the food hit his tongue, his eyes widened in horror. It was an absolute salt bomb. Unable to even swallow the bite, Willy instantly grabbed his water glass and downed the entire thing, coughing slightly. Meanwhile, Tim casually took another massive bite of bacon, completely unfazed.
Willy stared at him in utter disbelief. "Tim, how are you physically chewing that? It's completely inedible! I think I accidentally dumped all the salt in the universe into that pan."
Tim raised an eyebrow, a teasing, brilliant grin breaking across his sharp features. "Really? I genuinely think it's perfect. I told you, my sweet, I have a massive craving for salty things."
Willy crossed his arms, looking at him with a narrow, highly amused glare. "Oh, really? Fine then. From this day forward, I am going to cook every single one of your meals exactly like this."
Tim burst into a loud, thoroughly delighted laugh. "That sounds like a flawless plan, honey. I'll go ahead and purchase a major salt conglomerate today, because the supply we currently have in the pantry isn't going to survive your cooking."
Willy rolled his eyes, a beautiful flush spreading over his cheeks. "Stop teasing me."
Tim stood up, smoothly rolling up the sleeves of his soft hoodie, exposing his forearms. He walked over to the refrigerator, pulling out a fresh batch of eggs and premium bacon. Willy leaned back in his chair, quietly watching Tim move around the kitchen counter with effortless elegance. Tim noticed the heavy, intense way Willy was staring at him from across the room and smirked.
"You're staring at me like you're planning to eat me for breakfast instead, sweetheart," Tim purred wickedly.
Willy's face burned a deeper red, but he maintained his ground. "That might be true, but we actually have a strict schedule today. Have you completely forgotten that we are supposed to be driving out to your grandparents' estate?"
Tim didn't turn around, expertly cracking an egg into a fresh, clean pan. "We can arrive late. Trust me, they won't get angry with us."
"Tim..." Willy warned.
"I already know exactly what lecture you're about to deliver, honey," Tim laughed softly, copying Willy's serious tone. 'We absolutely cannot be late, Tim, it's disrespectful.' Don't worry, your fresh breakfast will be ready in exactly two minutes."
True to his word, Tim masterfully prepared a fresh, perfectly balanced plate and placed it gently in front of Willy, sitting down beside him.
As Willy took a bite of the delicious food, a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, what are we supposed to bring as a greeting gift? We can't just show up empty-handed."
Tim shrugged casually. "I'm bringing you to meet them. Trust me, that is more than enough to make them lose their minds."
Willy shook his head firmly. "No, it's definitely not enough. We need to bring something proper."
Tim smiled warmly at his stubbornness. "Alright, alright. Let's take a bottle of rare vintage whiskey to Grandpa Theodore. I have a few select bottles locked away in my home office, and he absolutely worships it. And as for Grandma Elena, I'll order a massive arrangement of fresh flowers to be delivered to their door right now."
Willy watched him pull out his phone to handle the order, a quiet sigh escaping his lips. "As always... you handle absolutely everything before I can even process it."
Throughout this entire trip, Tim had been effortlessly financing every single luxury, meal, and detail. Willy felt a lingering, awkward knot in his stomach because he simply wasn't accustomed to being looked after this way. Whenever he went out with his university inner circle or his wealthy siblings, Willy was fiercely independent; he was always the one throwing down his card and paying for everyone else.
Willy looked down at his plate, his voice dropping into a quiet, hesitant register. "Tim... I feel incredibly awkward about this. You are paying for every single variable on this trip."
Tim stopped typing, reaching across the table to firmly capture Willy's hand, his thumb tracing the platinum wedding band. "I'm not paying for anything, sweetheart. It's your money. The second we signed those registry papers, my entire wealth became yours. So technically, you are literally buying all of this yourself. Not me."
Willy shook his head, his stubborn pride flaring up. "No, I don't care about that. The second we return to campus, I am transferring half of the expenses straight back to your account."
Tim's expression went incredibly firm, his dark eyes locking onto Willy's with an unyielding intensity. "There is absolutely zero requirement for that, Willy, and you are not transferring a single dime to me. In fact, my assistant is already preparing a private card linked directly to my main holdings for you. You can buy whatever your soul desires, and you can spend however many millions you want. I don't care. It is your money now. What I possess belongs to you. I am completely refusing to argue about this metric."
Willy stared at him, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the boy's generosity. "Why... Why are you doing all of this for me, Tim? I haven't even given you a final answer about our permanent living arrangements yet."
Tim's gaze softened into something so profoundly beautiful and pure it took Willy's breath away. He squeezed Willy's hand tightly. "Because your absolute happiness is the only thing that carries weight in my universe, Willy. Even... even if you eventually decide to walk away from me, I still want you to be completely free, independent, and secure. I want you to use this wealth to protect yourself. That way, you will never, ever be forced to compromise your freedom or work a single day for your parents' suffocating corporation."
Willy sat frozen, his chest aching with an overwhelming wave of emotion. How can a human being do absolutely everything for me and expect nothing in return? Willy thought, his eyes stinging. He manages to shock and surprise my heart every single second we breathe the same air. I love him so much it hurts. In that exact, quiet morning moment, looking across the table at Tim's fierce devotion, Willy realized with absolute certainty that he wanted to spend every remaining breath of his life with this boy.
Willy looked straight into Tim's eyes, his voice steady and full of unyielding love. "I'm never going to leave you, Tim. I'll be with you, every moment."
The moment those words left Willy's lips, Tim choked up. A sudden rush of hot tears spilled over his eyelashes, track-lining down his sharp cheeks. He stared at Willy, his chest heaving as he found himself completely unable to form a coherent sentence.
Tim whispered, his voice trembling violently, "Really? Do you... do you truly trust me that much, Willy? No matter what dark things surface... you won't ever walk away from me?"
Willy hadn't anticipated such an intensely raw reaction from the boy. His heart broke at the sight of Tim's tears. Moving instantly, Willy slid out of his chair and pulled Tim up, burying his face against his chest and wrapping his arms around him in a fierce, protective embrace. He gently reached up, his fingers tenderly wiping the tears from Tim's wet cheeks.
"I trust you with my entire life, Tim," Willy murmured softly against his hair, holding him as if to shield him from the world. "And I will stay right by your side, no matter what storm comes our way."
But Tim's silent sobs wouldn't stop; the decades of isolation and fear were pouring out of him all at once. Willy, desperate to anchor his crying husband, let out a soft, highly amused chuckle against his ear.
"I'll stay with you forever, honey... but you are going to have to survive my extremely salty cooking from time to time. I just hope your system doesn't mind."
Tim let out a wet, breathless laugh, the heavy crying finally breaking apart as he buried his face deeper into Willy's neck. He calmed down slowly, his breathing finally stabilizing. "You can't execute that cooking protocol too often, sweetheart... otherwise, there won't be a single ounce of salt left on the face of the earth."
Willy laughed softly along with him, kissing his temple. "If you want, you can go lay down and rest for another hour, and we can head out to the countryside manor later."
Tim pulled back, a soft, incredibly peaceful smile on his face as he shook his head. "There's no need, my love. I'll go get dressed right now. The floral delivery should be arriving at the front gates any minute."
They both changed into comfortable, elegant clothes, ensuring everything was fully packed and locked down. As Tim initiated the ignition of the sports car, he glanced over at the passenger seat.
"Are you still feeling nervous, honey?"
Willy adjusted his coat collar, a small, anxious breath escaping his lips. "I'm a little nervous, yeah. But... we are walking into this together, so I know everything will be completely fine."
The drive was incredibly short; their residences were separated by mere minutes along the stunning coastal road. The moment the car pulled up to the beautiful, classic wrought-iron gates of the grandparents' estate, Willy's heart began hammering violently against his ribs. Tim noticed the tension instantly. He reached across the console, firmly interlocking their fingers, giving Willy a reassuring squeeze.
"I am entirely certain they are going to absolutely worship you, Willy," Tim whispered gently. "Are you ready to cross the threshold?"
Willy hesitated for a split second, but looking at Tim's unyielding support, he took a deep, grounding breath. "I'm ready."
Tim smoothly opened the heavy wooden front door, his voice echoing loudly through the elegant, sunlit foyer. "I'm home! Your absolute favorite grandson has officially returned to the grid. Where is everyone hiding?"
Elena and Theodore were already waiting anxiously in the grand living room. The moment their eyes locked onto Tim, they bolted up from the sofa, throwing their arms around the boy in a fierce, emotional embrace.
Grandmother Elena pulled back, her eyes scanning his face with deep worry. "Oh, Tim, look at you... you've become so thin! Have you been skipping meals? Haven't you been sleeping properly on campus?"
Grandfather Theodore gripped his shoulder, his voice heavy with old regret. "You should have never packed your bags and left this province, boy."
Tim laughed softly, gently steering them back toward the seating arrangement. "Wait, wait, let's all sit down and talk calmly. But before we unpack the history... I want to formally introduce you to my incredibly important guest."
It was only then that the elderly couple's attention turned to the doorway, where Willy was standing quietly, looking incredibly polite but visibly tense.
Tim stepped directly to Willy's side, his arm wrapping securely around his waist, his voice filled with an unmistakable, ringing pride. "This is my other half and the only love of my life, William. Willy, these are the anchors of my world, my grandparents, Elena and Theodore."
Willy offered a warm, respectful bow. "Hello. It is an absolute honor to finally meet you both."
The grandparents went entirely silent for a long beat, staring at the beautiful boy in stunned awe, before Elena suddenly stepped forward and pulled Willy into a warm, fragrant embrace. Theodore followed right after, wrapping his strong arms around Willy's shoulders. The sudden, intense wave of familial affection was completely unexpected, causing Willy's eyes to widen in surprise.
Tim pouted dramatically from the side. "Wow. Have I officially lost my title as the favorite grandson within a single frame?"
Elena pulled back, her eyes shining as she patted Willy's cheek. "We are absolutely overjoyed to welcome you into our home, William."
Theodore looked at Willy, a deep, emotional sigh escaping his chest. "I... I honestly never allowed myself to believe this day would actually manifest in my lifetime."
Tim crossed his arms, sulking like a child. "Hello? I am literally standing right here in the room, have you two completely deleted me from your systems already?"
Tim was only playing, of course. He knew his grandparents were simply overwhelmed with pure joy because they had never, in their wildest dreams, imagined the cold, isolated Tim would ever allow himself to fall in love with another human being. Seeing Willy standing by his side filled the old house with a light it hadn't seen in a decade.
Elena caught Willy's hand, guiding him toward the main sofa. "Come, William, come sit down right next to me and let's talk properly. This stubborn boy tells us absolutely nothing over the phone."
Willy was gently placed right in the center of the arrangement, while Tim was playfully forced to occupy a separate armchair across from them.
Elena smiled warmly, leaning in. "Tell me, William... Do you know Tim from the university campus?"
Willy nodded, his nervousness completely melting away under her sweet gaze. "Yes, ma'am. We are actually both members of the elite marksmanship club."
Theodore's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ah! Did you both just return from the national tournament bracket?"
Tim beamed proudly from his chair. "Yes, Grandpa. And Willy completely obliterated the competition and won first-place gold."
Theodore let out a powerful laugh, clapping his hands together. "Congratulations, William! That is an astronomically massive achievement!"
Elena's eyes sparked with delight. "Oh, congratulations, my dear! We absolutely must throw a grand celebration feast to honor this spectacular success of yours."
Willy realized Tim had been entirely correct; the genuine warmth and kindness radiating from the elderly couple made him completely forget his anxiety. He felt incredibly safe and comfortable sitting between them.
Willy smiled softly, waving his hands politely. "Thank you both so much, truly... but there is absolutely no need to go through all that trouble for me."
"Of course it is necessary!" Elena insisted firmly. "You have achieved such a monumental victory, how could we possibly let it slide without a feast?"
Theodore nodded in agreement. "The lady is entirely right, William."
Tim smirked from his corner, leaning back. "There is absolutely zero point in trying to deploy a refusal, honey. Once Grandma sets an objective, she executes it."
Willy nodded with a fond laugh, completely surrendering to their hospitality.
After a few more minutes of pleasant conversation, Theodore's expression turned slightly serious. He shifted his gaze to his grandson. "Tim, I need to discuss a few private estate matters with you. Shall we migrate up to the home office for a brief moment?"
Tim's posture sharpened slightly. "Sure. Willy, I'll return to your side in a few minutes."
Willy gave him a reassuring nod as Theodore and Tim exited the living room, heading up the grand staircase to the second floor. They entered the quiet, leather-scented office, closing the heavy oak door before sitting down across from each other.
Theodore leaned forward, his eyes filled with deep, paternal affection. "Tim... I am so profoundly happy for you, my boy. But tell me honestly... are you entirely certain everything is going to be okay with your situation?"
Tim's expression went completely flat, the warm boy from downstairs vanishing into a serious, guarded young man. "I know exactly what variable you're worried about, Grandpa. There is only one final, high-stakes assignment left for me to execute. Until that bracket closes, I am deploying every single resource I possess to shield and protect Willy. I've already negotiated terms with the chief boss. This is my absolute last task for the organization, and then my contract is permanently dissolved. I'll be entirely free. Don't worry, Grandpa. Willy is the most precious thing in my universe. I will never allow a single drop of danger to cross his perimeter."
Theodore let out a worried sigh. "If you require any physical backup or financial leverage, you notify me instantly, understand? Are... are those shadow operators still sending mucking threats to your personal device?"
"Yes," Tim admitted coldly, his jaw clenching. "But I will completely liquidate that issue the exact second I return to the city. I've already mapped out the counter-strategy."
"I can talk to the upper board members myself," Theodore offered grimly.
"Talking won't reconfigure anything at this stage, Grandpa," Tim said, his voice turning icy. "I know exactly how to execute this play. They want to force a face-to-face meeting with me, and I intend to give them an incredibly unforgettable welcome."
Theodore stared at him, his eyes heavy with a deeper, older pain. "Tim... have you considered talking to them again? Your parents... they desperately want to see your face, boy. They profoundly regret every single choice they made after the tragedy."
The moment his parents were mentioned, a flash of pure, burning anger ignited in Tim's dark eyes. "I am well aware of their regrets, Grandpa, but I have absolutely zero desire to breathe the same air as them. I know she is your daughter and he is your son-in-law, but I physically cannot find the capacity to forgive their sins. You know better than anyone that for ten agonizing years, I couldn't sleep a single night without violent terrors because of what they did. It is entirely thanks to Willy's presence that my mind can finally find peace in the dark. If I force myself to meet them, I am terrified the nightmares will breach my perimeter all over again. Please... I beg you to understand my position."
Theodore looked down, his heart breaking for his grandson. He understood Tim's trauma completely, but as the patriarch, he desperately wanted to patch the bleeding wounds of his family before he died. For a decade, their entire bloodline had been violently torn apart, hollowed out by tragedy. He couldn't bear to watch his remaining family members drift further into the dark.
"I understand, my boy," Theodore whispered softly. "But at least grant them a single hearing, and then lock down your final decision. Let them voice the truth, and perhaps the network can finally change."
Tim's laugh was sharp, bitter, and entirely devoid of warmth. "The truth? The truth won't reconfigure the past, Grandpa. It won't bring my brother back from the grave. Do you want to know the real, pathetic reason they are suddenly begging me to return to the family mansion? They don't care about my well-being or my healing. They are just terrified of losing my global assets, and they want to secure control over my future." Tim's eyes went entirely lethal. "Tell them to keep their distance from my life."
Theodore blinked, completely caught off guard. "What on earth are you implying, Tim?"
"They've already meticulously hand-picked a high-society bride for me behind my back, Grandpa," Tim revealed, a dangerous smirk curling his lips. "That is the entire reason they are demanding my return. They want to force a political marriage to secure an heir. They couldn't even manage to safely raise their own children, and now they want to dictate the terms of my future family? They will never, as long as I draw breath, separate Willy and me. And if they even attempt to breach our perimeter... I have an incredibly brutal counter-play waiting for them."
Theodore sat in stunned, absolute silence, entirely frozen in his chair. He had absolutely zero words left to offer. Is this truly how they are choosing to handle Tim after all this tragedy? He couldn't have possibly imagined his own daughter would hatch such a manipulative, suffocating plan.