RODERICK DE VERE SECRET OBSESSION |BL

CHAPTER 4

That same day....

The rain outside mirrored the storm raging inside Elion. He sat slumped on Carson's plush velvet sofa, his face a mask of despair, tears streaming down his cheeks. Carson, his best friend since childhood, sat beside him, a hand gently resting on his back, offering silent comfort.

"He... he brought two women home last night," Elion choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "He... he brought them into our house, into our sala, and..." He couldn't finish the sentence, his voice cracking with the weight of betrayal.

Carson's heart ached for his friend. He knew Jacob, Elion's husband, was a charming rogue, but the depth of his betrayal was staggering. He had witnessed Jacob's careless flirtations, his blatant disregard for boundaries, but this was a whole other level of disrespect.

"I... I just don't understand," Elion whispered, his voice barely a murmur. "We were supposed to be... we were supposed to be happy. We were supposed to be in love."

Carson squeezed Elion's shoulder, his own throat tightening with empathy. "I know, Elion. I know. But it's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong."

Elion shook his head, his eyes filled with a pain that went beyond words. "He... he used our sala," he choked out, the words laced with disgust and disbelief. "He... he brought them into our space, our sanctuary, and... and defiled it."

Carson felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he knew it was not his place to express it. Elion needed to vent, to grieve, to process the betrayal. He sat silently, allowing Elion to pour out his pain, his voice cracking with every word.

"He... he laughed," Elion said, his voice breaking. "He laughed with them, while I... while I was away. He... he didn't even care."

Carson's heart ached for his friend. He knew Jacob, Elion's husband, was a charming rogue, but the depth of his betrayal was staggering. He had witnessed Jacob's careless flirtations, his blatant disregard for boundaries, but this was a whole other level of disrespect.

"I... I just don't understand," Elion whispered, his voice barely a murmur. "We were supposed to be... we were supposed to be happy. We were supposed to be in love."

The sound of the front door opening cut through the heavy silence. Carson's older brother, Roderick De Vere, stood in the doorway, his face a mask of concern. He had seen Elion arrive, his face pale and drawn, and his heart had clenched with a mixture of sympathy and something else, something he couldn't quite define.

Roderick had always been secretly in love with Elion, his feelings simmering beneath the surface for years. He had watched Elion and Jacob's relationship blossom, a bittersweet ache in his chest. He had tried to bury his feelings, to be a good friend, a supportive brother, but seeing Elion in such pain, his face contorted with grief, ignited a fire within him.

Roderick's gaze swept over Elion, his eyes filled with a protectiveness he couldn't explain. He saw the way Elion's shoulders slumped, the way he was barely holding back another wave of tears, and a wave of anger washed over him.

"What happened?" Roderick asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Elion looked up, his eyes meeting Roderick's, a flicker of something akin to hope igniting within him. He knew Roderick, he trusted him, and seeing him there, his face etched with concern, offered a sliver of comfort in the midst of his pain.

"He... he cheated," Elion whispered, his voice barely audible. "He brought two women home last night, and... and..."

Roderick's face hardened, his jaw tightening. He had always disliked Jacob, his brother's arrogant demeanor and careless charm rubbing him the wrong way. But seeing him hurt Elion, his heart ignited a rage he couldn't control.

"He... he what?" Roderick demanded, his voice edged with a dangerous intensity.

Elion recounted the events of the previous night, his voice breaking with every word. Roderick listened, his face growing darker with every detail, his fists clenched at his sides. He couldn't stand to see Elion in such pain, his heart breaking for the man he loved, the man who had unknowingly stolen his heart.

"I... I don't know what to do," Elion whispered, his voice filled with despair.

Roderick's gaze met Elion's, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and protectiveness. He knew he couldn't stand by and watch Elion suffer. He had to do something, he had to help him, he had to make things right.

"You don't have to do anything," Roderick said, his voice low and reassuring. "I'm here for you, Elion. I'm here to help you through this."

Elion looked up at Roderick, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. He couldn't understand why Roderick was so concerned, why he was so protective, but he felt a sense of comfort in his presence.

"Thank you," Elion whispered, his voice laced with exhaustion.

Roderick smiled, a small, reassuring gesture that held a promise of strength and support. He knew he couldn't erase Elion's pain, but he could be there for him, he could be his rock, he could be his refuge.

The storm outside raged on, but inside the mansion, a different kind of storm was brewing. A storm of anger, of protectiveness, of a love that had been simmering for years, finally ready to burst forth.

And in the midst of it all, Elion, heartbroken and vulnerable, found a glimmer of hope in the eyes of the man who had always loved him in silence.

To be continue....