n?" Chasel''s voice trembled slightly.


    A bead of cold sweat slid down his handsome cheek and plummeted into the abyssal darkness below.


    "You''ve got a great memory, Mr. Bright. We only met once, and you still recognize my voice. I''m touched." Ian let out a chillingugh from above. "You''re way better than that heartless, venomous bastard, Cassius."


    "Where am I? Why the hell did you kidnap me? What do you want?!" Chasel strained against his bonds. The freezing iron chains dug painfully into his skin, but no matter how hard he fought, he couldn''t break free.


    "I''d suggest you stop thrashing around,"n mockedzily. "I didn''t tie those knots too tight. Keep moving, and you''ll fall and smash yourself to pieces before I even have to lift a finger."


    Chasel''s spine went rigid. He didn''t dare move another muscle. "Ian, I don''t even know you. Why are you doing this? Is it just because of my face? Are you seriously not going to let this go?!"


    "Where do you get that kind of confidence?" In the darkness,n''s voice was utterly terrifying, echoing like a specter from hell. "You just happen to share a face with my brother, but that''s just a worthless shell. Your personalities, your souls—none of it is the same. My brother, Ethan, was a thousand times better and stronger than you. You don''t evenpare to him. Honestly, you should consider yourself lucky to even resemble him. Though I suppose you two do have one thing inmon. Your taste in men is equally garbage."


    "Ha... ''brother''?" Chasel scoffed, his pale lips curving into a cold sneer. His dark bangs clung to his sweat-drenched forehead. "He was just a crush you couldn''t have. You never even had the guts to confess to him, hiding behind this ''brotherhood'' crap. Years of sexual frustration must have finally driven you out of your damn mind! I get it now. I know why you hate Cassius so much! Because he got the man you couldn''t have! You''re just a pathetic, twisted creep trying to destroy everything he holds dear!"


    A suffocating silence hung in the air.


    Suddenly, a massive overhead light flickered on. A blindingly bright beam struck


    Chasel, shocking his system like a bucket of ice water.


    With a heavy mechanical clunk, a crane lift began to descend slowly from the


    ceiling, finallying to a halt right in front of Chasel.


    "You''re absolutely right. I was in love


    with him,"n admitted, leaning forward over the railing with his arms. crossed. "Unfortunately, that


    idiot was totally blind to gay feelings. He only had eyes for that piece of trash, Cassius. If he had chosen me, he never would have ended up so miserable. In the end, his blind devotion and terrible taste cost him his life."


    A cruel, predatory smile stretched acrossn''s face. "Actually, I''m already halfway to my goal. I want to destroy everything Cassius has He loves you, and tore you two apart I took two people who were wildly in love and made you despise each other, turning you into enemies. I couldn''t be happier with how that yed out. It''s the perfect tribute to Ethan''s memory."


    At those words, a suffocating wave of agony seized Chasel''s chest. His heart hammered violently against his ribs, each beat threatening to tear him apart.


    Cassius... Cassius...


    He closed his bloodshot eyes.


    Memories of their tender, passionate moments together flooded his mind, spreading from his heart to every nerve in his body. It hurt. It all hurt so damn much.