CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123 LOST TOUCH.

He had been standing there for minutes now, lost in deep thoughts, so much that he didn’t even notice when Daniel arrived—until a soft tap on his shoulder pulled him back to reality.

"Are you not coming for the tutorial again?" Daniel asked, his voice gentle but teasing. He was already prepared, eager to help Draven than usual. He looked bright that morning, full of energy and ready to make the day count.

Draven didn’t respond immediately. He stuttered a few words and shifted backward.

"I’m coming... of course, I wouldn’t miss it." He forced a smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes.

Daniel, however, didn’t need a soothsayer to know something was terribly wrong. The ever-chatty Draven now looked gloomy, withdrawn. Something must have happened.

"Are you okay? Is everything alright?" Daniel asked softly, stepping closer, trying to feel his temperature. But Draven took another step back.

"Dan, it’s just a little pickle, I’m fine. We were talking about tutoring a minute ago—let me just grab the materials we’ll need."

With that, Draven walked away quietly, his smile fading as quickly as it came.

Now alone in the spot where Draven had stood, Daniel’s eyes followed him. He noticed something unusual—Draven didn’t even turn back to look at him. The normal Draven always did. Instead, he just kept walking until he reached the staircase and climbed it to his room.

"What’s happening?" Daniel muttered, taking a step forward. But then, a sharp pain shot through his lower abdomen, making him stop and grimace.

"What the fuck was that..." he gasped. The pain was hellish, twisting.

Nothing made sense anymore. Why all these signs this morning? And to think tomorrow was supposed to be his birthday—yet his day was already turning into a nightmare.

He clenched his fists. No, he wouldn’t let this slide. He would go to Alex and Xylander and demand answers. Something was off, and he needed to know what.

As he was walking toward the main corridor, he caught wind of a low discussion between Xylander and Alexander—it was more of a whisper, but Daniel’s sharp hearing picked it up.

"Tomorrow, the last day of the honeymoon, we’re booking a flight for Daniel," Xylander said, his tone serious. "He needs to go somewhere far and safe."

"Even if it means conjuring something," he added darkly, "I’ll do it. Draven will go after him, and you and I will handle Mateo. It’s time we end this feud between the two families."

Alexander’s jaw tightened. "Is this really the best option, Xylander? You know I can’t move without your say, but I don’t care about anyone else apart from Daniel and you. I can burn down the fucking world if I have to." He paced back and forth, clearly torn.

"Talk to Daniel first before you do this," Alexander urged. "You love him. Don’t make such a big decision behind his back. He might hate you for it—he might think you abandoned him."

Xylander turned to face him, and Alexander froze. His eyes—red, heavy—were full of exhaustion and heartbreak.

"Alex, it’s for his safety," Xylander said quietly. "Him and his baby must go far away. Our baby. This family... it’s the only peace I’ve ever known, and I can’t endanger him anymore. He has to go."

Daniel’s body shook where he stood, hidden in the hallway. His chest tightened.

How could he do this without even telling him? Did they not value his opinion?

He wasn’t scared of Mateo. Not even close. So why were they acting like he was fragile? His eyes burned as tears welled up. He turned away, ready to leave, when something else caught his ear—something worse.

"Moreover," Xylander continued, voice cracking, "I’m worried Daniel will leave me once he finds out how I brought him here... or how I avenged what Adrian did to my sister. If he knew, he’d hate me—and that thought alone breaks my heart to pieces, Alex. I’m torn apart."

Daniel’s eyes widened.

Wait—what?!

He knew about him beforehand? He planned all this?

The realization hit him like lightning. The way Alexander’s car conveniently appeared that night, right after his escape from Adrian—it all made sense now. It wasn’t coincidence. It was a setup.

He remembered that Alex has mentioned once that Xylander knows him, but he ignored it thinking it was a random discussion between two friends.

"How stupid have I been..." he whispered bitterly.

So Xylander had manipulated him into coming here. That charming, protective man—a manipulator all along.

He grinned darkly, madness flickering behind his tears. "So that’s it..."

If they thought they could dump him in some faraway country just because he was pregnant, they were dead wrong.

Who cared what Xylander did to Adrian? That was his business, not Daniel’s. But to plan all this behind his back—to abandon him without a word—now that was unforgivable.

He’d make him answer for it.

But first—he needed to know what was wrong with Draven and what Xylander was really hiding.

If they go low, he’d go lower.

Game on.

Daniel turned and walked away, his mind set. He didn’t know where to start, but Alexander would talk—one way or another.

Breakfast came soon after, brought in by Norman, one of the two chefs. But Daniel noticed immediately—Thomas wasn’t there this time. Just Norman.

He didn’t mention it. Instead, he let Norman serve the bread, jam, and freshly squeezed juice. The sweet scent of the jam filled the room, warm and inviting—but for the first time in a long while, Daniel had no appetite. The smell made him nauseous.

He forced himself to sit, his gaze drifting across the silent table. Nobody spoke. Nobody even met his eyes. The tension was thick.

"So..." Daniel began, clicking his fingers lightly against his cup. "Hope you all slept well. You know, I woke up alone today—no one around—and now it seems like everyone’s avoiding me. If we don’t talk about it now, then when?"

His tone was casual, but his eyes sharp.

Draven looked even worse. He hadn’t touched his food, hadn’t said a word. Daniel’s worry deepened.

Why were men always like this—trying to handle everything alone, pretending to be fine?

"Draven, don’t you like the food?" Alexander finally asked, breaking the silence.

Draven blinked like someone waking from a trance. "Hmm? Were you guys saying something just now?" He faked a smile again.

Alexander exchanged a look with Xylander—one that didn’t escape Draven’s notice.

"I didn’t sleep well," Draven said quickly. "Sorry. After breakfast, I’ll just head to my room, if you don’t mind."

The smile stayed on his lips, stretched so tight it almost looked painful. Daniel wanted to scream.

Then suddenly, both Draven and Alexander’s phones rang. They stood up almost at once, heading to opposite corners to answer their calls.

That was it. Daniel slammed his fist on the table, startling Alex, who nearly jumped.

"You better have a good explanation for what’s going on with Xylander," Daniel said coldly, "unless you want to be in serious trouble."

Alex raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You think you can threaten me? How ridiculous." He laughed. "Good one, Daniel—"

He didn’t finish the sentence. Daniel was already moving toward him, slow, deliberate.

"Really?" Daniel’s voice dropped to a whisper as he reached him.

With a teasing, dangerous smile, Daniel trailed his fingers down Alex’s exposed chest... then grabbed him tightly by the crotch, squeezing his balls hard enough to make Alex’s face turn ghost white.

"I know how to bring out the worst in a man," Daniel murmured. "Now talk. What did Xylander mean by that feud with Adrian? How exactly did you two manipulate me into coming to the Golden Palace? And last but not least—tell me where Mateo is. Because I know you know."

He leaned closer, his breath warm, voice sharp as a knife.

"And one more thing—train me. I want to learn how to use a gun. I’ll need it soon. Unless you’d rather I go straight to Adrian Valez and ask him for help?"

Daniel pulled back, eyes burning cold.

Alex swallowed hard, speechless. He had always known Daniel was smart, but he never expected him to piece everything together so fast.

Then, after a long, tense silence, Alex chuckled faintly.

"They grow up so fast..." he muttered, half-terrified, half-impressed.