Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart
Chapter 49 - 48

Chapter 49: Chapter 48

After their strange conversation earlier, when Raiden said they were going to live together for a year, he got scared because he didn’t know what Raiden had planned. He told his brother and Sora immediately assumed the worst, especially after recalling Raiden’s words earlier during the day. He took it upon himself to protect his brother’s chastity.

Sora remained perfectly still in his place, showing no signs of leaving. "What? You’re taking my brother home with you and I can’t come along? What are you planning to do with him? You have ulterior motives don’t you?"

Hiro nudged his brother with his elbow, signaling to him to be nice. Raiden was unpredictable.

Raiden scoffed. "My motives are none of yoir concern. This is between me and Hiro."

"Well Hiro is my brother so it does concern me." Sora retorted.

Furious, Raiden pressed against the car door and seized Sora by the collar, locking eyes with him. "Exit this car right now, unless you’re aiming for a rerun of our earlier discussion this morning."

"Raiden, what are you doing!" Hiro exclaimed, alarmed at Raiden’s abrupt aggression. Leaning over, he attempted to pry Raiden’s hand away, but Raiden’s strength proved insurmountable. "Let go of him!"

Seeing this, Sora gave a derisive smile. "Oh really? You’d do that in front of Hiro?"

Raiden hesitated, his gaze shifting to Hiro, before letting out a sigh and slowly releasing Sora.

"That’s what I thought." Sora grinned with smug satisfaction, fixing his shirt as he leaned back in his seat. He knew Raiden would not dare hit him in front of Hiro.

"Do what?" Hiro inquired, relieved that Raiden had released his brother but also curious. "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing." Raiden answered curtly. He turned around and took a seat on the opposite side of Hiro, leaving poor Hiro wedged between two grown men.

Out of spite, he draped an arm over Hiro’s shoulders, pulling him close. Sora just rolled his eyes and decided to ignore it. Poking a tiger too much could prove fatal. Although it annoyed him, he just pretended he didn’t see anything.

Hiro recalled their earlier conversation and remained still. He could tell that Raiden was angry and he didn’t want to anger him further. For some reason, he hated seeing Raiden angry. It made him uncomfortable.

Since Raiden was now in the car, Han hurriedly got in and began to drive.

minutes later, they arrived at Raiden’s residence, a sprawling villa of luxury. The majestic black gates parted seamlessly upon their approach, and Han skillfully navigated through. As they entered the premises, Hiro’s eyes widened in awe, taking in the grandeur that surrounded them.

The villa, fit for a billionaire’s taste, boasted lush gardens with meticulously manicured hedges and vibrant blooms. The architecture exuded elegance, with marble columns and large windows that invited natural light to dance within. The driveway led to a spacious garage where Han expertly parked the car.

Raiden groaned as he noticed a familiar white car parked nearby. Sora had already pissed him off by following them. He wondered what his uninvited guest wanted for he was not in a good mood.

He strolled into the villa hand in hand with Hiro and wasn’t surprised to see his best friend, Shoji, lounging on a lavish couch, indulging in popcorn as he watched a famous Japanese action movie playing on a state-of-the-art entertainment system.

Hiro didn’t mind Raiden holding his hand for he had been marveling at how beautiful Raiden’s house was. The living room was an exquisite blend of modern aesthetics and timeless elegance. Ivory-hued walls adorned with tasteful artwork provided a backdrop for plush, designer furniture arranged with meticulous precision. Ambient lighting accentuated the room’s sophistication, casting a warm glow on polished surfaces.

The pièce de résistance of the room was an enormous crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, refracting light in dazzling patterns. The expansive windows offered a panoramic view of meticulously landscaped gardens.

Lost in admiration, Hiro only noticed Shoji’s presence when Raiden’s displeased voice shattered the tranquil atmosphere. "What are you doing here?"

Raiden’s question hung in the air, and the room’s grandeur seemed to fade as an unexpected tension took hold.

Sora, who had recognized Shoji from the beginning, stood in a corner, grumbling, "You’ve gotta be kidding me." Now it wasn’t just Raiden but also Raiden’s best friend, another person he had bullied, present in the same space. He wondered how the Gods planned to fuck up his life more.

Shoji was taken aback, not anticipating Raiden’s voice. However, his surprise transformed into pleasant astonishment as he noticed Hiro peeking from behind Raiden. "Hey you’re back" he said, grinning. "And I can see you’ve brought company."

Hiro shifted closer to Raiden, giving Shoji a small wave.

Yet, Shoji’s upbeat mood swiftly plummeted when he spotted Sora in the background. His gaze shifted back to Raiden. "What is he doing here?"

Hiro found it surprising that a single glance at his brother could elicit such a reaction from Shoji. He wondered why both Raiden and Shoji didn’t like his brother. Nevertheless, he chose to remain silent, just peering over from behind Raiden. He could remember Shoji well. Another man that gave him the creeps.

"You haven’t answered my question." Raiden insisted. "What are you doing here? How did you get in? Why didn’t you call me?"

Hiro was surprised by Raiden’s behaviour. The last time he saw them together, they were very friendly. Even back in school, they were thick as thieves. Why was Raiden being so rude? He then recalled that Raiden had been angry since they got into the car. Could it be because Sora tagged along.

Shoji sighed, noticing Raiden’s unpleasant mood. Damned anger issues again. Raiden only behaved like that if he was angry or frustrated about something so he decided to play nice.

"Mrs Shoyo let me in. I just wanted to deliver the contract you asked me to generate." He said, gesturing at a brown envelope on the glass coffee table.

"You should have just given it to my secretary." Raiden said as he walked to the table and picked up the envelope.

"Well we haven’t met in a while so I wanted to see you and also inquire about your progress with..." He trailed off, his eyes darting to Hiro then back to Raiden.

Raiden gave him a warning with his eyes.

Shoji chuckled lightly. "Never mind. I can see that all is in order. How about lunch tomorrow to make up for your shitty attitude right now?"