Sleeping With My Step Daddy
Chapter 69: "End The Engagement"

Chapter 69: "End The Engagement"

After the conversation with Bast, Takeshi called Kai into his room.

Kai sat beside him, looking confused. "Dad?"

Takeshi placed a hand on Kai’s shoulder. "Kai, are you happy to meet Sebastian Vaughn again?"

Kai nodded.

Takeshi looked at him seriously. "I know you’re very happy... and now, you can spend more time with Sebastian Vaughn."

Kai looked at him, hesitant. "Dad, but... you—"

Takeshi interrupted with a sigh. "I don’t like him. But he gives you a better life... and protection. So I can’t refuse him."

Kai smiled warmly. "Thanks, Dad."

Takeshi patted Kai’s back. "For your happiness, I can do everything."

---

Meanwhile, Bast sat in Kai’s room, flipping through an old wedding album of Jennifer and Takeshi. As he turned the page, his eyes landed on a baby photo.

It was Kai.

Bast smiled. "He looked so cute... those eyes."

Just then, the door opened. Kai stepped in, his expression relaxed and happy. Bast looked up at him.

Kai smiled. "What are you doing?"

Bast said, "Just looking at the pictures. You look so cute."

Kai walked over and sat beside him, looking down at the childhood photo.

Bast chuckled softly. "You look so cute."

Kai blushed....

"But now," Bast teased, "you’re even more cute and adorable."

He gently squeezed Kai’s cheeks and kissed him.

Bast leaned closer, still flipping through the album, and said with a soft smile, "I wonder... if we had a baby, would the baby be as cute as you?"

Kai’s cheeks flushed a deep pink. "B-Bast... we can’t make a baby."

Bast wrapped an arm around Kai’s waist, pulling him gently. "Can’t we try? If we try really hard... we might make one."

Kai shoved his chest lightly, face burning. "Enough! We’re both men!"

Bast burst into laughter, his voice warm and teasing. "I know, I know. I’m just kidding."

Kai sat silently, lost in thought.

Bast noticed the distant look on his face and leaned in slightly. "Kai, what are you thinking about?"

Kai hesitated before replying softly, "I’m just scared... What if Dad doesn’t accept our relationship?"

Bast’s voice was calm but firm. "I don’t care if someone accepts our relationship or not. You’re mine. That’s all that matters."

Kai turned to him, frowning. "Bast, he’s my dad. You can’t say it like that."

Bast sighed. "Kai..."

Kai cut in, his voice trembling a little. "I don’t want to lose either of you."

Bast gently held Kai’s face, his eyes softening. "Okay... for you, I can do anything. So don’t worry—I’ll impress Mr. Takeshi. I’ll make sure he gives me permission to marry you."

Kai’s lips curved into a small smile. "I love you."

"I love you too," Bast whispered, pulling him into a tight hug. "And don’t be sad. I hate it when my wifey is sad."

Kai didn’t reply. He just closed his eyes, letting himself melt into Bast’s warmth and love.

In the evening, Reiji sat alone in a luxurious restaurant, his eyes fixed on his phone screen as he waited. The low hum of quiet conversations and the clinking of cutlery filled the elegant space. After a few moments, the person he had been waiting for finally arrived—Eden.

Eden slid into the seat across from him and casually asked, "Why are you calling me?"

Reiji didn’t waste time. His expression was serious as he spoke. "I want to talk to you about that night."

Eden smirked. "What, you want to know which position we did it in?"

Reiji stayed calm, his tone firm. "I know we didn’t sleep together."

Eden’s smile faltered. He studied Reiji’s face, then asked quietly, "How could you say that?"

"Because I went to my doctor," Reiji replied flatly.

Eden looked away, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Okay... it’s true. We didn’t sleep together."

Reiji’s expression didn’t change. "Was Sebastian Vaughn the one who told you to do it?"

Eden shook his head slowly. "No... It was my plan. I just wanted to fool you."

Reiji stared at him in silence for a moment before speaking, his voice steady. "I don’t care about that. I’m just shocked that Kai’s in love with his stepdad."

Eden raised an eyebrow. "Do you... love Kai?"

Reiji didn’t answer the question directly. "That’s none of your business. I just wanted to clear things up." He stood, pushing his chair back. "Eden, don’t play with people like that. It’s horrible."

Without waiting for a reply, he walked away.

Eden sat frozen, looking down at the table. A wave of guilt washed over him.

I really did wrong to Reiji...

Reiji sat in his car in silence, staring down at the steering wheel. A quiet murmur escaped his lips.

"It’s real... I’m in love with Kai... but he doesn’t love me. He loves someone else."

His eyes filled with tears, and he blinked rapidly before wiping them away with the back of his hand. With a deep breath, he started the engine and drove off.

Some time later, he arrived at the house.

One of the servants greeted him at the door. "Sir, the entire family is already seated at the dinner table."

Reiji nodded silently. His face was serious, sadness still lingering in his expression as he stepped inside and walked to the dining room. He took his usual seat without a word.

Meanwhile, Kai’s phone buzzed under the table. He glanced at the screen—a message from Bast.

> "I’ll pick you up for dinner."

Kai quickly typed a reply.

> "Nope. We can’t meet now."

Then he turned off the screen and placed the phone face-down.

The atmosphere at the table was quiet and heavy. No one spoke. Everyone quietly continued eating.

After dinner, Reiji suddenly stood up and cleared his throat. "Uncle Takeshi... I want to say something. To everyone."

Takeshi looked up, confused. "What is it?"

Without hesitation, Reiji pulled the engagement ring from his finger and held it up. "Kai and I... we can’t get married. Because I love someone else."

Gasps echoed around the room. Takeshi’s expression turned to fury.

"What the hell are you doing, Reiji?!"

Reiji bowed his head slightly. "I’m sorry, Uncle. But I can’t lie anymore. I don’t love Kai. And he deserves someone who truly does."

Kai looked over at Reiji, his face calm but conflicted.

Takeshi slammed his hand on the table. "How dare you dump my son like that?!"

Riko leaned forward. "Reiji, what are you saying?"

Yuna added with disbelief, "You must be joking, son..."

Reiji shook his head. "I’m not joking."

Takeshi turned to Riko angrily. "Riko, look at your son!"

But before Riko could answer, Kai finally spoke up. "Dad, please... listen. It’s true. We don’t love each other. I was the one who told Reiji to end the engagement."

Takeshi snapped his head toward him. "Kai, why...?"

Kai’s voice was quiet but firm. "Because I don’t like Reiji like that. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love. Please, Dad... try to understand."

Reiji silently nodding to Kai, then walked out of the room without saying another word.

Takeshi sat back, fuming, struggling to contain his anger.

Riko let out a long sigh. "Brother... your son’s the one who broke the engagement."

Yuna’s voice trembled. "My poor Reiji..."

The room fell into a tense silence. Everyone tried to process what had just happened—but nothing felt settled. Not yet.

Takeshi let out a long breath, closing his eyes for a moment to calm himself.

"Okay," he finally said, his voice quiet but steady. "I can’t force you, son."

Kai looked at his father, surprised by the sudden shift in tone.

Riko, still sitting beside Yuna, leaned forward. "Brother, I want to talk to you."

But Takeshi shook his head. "Later, Riko... not now."

The tension still lingered in the room. Kai lowered his gaze to his hands in his lap. Even though his father had agreed not to force him, the pain in his voice was hard to ignore.

Yuna looked between the two men, biting her lip. Riko stayed silent now, watching his older brother closely.

No one said anything else. The silence weighed heavily over the dining room like a storm that had just passed—but left the sky gray and uncertain.

Meanwhile, Reiji was driving—fast. Too fast. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as his mind raced.

Today... I really lost him.

The boy he had held onto for two years, believing that someday Kai would fall in love with him... it was all over now. He had tried everything, but he couldn’t make Kai love him back.

The car screeched to a halt outside a club. Reiji stepped out, his heart heavy, and walked straight inside without looking around.

Inside, the music was loud and the lights danced across the floor. Eden was already there, sitting with his friends and laughing as they celebrated a birthday party. But the moment his eyes landed on Reiji—alone, slouched at a table, downing drink after drink—his smile faded.

Reiji’s face was twisted in frustration and sadness, like someone who had just lost something too precious to describe.

Eden stood up quickly, excusing himself from the group. He walked straight toward Reiji’s table, his expression filled with concern.