Chapter 153: You Never Have to Compete

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: You Never Have to Compete

~Third- POV~

"I’m sorry I yelled, but it wasn’t because of her. I raised my voice because you gave me an ultimatum." Frederick brought his hands up to cup Reynold’s flushed cheeks. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. I only want you to trust me. It breaks my heart whenever I feel that you don’t."

"But you’re going to your ex’s house," Reynold said, meeting his eyes again. "I trust you, but I don’t trust her. Do you understand?"

Frederick sighed softly, stroking his thumbs gently over Reynold’s cheekbones.

"No, sweetheart. You don’t trust me." He paused, looking into Reynold’s eyes. "Think about it. If I’d lied to you about where I was going, we wouldn’t even be having this argument. But I chose to be honest with you because I have nothing to hide. I told you exactly where I was going, and look what happened."

His voice softened. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. I only want you to trust me. Would you rather I had lied to you?"

Reynold frowned, pulling his head back slightly. "Are you saying I’m wrong? That I don’t have the right to feel this way?"

"No, sweetheart," Frederick murmured, shaking his head. "I’m asking you to trust me. I’m your man."

"I trust you, but I don’t trust Eva," Reynold insisted, his stubbornness beginning to show again.

"Why?" Frederick asked calmly, holding his gaze. "Have you ever seen her step foot in my bedroom? Have you ever seen her dress in a way that suggests she’s trying to seduce me? If anything, she covers herself up whenever we’re in the same room. Her concerns have never really been about getting me back. I only wanted to go alone because I need to settle some private matters concerning my daughter. That’s all."

He gently brushed a lock of hair away from Reynold’s forehead. "So, baby, stop thinking you have to compete with Eva every time her name comes up. You don’t. There’s no competition between you and her."

Frederick paused, keeping his hands against Reynold’s cheeks. "I’m sorry for hurting you, sweetheart. But I need you to trust me. I want to be able to tell you things openly without worrying that every mention of Eva will turn into an argument. I don’t want us to keep fighting over her."

"It’s because of you," Reynold muttered, resting his hands against Frederick’s broad chest.

Frederick let out a soft chuckle. "It’s because of that head of yours," he teased, a faint smile touching his lips. "Trust me, baby. I have no desire to be with anyone else. You’re the only one I want. So stop imagining otherwise."

Reynold lowered his gaze to the floor, his voice small again. "But you told me to leave your house..."

Frederick’s expression softened. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have said that. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Reynold looked up at him, searching his face. "You don’t have to do anything. I just need to ask you something. Do you love me?"

"I love you so much," Frederick answered without hesitation.

"Like, how much?" Reynold asked, a faint glimmer returning to his eyes.

Frederick glanced down at his semi-erect length before looking back at Reynold with a low chuckle.

"Bigger than my dick and my whole body."

A tiny smile finally broke through Reynold’s pout. "Who do you love most between me and E—"

"Don’t even finish that question," Frederick interrupted gently. "I love you, sweetheart. You’re the one I want, the one I’ll choose every single time. There’s nobody else I want beside me. I’m sorry, okay."

Reynold crossed his arms and lifted his chin. "I won’t forgive you just yet."

Frederick smiled, amused by his stubborn fiancé.

"Why do you even want to return the properties Eva sent back to you?" Reynold asked, changing the subject. "She returned them herself, and she doesn’t deserve to keep them. So why give them back?"

"Reynold, once I give someone something, especially when I’ve already transferred ownership into their name, I don’t take it back," Frederick explained patiently. "It’s the same with your car and the luxury house you stay in on campus. Your name is already on the deed. I won’t take either of them back because, as far as I’m concerned, they no longer belong to me."

Frederick chuckled softly. "Yes. Haven’t you seen the documents on the study shelf?"

"I never touch or check anything you don’t explicitly ask me to!" Reynold replied defensively.

"I’ve always told you it’s your house, baby," Frederick murmured, drawing Reynold closer by the waist. "Whenever I talk about it, I call it your house because it belongs to you. I’ve made that clear from the beginning. Everything I give you while you’re with me is yours to keep. I give it because I want to, not because I have to. And once I give you something, I don’t expect it back."

Reynold’s chest warmed at the words, but he tilted his head thoughtfully. "But she’s the one who returned it."

"Fair point." Frederick’s lips curved into a smile. "Then I’ll give it back to her because it’s no longer mine to keep."

"And if you’re saying properties should be taken back," Frederick said, "does that mean if we ever went our separate ways, I should take back everything I’ve given you?"

"I’m never leaving you. There’s nothing in this world that could make me leave you," Reynold replied firmly, his eyes filled with certainty.

Frederick raised an eyebrow. "But you were just about to walk away from me."

"Yes, because I was hurt. I wanted to see if you’d come after me."

Frederick chuckled, drawing him closer. "Why wouldn’t I come after my future husband?"

Reynold smiled, wrapping his arms around Frederick’s waist. "I was never with you because of material things. I’m here because I love you so much, and I understand you better now."

Frederick looked down at him warmly. "So... do you forgive me now?"

Reynold sighed softly against his chest before looking up. "Yes, baby. And I’m sorry, too. I should have trusted you, but I don’t know what got into me. I just never want to share you with anyone."

"It’s okay," Frederick murmured, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "You love my dick that much, huh?"

"Yes," Reynold admitted without hesitation, a playful spark returning to his eyes. "And I love the owner even more."

Frederick smiled, gazing down at his stubborn little partner with pure admiration.

"I should probably thank you for putting my name on the deed to that house," Reynold added, pulling back slightly with a mischievous smirk. "But I won’t."

Frederick raised an eyebrow. "Why, baby?"

Reynold planted both hands on his hips and lifted his chin confidently. "Because I want more properties than you ever gave Eva."

Frederick stared at him for a moment before a smile slowly spread across his face. "But you just said you weren’t after my money."

"I wasn’t thinking straight then. I’ve changed my mind now."

Frederick stared at him, unsure how to react.

"What?" Reynold challenged, puffing out his chest. "Call me greedy. Call me a gold digger. I don’t care. It’s my fiancé’s money, and I want more of it. So, what do you say, Daddy?"

Frederick burst into a deep, rumbling laugh, his heart swelling with affection. "I’ll give you anything you want. And remember, you never have to compete with Eva for anything."

Reynold’s confident pose melted into a genuine smile. He threw his arms around Frederick’s neck and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for everything you do for me, Frederick."

Frederick wrapped his arms around Reynold, holding him close against his chest. "You’re welcome, sweetheart."

They held each other beneath the gentle spray of the shower, the earlier argument finally behind them. After a quiet moment, Frederick pulled back slightly and began unbuttoning Reynold’s shirt, helping him out of it along with the rest of his clothes. Once Reynold was completely undressed, they stepped out of the shower and moved to the double marble vanity to brush their teeth.

Afterward, they returned beneath the showerhead. Frederick squeezed some body wash into his palms, worked it into a lather, and gently washed Reynold’s skin before rinsing himself.

After showering, they dried themselves and stepped out of the bathroom into the bedroom. They went through their morning skincare routine side by side before heading into the walk-in closet hand in hand.

Reynold took his time browsing through the rows of tailored clothes, clearly enjoying the task of choosing Frederick’s outfit for the day. He carefully selected a crisp white dress shirt, a matching white three-piece suit, and a silk tie, making sure Frederick’s shirt was buttoned up to the collar, leaving no part of his chest exposed. He wasn’t about to let Eva admire what belonged to him.

For himself, he chose a comfortable but luxurious outfit: a soft cream cashmere sweater paired with loose-fitting trousers.

Once they’d both dressed, Reynold helped Frederick with his tie and straightened his suit jacket.

"Would you like to have breakfast downstairs in the dining room, or should I have them bring a tray upstairs?" Frederick asked as he adjusted his shirt cuffs.

"Downstairs," Reynold replied, smoothing the lapels of Frederick’s suit jacket.

Frederick leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose before slipping his hand into Reynold’s. "I’ll leave right after breakfast. And I promise I won’t be long, okay?"

Reynold nodded. "Okay."

"Wait for me at home, alright?" Frederick added, his eyes holding Reynold’s gaze.

"Yes, Daddy," Reynold murmured with a small, affectionate smile.

Hand in hand, they left the dressing room, crossed the master bedroom, and went out through the double doors. They descended the grand staircase together and headed to the dining room for breakfast...