CHAPTER 278: CHAPTER 278: YES FOR THE FACE

The doors opened with a quiet hush, and Victor stepped onto the marble floor with the composure reserved for men who had just ruined five fortunes before breakfast and looked forward to dessert. His coat was unbuttoned, his cufflinks were gold, and his expression was one of polite, predatory calm.

Elias blinked once behind his sunglasses and murmured to Ego, "If he pulls out a ring, I will stab you with my butter knife."

Ego’s grin was radiant. "Worth it."

Victor reached their table. His tone was polite. His eyes were not.

"Ego," he said smoothly, "could you illuminate me as to why you took my pregnant fiancé out without a schedule?"

Ego didn’t flinch, he lifted his mimosa and said mildly, "I’m your father."

Victor didn’t even glance at the glass. "And I’m a god, neither applicable here."

Ego’s smile curved, amused. "You say that like it’s a trump card."

"It is," Victor said flatly, eyes on Elias now. "Especially when you drag my mate through the press with brunch."

Elias adjusted his sunglasses like a man preparing to commit a diplomatic offense.

"I wasn’t dragged," he said calmly. "There was no force involved. Unless you count the caffeine deficit."

"You wore my watch."

"Well... I needed something to tell everyone that I’m yours... my first idea was to have a backless shirt to show the mark, but the watch seemed more... civilized," Elias said like he didn’t just drop a bomb. "Also I needed to be saved by his presence."

Victor stared at him.

For a moment every part of his carefully composed exterior paused. As if his own heartbeat forgot what it was doing.

Elias tilted his head, dangerously unbothered, sunglasses slipping just low enough on the bridge of his nose to reveal the gleam in his eyes. The look he gave was cool, composed, and designed to destroy specifically Victor’s rational thought.

"I was being polite," Elias continued, casually, "but I can change strategies. I’ve worn backless before."

Victor blinked. Once. Slowly.

Ego made a delighted, amused noise into his drink. "Well, that escalated."

Victor didn’t look away from Elias.

"You wore my watch," he said again, voice low and reverent this time. "Instead of showing the mark."

Elias offered a half-smile, too elegant to be smug. "Seemed less likely to get me arrested. Or photographed sideways."

"And yet," Victor murmured, "you’re still a menace."

Elias reached for his water. "And you’re still standing."

Ego looked between them like a man witnessing opera and arson at once. "Is now the part where you two declare war or marriage?"

Victor pulled out the small velvet box and set it down between them with the precision of a declaration.

"You get out first."

Ego arched a brow, crimson eyes glinting. "Of the brunch?"

"Of the table," Victor replied, gaze unwavering. "Preferably before I throw you off it."

Ego stood gracefully, almost theatrically, while straightening his sleeves with the ease only inherited money and divine genetics allowed. "I’ll take my leave, then. Wouldn’t want to be stabbed with a butter knife or struck by lightning. Again."

He patted Elias on the shoulder. "You’re welcome, by the way."

"I’ll get you back," Elias muttered.

"I hope so." Ego winked and turned to Victor. "Play nice. Or don’t. You never do."

Once Ego was gone, Victor took the seat across from Elias uninvited, unhurried, and completely in control of the moment in a way that made the staff flinch and the floor feel like it was holding its breath.

Elias didn’t move.

Victor opened the box.

The ring inside gleamed with unreasonable wealth, platinum lined with a thin thread of black stone, the Numen crest carved inside where no one but Elias would see it.

Victor set the open box down beside Elias’s plate like it belonged there. Then he leaned back, one arm draped across the back of the chair, as if daring him to say no.

Elias didn’t even glance at the ring. "You’re doing this because I wore your watch."

Victor hummed. "That, that one is unique and costs over 100 million, and... I never got to properly propose."

"You are out of your mind. What does this thing do for 100 million and... We are already engaged."

Victor’s eyes gleamed faintly. "It tells time, Elias. Very accurately. And screams possession to anyone fluent in capital."

Elias tilted his head, unimpressed. "That’s not a function; that’s a felony."

Victor smiled slowly, not denying it. "And we were engaged by announcement. Not by choice."

"You’re saying this is about romance?"

"I’m saying," Victor replied, voice lower now, more dangerous in its quiet devotion, "that you wore something of mine when I wasn’t there. You defended your place beside me in public. And you did it with your usual balance of elegance and reckless defiance."

Elias finally glanced at the ring, then back at Victor. "You’re proposing because I didn’t flash the bite mark in public?"

Victor shrugged. "I would’ve accepted the backless shirt too."

"You would’ve combusted."

"I did combust," Victor muttered, almost rueful. "Ashwin has the photo printed already."

Elias rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You’re impossible."

Victor reached across the table and took Elias’s hand. "You make me want to do things properly. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when I’m furious. Especially when you mock me."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Elias sighed, dramatically, but his fingers didn’t pull away.

"I’m not saying yes because of the ring," he said, glaring at it like it had personally insulted him. "I’m saying yes because I like the way your face looks when you’re trying not to beg."

Victor’s smile sharpened. "So you’re saying yes."

"I’m saying don’t let me catch you planning a wedding without telling me. Or leaking this to the press before I’ve had dessert."

Victor stood, walked around the table, and leaned down.

"Then let’s make it official now," he murmured, taking Elias’s hand and sliding the ring into place with absurd, possessive care.

Screams erupted from a rooftop drone nearby. Cameras flashed. Somewhere, Ashwin sighed in agony.

Victor kissed the corner of Elias’s mouth, whisper-light.

Elias muttered, "I love you."

Victor replied, "I love you too."

And the news cycle exploded.

BREAKING: SECOND PROPOSAL CONFIRMED. ELIAS CLARKE SAYS ’YES’ AGAIN.