CHAPTER 224: I LOVE MY PARTNER TO THE MOON AND BEYOND.

"This is insane!"

"Feels like something straight out of a movie."

"Wait... did Aubrey just call CEO Augustine gay? Did I hear that right?"

"Damn right, I heard it too."

"Y’all are too quick to judge. Maybe she misspoke."

"Misspoke? That didn’t sound like a mistake to me."

"We all need to calm down. Mr. Edison’s already on the verge of passing out."

"Calm down? Hell no! Aubrey started an attack on Augustine and lied about being engaged to him. Staying calm is the same as letting her off the hook."

"Yeah! I agree with you. Besides, Aubrey should be kept in a mental institution. That bitch is sick."

"You all should yap all you want because you all are currently going to make my social media channel blow up."

"Dammit! Mr. Edison should never have celebrated his birthday."

The words of all those present grew louder and louder with each passing seconds that it literally made Mr. Edison’s face drained of color as his knees buckled beneath him.

With a helpless gasp, he collapsed, his body hitting the cold tile floor with a thud that silenced the room for just one fleetings vid.

His hands were still placed on his chest and his mouth were wide open.

One could tell that he was doing all he could to hold his breath.

Meanwhile, Aubrey staggered back, her entire body trembling as if the weight of the words thrown at her had pierced through her flesh and bone.

She shook her head in denial, over and over again, as if sheer refusal could undo the storm around her.

Whispers turned to daggers. Glares burned hotter than fire.

Aubrey’s knees buckled beneath her as though her shame had grown too heavy to carry.

She crashed to the ground right beside her father, her sobs silent but violent.

"What a sly witch!"

Aubrey tears streamed down her cheeks, her lips parted in desperation, wanting to defend herself, to scream, to explain but no sound came.

Just a choked breath and a hollow stare into the chaos she’d created.

She just couldn’t bring herself in saying anything.

"I... I need you all to calm down and stop throwing shit at my son!" Mrs. Wales snapped, striding toward Augustine with rage in her eyes.

She shoved the empty wine glass into a nearby waiter’s hands, not sparing him a glance.

Standing beside her son, Mrs. Wales cast a cold, sweeping glare across the chaotic room.

Then she let out a sharp exhale, chest rising with rage before she unleashed it.

"Enough!" Mrs. Wales roared, her voice slicing through the noise, loud and commanding, even without a microphone.

In an instant, the entire place became as quiet as a grave yard as the room vibrated in her loud command, making the air on each individual skin to stand.

Mrs. Wales scoffed. "Now that I have your attentions, I’ll say my part and be on my way. And if anyone dares to interrupt me..."

Mrs. Wales paused, her eyes scanning the room. "... I swear I’ll teach that person a lesson they’ll never forget."

The teeth of Mrs. Wales clenched and she gave a sharp nod—one that made it crystal clear she wasn’t bluffing.

Those present gulped down saliva because they know that whenever Mrs. Wales is upset, then she always do whatever comes out of her mouth.

Besides, since Mrs. Wales is a very powerful figure, it’s best that no one gets on her bad side.

"So here’s it." Mrs. Wales began, stretching her hands towards the door as she pointed at Freda who stood beside Charles that was sobbing non-stop.

"That young lady there is going to get married to my son. She’s the one Augustine likes and he has an eye on her—"

"No mom. Don’t say that." Augustine chipped, cutting his mom off before she could complete the last word in her sentence.

"I’m not in love with Freda." He stated with a firm voice, his words echoing in the microphone. "I’m... I’m in love with someone else entirely and the person is a man."

"WHAT!"

"The fuck!"

"Woah!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Hell no,"

"Di... did he mean what he just said?"

"A gay? A gay CEO?"

"This is really getting more interesting than I thought it would."

"I’m... I’m truly speechless."

"Augustine... gay?"

"Is this birthday party event a prank or am I missing something here?"

"I can’t believe this. I think I have heard enough today."

"Is this some kind of twisted games?"

Those present could no longer keep their mouth shut because the news that Augustine had just dropped on them felt like an exploded bomb.

In that very moment, Augustine’s phone began to beep as he was getting notifications online and he was also receiving calls.

Soon, everyone was placing their phone right in front of their face as an headline news has now flooded the whole internet.

Due to the live streams from attendees at the birthday party, Augustine’s confession spread like wildfire.

Within minutes, his name dominated every corner of the internet—headlines blazing, hashtags trending, and comments pouring in faster than anyone could keep up.

Reginald rushed from Mr. Edison side as he made his way towards Augustine, his expression tense.

Leaning in close, he lowered his voice to a whisper only Augustine could hear.

"Sir, what do you want me to do?" he asked, his tone urgent, eyes flicking toward the cameras still recording.

Augustine sigh. "We would take care of that tomorrow, but for now, let’s relax." Augustine whispered back.

Augustine sighed, his jaw tightening as he glanced around at the chaos still unfolding in the room.

He didn’t want to put Reginald through more stress, especially not after their grueling business trip.

"Things will only get worse if we leave it till tomorrow," Reginald insisted, his voice low but firm. "Should I find a way to take down the articles online?"

Reginald wasn’t going to rest until he makes sure that he does something for his boss. At least, anything.

Augustine lips curved into a gentle smile as he placed his hands above the shoulder of Reginald, giving it a gentle squeeze.

The other hand of Augustine made its ways to his temple as he rubbed it, his voice low and tired. "No... not yet. Let them talk. The truth will scream louder when we’re ready." His eyes flicked to the cameras still rolling. "Right now, I just want to come out of the closet and be true to myself."

"But I don’t..."

"For the first time in a long time, Reginald. I don’t want you to do anything." Augustine stated with warm voice as he cut Reginald off from completing his sentence. "Let’s allow things to fall into places from tomorrow."

Reginald sigh. He wanted to press on but he decided to just keep his mouth shut. Besides, he believes that CEO Augustine has his own reason.

Reginald made his way back to Mr. Edison as he placed his hands around Mr. Edison shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I... I’m so sorry for disappointing those who looked up to me," Augustine began, his voice trembling as he brought the microphone back to his lips. "I know everyone expects a CEO to fit a certain image... to be strong, flawless, straight..."

His voice cracked, and he paused, trying to steady his breathing. "But I’m sorry for... for not being what you all wanted me to be."

Silent tears trailed down Augustine cheeks, glistening under the harsh lights as he stood before a room full of stunned faces.

His shoulders tensed, but he didn’t back down. "I didn’t choose this part of me. I only chose to stop hiding it."

Everyone was now quiet as they were stunned to see the almighty CEO Augustine crying.

They have always known him as a cold freaks and no one have ever seen Augustine this weak before. Not once.

"What... what I can never be sorry about," Augustine continued, voice thick with emotion, "is falling in love with an amazing man. A man... a man who takes my breath away, who makes me feel alive in ways I never thought possible."

His eyes remained fixed on the door, unwavering, but the crowd didn’t follow his gaze.

They thought it was just another attempt to hold back his tears.

Yet to Augustine, that door held everything—truth, hope, and the person his heart refused to let go of.

Reginald rose up from where he was squatting and head outside the room to get the car ready because he knows that any moment from now, reporters would be flooding the entire building.

Still inside the room, Augustine let out a loud sigh, sniffing his nose as his lips curved into a smile.

"I... I love my partner to the moon and beyond," Augustine said, his voice trembling but firm. "I love every single thing about him, and I don’t regret knowing him—not for a second. I fell for him first, and it started as love at first sight."

A faint blush crept up his cheeks, staining them pink, and his ears followed suit, betraying his vulnerability.

"I’m... I’m gay. And I can’t be truly sorry about that because... because none of you who are straight here are sorry for being straight." Augustine stayed and with that, he didn’t wait for applause or judgment.

Without hesitation, Augustine tossed the microphone to the floor with a sharp clatter and sprint towards the door, heart pounding and eyes set on Charles.