Tia was disappointed that the meeting didn't go as expected and that they weren't even able to get to Mr. Cyruson’s office. Ryan was rather annoyed, but Ashton didn't say much as the left to get something to eat for an early lunch. It was a quiet affair, Ashton was checking his work emails and updates while Ryan was messaging with fellow artist about an upcoming gallery show, so she busied herself by texting some colleagues and friends and checking Ashton's schedule since she had to update it recently. She planned to finish up checking his books for anything that he'd need to attend and contact the secretaries tomorrow, since time had gotten away from her today due to their little heist mission.

She didn't like the silence in the car. It wasn't comfortable at all, but she didn't feel that it was the best time to try to lighten the mood since both men didn't say much. She sighed, slumping in her seat.

Ashton caught a glimpse of her and coughed slightly. "Tia, thank you again for getting us inside and, if your cousin is ever looking for an opportunity in her career path, my doors are always open."

She smiled, that was her best friend she knew, one who never let her be sad even though he was. "You know I'd do anything for you, Ash. And thank you, Auné would appreciate it, I'll let her know. "

The silence rejoined them again and Tia just couldn't bare it. She pulled out her phone, noticing how Ashton’s eyes kept on checking on Ryan. He hadn't spoken much other than a few times to the waiter at the restaurant. Ash reach out to touch Ryan's knee. The younger man was looking out the window with a distant look on, but he moved to cover Ashton's hand with his, squeezing before they parted so that Ashton could fully focus on the road. She smiled to herself, at least this failed attempt didn't ruin the connection between them, for that she could be happy.

When they arrived at the manor Tia went to her room to shower so she could get started on her workload as to distract herself from the somber mood.

Ashton and Ryan quietly made their way to their room, Ashton undressed as Ryan did the same.

Ryan turned to him once he was down to his underwear, admiring the older man's body, the small red marks on his skin from the night before, he smiled faintly,  "together?" He asked. Ashton rose a brow as he turned around.

"Not tonight, I need to get some work done, so I'll be having a quick shower."

Ryan hummed before he spoke again. "I could still join you." He tried.

"No thank you, Ryan. I'm not in the mood right now." He lifted his eyes to meet his fiancé's, hoping that he'd not make a fuss.

Ryan couldn't dare to push him after today's shitty results. "Okay baby. I understand." He held his gaze and Ashton nodded then approached him. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ash bent to kiss him before he could say something. It was slow and gentle, something to make him quake and his heart tremble.

The younger one moaned into Ashton's mouth, then hummed against him as their lips parted. "Thank you for understanding." He muttered, kissing him once more before he headed to the bathroom.

Ryan stumbled back against the vanity, cheeks hot,  a hand gripping at the edge, the other covering his mouth as tears burnt in his eyes. He hated this. What the fuck was going on? He wanted answers, if not for his sake then, for Ashton's! He needed to get down to the bottom of this ASAP! He pushed away from the vanity and marched into the closet to get something for him and Ashton to wear.  Trying to get his mind off this shit show. He just needed to do something so that he wouldn't make the mistake of contacting their fathers and letting them but have a piece of his mind.

He shook his head as he searched their clothing. Those old bastards just interrupted their lives and even had the audacity to keep the reasons why away from them. That bullshit about it being better for them was all a fucking lie and he wanted to know what gripped them so tightly by the balls and made them decide their sons futures for them.

Who had frightened both those hardened old men so much that they would resort to this kind of decision? What the fuck was wrong with them? He hated this! He should be living his life where he pleased and Ashton should be free to do what he wanted with his!

He grumbled to himself while picking out their clothes, not noticing when the shower went off. Ryan hadn't realized tears running down his cheeks until he heard a gasp meet his ears. He snapped his head towards the entrance of the closet and saw a flash of white as Ashton came up to him, cupping his cheeks as he brushed tears away from his face.

"Ryan, what is it? Why're you crying?" Ashton asked, in a soft but rushed tone.

His bottom lip trembled as he saw the worry painting Ashton's face, his dark hair falling in damp curls over his forehead. He broke down.  "I hate them! Why—why would they do this to us?" He cried, slamming the drawers shut.

Ashton curled his arms around his shoulders pulling him into his damp chest to stop him from possibly hurting himself with the drawers. "Shh, it's alright dear. It's going to be fine."

"Is it?" He snapped, "Ashton! They ripped me away from my home, they inconvenienced you in yours and without any reasons why. We didn't even know who the fuck the other was before this! What shit is this? Why would they think... why would they?" He sobbed harder, making Ashton hug him tighter. Ryan gripped his forearm and  shook his head against his chest.

Hearing Ryan so flustered, angry and saddened, made a pang of pain shoot through his being. He didn't like seeing him in this state. His words were right, this was all too sudden and even if they seemed to be a great match, it was still a forced arrangement, a younger him would have acted a fool towards Ryan, but he was too old to behave as if he were being punished when they were both in the same boat. He needed answers, and if not for himself then for Ryan. Anything to stop him from crying. Anything so that he wouldn't have to wipe tears from his fiancé's sweet face again.

"Baby?" Ryan called. He glanced down. "If you weren't bi-curious, would you have accepted me so easily?"

Ashton sighed, being honest. "No, I don't think my stubborn self would have allowed us to have an easy time during this arrangement. But that's not our current reality so dispel it from thought. We're in this together and we have Tia, Javier and Sacha on our side, so please don't cry anymore. Don't let our fathers thoughtless choices tear us down in this way. Let's show them that we are better than they thought us to be."

He sniffled as Ash cleaned off his face with the end of his white towel, pressing a kiss to his temple afterwards. "Yeah, you're right." Ryan sighed, "I'm not gonna let them defeat me. I don't know what they have planned for us, but with you in my corner, I think it makes this more tolerable."

"Good, think positively. At least I'm not worse." He said with a smirk. Ryan nudged him playfully as the snickered. "Plus, we can always abandon them and leave this country if push comes to shove." Ryan giggled at that and nodded.  "Umm, by the way, what were you doing in here?" He asked, seeing pulled off clothes spewed over the floor

He giggled nervously, scratching his neck, "o—oh yes, I was looking for clothes for us to sleep in." He confessed.

"Oh, that's kind of you. Next time how about we limit the mess though."

Ryan pouted. "Well duh, I was clearly flustered. We're engaged aren't we, so you need to know who you're with and this is me."

Ashton pursed his lips then nodded. "By force, but I don't mind a small mess, and I do mean small." They laughed at that.

"Thank you, my love."

Ashton pinched his cheek gently making Ryan scrunch up his nose before swatting his hand away. "Ha, cute." He complimented.

"You're smiling again... are you okay, now?" Ryan asked.

Ashton looked down then back at him. "Somewhat. Today was just... disappointing. But we can't give up if we want to find out what's really behind this marriage proposal. It's not just status and reassurances. I refuse to believe it."

Ryan agreed. "Me too, our father's are quite smart, but we're smarter."

"Correction, we're clever. We'll find it out before our wedding, we need to, or we might never find out why."

As much as he hated to admit it, but Ashton was right. If they got married before knowing the truth then it might never come to see the light of day and they'd have just gotten married under a rouse and that is not something that makes anything better for them. They are their father's sons, so they couldn't just stop after one failed attempt. "We'll try again. Deal?" He asked, raising a hand to Ash.

He clasped his hand with Ryan's. "Deal."