Cane23

After Julian’s confession in this chapter, I can’t help wondering: is everything he does and says (though he says very little) a reflection of his internal struggle between leaving and staying? Is his behaviour a (sub)conscious attempt to push Oliver away? Maybe it has very little to do with Oliver himself, except that Oliver is the trigger for it all?

Interesting how, as time goes by, it becomes more and more apparent just how much Kurt resembles his father. Like father, like son - two bricks from the same wall.

Problem solved, now I can think of sibling's reunion properly!

Sewage leak in my office. Swimming in shit is a good enough excuse to be absent, I hope! 🤪💩

Oh, I see now. Julien isn't just some Buddhist monk enamored with silence - he's typically French: he finds it repulsive to speak English in France! 😆

Am I the first one?!

Now, I haven’t seen any comments suggesting that readers who criticize Julien were expecting a big, predictable “I forgive you” moment. If we’re talking about expectations, then I can say that I expected communication - or, as someone else put it, a 'talk' between two adults. I certainly didn’t expect punishment. I’ll repeat myself: if Julien is angry, disappointed, or not ready to forgive, that’s okay. Those are his feelings, and he has every right to feel that way. But then he should have stayed in Paris until he was ready to communicate, or returned only to collect his things and leave. The problem is Julien’s behavior, which @drsawzall perhaps described best as “passive-aggressive.” People shouldn’t be tamed. You can discipline a dog by throwing it a bone, putting it in a corner, ignoring it, or petting it. But treating a human being that way is humiliating and dehumanizing. Grown adults should talk to each other. And if Oliver really isn’t ready to change, while Julien isn’t ready to accept certain aspects of Oliver’s behaviour, then the most civilized thing to do is say goodbye. They can remain friends if that’s possible, or go their separate ways if it isn’t. What we see instead is Oliver accepting this dynamic imposed by Julien. We see that he is aware of his mistakes and his behaviour, but rather than genuine growth and learning, we seem to be witnessing a form of self-imposed punishment. Will this approach produce some results? I suppose it will, judging by the direction the story seems to be taking. But I will never accept this as an okay way to treat another human being. There’s a difference between holding someone accountable and making them feel as though they need to be punished into becoming a better person. And I don’t believe the latter has any place in a healthy adult relationship.

So, the psychological punishment wasn't enough for such a "huge" crime? Now there has to be physical torture, too? What kind of taming is this? What kind of sadistic method is being used to prove some bizarre theory that you "just have to be present and do nothing"? If Julien is still angry and not ready to forgive, he should have stayed in Paris for as long as it took to cool off and then come back... or not. Instead, he returned like an inquisitor. I honestly don't know what to think anymore. Is Julien enjoying this? Is this supposed to be some kind of lesson, a way to establish dominance over Oliver? Because Oliver is becoming smaller and smaller with each passing day. How long is this going to continue? Until he's reduced to a mere shadow of the man, he once was? And Julien doesn't even bother to ask whether Oliver's ankle hurts? I'm not even talking about love here. I'm talking about basic human decency, compassion, and empathy. And then Julien actually has the nerve to comment, "You're too quiet"?! Or he offers Oliver a hand to help him stand up as if he's donating a kidney to him! Incredible! It makes me wonder... did Julien treat Thomas Prichard the same way? Was he also practicing this philosophy of "being present and doing nothing" while a man was falling off a cliff?! The more I read, the more dangerous I find Julien. And frankly, it's becoming increasingly disturbing to watch Oliver slowly lose himself while Julien seems determined to prove some point.

And to be scolded like a kid every time he makes a mistake! 🤪

Is it part of the performance, Bastien’s influence, or something else? Seems that Lawrence has that rare ability to win people over, even those who are most hostile toward him or deeply suspicious of him.

Beautiful, erotic, and very tastefully written lovemaking, portrayed with amazing realism and authenticity for the era in which the story takes place!

Oh, you sure know when to end a chapter, don't you?! 😁 Hope you'll make it up to us with a truly emotional and heartwarming reunion! ❤️

One of my few favorite “reunion” stories! The only other ones I can think of right now are The Reunion by @Jeff Burton and Passionfruit by @Boy Mercury X.

I find this last line deeply unfair. Unless it’s Julien’s reaction to Oliver’s too-quick “I understand,” who gave him the supreme authority to read Oliver’s mind, claim the upper hand on the truth, and decide that Oliver is the only one who needs to change?

Set in the already beloved universe of the Kingdom of Aeras, this story brings us an epic love tale between two incredible men - strong, stubborn, successful, and fiercely loyal. Two men whose lives have been shaped by different struggles and challenges, yet whose paths intertwine in a story full of passion and danger. When the interests of rivals, former lovers, city officials, politicians, and mobsters collide with those of our protagonists, will their love be strong enough to conquer every obstacle? @lilansui brings us another captivating story of love, family, betrayal, and plenty of action, featuring two of the most passionate lovers in her entire literary universe. ❤️ Read, enjoy, and discover the answers for yourself!

Yes, Oliver isn’t the only one with issues. If Julien was ready to share his grief with Oliver, he should also have been willing to accept his support and help rather than shutting himself away behind his own walls. We’re all different, and we all express our affection in different ways. Oliver is a man of action; he’s not just a shoulder to cry on, offering comforting words. Isn’t what he did the ultimate expression of love? He took the time to read legal documents in French, a language he isn’t particularly good at, find a solution, write it all up in English, and send it to the lawyers without breaking any laws. And why did he go to all that trouble? Simply to hear Julien’s calm voice again and bring him back as soon as possible. To me, that speaks volumes about how much he cares. ❤️

You and @kbois are the only authors here who have to leave this kind of warning!

Seems that old saying never sounded truer - The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Oliver’s behaviour is explained away with beautiful writing. So, when we strip away all the literary finesse, are they both basically afraid that Oliver is a control freak?! Because I can understand why Julian is upset that Oliver took the initiative without informing him or asking him first. But didn’t Oliver do what he does best to help the man he loves? Let me put it this way: if you know you can help the person you love, is it really okay not to do it simply because you don’t want to interfere in someone else’s business? I don’t know. Oliver definitely has some issues he needs to work on, but was this really irredeemable?

A loyalty test?! Really, after all they went through?! After Kaleo was literally kidnapped because of Niran's business?! Kaleo was way more composed than usually. I don't have his temper but...I would have taken a baseball bat to those lawyers and smashed Niran's office with all my strength.

Then again, it was Bastien who had a last word with Anton! “Anton, be quiet,” Bastien ordered, his voice icy and unlike his usual affable tone. But I agree, the Sun King needs a little more normality and a little less divinity… and there’s Lawrence, eager to deliver it… among other things! 😉

Absolutely amazing story, Gary! I was completely engrossed in the text, reading it line by line with great anticipation, eager to discover how it would all conclude! I know that closing doors behind us is usually the best way forward, but I’d still love to know whether Cary will ever cross paths with his brother/ father/whoever he might be to Cary… sometime in the future.

I’m really glad Miles is going to find his sister. One of the scenes I particularly love, and occasionally reread, sharing a tear or two, is the meeting between Lex and his father in your story “A Tattoo for Lex.” There’s another interesting thing about this story, too: it’s a ranching story, a coming-of-age story, a road-trip story… and yet, in this chapter, you’ve also included a little ode to Florida. I love it!

A very liberal major... and a dad, considering he’s only recently become a parent. Well... “To protect and serve”! 😉