Cane23

It really does seem that the only real connection between Brad and Alexander is Lyn - he’s the link that keeps them in the same orbit. On the other hand, since the story is told entirely from Lyn’s point of view, we only perceive what he notices. Back in college, Lyn was introverted and rather detached from social dynamics, so it’s possible that the true shape of Brad and Alexander’s friendship (or rivalry) remained hidden from him - and therefore from us. In a previous chapter, Brad even hinted that Alexander was “stealing his girlfriend,” something Lyn hadn’t known, which suggests there are layers to their relationship that Lyn (and the readers through him) has yet to understand.

This flashback is, actually, the origin story of emotional misalignment. Brad teaches Lyn to wait, to give, to expect little. Alexander teaches Lyn to be observed, managed, and molded. Lyn learns to translate both forms of attention into affection - mistaking neglect for closeness and control for care. But to be precise about Alexander - Lyn struggles to recognize that Alexander’s way of caring is control, it’s how Alexander expresses attachment. Brad usually comes across as selfish and reckless, but this scene hints at something deeper. His sharp reaction “Do I have to report everything I do to you now?” doesn’t just read as irritation; it sounds like guilt, the way a kid snaps at a parent after being caught doing something he shouldn’t. It’s that childish defensiveness that makes Brad’s character feel more real - impulsive, but not entirely without conscience. So, if he was hiding something, his defensiveness is pure deflection - the instinctive flare of someone caught off guard, maybe protecting a secret or trying to avoid confrontation. If he wasn’t, then his anger comes from a different kind of guilt - the feeling of being seen too closely by Lyn, of being held accountable by someone who knows him better than he wants to admit. That moment with Brad’s jacket really mirrors the earlier lake scene - when Lyn jumped into the water, couldn’t swim, and Alexander was the one who saved him, yet it was Brad who comforted him afterward. The same dynamic repeats here: Brad causes the chaos, but he’s also the one who reaches out to soothe Lyn. It’s as if Brad creates the wound and then tries to heal it - impulsive, guilty, but always emotionally present in a way Alexander rarely allows himself to be. Lyn gives Brad the papers - a symbol of his ongoing emotional labor. He does Brad’s work, even while sick, perpetuating their asymmetrical friendship. Brad gives Lyn his jacket - in contrast, an act of warmth and belated care. He also pushes Alexander’s arm away, a physical manifestation of rivalry and displacement.

It will be the moment when the ghosts of past, present, and future finally meet.

Maybe Lyn’s in the dark here, while Alexander… let’s just say he knows more than he lets on.

Drunk River could only ever be a dancing queen! 😂

Unless he is working for daddy because this: Finally, Adrian whispered hoarsely, “I didn’t mean to, Zayn. I was drunk. River… came on too strong. I couldn’t resist.” Sounds almost ridiculous… I mean, River? A strong badass?! 🤪

BTW, her whole plan seems to hinge on Zayn getting together with Harry, so that when they get married, Zayn would transfer all his wealth to Harry - who would then hand it over to Veronica?! Like… why would he ever do that? Even if Zayn were completely in love with Harry, he’s not a total moron! And then there’s Zayn, acting like a betrayed husband and not even letting River explain his side of the story. I used to think River was the drama queen, but it turns out Zayn’s the one putting on these embarrassing public performances. Daddy’s definitely the only cool head in the family - he’ll see that something about all this doesn’t add up.

What’s Adrian’s game, anyway?! On one hand, he’s playing along with Veronica’s scheme, hammering another nail into River’s coffin… but on the other, he’s trying to reach out to River, pretending to be innocent and confused. Why?!

Sorry, but I’m with @Okiegrad on this one. C’mon, don’t make me start quoting every description of long-haired, man-bun guy in your stories... all those open linen shirts and silk suits! @peter rietbergen's eyes might roll straight into the next chapter!

I thought I was the only one who noticed! 😂 By the way, I know @vanalas has a weakness for boys with long hair. 😜

That’s what I meant - if there was no penetration, it wouldn’t legally qualify as rape. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t deeply humiliating, and it’s important to note that there could still be criminal elements involved, such as sexual harassment or drugging someone. Adrian definitely seems headed for jail. Of course, we still don’t know what really happened, how far Adrian actually went, or whether he acted alone.

As the story unfolds, I’m starting to think it’s nothing more than a bit of mutual wanking! 😜

There was no rape and nothing actually happened - it was all a setup.

River has nothing to prove, least of all to his “fake” boyfriend. The real issue would be if his credibility starts slipping with the family members who’ve stood by him.

The rehearsal is mechanical and overly precise, which makes every minor flaw - Luke’s teasing, Bella’s stress, the placeholder chairs - feel exaggerated. Reading this scene, I had a sense of claustrophobia and irritability. Nothing flows naturally... every gesture and word is scrutinized. I was looking for a deeper meaning of Alexander's words: “But this is like getting ready for an exam. Too much repetition might end up making you develop a bad habit of misunderstanding things." Even if we read it simply as annoying and exhausting, it still speaks volumes about the tension and strain of the rehearsal. Above all - Lyn being… Lyn. As long as everyone’s happy, satisfied, and harmony is restored - birds are singing, flowers blooming… never mind the emotional wreckage underneath. 😜 At least, Alexander didn't stay silent: “I see that you’re enjoying cozying up to the bride to be,” “I thought Brad was giving me the weirdest compliments when telling me that I reminded him of this Lyn person he used to know in college. For the longest time, I thought you were either imaginary or, worse, a girl Brad must have crushed on…” So, Brad had spoken often enough of Lyn for Bella to form a picture. He described Lyn in a way that suggested emotional significance - even romantic. The notion that she thought Lyn was “a girl Brad must have crushed on” twists the knife... it captures how closeted, displaced, and misunderstood Lyn’s entire college experience was. “What the hell had she been trying to say?” This closing question works perfectly. It’s ambiguous - is Lyn shaken by Bella’s words because they suggest Brad had feelings for him? Or because they confirm that Brad, now her fiancé, still keeps Lyn’s memory alive - but misread, sanitized, heteronormalized? The question is not just “What was she trying to say?” but “What did Brad ever feel — and what has he told her about me?” It sets the stage for a storm of introspection and possibly confrontation. This whole Brad's development (in past and present) makes me so frustrated with Brad that I’m on the verge of stopping commenting on him altogether - at least until the @Laura S. Fox finally reveals what his true feelings really are. The ambiguity is driving me mad (in the best way)! 😁 Would you steal your best friend’s gal, given the chance?’ - that line isn’t about any imaginary girl from their past, and it’s certainly not about Bella. It’s Brad projecting - and it’s all about Lyn. It’s also a displaced echo of something older... the unresolved sexual tension between Brad and Lyn. The question, aimed at Alexander, carries an unspoken subtext - Could you steal what I took from him? It destabilizes both men - Alexander because he senses the latent rivalry, Lyn because he’s trapped in its crossfire. Lyn’s attempt to defuse the tension (“were you two stealing girlfriends from each other in college?”) is classic self-preservation - humor as escape, control through wit. Yet it doesn’t fully work - the air remains charged. And then again Lyn...being Lyn: “Could it be that they had had something going on before Bella met Brad?” Lyn’s jealousy takes a new, ironic form - he begins to imagine that Alexander might have a hidden connection with Bella. This isn’t just insecurity; it’s displacement. Unable to confront his true feelings for Brad or his loss of control with Alexander, he redirects suspicion elsewhere. His mind becomes a hall of mirrors (mirrors for @LeeSA 😉 )... desire, guilt, jealousy - all projected onto one another. In other words, Lyn, baby, this is pure bullshit! 😂 “The walls you build, Lyn… They are so thick, you’ve left no room inside for breathing, let alone living. That’s not protection – that’s a prison.” Woooooooooooooooooow!!! Or a bit professionally - this is a rare moment where Alexander articulates the psychological truth that Lyn intuitively knows but struggles to accept... his perfectionism, control, and fear of vulnerability have created emotional imprisonment. You didn’t trust me then… I did, but I hated that I had to trust you even when I didn’t.” Still hidden from us what happened that fateful night - we see now the start of healing old wounds and reaffirming connection - the act becomes both pleasure and reconciliation.

As much as I’m disappointed in Adrian, Harry turns out to be a more complex character than I expected. I have to admit I’m glad @vanalas gave him more depth than just being opportunistic or villainous. He has doubts, he makes poor decisions, and while it seems he’ll end up on the wrong side of history, he’s not portrayed as a monster - rather as a weak, conflicted man.

Adrian leaves a really unsettling, almost predatory impression. We don’t know much about him or his motives yet - whether he’s acting purely as Veronica’s ally or pursuing something personal...but so far, it doesn’t look good. It seems Veronica has split the responsibilities: Harry handling Zayn, and Adrian in charge of River. Poor River - this house is full of sharks. I can’t help wondering if Adrian might have become a better man, if he followed his own path rather than his mother’s influence. He could be acting on personal motives, even a kind of private vendetta, and fear - especially fear of losing status or security - can be a powerful driver, even for the wealthy.

Actually, I really like the comparison between Casual’s smut writing and Tom of Finland’s art. I once read that Tom’s work isn’t simply meant to arouse - it celebrates queer identity, masculinity, and desire in a bold, unapologetic way. Casual’s well-endowed (anti)heroes embody that same raw strength and dominance. Their enormous phalluses may fuel our imagination and fantasy, yet in Casual’s literary world they don’t always symbolize the power of their proud owners, but rather the strength of those who receive them - often repeatedly. It’s not uncommon to wonder, in such encounters, who truly holds the power. For instance, we might assume Malik is the one leading the game, yet his confession reveals otherwise - he’s already far too entangled, unable to resist Daniel: “He has no idea how much gravity he throws. The want in him. The hunger.”

Does he mean “not normal” as in unusual or uncommon, or “not normal” in a homophobic sense?

I don’t remember when or where I first read this amazing story, but I know it has stayed with me ever since. It evokes both sadness and hope - endings and beginnings, closures and new chapters of life. A beautiful tale of lost souls brought together by the spirit of a man who never stopped believing in them. It’s a story of friendship - virtual friendship, the kind we know so well... that transcends the net, connecting people and finally materializing through the spirit of a departed friend. I believe this story touches many of us deeply and feels very close to home. Thank you, dear @Inkognito, for this wonderful piece.

This chapter has completely blown my mind! Harry is acting like a jealous boyfriend toward River - the “real” boyfriend who we all know is actually fake. Then we have Zayn getting jealous when Malvin flirts with River… followed by Zayn swooping in to rescue his fake boyfriend from Malvin, who apparently isn’t such a gentleman after all. And just when I think it can’t get any more chaotic, River performs a lap dance for Zayn… only to end up throwing up and falling asleep on his shoulder! With all this glorious drama in the triangle, I still have to mention Damian and Liana - the most charming heterosexual couple ever. They are simply adorable.

I absolutely love the wordplay here - “I was riding a wolf” and “Are you sleeping with another wolf?” Brilliant! 🤣😂

Now that would be a proper soap opera! I can’t wait to see what @Laura S. Fox has to say about it! 😜 You think Alexander might have a kid?! 😮 Now that’s an intriguing theory!

Too late!

That's the point...I guess!