Chapter 130: Chapter 130: The Covenant of Equality

This blunt, honest confession caused Julian Sterling’s defensive walls to crumble instantly. He understood that sensation perfectly. He himself occasionally felt the urge to dominate Ethan, wanting the man to follow his lead. The collision of two such massive egos was inevitable, but what mattered most was that Ethan had been the one willing to humble himself first.

Looking at the tall, powerful man kneeling by the bedside, his eyes brimming with genuine remorse and deep-seated affection, Julian felt his anger evaporate by more than half, replaced by a softening of the heart and a tinge of bittersweet emotion.

“You say you’re afraid.” Julian whispered, his voice still shaky: “But your fear manifested as aggression. You tried to chain me down so I couldn’t leave, but all you did was make me want to run away faster.”

Ethan bowed his head, his forehead resting against Julian’s hand: “I know. I’m a fool who doesn’t know how to handle his own heart. I’ve spent my whole life commanding and controlling, and I brought that into the one place where it should never exist. Please, give me a chance to learn how to be the husband you deserve.”

The room was quiet, save for the sound of their breathing. The morning sun had climbed higher, filling the space with a warm, golden glow that seemed to mock the heavy atmosphere. Julian felt a complex mixture of emotions swirling inside him, anger, pain, but also a tiny, flickering spark of hope. He wasn’t ready to forgive, not yet, but he was willing to listen.

“Get up.” Julian said finally, his voice softer than before. “A man like you shouldn’t be kneeling on the floor.”

Julian let out a long, shaky breath. “We’re not ’okay’ yet, Ethan. Trust isn’t something you can fix with a single apology or a dramatic gesture. You broke something last night, and it’s going to take time to mend.”

“I have nothing but time.” Ethan said, looking up with eyes that held a desperate kind of hope. “I will spend every day proving to you that I see you, I respect you, and I… I care for you more than I can put into words.”

Julian looked away, his gaze falling on the steam rising from the congee Ethan had brought. The domesticity of the scene felt strange after the storm of the night, but it was a beginning. He reached out and touched Ethan’s hair, a tentative, almost imperceptible gesture of peace.

“Stand up.” Julian sighed, his fingers lightly grazing the palm of Ethan’s hand: “If someone sees you kneeling like this, they’ll think I’m committing domestic abuse. You are the great Ethan Caldwell, after all…”

“If you haven’t forgiven me, I won’t stand.” Ethan insisted stubbornly, sensing an opening and pushing his advantage: “I need a commitment.”

“What kind of commitment?”

“From this day forward, whether in bed or on the ground, the power is shared equally. Or…” Ethan’s lips curved into a slight, roguish smirk, a gaze filled with mischievous indulgence: “…Or I will surrender that power entirely to you. If you say stop, I stop. If you say faster, I go faster. I will never use toys or anything else to force you unless you nod your head in agreement. Unless, of course, you voluntarily want to play a game of forced submission with me.”

Julian’s face turned bright crimson, the heat spreading to the tips of his ears. He grabbed a pillow and hurled it directly at the man’s face: “Who wants to play those games with you! You pervert!”

Damn it, they were just having a serious, heartfelt conversation. In just a matter of seconds, he had already started acting like a deviant again!

Ethan caught the pillow with ease, let out a hearty, booming laugh. He stood up, and the heavy, suffocating atmosphere that had permeated the room was completely gone. He sat back down beside Julian, reaching out to smooth the messy tufts of his lover’s hair.

“I am a man of my word.” Ethan said, returning to a serious tone: “I checked you this morning while you were sleeping. Your… area is quite swollen and red. I’ve already applied the best ointment available. It will definitely feel better by this afternoon. I promise to be more cherishing next time.”

Julian muttered under his breath: “You’d better be. If there’s a next time, I’ll turn you into a eunuch…”

“Yes, yes, I hear and obey, my little treasure.” Ethan laughed off the threat. He turned to pick up the bowl of congee, which had cooled to a perfect temperature. “Now, eat something. It’s minced meat and perilla congee. I got up at five in the morning to simmer the bone broth myself. Eat it to ward off a cold, and it will warm your stomach. It’s good for… recovering your strength.”

Julian had intended to act aloof for a while longer, but his traitorous stomach chose that moment to let out a loud, hollow growl. He could only pout: “Feed me. My arms ache, I can’t hold the spoon.”

“Of course, I’d be happy to serve you for the rest of my life.”

Ethan attentively scooped up each spoonful of congee, carefully blowing on it to ensure it wasn’t too hot before bringing it to Julian’s lips. Julian obediently opened his mouth to eat. The sweetness of the meat combined with the fragrant aroma of the perilla spread through him, soothing both his stomach and his wounded heart.

After finishing half the bowl, Julian suddenly remembered the evidence of the crime. He quickly swallowed his mouthful of porridge and glared at the man: “Where is that prosthetic device?”

Ethan paused, his gaze drifting guiltily toward the ceiling: “Ah… um… I put it back in the box.”

“Throw it away!” Julian pronounced the sentence coldly, leaving no room for negotiation: “Throw it away immediately. I don’t want to see that detestable pink thing in this house ever again. Looking at it just reminds me of your arrogant face when you were forcing me.”

Ethan felt a momentary pang of regret for the rather interesting toy, but looking at Julian Sterling’s resolute expression, he knew he had no choice in the matter. Between a toy and being allowed to sleep in the bed, he naturally chose the latter.

“I will personally toss it into the trash bin in a moment.”

Julian finally nodded in satisfaction, continuing to enjoy the dedicated service of the CEO of the Caldwell Empire.

Once the meal was finished, Ethan helped him lie back down, tucking the duvet carefully around him like he was wrapping a precious gift. He leaned down and pressed a firm, resounding kiss onto Julian’s forehead, a gesture full of profound respect.

“Sleep a bit longer to regain your strength. I’ll be right here working in the room, right beside you. I’m not going anywhere.”

Julian snuggled into the warmth of the blankets, a wave of sleepiness and comfort washing over him. He felt a great sense of relief. Their conversation, though brief, had successfully removed the heavy boulder that had been weighing on both of their hearts. They were learning to set aside their egos and respect each other’s boundaries.

Before drifting off into a deep slumber, Julian murmured a sentence so softly it was barely a whisper, yet it was enough for Ethan to hear: “Next time… be gentler… and… you’re not allowed to use that vibrating thing anymore…”

Ethan grasped Julian’s hand beneath the covers, giving it a gentle squeeze. His eyes were as tender as autumn water: “I promise.”

Outside the window, the sun had climbed high into the sky, brilliant and warm. The dark clouds of suspicion and power struggles had dissipated, giving way to a clear sky of mutual understanding and equal love. A new Chapter in their relationship had begun, one that was more mature, more grounded, and significantly stronger than before.

The silence that followed was no longer heavy or filled with tension. It was the peaceful quiet of two people who had found their way back to one another. Ethan watched Julian’s breathing become slow and rhythmic, a small smile playing on his lips. He realized that true power didn’t come from forcing someone to stay, but from being the kind of man they never wanted to leave.

As the golden sunlight filled the room, it seemed to bless the quiet covenant they had made. There would be other challenges, other clashes of will, but they had established a foundation of respect that would carry them through. Ethan settled into the chair by the bed, his laptop open, but his eyes frequently strayed back to the sleeping figure beside him. He had everything he needed right here.

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