It was a calm and peaceful winter morning. Through the large windows of his apartment, Adrien could see the grey sky blanketing the city like a soft sheet. The silence was only broken by the distant murmur of traffic on the streets of Paris. That near-perfect quiet was what Adrien cherished most in the early hours of the day. He clung to those moments as if they were his personal sanctuary, a haven of peace before facing the chaos of the world.
Adrien Atsuki was the epitome of perfection.
He was tall and elegant. His pale skin contrasted with his dark hair, always perfectly styled, framing a face of refined Asian features with an aura that captivated. His grey eyes observed the world with a mix of understanding and distance, and his reserved smile rarely revealed his innermost thoughts. He was the embodiment of self-control.
He lived a quiet life, or at least that's how he presented it. His routine at the University of the Sorbonne was flawless.
Adrien was a literature professor with a chair that placed him among the most influential in his field. His reputation extended both for his academic merits and for his enigmatic and refined demeanour. He was admired by colleagues and students alike, though Adrien always kept a low profile.
That morning, Adrien walked calmly through the university corridors, as he always did, drawing all eyes towards him. Every step seemed measured with natural precision, every gesture an expression of his innate grace.
He wasn’t one of those academics who sought attention, but he received it nonetheless. His female students observed him silently with admiration, and though he often received romantic glances from some, Adrien never showed any weakness towards such flattery.
He guarded his private life and his relationship with Mathieu, his partner, with utmost discretion. They carried their relationship quietly, simply out of preference. Their intimacy was sacred to them, and public exposure had always been a source of concern. Though Adrien never hid who he was, he didn’t flaunt it either.
That afternoon, Adrien returned to his apartment in the heart of Paris. Mathieu hadn’t come back from work yet, and the apartment was completely silent, something Adrien usually enjoyed. He put a kettle on the stove, preparing for a quiet evening, when he noticed something that shattered the serenity in an instant.
A letter, with no return address, lay on the table among the papers he had taken from his briefcase.
Adrien approached it slowly, with a growing sense of unease in his chest.
He broke the red wax seal and unfolded the sheet. His eyes scanned the lines written in a neat, almost meticulous hand. The content was chilling in its simplicity:
"I know who you are, and I know what you’re hiding. If you don’t do as I ask, everyone will know who you share your life with. Prepare to lose your perfect life."
Adrien felt the ground crumble beneath him. His hands trembled, and the room grew oppressive.
He sat down with the letter in hand. He took a deep breath as his mind frantically searched through the corners of his past for something that could be used against him.
Who was threatening him? And why?
Though he had never hidden his relationship with Mathieu, the threat of a public revelation stirred a mix of fear and indignation.
Despite the looming threat, Adrien maintained his composure at the university. His status as a professor not only earned him immediate respect but also offered him a kind of social armour. He was admired for his wisdom, for his elegant demeanour, and though many considered him distant, few could deny the attraction he held over others.
During his lectures, the room was always full. Students, both male and female, listened to him attentively. His eloquence in explaining the great classics of French literature was almost hypnotic. But Adrien always maintained professional distance. He never allowed himself a slip-up, a glance that lingered too long, or words that could be misinterpreted.
There was something in his behaviour that made him unattainable, and perhaps for that reason, he had more than once noticed the insistent admiration in the eyes of some female students. An admiration that he politely rejected with his usual correctness, always making it clear that the classroom was a place of mutual respect, not flirtation.
Nevertheless, the threat of the letter continued to weigh on him like a dark cloud. There was a secret in his past, one that he had guarded carefully for years. His relationship with Mathieu wasn’t the only thing that could come to light. Before Mathieu, Adrien had had another relationship, one that ended in a devastating way. Vincent, the man he had loved, had led him into a spiral of destructive emotions, control, and manipulation, and had disappeared from his life after a break-up that left deep scars.
He hadn’t seen or heard from Vincent in years, but somehow, the sense that this threat came from him was undeniable.
Had he returned?
Did Vincent want to destroy what Adrien had built with Mathieu?
The third message arrived a week later, and this time, it was much more direct. The letter was accompanied by a copy of a photograph: an image of Adrien, taken in his youth, in an intimate moment with Vincent. His heart tightened in his chest. A mix of terror and shame overwhelmed his mind.
"20,000 euros. You have three days to gather it, or these photos will be made public."
Adrien clenched his jaw. It wasn’t just about the money; he knew that. This was a power play. Vincent had always wanted to control him, to bend him to his will, and though the years had passed, it seemed that time hadn’t tempered that sick desire for possession. But Adrien had changed. He was no longer the weak and emotionally dependent man he once was.
The fear, however, remained. If those photos were made public, his entire private life would be exposed. And while he didn’t fear the reaction of those close to him, society, his career, even the university, might not be so forgiving. His name would be tainted by a scandal he hadn’t chosen.
But there was something else gnawing at him: the intrusion into his privacy. How had Vincent dared to photograph him? And even more so, how had he kept those photos for so many years? Adrien felt betrayed, as if a part of him had been violated.
He decided he couldn’t stay silent. He had to confront Vincent.
The afternoon was cloudy when Adrien decided to meet Vincent. He arranged to meet him at a discreet café in a quiet part of the city. When Vincent arrived, his presence darkened everything around him. He was taller than Adrien remembered, and his grey hair did nothing to diminish the intense attraction he always exuded.
"Adrien," said Vincent, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m surprised you agreed to see me so quickly."
Adrien looked at him coldly.
"I’m not here to play your game. What do you really want?"
Vincent sat down with unsettling calm.
"Do you really not know? What I’ve always wanted, Adrien. You. You left me, built a life without me, but that changes nothing. You know you can never escape what we were."
Adrien felt a mixture of disgust and pity. How had he ever allowed this man to control him?
"That was years ago, Vincent. You have no power over me anymore."
Vincent’s cold laughter cut through the air.
"Don’t I? What if those photos made it to the media? What would your students, your colleagues, your precious university say?"
Adrien kept his composure. He couldn’t let Vincent see the fear in his eyes. "I’m not the vulnerable young man you once knew. You no longer have control over my life."
But Vincent, as always, had a response ready. "Don’t underestimate me, Adrien. There’s always something to lose."
Adrien knew he couldn’t give in to Vincent’s demands, but he also knew he couldn’t fight alone. That very night, he shared everything with Mathieu. They sat on the couch, the warmth of the fireplace contrasting with the cold Adrien felt inside.
"I’ve been a coward for not telling you sooner," Adrien said, his voice breaking.
Mathieu took his hand.
"You’re not a coward. And you’re not alone in this."
They both decided that the best way to deal with Vincent was to expose him before he had the chance. Adrien saved all the letters, all the blackmail messages, and went to a lawyer. It wasn’t just the photos at stake but the violation of his privacy, the manipulation attempts, and the blackmail.
The next morning, Adrien handed all the evidence to his lawyer, a trusted man who had helped him in the past with minor legal issues. He was convinced it was the only way to end Vincent’s control.
"This is outright blackmail, Adrien. I could bury him legally if you decide to," the lawyer said after reviewing the documents and messages. "The most important thing is that you don’t make any payment. If you give in once, it’ll only get worse."
Adrien nodded, feeling a mix of relief and fear. There was no turning back. He had made the decision to face Vincent head-on, and he was ready to expose him if necessary. The fear he’d felt when he first saw the photos was slowly dissipating.
As he left the lawyer’s office, his mind was elsewhere. He knew there was still something left to resolve: he had to confront Vincent face to face.
The final meeting was arranged carefully. Adrien invited Vincent to a public place, a busy café in the city center, knowing that the blackmailer wouldn’t be able to do anything too drastic under so many eyes. Still, Adrien’s heart was pounding.
When Vincent arrived, he had that smug, unsettling smile he always wore. He knew he had something that could damage Adrien’s reputation and was convinced of his victory.
"I’m surprised you’ve been so predictable, Adrien," Vincent said as he sat down, his arrogance intact. "Do you have the money?"
Adrien took a deep breath.
"No, Vincent. I don’t have the money. And I’m not going to give it to you."
Vincent raised an eyebrow, amused.
—Do you really think you can escape this? I have everything I need to make you lose everything. I’m the one with the power here.
—You’re wrong, —Adrien said firmly, though inside he was still struggling to stay calm—. You no longer have control over me. I’ve given all your letters and messages to a lawyer. And, I’ve decided to expose what you’re doing.
Vincent's face hardened.
—What are you talking about?
Adrien looked him straight in the eye.
—I’m not playing your game anymore. What could have been a scandal before no longer is. You can’t use my personal life against me. We don’t live in a time where a homosexual relationship can destroy someone. If you make those photos public, the only thing you’ll achieve is exposing yourself as the blackmailer.
Vincent opened his mouth to respond, but Adrien continued.
—I’ve already spoken to several people about this, Vincent. Everything is in motion. If you take one more step, your entire plan will be exposed. Not only have you lost control over me, but now everyone will know what you tried to do.
For the first time, Adrien saw something different on Vincent’s face: insecurity. The blackmailer, always accustomed to having control, had been unmasked.
—You know well that I can destroy you, —Vincent insisted, but his voice was less convincing.
—You won’t, because if you try, I’ll be there to defend myself. And I won’t be alone. —Adrien delivered these last words with a mix of resolve and calm. He wasn’t afraid anymore. Not anymore.
Days later, Adrien’s lawyer informed him that Vincent had disappeared from the city, and all the blackmail evidence had been filed for a potential trial. But Adrien knew it wouldn’t be necessary. Vincent wasn’t a fool; he understood that he had lost the battle.
The scandal Vincent had planned never saw the light of day. The photos were never published, and the threats ceased completely. The intrusion into his private life, though deeply painful, had ultimately made Adrien stronger. Now, he could move forward, with Mathieu by his side and his privacy intact.
The next day, walking through the university halls, Adrien felt a sense of freedom that filled his lungs. The admiring looks from his students no longer troubled him; the weight of the secret he had carried for so long had disappeared. His private life was still his own, but it was no longer a weapon someone else could use against him.
When he reached his office, he found a letter on his desk. For a moment, a flicker of fear crossed his mind, but when he opened it, he found only a note written by Mathieu:
«No matter what happens, we’ll always be together. I love you».
Adrien smiled, feeling a wave of relief fill his chest. At last, the storm had passed, and he, who had once been the victim, had become the master of his own destiny.
Life continued at a new pace, one Adrien learned to savor. His relationship with Mathieu grew even stronger after what they had been through, and each day was a reminder that, although life was full of threats and uncertainties, together they could face them and come out stronger.
At the university, his reputation continued to rise. Students respected him not only for his intellect and good looks but for his integrity. He was, without a doubt, a role model. He never sought to be one, but his way of handling adversity made him a quiet example for those who admired him from afar.
In the afternoons, he and Mathieu would walk along the banks of the Seine, both enjoying the simple pleasure of being together. There were no more secrets or shadows from the past chasing them, nothing left to hide.
As for Vincent, he faded into obscurity. His attempt at blackmail, his arrogance, and his need for control became irrelevant in the face of Adrien’s resolve. Adrien had won not only the battle against his former lover but also against the ghosts that had threatened to destroy his life.
In moments of tranquility, Adrien sometimes thought back to those dark days and smiled, knowing that although fear had almost controlled him, his determination had been greater.
He had turned the threat into strength, vulnerability into power, and now lived a life free of chains, knowing he would never be a victim again.
Merci pour la lecture!
JVI love this story. I managed to connect with the story and feel all the anguish of Adrien. The narration hooked me and I couldn't stop reading until the end.
ZLIt is a great story, very well narrated and the development of the plot caught me. Wonderful the main character. Addictive writing from start to finish. I liked it a lot
CAAdrien falls in love from the beginning, perfect and does not bow to threats. The story is very well detailed and it is very easy to complete your reading. It is agile and very well narrated.
Is a deeply emotional story where Adrien's seemingly perfect life unravels after receiving threatening letters. The plot delves into themes of vulnerability, power, and the complexities of human relationships. The author masterfully creates a constant tension, drawing readers into the protagonist’s
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