Chapter 41

"You don't get me, and I don't get you. We live under the same roof, but we're like strangers," Brian analyzed coolly. The issues between them couldn't be fixed with a few half-baked, clumsy attempts at romance.

Everything William had done so far, be it cooking, arm wrestling, or trying to be romantic, was done without any real thought or heart, which is why he kept messing up. And Brian? He had no clue what was going on in William's head.

They both thought they knew what was best, but it was like a chicken running around with its head cut off.

They were trying so hard to bridge the gap, but it felt forced and awkward. There was no harmony, just constant friction.

Their personalities, habits, and lifestyles just didn't mesh.

It was frustrating, and they were at a loss. Their marriage was like walking on thin ice, and they were tiptoeing forward, afraid of falling through at any moment.

"I can't even deal with you right now," Brian muttered.

Brian looked at the living room, which was a complete disaster, and felt a headache coming on. William was a one-man wrecking crew.

"Come on, don't ignore me!" William pleaded.

Brian retreated to his study, refusing to come out until the living room was cleaned up.

William scratched his head furiously. "Damn it, Theodore! You're gonna pay for this!" he muttered under his breath. He grabbed his phone and stormed onto the balcony.

"Hey, William, no need to thank me, buddy," Theodore said over the phone, sipping a drink and chuckling. He was convinced that William was calling to thank him for his advice.

"Thank me? Are you out of your mind? What kind of crap advice did you give me? Seriously, have you ever done anything sensible in your life? Following your stupid ideas, I'm gonna end up divorced!" William shouted.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down! I put my heart and soul into helping you win over Brian. I even Googled stuff for you and gave you ideas!" Theodore defended himself.

"Yeah, and look where that got me! You said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so I cooked my specialty dishes – scorpion soup and braised snake. He almost left me on the spot! And the arm wrestling? I almost broke his hand! And giving him all my money? People thought he was trying to take over the company! And the 'romantic' balloons? They caught fire and nearly burned the house down! Your advice is a trainwreck!" William ranted.

Theodore was speechless.

William felt like he'd been led down a rabbit hole. He had trusted Theodore because he thought his friend, who had been dating since he was five, would have some solid advice. But it turned out Theodore was more like a lighthouse guiding ships into the rocks.

William had never been in a relationship before. He had gone straight from school to the military, and then into a job in national security. He had never experienced love and was clueless about how to win Brian's heart.

He had hoped for a quick fix, a magic formula that would make Brian fall head over heels in love with him. But now he realized that there was no shortcut to love.

He looked at the cold food on the table and sighed. "Honey, I warmed up the food. Let's eat," he called out to Brian.

As he opened the door to the study, he saw Brian quickly close a webpage. William tried to make conversation, but Brian just ate in silence.

"Babe, I know you're pissed. How about you take it out on me? Maybe punch me or something to feel better?" William suggested.

Brian glanced at his injured hand. He was still using a fork and spoon because of it. If it weren't for the injury, he might have taken William up on the offer, especially after seeing the mess in the living room.

"I'm game for whatever helps you blow off steam," William said, trying to lighten the mood.

Brian's eyes twinkled with mischief, and a sly smile crept onto his face as he put down his fork. "Anything?"

"Absolutely! As long as it's not illegal," William added quickly.

Brian leaned back, lit a cigarette, and thought about all the frustration he'd been bottling up because of William's antics. Now that William was practically begging for punishment, how could he pass up the opportunity?