The party, attended by high-ranking officials of the organization under Gilas's control, appeared calm on the surface, yet the fangs hidden behind their hypocrisy were clearly visible. Their smiles were merely masks concealing their true faces.
Everyone sat in seats of prestige corresponding to the rings on their fingers—symbols of their rank. Only Julian. He was the only one sitting on the cold marble floor, like a pet that must obey its Master.
"Why aren't you smiling, Julian? We have guests. Shouldn't you be showing your respect?" said Gilas.
Julian watched every pair of eyes staring at him. Not a single one of their gazes was normal. Julian clenched his fists tightly. His eyes scanned the room, searching for any weapon that might be hidden to kill him.
"Julian!" Gilas tugged on the chain binding Julian's neck. "Be a useful pet. If you do anything, you won't get death—you'll get merciless suffering," Gilas whispered.
Gilas wasn't just making threats. He would carry out exactly what he'd said without fail.
"Is he the only one left of the Morentti family?" The large man with a scar on his left cheek, sitting across from Julian, began to speak—Jove Inki. His gaze was intense enough to seem to strip Julian bare.
Julian furrowed his brow. "I didn't see these faces when Gilas destroyed my family," Julian thought to himself.
The pungent aroma of expensive wine mixed with cigars stung Julian's nose. Although he was used to it, their aura made his whole body tense, and he couldn't breathe properly.
Gilas poured wine into a glass. He handed the glass to Julian. "Drink it all—not a single drop left," Gilas said.
"Finish it yourself! Never drag me into your business!" Julian said, emphasizing that they were enemies.
"Hahaha..." Jove chuckled. "It turns out you've caught a fierce prey you haven't been able to tame yet, Gilas," said Jove.
Julian looked confused. What kind of bond was chaining them together? They were in the same place, yet they were both allies and enemies living side by side. Julian had never seen a relationship like that before. Supportive, yet not hesitant to kill one another.
"Tame? I'll make sure this pet of mine obeys only me," said Gilas.
"How about you give that pet of yours to me? I have a better way than you. It seems your method is making your pet bored," said Jove.
In that room, there wasn't just Jove; there were several others with the same status. One of them was Elena, a woman who shared the same bloodline as Gilas. She didn't say a single word as she observed everything closely.
"Julian, are you bored, as that bastard said?" Gilas touched Julian's chin. His gaze was so dark and terrifying that Julian stood frozen, unable to speak.
"Enough, Gilas." Jove rose from his chair. He smoothed out his clothes and stepped toward Julian. "Take my advice," he continued, placing a hand on Julian's shoulder.
Crack!
A loud sound as a knife sliced through a bottle of champagne. Its contents spilled, staining the floor. Gilas's piercing glare silenced the room. Only the ticking of the clock could be heard.
"Look closely, Jove!" Gilas said, gritting his teeth.
Gilas immediately set the knife down. His large hands, with their muscular arms, pulled on the chain binding Julian's neck. He vented his anger on Julian, who had remained motionless from the start, restraining himself even as his pride was repeatedly crushed.
The atmosphere froze. Gilas pulled Julian close, positioning his lips to touch Julian's. Julian's eyes widened in shock. He tried to push Gilas away, but his hands were seized and pinned above his head. The physical strength was worlds apart.
Gilas treated Julian very roughly. Gilas bit his lips until everyone in the room fell silent, becoming mere spectators. Julian's self-respect was trampled upon even further. Tears began to fall as Gilas touched him.
Gilas wiped his wet, bloodied lips—the result of Julian's bite in retaliation for his refusal to accept a kiss from him. "He's mine, and he'll always be mine." Gilas glared at Julian with growing ferocity. "He'll never get bored, and if I do, I'd rather get rid of my pet than hand him over to someone else who so desperately wants what's mine," he added seriously.
"You're crazy!" Julian exclaimed in fear.
What Gilas was doing was a declaration that no one could possess Julian as long as the man was by his side. Jove was transfixed. He chuckled at Gilas's uncharacteristic behavior.
"This is the first time I've seen you upset, Gilas," Jove said. He turned around and sat back down in his chair.
"Upset? Do I look that naive?" Gilas wiped Julian's wet cheek. "I'm just trying to scare my man with a little game to show him that I really am a crazy bastard," Gilas said, staring intently at Julian.
"Does this also mean you're defying me because I want what's yours, Gilas?" Jove asked bluntly. "What else can I do? This time, your prey looks pretty interesting. I'm ready to fight you for it. How about it?" Jove challenged.
Elena, who had been silent until then, threw a fork this time that struck a sharp, gleaming knife Jove was twirling in his hand. With a cold stare and a thick, dark aura, the woman rose from her seat.
"Gilas, Jove, stop it! Let's call it a day for now," Elena said, her face expressionless.
"You're no fun at all, Elena," Jove complained.
"Gilas, stop your foolish behavior," said Elena, ignoring Jove. She looked at Julian, who was still kneeling at Gilas's feet. "You!" Elena pointed at Julian without changing her expression, which remained flat. "You are the real danger!"
Julian didn't understand what he had just heard or what was actually happening. He still didn't get it. Gilas moved very quickly—too quickly—placing the cold tip of his weapon right against Elena's forehead.
"Shut your mouth, Elena!" Gilas said firmly.
Elena pushed Gilas's weapon away from her head. She remained unshaken, unflinching. She smirked as if, in her eyes, Gilas was just the same little boy he had been over a decade ago.
"Your name is Julian, isn't it?" Elena asked, her gaze still fixed on Gilas. "Staying by Gilas's side will be a regret you'll never be able to change," she continued. Elena took a step closer to Gilas. "Gilas, I'm warning you of one thing if you don't want to regret the same thing over and over."
Gilas responded with the sharp glare of a killer. "Don't cross the line, Elena!" Gilas snapped.
Elena patted Gilas's shoulder without fear. "Your way is wrong. You're not showing how to love; you're only showing how to possess," she whispered.
Gilas stood frozen, his fists clenched tightly. Yet he couldn't deny the truth. He shifted his gaze to Julian, who looked fragile, and wondered how he could destroy Julian without getting hurt inside his golden tower.