Chapter 157 HIS FLAW

Chapter 157 HIS FLAW
Anton finished wrapping the fresh bandage around Julian's shoulder before pressing the tape firmly into place.

“There.”

He reached for the first-aid box and closed the lid.

Julian remained seated on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing.

Anton carried the box to the cabinet, put it away, then returned. Without saying anything, he stopped in front of Julian.

Julian slowly leaned forward until his forehead rested against Anton's waist.

Anton sighed softly. His fingers slipped into Julian's hair, gently stroking it.

For a long while… Neither of them spoke.

Finally,

“I want my Eli back.”

Julian's voice was barely above a whisper.

Anton continued running his fingers through his hair. “You'll have him back.” He paused for a second, “if you soften up a little."

Julian didn't answer.

Anton smiled faintly. “I'm devastated… and I'm also glad he shot you.”

Julian immediately lifted his head. His narrowed eyes met Anton's amused grin.

“...What?”

Anton chuckled. “What? I'm just glad my pretty boy can shoot.”

“He can't aim.” Julian frowned. “He missed.”

Anton laughed. “He hit you before he hit the vase. I'd say that's a pretty good aim, I'm proud of my baby.”

Julian suddenly wrapped both arms around Anton's waist, then dug his fingers in. Hard.

“Ah— sssiss” Anton hissed. “I just told you to soften up. And now you're trying to dig holes into my waist?"

Julian grinned, “that's what you get for mocking me.”

“C'mon… let go. It hurts.”

Julian tightened his grip.

Anton rolled his eyes. “You really are impossible to deal with.”

His phone began vibrating. Neither of them moved, and Julian still didn't let go.

It rang again before Anton finally pulled it from his pocket and answered.

A familiar voice drifted through the speaker.

“Anton.”

Anton's expression immediately emptied.

“...Damien.”

A quiet chuckle came from the other end. “You still know my voice.” Damien sounded almost pleased. “Once again… you make me blush like a damn fool.”

Anton's thumb moved toward the red button.Before he could press it—

“I know you're about to hang up. Why? Don't you miss your pretty blonde boy?”

Julian's head snapped up. “What did you just say?” He snatched the phone from Anton.

His voice became ice.

“What did you just say?”

Damien laughed. “Ah… The big boss himself. How could I forget? You two are always together.”

“I think,” Julian said coldly, “you know better than to play games with me.”

“I do.” Damien answered calmly. “I wouldn't dare play games with you. That's why I called my boss and not you."

Julian's jaw tightened. “If you've touched him—”

“Relax. I support your relationship. Y'know, I saw you pacing around your office practicing your confession and I felt sorry for you cuz I've been there before. So… I took your pretty boy clubbing to help prepare him for your big feelings.”

Julian's grip tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white.

Before he could explode—

“And if you want him back, give the phone to the man I actually called.”

Julian slowly looked at Anton. Neither spoke. Then Julian silently handed the phone back.

Anton lifted it. “Damien.”

There was a quiet inhale. “Anton.” His voice softened. “Do you remember the first day you took me away from Julian?”

“What is wrong with you?” Anton groaned, impatient.

“You sent your men after me, the hunt is so intense I figured you miss me. I have Eli, so you might want to listen to me. Do you remember the first day you took me away from Julian?”

Anton's eyes slowly lowered. “Yes. do.”

“You bought me.” Damien laughed quietly. “Funny word. 'Bought.' I remember standing there wondering… which monster I'd belong to next.”

He paused…

“You know what Julian was like back then? He'd lose control. He'd beat whoever happened to be closest. Sometimes because business went badly, sometimes because somebody looked at him wrong, sometimes… for absolutely no reason.”

Another pause…

“And I suffered the most.”

Julian slowly closed his eyes.

“I accepted it, I thought that was simply life. Then you walked in. You looked at me, and instead of asking whether I was useful… you asked me why I was bleeding."

Anton swallowed.

“You bought me. You stitched my face yourself because you didn't trust the doctor. You gave me my own room, you gave me proper meals, you told me to sleep.” His voice became smaller. “Nobody had ever told me to rest before.”

Anton finally spoke. “I was only doing what anyone should. You know that's how I treat all my men.”

Damien laughed. “No. You have no idea… what you looked like to someone like me. You weren't just a boss, you were…”

A long silence.

"My god."

Another silence.

Then, his voice changed.

“So I stayed. I trained harder than everyone, I worked harder than everyone. I would've died if you asked. I almost did, I stood in front of bullets, I fought beside you, I bled for you, I buried friends for you.” His breathing became uneven. “And every single time…” A bitter laugh escaped him. “You always chose him.”

Silence.

“Every. Single. Time.”

Anton whispered, “Damien.”

“No. Let me finish. When Julian lost control, you ran to Julian. When Julian drank himself unconscious, you carried Julian. When Julian wanted revenge, you helped Julian. When Julian broke himself, you put him back together.” His voice cracked. “And where was I?”

Another pause.

“Standing outside. Waiting. Hoping… that maybe this time, you'd notice I wasn't there. But I remained invisible no matter how hard I tried.”

“You were never invisible to me." Anton answered quietly.

Damien laughed. “Really? Then tell me, when was the last time you asked whether I was okay?”

Anton opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“I remember. It was six years ago, when I had a broken rib. And you asked because Julian complained about me being unusually slow, not because you noticed I was hurting. You know what finally destroyed me?”

Anton remained quiet.

“I realized… I wasn't competing with another man. I was competing with your loyalty. You would've chosen Julian over anyone. Over your own happiness. Over your own life… Over me.”

Another long silence.

Then Damien spoke quietly. “And it would've hurt less if you didn't cross the line with me,”

“Damien—” Anton tried to cut him short, knowing what he's about to say.

“Why? You don't want your beloved Julian to know you fucked me?”

Julian’s gaze snapped to Anton, and Anton looked away.

Damien continued, “It was a harmless crush until you pinned against the wall and stripped me naked. I could have moved in if you didn't fuck me like that. You made me moan and cry and beg for more, you made me crawl back to you for more. But then you suddenly stopped. You stopped after you've made me addicted to it, addiction to you. I know it's because of Julian.”

“Enough, Damien.”

“Why? ‘He's my brother,’ that's what you said to me before shoving your cock down my throat. Brothers don't kiss like that, y'know.”

Neither Anton nor Julian moved.

“Bothers don't look at each other like that. This minute, you're fighting like you could kill each other. The next minute, you're sucking each other's face. I kept waiting, waiting for you to wake up, for you to realize… what everyone else already knew.” His laugh sounded exhausted. “But then Eli appeared. And suddenly… you had somewhere else to hide.”

There's a brief silence.

“Tell me ,honestly, if Eli disappeared… would you finally admit that you love Julian?”

Anton's fingers tightened around the phone. His lips parted but no sound came out.

Damien continued. “Julian broke my bones. You… broke my heart. And do you know how pathetic I am? If you lied… If you looked me in the eye and told me you loved me… I'd believe you. I'd let myself believe the lie, I'd spend the rest of my life serving you, I'd be your slave, I'd stay beside you forever. You wouldn't even have to love me. I just…” his voice finally broke. “I want to hear you say it. Tell me you love me, even if it's a lie. I just want to hear it once."

The room fell silent.

When Anton finally answered, his voice was calm.

“It's my fault. I spoiled you rotten. Now you think you can speak to me like this.”

Damien laughed. “Still hiding. Still pretending. Fine.”

His tone hardened.

“Say it. And Eli walks free. If you don't… I'll hand him over to Matteo.”

A beat.

“Tell me you love me, Anton. Say it.”

Anton shut his eyes. When he opened them again… his answer never changed.

“...No. I don't. And you know I don't.”

A pause.

“But, It hurts me to watch you destroy yourself like this.”

The line went dead, and silence swallowed the room.

Anton slowly lowered the phone.

Julian looked at him. Anton looked back; he wanted to speak. He opened his mouth but nothing came.

“Anton,” Julian said, voice sounding lower than he intended. “You fucked Damien? You— Anton,”

Anton lowered his head.

“I'm sorry.”