Chapter 58 Gifts And Toxic Smiles
The urge to knock the grin off Keith’s Japanese-looking face was thick, but Julian knew better than to worsen the situation or give Keith that power over him. No one must know he has a weakness. To them all, he had no soft spot.
He knew Keith was surely coming back for him after that day- that he saved his son from his hands. He just didn’t expect him to show up this way.
“The audacity to think you could show yourself to my bride and make me fret.” Julian said coolly, his voice smooth as glass, eyes devoid of warmth.
Keith feigned surprise. “Oh, really? I’m disappointed. I was hoping you would shake.” Julian caught the mockery in his tone but he continued anyway.
“You already know I’m selfish, Keith. I care about no one but myself.”
Keith hummed, the sound thoughtful and amused.
“Still as stoic as ever, I see.” His eyes pierced Julian’s gaze.
Keith had always been a man who spoke two languages at once—the one you heard, and the one that bled beneath it.
He studied Julian carefully, as though peeling him apart layer by layer. As if he was searching for weakness in his expression.
Julian gave him nothing. His expression remained unreadable as he asked, “Enough of the drama. It’s not as entertaining as you think. What do you want, Keith Arthur?”
Keith’s lips curved.
“Good,” he said softly. “Straight to the point. That’s why I’ve always liked you.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, his posture relaxed, but his presence oppressive.
“The kid you came to pick up under my nose. The one I let you go with that night, just because I didn’t want our reunion to be remembered with violence,”
He leaned forward slightly, his smile widening sharply,
“I want you to willingly return him.”
He showed his teeth then, white and satisfied, as if he had just asked for something trivial. Julian stiffened inwardly. It was about Phoenix again. His son.
“As you can see,” Keith continued, his voice smooth with quiet mockery, “what I want is very simple.”
Julian’s jaw clenched.
His lungs tightened as he reprocessed what he was asking for.
His son.
Keith was standing there, asking for his son.
And he did not even know it. He couldn’t know the kid they were all obsessing over was his.
That ignorance was the only reason Keith was still breathing.
Julian forced his face into neutrality.
“I don’t know where the child is,” He said evenly. “I returned him to his parents. They’ve already left Vegas.”
The shift in Keith’s demeanor was immediate.
His warmth vanished, replaced by a very cold and controlled expression. If one didn’t know better, they’d argue that he was the one grinning just now.
“I don’t care how you do it,” Keith said quietly. “You will get him back from his parents or wherever he truly is.”
His eyes locked onto Julian’s.
“And you will bring him to me.”
Julian’s chest rose and fell once. The more Keith talked about Phoenix, the more he wanted to draw a gun out and fixe a bullet into his skull. That was how far he was willing to go to protect his son, yet he couldn’t. Not here. And Keith couldn’t be killed like that.
“Julian?” A soft familiar voice called behind him. He looked to see his new bride. Seraphina.
Her fingers slipped around his hand as she approached. Julian felt the subtle tremor in her touch, the gentle vulnerability she carried so naturally as she looked up at him, her brows drawn faintly together.
“I’m feeling a bit of a headache,” she murmured. “Can we go home already?”
That caught Julian’s attention. His gaze softened, the harsh edges of him smoothing as he looked down at her.
“Of course,” Julian said quietly. “It would be my pleasure to take you home, my wife.” Seraphina’s throat tightened at what he called her. His wife. Her stomach danced with butterflies, even though she knew better than to feel those.
Keith chuckled just then, getting Seraphina’s attention.
Julian did not turn, but he felt it. Felt the provocation in it.
“Julian, don’t be rude. Won’t you introduce me to your beautiful bride?”
Julian finally looked back at him.
Keith’s smile remained stretched, effortlessly.
Before Julian could refuse, Keith stepped forward, extending a bouquet toward Seraphina.
He turned his charm on her like a switch.
“My name is Keith Arthur, an old friend of your husband.”
He offered the flowers.
“Something elegant for an elegant lady like you.”
Seraphina blinked in surprise, then smiled politely as she accepted them.
“Thank you. It’s so thoughtful of you.” she said warmly.
Julian watched the exchange with quiet intensity, his protective instinct burning beneath his skin.
Keith’s eyes lingered on her just a second too long before Julian stepped in.
“We’re leaving. I need to tend to my wife.” Julian said flatly, yet, the pressure beneath his voice wasn’t missed by Keith.
Keith raised his hands in mock surrender. “With all pleasure.” His smile widened. “I would love to get to know your wife better one of these days.”
Julian’s hand tightened unconsciously around Seraphina’s wrist.
Keith noticed.
But Julian did not give him the satisfaction of reacting further. He simply turned and led Seraphina away. The urge to find a distraction was overwhelming, so he led her toward the decorated car that was brought to him earlier.
The car gleamed beneath ribbons and floral arrangements, pristine and elegant in appearance and quality. He stopped in front of it. Seraphina also stopped, then she looked from the car to him, trying to understand what was going on.
Julian opened the front door for her.
“A friend of mine brought this earlier. He said it’s your wedding gift.” he said simply, his mind still partly wondering about Keith’s appearance.
Seraphina’s eyes widened in total surprise, but she didn’t look excited.
Sheila, who had been approaching nearby, rushed forward immediately after overhearing them.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed, circling the car in excitement. “This is super gorgeous!”
She opened the passenger door and slipped inside without hesitation, laughing softly in excitement and disbelief.
But Seraphina’s reaction was a total contrast. She turned to Julian, her voice lowering.
“I can’t take this.”
Julian’s brows pinched. “Why?”
She hesitated, then whispered, “This is a fake wedding. I’m not meant to take real gifts from your people.”
Julian didn’t know why, but he was impressed.
Yet, he leaned down, lips brushing her ear.
“Pretend,” he whispered.
Just that one word was enough to get her to act.
Her lashes fluttered, then she smiled.
And suddenly she was moving toward the car, her excitement blooming naturally, her laughter soft and unguarded.
Julian watched her. A feeling that was now becoming familiar, yet strange stirring in his chest. He couldn’t look away, until she slipped into the car and joined Sheila.
“Congratulations once again, boss.” Julian turned and saw Joanne. She was standing beside him now.
He had not even noticed her approach.
“Thanks,” He responded, gaze returning to his source of interest who was still in the car.
Joanne’s eyes followed his gaze, then she smiled.
She smiled, her eyes flickering toward Seraphina.
“She’s a lucky woman, isn’t she?”
“What do you mean?” Julian asked absentmindedly.
“For bagging someone like you. I wonder what she did to convince you.”
Julian scoffed lightly.
“I’m the lucky one.”
Joanne’s smile faltered. But she restored it.
The words clearly had not been what she expected.
“Well, if marriage life ever gets boring, and I’m sure it will—you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
Her voice lowered slightly. Julian was forced to focus on her when she walked around to stand in his front.
“I’ll always be loyal,” Then she added sweetly, “boss.”
Julian held her gaze. “Thanks, Joanne. I appreciate your offer.”
She smiled, feeling satisfied that she might still have a chance after all.
“It’s cool to know you’d consider it.”
Julian smirked faintly.
Joanne tilted her head.
“So, have you found Adrian’s mother? Or are you still on it?” She asked, concern vivid in her tone. But Julian wasn’t having it.
“We’re not discussing such on my wedding day.”
Joanne smiled slowly. “I guess Seraphina doesn’t know,” she said softly, eyes gleaming. “That makes me glad.”
She leaned closer. “It means I know you better than she does.”
Before Julian could respond, Seraphina appeared.
She stepped out of the car gracefully, not sparing Joanne a glance though she saw her.
She walked straight to Julian, wrapped her arms around him, and shamelessly pressed herself against him.
“Can we go home now, baby?” she whispered, kissing his jaw. Then her voice thinned, but she made sure it was heard by Joanne. “I can’t wait here a second longer. I need you.”
Julian felt his breath stutter. Her flirty expressions- though an act, just unraveled him completely.