Chapter 76 The Truth Between The Trigger
Seraphina’s breath came out uneven as she lifted her gaze to Balto, her head still throbbing faintly from the earlier blows.
“Kid… with a photographic memory?” she asked, her voice hoarse, fragile, but steady enough to carry in the tense room.
Balto’s lips curved in faint amusement, as though her question was mildly entertaining rather than relevant.
“Oh,” he drawled lazily, tilting his head. “You shouldn’t bother getting involved in our conversation.” His eyes flicked over her dismissively. “You’re only as important as being the consequence of Julian’s disobedience if he doesn’t oblige to my demand.”
Julian’s jaw tightened immediately. The taste in his mouth turned bitter.
The way Balto spoke about her - like a bargaining chip, like an expendable object irritated him beyond reasoning.
His hard gaze met Balto’s, ready to defend Sera.
“It’s so rich of you to regard her like that,” he said slowly, then let the blow out, “when she is the mother of the kid you’re so obsessed with getting from me.”
Silence suddenly slammed into the room.
Balto’s expression changed instantly.
“What are you talking about?” Disbelief was etched into his tone.
Julian’s jaw clenched harder, the muscles ticking visibly.
“The actual reason I couldn’t give you the child you asked for,” he started, his voice assertive despite the storm beneath it, “is because he is my son… and hers.”
Even Talia lost composure where she stood.
Her eyes widened, the shock stripping the smugness off her face in one swift motion.
Balto stared at him, shock flashing across his features before his expression hardened.
“You are trying to play with my intelligence again?" he asked coldly. “Is that it?”
Seraphina’s head snapped toward Julian. She had been listening to the exchange of words silently, not knowing how to comprehend it.
Her lips trembled.
“All along…” Her voice cracked softly. “Phoenix is the kid this man has been bent on…getting?” Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “And you never told me?”
Julian turned to her immediately, his expression strained in a way it rarely ever was.
“I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to be scared. I wanted to carry the burden of it…” his eyes ran across her face. “…alone.”
She did not respond.
Instead, she forced herself up to her feet, swaying slightly as the dizziness threatened to drag her back down. Julian rose instantly as well, instinctively reaching as if to steady her, but she walked past him.
Toward Balto.
Julian’s brows drew together in surprise. He had no idea what she intended to do.
Seraphina stepped right in front of Balto, her movements slow but purposeful. Then, without hesitation, she reached up and touched his left hand- the one holding the gun.
And gently, she moved it away from Julian. Until the cold barrel pressed against her own forehead.
Balto blinked, genuinely taken aback by her action.
Julian’s voice cut through the air sharply.
“What are you doing?”
Talia, still stunned by the revelation of a child between them, could only stare as the scene unfolded.
Seraphina swallowed, her throat dry, but her voice came out clearer now.
“You will have to kill me first,” she said, her gaze fixed on Balto, unwavering despite the fear clawing at her chest. “Before you get to my son.”
Balto said nothing at first. Then slowly, a smirk tugged at his lips.
“Killing you would be such a waste.” He mused thoughtfully.
He redirected the gun. Straight at Julian.
“I don’t care that the kid is your son,” he continued coolly. “I have to get him. And you will give him to me.”
Julian’s brows furrowed, anger making his fists curl at his sides.
“You expect me to release my own son to you so you can sell him into trafficking?” His eyes darkened. “The very course I have dedicated my life to eradicating?”
Balto laughed dismissively, the tone cruel and unsettling.
“Business,” he replied simply, cocking the gun. “Is business.”
The click echoed louder than it should have. His expression suddenly turned cold, no hint of amusement any longer.
“I’m going to shoot you now,” Balto said casually. “And after your death, I’ll make sure I find your son.”
Seraphina moved before she even fully thought.
She ran forward and placed herself in front of Julian again.
“Please!” she begged, her voice breaking. “You don’t have to be so evil!”
Balto’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her.
“Seraphine, move.” Julian ordered but she didn’t listen
“Oh, so evil?” Balto drawled. “You think the man you care so much about isn’t a bigger evil himself?” Balto’s eyes steadied on her. “Why do you care about him if you despise even so much, golden girl?”
Seraphina’s chest heaved.
And before fear, logic, or restraint could stop her, the truth burst out of her.
“Because I love him.”
The room fell silent once again.
Julian blinked.
His eyes narrowed on her, absolutely and completely stunned.
Seraphina froze slightly after saying it, realization washing over her — but she did not take it back. Because deep down, she knew it was true.
Balto threw his head back and cackled loudly.
“Well then,” he said with cruel delight, “let’s see if you will still love him when you get to know what he did.”
Julian’s face straightened instantly.
“Don’t,” he warned Balto.
Seraphina looked between them, confusion knitting her brows.
“What is he talking about?”
Balto exhaled slowly, almost theatrically.
“Julian has shown me disloyalty,” he said, a hint of hurt lacing his tone. “He could have simply told me the son was his. Maybe I would have let it go.” His gaze hardened. “But he played me instead.”
He tilted his head.
“So it’s only fair,” he added softly, “that I ruin his relationship with his wife too.”
Julian’s voice broke through the air, louder this time.
“I. Said.Don’t!”
But Balto was already looking directly at Seraphina.
“The husband you love so much,” he said calmly, “killed your father.”
Julian’s steps faltered. “Shit,”
Seraphina felt her entire body pause.
Behind them, a small, satisfied smile slowly appeared on Talia’s lips.
Just then, a bitter chuckle escaped Seraphina’s throat.
“You’re lying,” she said, her voice lacking conviction.
Balto’s gaze slid to Julian.
“Why not ask the elephant in the room since he’s here? Let’s see what he has to say.”
Slowly, very slowly, Seraphina turned.
Her eyes finally met Julian’s.
He couldn’t meet her gaze.
Her heart dropped.
She staggered closer to him, each step heavier than the last.
“Look into my eyes,” she whispered shakily. “And tell me that what he said is not true.”
Julian remained silent.
She reached up with trembling hands and grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her.
“Say it!” she demanded, her voice cracking. “Say he’s lying!”
Julian finally looked at her.
But the fierceness she was used to - the cold certainty, the iron composure - was gone.
His eyes were glassy. Teary.
She recoiled instantly as if burned, her hands dropping from his face as she staggered backward.
“No…” she breathed.
Julian swallowed, his voice low and heavy.
“I regretted it,” he said hoarsely. “Long before I even knew he was your father.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Did you know… before you proposed the marriage contract?”
Talia’s head snapped up.
“Marriage contract?” she blurted. “So their marriage was never real?”
No one paid her any attention.
Julian’s throat worked as he answered.
“Yes,” he admitted quietly. “I found out the night I bidded for the journal.”
Seraphina blinked, her mind struggling to process it.
“You…” Her lips trembled violently. “You slept with me… knowing you killed my father?”
Julian’s voice was barely above a whisper, regret vivid in his tone it almost ceased his throat.
“I’m so sorry.”
Seraphina was far from being rational now. She snapped.
In one swift, shocking motion, she snatched the gun straight out of Balto’s loosened grip and pointed it at Julian.
The tension in the room heightened.
Julian’s pupils dilated.
“I will kill you,” she said, her voice shaking but deadly serious.
Balto let out a low whistle.
“This is interesting.” He murmured with interest. “I suppose I don’t have to kill Julian with my own hands after all.”
Julian didn’t take his eyes off Seraphina.
Not once.
He began to walk toward her slowly, his expression iced.
“Do it,” he said quietly.
Her hands trembled violently around the gun. Her lips quivered. Her breathing was uneven.
But his gaze did not falter.
“If it will give you peace,” he continued softly, “to get revenge for your father… then there is no more humble way for me to die than in your hands, Phine.”
He stepped even closer.
Then gently, deliberately, he reached out and wrapped his hand around hers that held the gun.
And lifted it.
Until the barrel pressed against his own forehead.
“Go ahead,” he whispered.
His voice softened even further, raw in a way it had never been before. In a way Seraphina had never heard since she’s known him.
“But before you do…”
He paused.
“I want to thank you.”
Seraphina’s hands shook even more violently.
“I never thought it was possible…” he continued, eyes locked on hers, “for me to fall in love in my lifetime.”
His grip on her trembling hand tightened slightly, steadying it rather than resisting it.
“But you came into my life,” he said quietly, “and made me feel more deeply than I ever thought my dark heart could afford.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. She was hearing what she had always wanted to hear from Julian, but at the time that it no longer mattered. Her chest hurt badly.
The gun wavered in her hand.
“Do it, Phine.” Julian slowly closed his eyes.
And waited for the bullet to come.