CHAPTER 124: ELIAS’ THREAT!

The dining room froze like someone had hit pause on a movie. The twins were halfway through a bite of cake, chocolate smeared on their chins, staring wide-eyed at their father in the doorway. They couldn’t understand what was happening.

Lila had her fork suspended in mid-air, eyebrows raised like she was waiting for the drama to unfold. Valentina’s hand was still outstretched, as if she’d been about to grab another slice, but now her mouth hung open in shock.

Vera’s eyes darted between her brother and Elias, her calm expression cracking just a little with worry.

Viktor stood there, caught like a deer in headlights, his hand still on his collar where the lipstick mark blazed like an accusation.

The mark was deep red, smudged but unmistakable against the dark fabric of his shirt. It wasn’t fresh with dried edges, faded just enough to say it had been there for a day or two.

He gave a small, awkward smile, the kind that said he knew he was in trouble but was trying to play it off.

"It was a mistake," he said, his voice was steady but not convincing.

Elias smiled back, slow and deliberate, the corners of his mouth lifting but his eyes staying flat and empty.

He didn’t believe a word.

’A mistake? Sure. Mistakes happened.’

But Viktor had walked in with another woman’s lipstick on his neck, as if it were nothing, as if Elias wouldn’t notice or care. What right did Elias even have to question him? They weren’t officially engaged or married. All they have are feelings.

Elias wasn’t Viktor’s boyfriend or anything close to that; he was just the guy who kept ending up in his arms.

"Sure," Elias said, nodding. "It’s a mistake."

His voice was light, too light, like he was agreeing that the weather was nice.

Valentina wasn’t buying it. She stood up from her chair, her red dress swishing as she marched over to Viktor, reaching out to touch the mark with one finger like it was evidence in a crime scene.

"That is not a mistake," she said, voice sharp with disbelief. "That’s deep red. Matte finish. And it’s dried solid. I’m sure it didn’t happen five minutes ago. This is from yesterday, maybe the day before. Who wears lipstick that lasts through a whole night unless they want it to be seen?"

Vera tugged at her sister’s arm. "Vale, let it go."

"No, I won’t," Valentina said, turning to Viktor with her hands on her hips. "Who was it? Clara? Or another woman? It has to be someone close to you. Don’t let me find out that it’s Clara. That bitch always wore that exact shade to events. Like she owned it."

Viktor’s face went carefully blank, no emotion showing as he changed the subject fast.

"Why are you two here anyway?" he asked with a clear voice like the lipstick wasn’t the elephant in the room. "This is a safe house, not a family reunion."

Valentina crossed her arms. "We came to see Elias, obviously. We’ve been dying to meet him properly since the engagement party. We only got a glimpse from across the hall, and Luka’s been teasing us with stories."

Vera nodded. "We were worried he would get complicated during the war. And we wanted to make sure our future brother-in-law was real."

Viktor peeked at Elias, who was still standing by the table, with a fake smile plastered on his face like a mask.

Valentina kept going, her voice teasing now. "And Elias is very cute. I can see why you like him so much, big brother. He’s got that sweet, innocent thing going on. Like a puppy you want to keep forever."

Viktor flicked her forehead with two fingers... hard enough to make her yelp.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For making Elias uncomfortable," Viktor said. "Both of you, leave. Now."

Elias finally spoke up, his voice steady as he dropped the bent fork onto his plate with a soft clink.

"The ladies aren’t inconveniencing me in any way," he said, faking another smile that didn’t touch his eyes. "They can stay if they want. The house is big enough."

Viktor opened his mouth to argue. "Elias, it’s not..."

"I’m tired," Elias cut in, stopping him cold. "I’m going upstairs to rest."

He turned to the kids with a softer smile.

"Don’t eat too much cake, okay? You’ll get sick. And brush your teeth before bed."

Lila nodded, her eyes on Elias like she knew something was wrong but wasn’t going to push it in front of everyone.

"I’ll handle it."

She watched him leave, her face worried.

Viktor moved to follow, but Valentina leaned in and whispered, loud enough for Vera to hear,

"Is brother-in-law jealous of the kiss mark?"

Vera smacked her sister’s arm. "Shut up, Vale."

Viktor clenched his fist, knuckles white, and let out a heavy sigh.

He told his sisters again to share a room and headed upstairs after Elias, his footsteps heavy on the stairs.

Dante tilted his head in confusion as he looked up at his aunts. "What is a kiss mark?"

Valentina opened her mouth to answer, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Vera slapped her hand over Valentina’s mouth fast and laughed awkwardly. "Nothing you need to know, kiddo! Go play with your toys or something."

She dragged Valentina away by the elbow, whispering furiously, "You are such a troublemaker."

The twins shrugged and went back to licking their plates.

.

.

Upstairs, in Elias’s room

Elias closed the door behind him with a soft click and leaned against it for a long moment, eyes closed.

Then he pushed off and walked to his suitcase, flipping it open. He wanted to do anything to get the lipstick off his head. He started unpacking slowly, one item at a time.

A T-shirt that was folded neatly. A pair of jeans that he hung in the wardrobe. Socks in the drawer.

He heard the door open behind him.

Footsteps.

Then, Viktor came.

Elias didn’t turn around. He kept unpacking.

Viktor stopped a few feet away.

"Elias... it really wasn’t what you think. I wasn’t with any woman. It was a misunderstanding."

Elias placed a hoodie on the hanger.

"I believe you," he said, voice flat.

Viktor took a step closer. "No, you don’t. I can see it on your face."

Elias finally turned, his expression neutral.

"You’re right," he said. "I don’t."

Viktor rubbed the back of his neck.

"Look, I really didn’t do anything to break your trust. It’s also not Clara who kissed me. I..."

Elias looked at him for a long time, arms crossed.

"You still don’t understand, do you?" he asked quietly.

Viktor opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed.

"I don’t know. Please tell me what I’m supposed to understand. I’ll do anything to make up for it."

Elias laughed once... no humour in it at all.

"Make up?" he said. "You wish to make up for the mistake you are yet to admit?"

Viktor took one step forward while Elias took one step back.

Viktor stopped. He didn’t move closer to Elias.

"I’m sorry," Viktor said, voice rough. "I should have told you before I left the house. It was urgent."

Elias looked at the floor, arms still crossed like a shield.

"We’re not even together," he said. "Not officially. So I don’t have the right to be this mad. But I am."

Viktor’s heart twisted in his chest.

"No... you have every right," he said. "You have all the rights."

Elias shook his head. "I told you I chose you. I meant it. But choosing you means trusting you. And right now... I don’t know if I can."

Viktor’s hands clenched at his sides.

"I love you," he said. "I love you so much it scares me. I’m not good at this. I messed up. But I’m not with anyone else. I don’t want anyone else. Only you."

Elias looked up. His eyes were wet now. His hands came up slowly and gripped Viktor’s shirt.

"I don’t need those words from you right now," he said. "I need honesty."

Viktor pulled back just enough to look at him.

"Ask me anything," he said. "I’ll answer."

Elias searched his face.

"Who was the lipstick from?"

"I..." Viktor stuttered. "I can’t tell you. I can only let you know that I didn’t kiss her or anything."

Elias nodded slowly, with the same fake smile plastered on his face.

"What was I expecting? You’ll never tell me the truth."

Elias closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"You’ve broken half of my trust already" he whispered. "Once the other half is broken... You’ll never see me again, Viktor."

Elias opened his eyes and saw as Viktor tried to cup his face gently but he beat his hand away.

"If you’re not going to tell me who she is," he said. "Then, don’t get close to me and also, if I find out you’re playing me like a fool..."

He took a step closer and touched the kiss mark.

"If I find out that I was just a pawn in your game..." He slid his finger down to his chest. "I’ll put a hole in your heart with the same gun you gifted me. Don’t forget what I just said to you."

Viktor remained silent as he stepped back and left the room slowly. He didn’t say anything which made Elias even more suspicious.