DAMIR
The moment I laid Eli down on the bed, I was met with Alena's sharp gaze. She was already there, hovering over the blankets like an angel of urgency, her med bag already sprawled across the floor. Lan must have called her the moment we hit the road. She didn't even wait for me to say a word, just brushed past, her gloves snapping into place as she leaned down toward Eli's tear-soaked face.
"Don't just stand there," she snapped, not even looking up. "Get me warm towels. Now."
I obeyed without question, my hands working on autopilot. I returned, setting them beside her, but she was already halfway through her examination.
"It's not acid," she muttered after a few moments, peeling back the edge of Eli's collar where the residue had bubbled his skin slightly. "It's something else….irritoxin. It mimics acid. Burns the skin, leaves scars, but won't melt it. Won't kill."
I felt the breath leave my chest. It should have been relief, but all I could feel was guilt. Irritoxin. The very name made my fists clench.
Alena worked in silence after that. Her hands were steady, but I could see the fire in her eyes. She didn't need to say anything. I knew what she was thinking. I was supposed to protect him. And I had failed.
Lian hovered awkwardly near the door, clearly not wanting to get in Alena's way, but also visibly distraught. His knuckles were white around his phone, and after a few silent minutes, he stepped out to make a call. I watched him go, wondering who he could be calling so I left the room too so I can collect more warm towels from the maids in the kitchen downstairs and then he opened the door and went outside to the compound and stood there, until, not long after, a sleek black car pulled up at the estate gates. Lian ran to the car , opened the door, and a tall man got out….one I hadn't seen before. The way Lian fell into his arms said it all.
So that was him. The boyfriend.
I turned my eyes away.
Lian didn't say goodbye. He came back, walked past me , took a bottle of water and then walked out again to meet his boyfriend, with his boyfriend's hand on his back, and I caught the lingering sting in his glare as he left. I didn't blame him.
Everything had gone quiet again.
Except the sound of my phone buzzing.
Juseon.
I swallowed hard and picked it up.
"Where is he?!"
The fury in his voice was loud enough to rattle my already spinning brain.
"He's safe now," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "It's over."
"Over? Over? Are you… Damir!!!, THAT VIDEO SAID OTHERWISE, That bastard had him tied up like a fucking rag doll! I should never have left him."
"He's fine. Alena is treating him. I promise."
There was a pause. Then a long exhale.
"I'll be landing in Russia in an hour am about to board."
True to his word, an hour later, the front doors burst open. Juseon came in like a storm. He didn't greet anyone. Didn't stop to breathe. Just made a beeline for the bedroom.
But when he opened the door and saw Eli lying there, silent, staring blankly at the ceiling with red, cracked lips and trembling shoulders he stopped short.
"Eli," he said softly.
Eli didn't answer.
He just turned his head slowly, looking at his father like he was a stranger. And then, in a broken, hoarse voice, he muttered, "Why di..d you br..ing me here?"
Juseon flinched. "What?"
"To Rus..sis . Why did you bri..ng me here? I ha..te this pl..a..ce. I ha..te you. I ha..te him." He pointed weakly toward the doorway, toward where I stood frozen. "All this…pain… beca..use I lo..v..e him."
Each word dug into my chest like a dagger. He wouldn't even say my name.
Juseon tried to touch him, but Eli pulled away.
"Le..ave. Ju…le..ave. Both of you."
Alena glanced between us and quietly ushered Juseon out. I lingered a moment longer, hoping he'd look at me. Say something that I could cling to. But he only turned his face to the wall.
I followed Juseon to the third living room, my feet heavy as stones.
We sat in silence for a while. Neither of us could bring ourselves to start.
Finally, Juseon sighed, running a hand through his graying hair.
"I don't even know where to begin."
I gave a humorless chuckle. "You're not the only one."
Another pause. Then he turned toward me.
"I'm still angry at you."
"I know."
"But I also know you didn't plan for any of this to happen."
I said nothing.
"You did what you thought was right. And… maybe you were. But I should've been here. I should've never let you handle all of this alone."
I finally met his eyes.
"He's not the same anymore, Juseon."
He nodded, his lips a tight line.
"No. He's not. But he will be again. He always bounces back. And if there's anyone who can bring him back, it's you."
My chest ached.
"Not if he hates me now."
"Even if he does. Love and hate are the same when it comes to Eli. You know that."
I rubbed my eyes, exhaustion starting to settle into my bones.
"He said it was all because he loved me."
"And he meant it."
Silence stretched again.
"I'm sorry for the things I said to you that day," Juseon finally muttered. "I was just… angry. Scared. I shouldn't have left you to clean up the mess."
I waved it off. "You were his father. You had every right to be angry."
"Still," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm sorry."
I took it.
We sat there, two broken men trying to glue the pieces back together.
But upstairs, I knew, Eli was still curled in bed, silent and cold.
And the guilt inside me was just beginning to set in.