The car door closed quietly behind him. Julius leaned back into the seat, his shoulders settling against the leather as the world outside dimmed into silence.
"Home, sir?" the driver asked.
"Yes." Short. Controlled.
The car moved smoothly, pulling away from the event as if nothing had happened. But everything had.
Julius loosened his tie slightly, then stopped halfway through the motion. His fingers lingered there for a second longer than necessary before dropping.
His breathing wasn't right. Still not. That alone irritated him.
He turned his head slightly, watching the city lights pass by in blurred streaks. People moved outside, unaware, distant, normal. Everything felt normal. Except him.
"…Ridiculous." The word came out low. Unconvincing.
His phone vibrated against his thigh. Julius glanced down. Home. He answered.
"Yes."
"You left early." Her voice was calm. Steady. Familiar.
"I had something to handle," Julius replied.
A pause followed. Then she told him to come home. Not a request. A command.
Julius's gaze shifted toward the window again. "I'm on my way."
"Good."
The call ended. No explanation. No wasted words. Julius lowered the phone slowly.
That alone told him everything he needed to know. She already knew.
The gates opened before the car fully stopped. The estate stood quiet, lights glowing softly against the night.
But the air felt… different. Still. Waiting.
The driver stepped out and opened the door. Julius got out without a word. He adjusted his jacket once, then walked inside.
The house was silent. Too silent. He didn't ask where she was. He already knew.
The sitting room. She was there. Seated. Back straight. Waiting.
Julius stepped in, stopping a few feet away. "Mother."
She looked up. Her gaze moved over him slowly. Carefully. Taking in everything. Nothing missed.
She was an Alpha. But not just any Alpha. A three-to-one Dominator. Her presence filled the room, heavy and cold, a power that demanded total submission.
"You're late."
"I came as soon as I could."
A pause. Then she pointed out that he left the event. Not a question.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Julius held her gaze. "I had no reason to stay."
She didn't respond immediately. That silence stretched just enough to make it uncomfortable.
Then she asked if he had met him.
This time, it was a question. Clear. Direct.
Julius's expression didn't change immediately. "…No."
A lie.
She watched him. Carefully.
Julius exhaled slowly. "I stepped out for air. That's all."
A pause. Then she pressed again, asking if that was when he met him.
Her voice remained calm. But sharper now.
Julius's eyes narrowed slightly. "Met who?"
She held his gaze for a moment, then reminded him he knew who she meant.
Silence stretched between them. Then she continued, just as calm, asking if he saw him with Helen.
That landed. Julius frowned. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I don't like her," she said. Simple. Cold.
"I don't like her or her family."
Julius let out a short breath. "You've made that clear."
And yet, she continued, he still brought her there.
Julius's expression tightened. "It was an event."
She didn't respond to that. Instead, she told him not to do that. Now it came. Quiet. Firm.
Julius looked at her. "Do what?"
Act like you don't understand.
Silence followed. Julius breathed out slowly. His patience was thinning.
"You're making this bigger than it is."
"No," she replied.
That single word stopped him.
He thought this was nothing. It wasn't.
Julius frowned. "You're talking like he's a problem."
A pause. Then—"He is."
No hesitation.
Julius's jaw tightened. "To me?"
She tilted her head slightly. "To anything you put in front of him."
That hit harder than he expected. Julius didn't speak.
He had brought her into that space. That was his first mistake.
Julius's voice dropped. "You're overreacting."
"I'm not." Calm. Certain.
The faster he let her go, the safer she would be.
Silence. Julius stared at her. "…You're serious."
"I am." No emotion. Just fact.
Julius shook his head slightly. "You don't even know him."
That was the wrong thing to say. Her gaze sharpened.
"I know enough."
A pause. Then she warned him not to test something he couldn't control.
Julius didn't reply immediately. Because for the first time, there was doubt. Not in her words. But in himself.
The room fell silent again. Heavy. Unavoidable.
Julius finally looked away. "This is getting out of hand," he said quietly.
"No," she replied. "It's just beginning."
That made him look back at her. But she didn't explain. Didn't elaborate.
She simply held his gaze like she already knew how this would end.
Julius stood there for a moment longer. Then turned. "Goodnight."
He didn't wait for a response. Didn't look back. He walked out.
Upstairs, the silence followed him. But it felt different now. Not empty. Not calm. Heavy.
He stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. And finally, he stopped.
His hand lifted slightly toward his collar. Then dropped again.
His jaw tightened. "…Ridiculous."
But it didn't feel ridiculous. Not anymore.