104

The tension in the air was so dense it was almost impossible to breathe.

Richard remained silent for a few seconds, as if deciding something within himself, a crooked smile playing on his lips, worn by the rage he held back.

Then, without looking at anyone in particular, he spoke in a voice laced with venom:

"Yes, Jarek, you took my woman. And you know what I did? I went after yours. Julia... that poor, naïve thing. I owed you a lesson, old man—one you'd never forget."

Jarek’s face twisted, a dark shadow flickering in his eyes. Nathan took a step back, disgust etched across his face.

"You’re repulsive," Nathan muttered through clenched teeth. "A damn lunatic."

Suzanne couldn’t utter a word. She was in shock, her eyes fixed on the men, as if a lightning bolt had cracked her very understanding.

Richard’s words had become sparks igniting a firestorm ready to explode between them.

Jarek stepped forward, jaw tight, fists clenched, but before he could react, Richard was quicker.

In a sudden movement no one saw coming, he pulled a hidden dagger from his belt and seized Suzanne from behind, pressing the cold blade against her side.

"No!" Nathan shouted, his heart stopping in an instant. "Suzanne, no!"

"Let her go, Richard!" Jarek commanded, his voice low and furious, every word laced with frozen fury.

But Richard burst into a bitter laugh.

"See what you've made me do? This is all your fault, you old bastard!" he spat with scorn, tightening his grip on Suzanne as if she were nothing more than a tool in his twisted revenge. "Jarek, you’ve always been the real monster here. Everyone else is just too blind to see it."

"You’re wrong," Nathan growled, struggling to stay calm while searching for a way to save Suzanne. "She has nothing to do with this! Let her go and fight me if you have a problem!"

"And let you kill me like a dog? No, Nathan. I’m not that stupid," Richard sneered, spitting on the ground. 

"You want your precious wife alive? Then your honorable grandfather better back off."

Jarek’s gaze darkened, a wave of hatred brewing in his eyes. He stepped forward, calm in that dangerous way that always came before a storm.

"You’re not taking her," he said in a low voice, each word heavy as iron. "Let her go, Richard… or I swear I’ll erase you from this world."

Nathan turned to look at his grandfather, stunned by the tone. 

He’d heard Jarek angry many times, but never with this kind of darkness… this deadly threat that seemed to rise from the deepest parts of his soul.

For the first time, he hesitated. What if Richard was right? What if Jarek had been hiding things all along?

But the thought only lasted a second. Suzanne was in danger—that was all that mattered now.

"Let her go…" Nathan pleaded. "Richard, she has nothing to do with your grudges."

Richard tilted his head, a cynical smile twisting his lips.

"And what about my family? Jarek took them from me. I’m just balancing the scales."

"Enough!" Jarek roared, losing control for a moment. "You’ve made my daughter suffer, my wife, my grandson, Nathan… and now you want to hurt Suzanne? You’ll pay for every damn tear, for every scream, for every sleepless night you’ve caused."

"Tears?" Richard scoffed. "You’re the cause of it all! You and your obsession with control! And don’t you dare talk about Julia like she belonged to you. When I had her... she moaned like a whore under me—as if she belonged to me and only me!"

Jarek’s face tightened, his eyes glowing like burning coals. Every muscle in his body screamed to lunge at him, to tear him apart. But he held back.

He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and let out a sardonic smile, one that was sure to fan the flames further.

"You’re not even a man, Richard," he said with scorn. "Who do you think you are to talk about pleasing a woman? You don’t even know how."

Richard’s laughter died instantly. His expression twisted with rage, and with a roar, he shoved Suzanne to the ground and lunged at Jarek.

"You bastard! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you with my own hands like I should’ve done the moment you took Natalia from me!"

They crashed to the ground, locked in a brutal fight, fists striking flesh, screams ripping through the silence.

Suzanne crawled away, gasping in panic. Nathan rushed to her side, held her tightly, then sprang toward the two men, trying to pull them apart, heart pounding with fear and chaos.

But then, everything changed.

A figure moved slowly through the turmoil. Her steps were unsteady, but her gaze was firm. Natalia.

She stopped just a few paces away, her eyes fixed on Richard. Her breathing was deep, as if she were gathering every ounce of courage left in her soul.

"Richard..." she whispered, her voice trembling but clear.

He froze. Chaos came to a halt. Jarek shoved him off and stood still—along with everyone else.

Richard looked at her as if he’d seen a ghost. His face shifted from fury to confusion, and he let out a choked gasp.

"Na... Natalia..."

She said nothing more. She simply looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time in years.

As if something within her had finally awakened after a long, tormented sleep.

Nathan stood frozen. His breath caught in his chest.

His mother… his mother was there. She had recognized Richard. Would she also recognize him?

"Mom..." he said, voice breaking, stepping forward. "It’s me, Nathan... your son."

Tears welled up in his eyes. For a brief moment, hope pushed through all the horror.

Maybe—just maybe—Natalia could come back. And with her, bring a bit of peace to the chaos that had bled their lives dry.