Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Julian Vance Solaris

Julian’s crimson eyes immediately locked onto Grace with intense possessiveness as a slow, elegant smile spread across his face.

"My dear Grace... You’ve finally come back to me."

His voice was soft, almost affectionate.

"I’ve missed you terribly. Did you really think you could run from me forever?"

Julian ignored Jake’s existence entirely, his attention focused solely on Grace.

Grace’s body tensed beside Jake, but she didn’t hide behind him this time.

She stood her ground, golden eyes filled with a mix of fear and newfound resolve as she gripped Jake’s arm tightly.

Taking a deep breath, she forced her voice to stay steady.

"I’m not yours, Julian," she said clearly, though her voice still trembled slightly.

"I never was. I ran because I couldn’t stand being trapped by you anymore!"

She stepped slightly forward, still holding onto Jake.

"I have now found someone who actually cares about me. Someone who makes me stronger instead of trying to crush me. I won’t go back with you. Not now! Not ever!"

Julian’s elegant smile never faded, even at the rejection.

Instead, it seemed to grow brighter... almost disturbingly so.

Then his crimson eyes gleamed with twisted amusement.

"Is that so?"

He let out a soft, mocking chuckle and dramatically spread his arms wide, as if performing on a grand stage.

The flames around them danced and swirled in response to his gesture, forming elegant fiery patterns in the air.

"My poor, confused Grace... You speak as if that lowly dog beside you is your savior."

Julian tilted his head, his voice dripping with false pity.

"But don’t you see? You’re still so weak and so easily manipulated. This insect didn’t make you stronger... he simply took advantage of your fear and desperation. He probably just wanted to use your body while you were running from me."

His smile turned sharp and cruel as he pointed lazily at Jake.

"You call it ’caring’? How laughable. I am the only one who truly understands you. The only one worthy of shaping you into perfection. Everything I did was for your own good... to mold you into the flawless wife you were meant to be. This little rebellion of yours... it’s nothing but a childish tantrum."

Julian let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over his chest as if truly heartbroken.

His expression shifted into one of exaggerated sadness.

"It pains me deeply to see you like this, my dear Grace. So confused... so lost. You’ve clearly been poisoned by this worthless stray’s sweet lies. But I am kind... far kinder than you deserve after running away from me."

He extended his hand toward her once more, the flames around his fingers dancing gently.

"That’s why I will forgive you. So come back to me now, and I’ll overlook this entire foolish escapade. I’ll even let you keep this little pet for a few more days as a toy... before I dispose of him properly. What do you say, my love?"

His crimson eyes gleamed with absolute confidence, as if her return was inevitable—

BAM!

BOOOOMMM!!

A violent explosion of flames suddenly erupted around Julian’s head as he blocked a Light Bullet heading straight for his face.

The golden projectile slammed into a hastily formed shield of crimson flames, causing sparks and light to scatter wildly.

Though the attack was neutralized, a faint scorch mark was left on Julian’s left cheek.

Meanwhile,

Grace’s expression twisted with pure anger as she raised her hand, golden light still glowing around her gun.

"Don’t look down on Jake!"

She was breathing heavily, her golden eyes burning with fury.

The way Julian spoke... twisting everything Jake had done for her, reducing their bond to something dirty and manipulative made her blood boil like never before.

"You... You always do this!" Grace shouted, her voice cracking with emotion.

"You twist everything! Jake didn’t take advantage of me, he saved me! He cared for me when you only ever hurt me! He made me feel safe... he made me stronger! And you... you only ever treated me like a doll you could break and remake however you wanted!"

Tears of rage welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

"I hate you, Julian! I will never go back to you! Never!"

For the first time, Julian’s perfect, handsome smile finally cracked.

His expression turned stiff.

The confident, elegant look on his face slowly faded as a hint of paleness appeared on his usually flawless complexion.

And it wasn’t from Grace’s childish rejection that he had heard so many times, but...

He slowly raised a hand to touch the faint burn mark on his cheek, staring at Grace in disbelief.

"You... awakened?" he murmured, his voice low and filled with shock as a surge of unease flooded his heart while staring at the light around Grace’s gun.

Grace stood tall beside Jake, her golden eyes blazing with pride and defiance.

"I’m not the same weak girl you used to torment anymore, Julian!" she declared loudly, her voice ringing with newfound strength.

"I’m no longer that useless Trash class you always mocked! I’ve awakened my true potential. Jake helped me unlock it... not by breaking me down, but by believing in me!"

She raised her glowing hand, light energy swirling brightly around her.

"I’m stronger now. And I’ll fight you with everything I have!"

But at that moment, Julian’s face twisted violently.

His usual elegant and composed demeanor shattered completely.

His eyes widened with disbelief and panic as he staggered back a step, the flames surrounding him surging wildly out of control.

"No... No, no, no, no, no, no—!"

His voice rose into a deranged scream.

The handsome aristocratic mask he had always worn finally shattered, exposing the obsessive monster lurking beneath.

"NO! This can’t be happening! You were supposed to be weak! You were supposed to need me! You were supposed to become my perfect wife!"

Julian clutched his head with both hands, his fingers digging into his crimson hair as he trembled violently.

He paced back and forth in a frenzy while the solar flames around him erupted in chaotic bursts, scorching the ground and warping the air with their searing heat.

"You’re supposed to be mine! MINE! I made you! I shaped you! How dare you... how dare you awaken without me?!"

Then, as if finally noticing the source of everything, his head snapped toward Jake.

He thrust a trembling finger at him, his face contorted with pure hatred.

"You!"

"How dare you, you filthy thief?! You actually dared to change my dear Grace?!"