Submitting to my Ex Uncle Chapter 149

Amara’s eyes darted between the two brothers like she’d stumbled into a place she was never ant to see.

She couldn’t even blink. From everything they had said, what she was able to grab that wasn’t so confusing was that Dominic wasn’t purely just a business tycoon as the world thinks.

"Say sothing, Dom." Ronan’s voice broke. His voice was low but jagged. His hand trembled, and even when clenched into a fist they wouldn’t stop shaking. His eyes watered. "Fucking say sothing."

Dominic remained still. Unblinking. His silence filled the room heavier than Ronan’s rage ever could. His eyes spoke, but his mouth refused.

Pain flickered in his eyes. Sadness too. And the faintest shadow of regret, buried so deep that it was almost swallowed whole.

"You used to laugh a lot, you know?" Ronan whispered, like confessing a secret.

"Out, Rodger." Dominic’s voice finally tore through the silence, harsh, and commanding. Ronan finally pushed a button. "You too, Amara."

Amara blinked again, stunned. "I—"

"Get the fuck out, silly," Ronan barked at her, his voice unhinged.

Amara blinked. Her wide eyes found Dominic again, waiting for permission. He gave her one slow nod. "And close the door behind you."

The tulip shook in her hand as she obeyed. She slipped her phone into her pocket, kept her head down, and shut the door. The latch clicked. The silence after was worse than before.

Ronan’s throat worked. "What happened?" he asked, his voice raw. It sounded like the words were bleeding on their way out. "What happened to that boy who knew ? Who knew when to make laugh and all?"

"Not now, Ronan." Dominic clicked his tongue. "We’re in the middle of an almost war, not so silly mories."

"No, Dom. Where is that boy who always smiled—" Ronan’s voice cracked. He sounded desperate now. "Even after taking the belts and the fists from Father when it should have been . Where is he?"

Dominic’s head snapped up. His face hardened. "That’s it. I’ve had enough." He turned away, dismissing the conversation like slamming a door.

However, Ronan wasn’t finished. His hand slamd against the armrest of the clusest couch. "Do you rember the winter of ’06?" His voice cut through the air like glass shattering. "There was snow up to our knees. Father was drunk, and mother was out of the country. He locked us outside for three hours. You—" his voice trembled, "—you wrapped your jacket around , even though your lips were already blue, and told stories the whole ti. You said you’d keep warm with your words until the snow gave up on us. You rember, Dom?"

Dominic froze. His back stiffened. He turned slowly, his face unreadable. The mory strikes a cord in his brain.

"That person died," Dominic said, his voice steady but ice-cold. "The very day I saw what you let your n do to those girls you trafficked, that person died with the rest of them who couldn’t make it."

Ronan flinched as if slapped.

"You think Father’s fists killed ? No." Dominic’s voice lowered, cutting sharper. "You did."

The silence that followed was unbearable. Ronan’s chest heaved, and his hands curled, uncurled. His lips parted, but nothing ca out. He closed his eyes, and tighter his teeth as if trying to wipe the mories away.

He opened them again, but still said nothing. He just watched Dominic.

Finally, he laughed. His laugh ca out low, bitter, and broken. "They weren’t... kids. They weren’t."

"They were children!" Dominic’s voice cracked like thunder. He would have yelled, but he didn’t. Ronan have been refusing to acceot that truth. "You sent them in screaming, and you stood there. You were watching, while you laughed, and calculated your money. Don’t you dare rewrite it in front of ."

Ronan’s eyes widened. His jaw trembled, with rage, regret, and sha battling in his face.

"You don’t know what it was like!" Ronan roared. "You don’t know what I had to do to stay alive, to keep us both alive! Father wanted that. That was his legacy."

"You think I didn’t pay the price?" Dominic’s voice rose with him. His fists clenched at his sides, his eyes burning. "Every night, I see their faces. Every single one of them. Do you?"

Ronan’s face crumpled. His chest heaved. "Not like you," he whispered, feeling defeated.

Dominic exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That boy you keep looking for. The one who smiled? He’s gone. He’s buried under all the filth you dragged ho. That boy is only grateful that he was able to shield mother from the dearest pit of everything until she died,"

Sothing inside Ronan snapped. He lunged forward. With tears streaming down his face now, he grabbed Dominic by the lapels of his suit jacket. "Don’t you dare say that! Don’t you fucking dare!"

"No. Enough!" Dominic shoved his hands away. "I said, enough!" His voice thundered, and he pushed Ronan so hard he flew back, crashing into the marble table. The sharp crack of the stone echoed.

Ronan lay stunned on the floor, blinking up at Dominic. His lip bled. His breath ca ragged. His eyes were wide and wet. He stared at Dominic like he was drowning.

"All I’ve ever done is protect you, Ronan." Dominic’s voice shook. His voice broke despite the steel in it. His chest rose and fell heavily. "Even as kids, when it should’ve been you protecting , I still did it. What more do you want? When I was taking care of you, who was taking care of ?" His eyes shimred, tears threatened to fall, but refused to fall. "I just want you alive. That’s been my only aim on this goddamn earth. Until I t Celeste." His voice cracked on her na. "And realized... I could also live for myself."

Ronan blinked. A tear rolled down his temple.

Dominic sniffed hard, straightened his suit, and forced his body back into stillness. "Do whatever the fuck you want. If you think I’m soft, and if you think I’m weak, wear my shoes. Walk in them. If they fit." His eyes locked on Ronan’s. "You and Father dragged into this hell. I’ve been paying for sins I never committed. So if I say no imdiate war, couldn’t that be respected? Just once?"

Ronan’s lips parted, trembling. His eyes squeezed shut. "...I’m sorry, brother."

"Don’t be." Dominic let out a soft, broken chuckle. He shook his head. "Just leave."