TRACKS

breakdown

The silence after Porsche’s fall was thick, suffocating. All eyes darted between Kinn’s stillness, Porsche’s broken frame, and the army of guns waiting for a command.

And then Venice moved.

He stepped forward with measured grace, his shoes clicking against the polished floor, his eyes scanning the room like a predator savoring his prey. He stopped near the front rows, just close enough for Rain’s trembling figure to be in his sight.

Rain, clutching his stomach protectively, whispered, "phi"

But before he could finish, Venice’s hand shot out, stoping the other from talking

“Don’t you dare,” Venice hissed, his voice venomous. His gaze lingered on Rain with chilling coldness, a ghost of warmth flickering only when his eyes flicked back to Pete for the briefest second. Then it was gone.

Venice: I don't want to see a single being move ......you all start celebrating when it's not even been weeks from my burial.......what kind of humans are you.....

Kunda: betrayers of course

He said stepping forward to put a hand on the younger who still stood poised with a straight face while Rain looked at him still trembling with his hands clutched on his bulge

Venice tilted his head, eyes glinting with cruel amusement as he stepped further into the aisle.

“Well,” he drawled, “everything has its own day of happening. And it seems you’ve started on the right track, Kunda.”

Kunda smirked, folding his arms, watching the family unravel piece by piece.

Venice’s lips curved into a sharper smile as his gaze wandered, scanning faces pale with fear, until it stopped on Babe.

Babe’s breath hitched, his hands instinctively covering his belly.

“Why don’t we,” Venice said softly, almost sweetly, “spice things a little more?”

The room tensed.

Venice’s eyes darkened as he looked directly at his cousin.
“You see, dear Babe here… has been weaving quite the story.” He let the words hang in the air, savoring the silence before slicing it apart. “Telling everyone he’s pregnant. A sweet, fragile, six-month dream…” His voice dipped into a mocking lilt. “But the truth? He is barren. He’s always been barren. And he knows it.”

Gasps rippled through the guests. Charlie froze, his face draining of color, his mind clawing for denial.

Venice took another step forward, his voice sharper now.
“And because of that desperation, because of his obsession with having Charlie all to himself, he went further. Much further............... He paid off a servant in Charlie’s parents’ house—”

“Stop,” Babe’s voice cracked, trembling.

“—to get rid of his mother in-law to be's baby,” Venice continued mercilessly, his words striking like daggers. “Because to Babe, Nat’s child wasn’t just an innocent life. It was competition. A hindrance to Charlie’s love.”

The room erupted in horrified murmurs.

Nat’s hand flew to his mouth, his knees nearly buckling. Max caught him, but his own face was a storm of anguish and disbelief. Charlie stumbled back a step, his breath breaking as he stared at Babe.

“No…” Charlie whispered. His voice was raw, shaking. “Tell me it’s not true.”

Babe’s lips quivered, tears welling, but no words came. His silence screamed louder than any confession.