"Put it on the floor."
Julian said it lazily, leaning forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Maria as if he were observing something insignificant.
Maria hesitated. Her breath came out unevenly, and slowly, trembling as she lowered her hand toward the ground.
Lunessa frowned.
She didn't fully understand what was happening.
Why was Maria so terrified?
Why did the air feel like it was about to snap?
Julian rose to his feet.
Slowly.
And when he lifted his leg slightly as if to step forward with clear intent, understanding struck Lunessa all at once.
Her eyes widened.
"No!" She grabbed his arm instantly, fingers tightening around his sleeve.
"What—what are you doing?" she demanded, her voice rising despite herself.
Julian paused. His movement stopped mid-step.
The entire room froze.
His gaze lowered to her hand gripping his arm, then lifted slowly to her face.
For a moment, the cold edge in his expression flickered.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
Lunessa swallowed.
"I'm asking you what you're doing," she said, her fingers tightening slightly around his sleeve. "Don't tell me you're actually going to step on her hand?"
There was no accusation in her tone.
Just disbelief.
Julian studied her for a second longer than necessary.
"Would that upset you? Or… Am I scaring you?" he asked calmly.
The question caught her off guard.
"This isn't about me being upset or… scared," she said quickly. "You don't need to do something like that."
Maria was still kneeling, her hand pressed to the floor, trembling visibly but she just realised something.
Julian's gaze shifted briefly toward her before returning to Lunessa.
"She hit you," he said evenly.
"I know."
"She pulled your hair..."
"I know," Lunessa repeated, softer this time.
Silence stretched between them.
"So, she pulled your hair too?"
Then Julian exhaled lightly through his nose and lowered his leg back to the ground.
"I don't step on people for no reason," he said flatly. "But I don't allow them to think they can walk away either."
His hand came up, not to Maria, but to Lunessa's wrist. He gently pried her fingers from his sleeve.
"Next time," he added quietly, "don't stop me unless you're certain."
The softness lasted only that long.
He shifted slightly, positioning Lunessa behind him as he turned to face the other direction.
"It won't even take a minute," he said calmly. "Just wait properly."
But Lunessa refused to move.
"No—no—no! Listen," she insisted, stepping back into his line of sight. "I don't understand, she hit me, I mean… not you…"
Julian's eyes slightly dimmed as he head titled deliberately.
"I'm sorry—I–I'm really sorry!" Maria cried, dragging herself forward on her knees and reaching for Lunessa's hand. "Please, just ask him to let me go this once. I swear it won't happen aga—"
"Do you think there is a chance for it to happen again?"
Julian's voice cut through her words.
He simply turned his head to Maria and she instantly froze.
Julian took one slow step forward.
"You're asking for another chance," he continued evenly. "Which means you believe there could be a next time."
"No! No, I didn't mean it like that—"
"That hand," Julian said, his gaze lowering briefly to the one she had used, "was raised once already."
Silence pressed in.
"You're kneeling now because you're afraid of me," he went on calmly. "Not because you regret it."
Maria's shoulders shook harder.
Julian's eyes lifted back to hers.
"And fear fades," he said softly. "So I don't rely on it."
The weight of his words was heavier than any physical threat.
Lunessa could feel it.
"And since we are already in a police station," he added, glancing toward the officers without urgency, "let's make sure she remembers this properly."
"No—no, since we're in a police station, that's exactly why you can't do… whatever you're planning to do," Lunessa argued, her voice slightly unsteady.
Julian turned his head toward the officers.
"I can't?" he asked.
All of them stiffened, exchanging uncertain looks, none willing to answer.
"Really?" he said, then turned back to Lunessa. "Then can I do it outside?"
"No!" Lunessa's voice rose before she could stop it. "I—I mean… what does this have to do with you…"
The moment the words left her mouth, she knew, it was the wrong answer.
Julian's eyes darkened, a flicker of annoyance finally surfacing.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between them until she could feel his presence pressing in.
"You…" he said quietly. Then, his voice dropped. "You are mine."
The words hit harder this time.
A clear statement.
Lunessa's breath caught. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, her mind blanking for a split second.
Julian's gaze stayed locked on hers.
"No one," he continued, slower and colder this time, "gets to leave even a mark on what belongs to me."
The room fell into complete silence.
And this time, no one mistook what he meant.
"I swear!" Maria suddenly cried, raising her hand as if taking an oath. "I swear on my life, I won't ever do it again… p-please forgive me?"
Her eyes shifted desperately to Lunessa, like she had found her only way out.
Lunessa froze.
That look… Fear, desperation, humiliation, all directed at her.
For a brief second, her chest tightened.
Five days ago, that could have been her.
Begging, cornered and powerless.
Her fingers curled slightly, and she felt Julian's presence beside her, steady and unmoving.
Waiting for her decision.
Maria's voice cracked again. "Please… just say something… I'll do anything…"
The room held its breath.
Lunessa let out a quiet sigh.
It didn't reveal much, whether it was pity, exhaustion, or simply wanting this to end.
She turned slightly and reached for Julian's arm again, her fingers curling around his sleeve with more intention this time.
"Let's go…" she said softly.
Her eyes lifted to meet him, steady but uncertain, holding onto a thin thread of hope that he would listen.
That he would stop for her.
Julian didn't respond immediately.
He just looked at her. It was sharp and measuring. As if trying to see through her.
Seconds passed but it felt too long.
Then he leaned in slightly, close enough that his voice brushed against her ear.
"I guess," he murmured, low and controlled, "you never bothered to learn about me before claiming I was your boyfriend."
Lunessa blinked, pulling back in confusion.
"Huh?"