Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 245: Clash



Milo stared at the picture in his hands, his fingers trembling as he traced the faint image of a woman who bore a striking resemblance to himself. The edges of the photo were worn, as if time had tried to erase her face, but it hadn't succeeded. To Milo, the image felt as vivid as his memories, fragmented, yet impossibly clear.

It wasn't a stranger. It was a face he had clung to in his mind for as long as he could remember: his mother. Despite the years and the haze of childhood, he had never let go of her image. But now, seeing her face staring back at him, the memory that had felt so distant was alarmingly sharp.

"So, you recognize her?" a voice drawled.

Milo's head snapped up, his wide eyes locking onto the man who had handed him the picture. The stranger loomed over him, tall and imposing, with a sharp jawline and a grin that never quite reached his cold eyes.

"Considering she left you so young, I'm surprised you still remember her," the man continued, his tone disturbingly indifferent, as if he were discussing the weather.

Milo's grip tightened on the photo, his mind spinning. His voice, small and shaking, barely escaped his lips.

"Who... who are you?"

The man's grin widened, and he leaned in slightly.

"Ah, you don't recognize me? That's so sad, but it's not your fault. So, you see, I'm your father, Milo."

The words hit Milo like a sudden, crashing wave, leaving him breathless. His chest felt heavy, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him like an immovable force. His legs trembled, the world around him tipping off balance as he tried to process what he'd just heard. The absurdity of it clashed violently with the casual tone of the man in front of him.

He clutched the photograph tightly, his trembling hands betraying the shock rippling through him. His gaze darted between the picture and the man, as if trying to find some missing piece that could make sense of this moment. The casual grin on the man's face only deepened the ache inside him, a cruel contrast to the gravity of the claim.

"M-My father?" Milo stammered, his voice barely a whisper as he stumbled backward, his legs faltering.

"Don't look so shocked. I know it's been a while, but hey, life's busy. You understand, don't you?"

The nonchalance in the man's voice felt like a slap. Tears welled in Milo's eyes, but instead of running, he froze, clutching the photograph as though it might shield him from the man's words. His small frame shook, and his breath came in short, panicked bursts.

Mercury had been signing autographs, her gaze drifting to Milo now and then to make sure he was alright. But when she noticed he had gone utterly still, she frowned. She saw his pale face and the tears spilling over his cheeks, and her pen slipped from her fingers.

"Milo?" she called, her voice tight with worry. She stepped away from the table, her sharp eyes darting to the man standing near him, and instantly, she recognized him, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Mercury," Milo choked, stumbling toward her and clutching at her arm like a lifeline. "It's him. He... he says he's our dad."

Mercury's body stiffened, and her stomach dropped. The name she had fought to keep out of Milo's life, the person she had worked so hard to protect him from, was now standing right in front of her.

Her eyes snapped back to the man, and fury surged through her, hot and uncontrollable. Her hand instinctively went to Milo's shoulder, holding him close, as though her touch could shield him from the moment.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she spat, stepping in front of Milo as he clung tightly to her shirt, burying his face against her arm.

The man shrugged, his smirk as infuriatingly casual as ever.

"Just saying hello to my son," he said smoothly, as though the situation were perfectly normal. "I thought it was about time Milo learned the truth. He deserves to know how much you've been trying to keep me out of his life."

Mercury's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her entire body trembled, torn between shielding Milo and tearing into the man who had just shattered their carefully guarded secret.

"Keep you out of his life?" she said, her voice trembling with controlled fury. "You weren't allowed to approach us. The lawsuit was clear, and you know it! If you think this stunt will go unnoticed, think again. I'll make sure this is reported, and you will regret breaking the terms."

Mercury's fists clenched at her sides, but she didn't dare lash out physically. Her gaze darted to the crowd of onlookers, their phones and cameras pointed toward the scene. The last thing she wanted was for this private nightmare to become a public scandal. She took a steadying breath, her voice low and firm as she stepped forward.

"Leave," she ordered, her eyes blazing with unrelenting fury. "Right now, before this gets even worse for you."

The escalating argument drew the immediate attention of the team and even the surrounding fans. Kaida pushed her way through the staff with a sharp, determined urgency, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. The sight of Milo trembling and Mercury's rigid posture alarmed her.

Kaida pushed her way through the staff, her sharp eyes locking on the scene ahead. She stopped dead in her tracks, her breath catching as she processed the sight of the man standing before Mercury and Milo.

Her fists clenched involuntarily as she noticed Milo's tears and Mercury's rigid posture.

This wasn't just anyone, this was the father Mercury had warned them about.

"What... what is he doing here?" Kaida asked, her voice low, tense, and shaken in a way that wasn't like her at all.

The rest of the team began to gather, their movements hesitant as the realization dawned on them. Catarina and Ryder's had a grim expression. Zara's sharp eyes widened. Colin, oblivious to Milo and Mercury's story, watched with a little worry. The room felt suffocating, the collective tension almost tangible.

Eratz's eyes darkened as he stepped closer. It was over, the worst case scenario had happened at the worst time.

The man turned toward Kaida, his expression sharp and tense, his earlier casual demeanor replaced by something colder. There was no smirk this time, only a calculating gaze that met the silent accusations in the room head-on.

For the team, his presence was a disaster; for him, it was a gamble.

"Ah, I see you've heard of me," he said, his voice measured and devoid of the earlier mockery. "That'll make this easier."

Kaida bristled, her fists tightening so hard her knuckles turned white. She stepped closer, her

voice dropping to a dangerous growl.

"What the Hell are you doing here?!"

"Aren't I allowed to see my own son as his father?" the man replied coldly, gesturing toward

Milo.

Kaida's jaw clenched, her fury barely contained as she took another step forward. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here," she growled. "If you're looking for a fight, I'll

give you one."

"Kaida, stop," Ryder interrupted, stepping between her and the man, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "There are cameras everywhere. This is the last thing we need right now." Kaida's nostrils flared, but she forced herself to step back, though her glare never wavered. Meanwhile, Eratz appeared silently at Mercury's side. His expression was calm, but his stance

was tense.

Tears streamed freely down Milo's face as he glared at his father, his small frame shaking with uncontainable emotion.

"I don't want to see you," he sobbed, his voice trembling but resolute. "You're not my dad. You're nothing to me! Stay away from us!"

The rawness of Milo's words cut through the air like a knife. Before anyone could respond, Milo turned and bolted, shoving past the crowd, his sobs audible as he disappeared into the

distance.

"Milo!" Mercury cried, her voice breaking as she immediately sprinted after him, panic and heartbreak etched into her face.

Kaida's fury reignited as she lunged toward the man, her fists raised, but Eratz stepped in with a single, swift motion. His hand caught her arm effortlessly, stopping her in her tracks.

His calm, steady gaze locked onto hers.

"Kaida, let it go. For now," Eratz said softly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kaida groaned, her frustration evident, but she slowly lowered her fists. Her jaw clenched, and

she stepped back.

Zara appeared next, her movements swift and efficient as she began dispersing the crowd, urging fans to put away their phones and quickly ending the autograph session.

Despite her efforts, the murmurs among the fans grew louder, their attention lingering on the

man at the center of the turmoil.

Some whispered in shock, others pointed discreetly, their cameras still catching the edges of

his retreating figure.

The man's smirk faltered as the weight of the public gaze bore down on him. His confident demeanor cracked slightly, his movements stiff as he turned to leave.

The whispers around him grew more pointed, and for the first time, his expression betrayed a

flicker of unease.

As he began walking toward the exit, Eratz's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Your funerals," Eratz said softly, not even looking at him, his tone carrying a calm finality

that made the words land like a hammer.

The man paused for the briefest moment, his jaw tightening, but he didn't respond.

Instead, he quickened his pace, his steps echoing in the now-muted space.

The heavy atmosphere lingered long after he was gone, the confrontation hanging over

everyone like an oppressive storm cloud.

Zara's firm voice and precise actions eventually managed to clear the space, but the weight of what had just transpired remained etched in everyone's minds.

Ryder ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight, while Kaida stood silently, her fists clenched

at her sides. Catarina muttered something about needing air, her usual playful demeanor entirely absent.

Eratz stood still, his gaze distant, as though already preparing for the next inevitable

catastrophe.