Suhaan smirked.

But Rudra… didn’t flinch.

His glowing red eyes locked onto him, calm and lethal.

“You overconfident jerk,” Rudra muttered, cold as stone.

On the floor beside him, the Ophidian had landed.
Its black body coiled and slithered, red eyes glowing like embers.

It moved slowly… closer to Suhaan’s trembling legs.

Suhaan’s face twisted in panic.

“Just—stay away, you ugly snake!” he screamed.
“Ughhh! Why… why can’t I move!?”

But the serpent came closer, unbothered.
The curse had chosen its target.

Suhaan turned to look at Nari, still unconscious on the floor.

His voice dripped with venom.

“Even if I’m about to die right now…
you’ll never be happy, Nari.”

Thud!
He collapsed to the floor.

The Ophidian hissed—

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

“JUST COME FAST AND KILL ME ALREADY!” he screamed.

The cursed snake raised its head—face to face with him.

And then—

THWAACKKKKKKKKKK

Its fangs sank deep into his flesh.

“ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Suhaan screamed as pain exploded through his body.
He fell back, shaking, eyes wide.

Breath heaving, he forced out his final cruelty.

“Even if I die… I’ve won.
The kid… is dead…”

But Rudra stepped forward slowly, his red eyes gleaming.

He leaned in close, and smirked.

“Wanna know a secret?” he whispered.

“The child… is still alive.”

Suhaan’s heart dropped.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” he screamed in disbelief.

His hands scratched at the ground.

“Please… save me…” he whispered, barely conscious.

And then, his vision started to blur.

His mind… slipped.

In the dark swirl of his dying thoughts…
He saw Jay.

The little boy stepped closer, blurry, glowing in white.

“Where are you going, Dad?” Jay asked softly.
“Please don’t leave us. We need you, Dad. Please…”

Suhaan reached a hand toward him.

But then—Jay’s eyes changed.

His face twisted in anger.

His voice echoed like thunder.

“But you… you tried to kill my mom and me!”

“I hate you.”

“Just die.”

“You are nothing to me now!”

Suhaan’s lips quivered.

“…Jayyyyy…”

Silence.

His body stopped moving.

His breath… was gone.