<b>Chapter </b>84
“Mr. Varkas,” I greeted, nodding, my voice hard.
Thest time I saw this man was that morning during breakfast two years ago, and he looked the same, <b>save </b>for that cold look in his eyes.
“Have a seat,” he said, pointing at the chair before him. “We have much to discuss<b>.” </b>
“I know it was you who sent that text,” <b>I </b>said as soon as I sat, going straight to the point. There was no need to drag this. I just wanted this to be done so I could return to Axel.
“I didn’t try to hide it,” he said, putting his cigar out. “If you had asked who I was, I would have answered. There was no use hiding it because the boys would have figured it out. They’re smart, you know? I made them that way, but sometimes I regret that. Nothing gets past them.”
“Why?” I asked, my jaw clenched. I wasn’t hearing anything else he was saying. That look of nonchnce on his face was getting on my nerves. He looked totally unbothered, not even a bit remorseful. “Why would you do that? What did you hope to gain?”
He fixed a hard look on me, his eyes like ice. “Because of you, Rosette. You’re the reason. And what I hoped to gain? I hope to push you away. I have ns for Axel, but you’re in the way. You’ve totally blinded the boy. He no longer cares about his duties, and I’m not so thrilled with that, Rosette. You’re ruining my ns, and there’s nothing more I hate than when something’s not going my way.”
That made me bristle, my jaw clenched. “So what you’re saying is I’m getting in the way of what you want. This isn’t even about Axel; it’s about you. Does what your son wants mean nothing to you?”
He grimaced, reaching for a bottle of whiskey, pouring a good amount into the ss. “He doesn’t know what he wants. It’s the job of the parent to guide the son and do what’s best for him.”
I grind my teeth together, my fists clenched. Was this man even listening to himself? “And this is what’s best for him? Exposing him when he isn’t ready to be exposed? What if I had run off with what I had seen and gone to the media? Everything will be exposed! Did you not think of that?”
He scoffed, sipping from the ss, looking at me from the rim. “You think you would be the first? You wouldn’t be the second either. And what happened to those people?” He snapped his fingers. “Disappeared. No one ever saw their shadow again. That would have been you if you had opened your mouth.”
The more this man opened his mouth<b>, </b>the more disgusted I grew. I stood up, looking down at him with a hard look. “I just came <i>to </i>tell you that your n failed, Mr. Varkas, I’m not leaving Axel. Never. Have a nice day.”
I turned to leave, my body vibrating with rage.
“Did you know Axel is the most monstrous among my sons?” he said as I reached the door, my hand on the doorknob, his voice calm and I paused. “You see, he takes after me the most, temper and all. You never know what’s going to happen next with him. He has <b>a </b>very nasty temper, coupled with the beast in him, he’s an unpredictable monster.”
I turned very slowly to him, my hand still on the doorknob.
<b>9:16 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>
“Plus, he can’t control the beast,” he added.
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“He can now,” I answered, my voiceing from my chest and it made it deep, filled with hatred.
Ss‘ eyes widened and that look of shock was <b>so </b>satisfying that I couldn’t help a small smirk, but that was gone when she scoffed.
“You’re tough, Rosette. Not only did you stay after discovering werewolves, but you also became his tether. That’s really impressive, but it’s a shame that you have to leave.”
“I’m not leaving, Mr. Varkas,” I said, my voice low but hard. “I love-”
“Yes, you are!” he shouted, rising to his feet and mming his palms on the desk, knocking a few things off. He looked pissed now, no longer acting unbothered. “You say you love him, and yet you’re ruining his life.”
I faltered then, taking a step back. “Wh–what?”
Ss didn’t look smug that he’s finally gotten to me, he just looked more pissed. “Axel has abandoned his duties for you. He’s walking away for you. He’s going to lose everything for you. He’s going to-”
I shook my head. “Wait, wait! Lose everything? What does that mean?”
“It means if Axel chooses you over his family and duties, I’m going to strip him of everything he has. The cars, money, his position in thepany, and I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get a job. No matter where he goes. I’ll use thest of my resources if ites to that. I’ll make sure he knows everythinges with a price.”
I could only stare at him, blinking furiously. My mouth opened but no words came out. Then finally, “Why? Why go that far?”
He straightened, walking around his desk and moving to me but he stopped two feet away. “Because love is for lesser beings like humans. Not for beings like us. He’s going to have to learn that the hard way. So think, Rosette. Are you going to keep this up and let Axel lose everything? He might say it’s okay now, but years from now when he’s still jobless and penniless, it’ll finally hit him and then he’ll start to resent you. He’ll understand that you were the one who took everything from him.”
“No,” I shook my head, my chest tight. “No, he would never resent me. He loves me!”
Ss just scoffed, the sound dark. “Love has its limits, Rosette.”
I stared at him, but I wasn’t really seeing him. Everything he just said was true. Axel couldn’t lose everything. He couldn’t lose his position. I didn’t want that for him. He’ll definitely be miserable. How could I love him if I took everything from him? Was that love? Wasn’t letting him go love? Wasn’t doing the best for him, love?
“Call him,” Ss said softly.
My vision had grown blurry from my tears but I still managed to dial his number, my hand shaking. He picked up almost immediately.
“Hey, lo-”
<b>9:16 </b>Mon, Sep 15 <b>d</b>.
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Hearing his voice made my chest unbearably tight, and I had to push the words out else I might not be able to go through with this. I might be selfish and hold onto him.
“I’m sorry, Axel.”
There was silence on the other end. “What did that bastard do?”
I could almost imagine the look in his eyes right now, how tight his hand was around the phone.
“I’m <b>so </b>sorry, but I can’t do this anymore.”
“What?” he shouted. “What the fuck are you talking about, Rosette? What did Ss say? Leave there. I’lle pick you up.”
I heard him moving and I knew he was going toe here, but I couldn’t let him meet me here.
“I really hope you have a good life,” I said, and ended the call, switching off my phone. I looked <i>at </i>Ss, wiping my tears. “He’sing.”
He just nodded. “A car’s waiting at the back. Gabriel will drive you.”
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