ARGON
Aside from being glad that the real culpirt was found, Brielle’s attitude towards us, has left me stunned to the core.
I never knew she had such fire in her to stand her ground and defend herself. She was never like this.
What suddenly changed in her?
I watched how she wrapped her injury with the dirty pieces of cloth in her hands. She did this with a strong face, ignoring we that were around.
Honestly, just looking at her feels like I’m staring at a different person entirely.
Once she was done closing up her injury, her eyes fell on us, saying, “If you’re done with your accusations, I’ll take my leave.”
Her words amused me.
She glared at Estelle and Alpha Deron, before her eyes came settling my way.
Those eyes that used to bear fear, tears, and love for me, now had nothing but rage and coldness within.
I felt… Uncomfortable.
“You disrespectful woman!” Alpha Deron groaned, unable to do anything now that the truth was out.
I know he wasn’t just defending his daughter without caring about the truth, he wanted to inflict pain on Brielle. That has been a thing he always wanted to do.
But now that the truth is out and Brielle’s name is cleared, he couldn’t attack her any more.
Besides, her anger is justified.
Estelle did something bad to her and she couldn’t just allow herself to take the blame of a crime she never committed.
“Like I said, I’ll take my leave. Good night, ” Brielle said, dropping her eyes on me once more.
I couldn’t even stare back for long. I had to break the lock, still feeling awkward.
She stormed out of Alpha Deron’s home, heading back home, I assume.
Once she was gone, Alpha Deron sparked out, “The audacity of that woman! I can’t believe you’re still nurturing her in your home. When will you do the needful and kick her out?!”
“Daddy, Argon is already making preparations for our wedding. We won’t wait for any three months but wed early. Isn’t that right, my love? ” Estelle said, drawing closer to me for a hug.
But to give her what she wanted was now hard unlike before. After what she did by revealing our relationship to the world, getting the press and council members to attack me, and even bruising Brielle for her own actions, I just couldn’t do it.
My left hand came in front, preventing her form hugging me. And I bet she noticed the change in my behavior when I did this.
She stared at me with worry, sensing my feeling towards her.
“It’s good. You two should speed up with this wedding and send her off. She’s using that silly promise to stay back in your home, trying to ruin things for you and my daughter. Trust me when I say this, she must have joined hands with that model to embarrass my daughter publicly. It’s her doing,” Alpha Deron accused on, even though the truth was revealed to us.
Both father and daughter didn’t want to accept their own fault, but kept blaming Brielle.
At this moment, I was beginning to feel uneasy.
“Jerome, we should leave, ” I said, facing my Beta.
He agreed, pointing out to the time, suggesting we head back to the pack before we’re seen by the people, who are now hungry to criticism me over what happened.
“It’s best, ” He said.
I nodded, making my move, only for Estelle to grab my hand, calling my name. “Are you okay?” She asked, showing off her googly eyes.
I wanted to speak, but she kept talking.
“You don’t have to worry about me too much. Daddy is here to keep me company, okay? ” She cupped my face, pulling herself close to kiss my cheek.
I didn’t stop her, I just allowed her to do what she wanted.
Once she had her fill, I turned around and left their home, heading for mine.
.
“Is she back?” I asked Jerome while standing at the bottom of the staircase.
We arrived not too long, wondering if Brielle was back as well. I thought we would see her along the way while returning, but we didn’t.
I thought of calling the mansion to ask, but my pride wouldn’t let me.
“Yes, she’s back. I saw her in the room with that maid called Tania. She’s helping her clean her injury,” Jerome shared.
“Oh, that’s… That’s fine, ” I said, feeling kind of relieved to hear that.
I don’t know how to explain it, but after witnessing Brielle in that mode, I’ve been unable to get myself.
She has been on my mind since we left Red Wood.
“That wound looks deep, Alpha. I doubt the ointment Tania is using will help. Can I send some healing herbs over to her room? ” Jerome asked, seeking for my permission.
I nodded, giving him the go ahead to do so. Besides, that wound is so irritating to stare at. It still amuses me that Estelle injured her all because of the problem we’re currently facing.
Like Brielle said, it was all her doings.
Who am I kidding? She’s Estelle after all. She has no control over her own temper.
Jerome bowed before walking out of my sight to get the herbs for Brielle.
I wanted to go over and check up on her, but the flashes of her gaze held my feet back, giving me headaches.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I decided, heading up the stairs to rest.
The following morning, something unexpected occurred, taking away my peace.
Jerome came over to my room while I was preparing for the office, to reveal that the council members were coming.
“What?!” I exclaimed, feeling my heart pounding with speed.
“They want to see you and Brielle, Alpha. I told them you were about leaving for the office, but they said they don’t care and don’t mind seeing Brielle alone, ” Jerome shared.
Thinking of their coming and about Brielle…
“Shoot!” I panicked, dropping my suit down and putting my shirt back on.
“It’s good that I haven’t left. I need to see Brielle before they get here,” I said, rushing out of the room with speed.
I didn’t expect them to come now. I was thinking it would be later on, but not today.
Seeing Brielle before they show up was the most important thing at this very point. They can’t meet her and hear about the things I’ve been doing to her.
All these years, I’ve made Brielle portray herself like a happy wife, acting like our marriage was full of peace. But after the exposition yesterday, everyone feels I’ve been forcing her to fake happiness in public.
Getting to her room, I met the door opened. On the bed sat Brielle and her maid, Tania, laughing about something.
When they saw me, they composed themselves, rising to their feet.
“Alpha? ” Brielle called, staring at me.
Today, she didn’t look at me with rage like last night, but with fear.
“Yes, this is good. She’s back to herself,” I viewed, stepping fully into the room.
“Is there something you need, Alpha?” Tania asked, still keeping her head bowed.
“Leave us alone, ” I ordered her.
When I made that statement, Brielle became surprised. She looked at Tania, who nodded at her before obeying my command, exiting the room immediately.
As soon as she left, Brielle asked, “Is there a problem? ”
I faced her and still met that fear in her gaze. Putting on my strong face and hiding my worry, I walked up to Brielle and grabbed her by the arm tight.
She gasped at me, trembling.
“Alpha, my arm. You’re hurting me, ” She whined before me.
“Listen here. The council members will be here to see us soon. If you are asked any question based on our marriage, let them have the impression that we have been living a happy life, understood?” I tightened my grip.
She groaned in pain, agreeing to my order. “Yes, I will do as you have said.”
“Good.” I pushed her aside, feeling relieved.
“Get dressed. They’ll be here soon, ” I said, turning around to leave.
“Make sure you are looking like a queen and not a slave. If anything goes wrong, I won’t spare you, ” I threatened, leaving the room.
With that settled, I could finally breath the fresh air in relief. I know Brielle can’t do anything but obey me whenever she’s scared.
After all, she’s crazy about me and still loves me. Why else did she stay back to fulfill father’s dying wish?
“Pathetic,” I scoffed, heading back to my room.
In the next one hour, the council members arrived. Jerome and I welcomed them in, but they ignored our greetings, demanding for Brielle’s presence.
“We don’t see your Luna anywhere. Where is she?” They asked.
“She’s coming. She just want to apply some make up to her face,” I lied, even though I had no clue on what was taking her so long to come out.
They hummed at my words, making their way into the living room like they own the place.
They sat down and I called some maids over to serve them with whatever they wanted.
“We didn’t come here for that, Alpha Argon?”
“Don’t try to sway us with foods or drinks. We are not easily fooled.”
“We have told you who we want, so do as you have been told.”
They glared at me.
Swallowing my saliva, I looked at Jerome and signaled him to get Brielle. He nodded, exiting the room to bring her.
I couldn’t sit but stand helplessly, hoping that woman isn’t wasting her time dressing up.
The council members were beginning to lose their cool, asking me for Brielle’s whereabouts.
“Or have you moved your Luna to a different location? Your stairs is just here, ” The female among the others, questioned.
I was about to come up with another lie, when Brielle walked into the room in a simple and ugly dress, with Jerome following from behind.
When I saw her dress, I was angry.
“I thought I told her to wear something presentable?” I stared, feeling annoyed.
The council members stared at her attire awkwardly, lingering their gaze from my point then back at her.
I was beginning to feel the heat.
When Jerome came next to me, I whispered, “Why is she wearing this ugly dress?”
“Alpha, you seem to have forgotten that you and Luna Estelle burnt her fancy clothes. She only has this dress to show.”
I felt so annoyed with my own actions. It was all because of Estelle. She was the one who suggested that we burn Brielle’s dresses.
“Why are you dressed like this, Luna?” They questioned her.
I was expecting Brielle to tell them she had no clothes, but she responded, “Oh, I just felt like wearing something simple.”
She smiled.
My heart bloomed at her response. She is following my orders.
“Good, very good, ” I nodded, watching on.
The council members had to buy her words, diving into their main questions.
“Luna, please tell us the truth about your marriage. Have you been happy?”
“Has your Alpha ever mistreated you or perhaps his lover mistreated you?”
“You don’t have to hide anything. We are here for you.”
“We also saw ththe video of how you were being bullied by Estelle. Tell us everything.”
They sat properly, waiting for Brielle.
I was trembling at the questions at first, until Brielle began to give them the response I wished for.
“My marriage has been going so well. Argon has never mistreated me in anyway, even Estelle. It’s just sad that she suddenly acted that way at her rehearsal. She was just upset, ” She said, giggling.
I was happy, watching how she portrayed me as a saint.
“Argon has been the best husband to me. I feel so happy to have him in my life, ” She answered, delivering a smile.
Joy took over my heart in a flash.
I looked at the council members, who found it hard to believe.
“And the divorce? Are you the one who requested for it?”
“Yes, councils. I realized I couldn’t keep such a man like Argon to myself forever when his heart actually beats for another woman. He’s trying his best to make me happy, but…” She looked at me with emotions in her eyes. “I can’t take his love away, ” She finalized.
They were still in shock and I was thrilled.
“You see. It wasn’t my plan to divorce her. She…”
“Well that’s what I’d have said if I was still foolish and dumb to do as my so-called hudband wants,” Brielle interrupted, landing an unexpected response.
My heart skipped in horror, looking at Brielle. The sweetness was gone. All I could see was a cold hearted woman, facing the now astonished councils, exposing me.
“That’s what Brielle of before would have said, but not me.” She glanced at me, dimming her eyes.
Fear engulfed my heart at the sight of her gaze.
This wasn’t the plan. What is she doing?!