Chapter 8：The Truth Revealed
2011words
I gave them an ultimatum: publicly apologize within three days, or I will expose everything.
"Will you really do that?" Noah asked as we sat in the café.
"Of course," I sipped my coffee, "I never write checks I can't cash."
"But this will completely destroy the Reed family," he said worriedly.
"That's their choice, not mine," I answered calmly.
Noah sighed: "James got completely drunk last night, cursing you the whole time."
"I guess he's not ready to admit his mistake," I sneered.
"He's not the only problem," Noah explained, "Victor refuses to 'submit to a werewolf,' those were his exact words."
A flash of golden light passed through my eyes: "Then he will soon understand what this werewolf can do."
Leaving the café, I went straight to the law firm.
"Prepare all the materials," I instructed the lawyer, "if they don't apologize, we'll file a lawsuit."
"On what charges?" the lawyer asked.
"Intentional injury, conspiracy to murder, psychological abuse," I enumerated, "and all responsibility for causing my miscarriage."
The lawyer nodded: "We have sufficient evidence to support these charges."
Back at the office, Lisa told me James was waiting for me.
"Let him in," I said, curious about his intentions.
James walked in, looking haggard, with deep dark circles under his eyes.
"We need to talk," he said, getting straight to the point.
"We have nothing to talk about," I replied coldly, "unless you're ready to apologize."
"Emma," he took a deep breath, "I know I made a mistake, but a public apology would ruin the Reed family."
"That's your problem, not mine," I repeated what I had said to Noah earlier.
"Is there any other solution?" He was almost begging, "Any other way?"
I looked at him, his once handsome face now filled with exhaustion and despair.
"Why is it so difficult?" I asked, "To admit your mistake, to apologize, is it really that hard?"
"You don't understand," he shook his head, "The Reed family reputation is everything. If the public knew we... did those things..."
"Those things?" My voice turned cold, "You mean planning the trap, causing my miscarriage, almost killing me?"
He was speechless, only able to look down at the floor.
"I'm giving you three days," I finally said, "If there's no public apology, I'll take legal action."
"Do you really hate us to this extent?" He looked up, his eyes full of confusion.
"This isn't hatred, James," I said calmly, "This is justice."
After he left, I received an anonymous text message:
"Be careful of Aria, she's planning something against you."
I frowned, thinking about what this could mean.
What could Aria do to me? She had already taken my husband, caused the death of my child. What could be worse?
That evening, I was about to leave the office when I suddenly heard a commotion outside.
Opening the door, I saw Aria standing there, tears on her face, surrounded by several reporters.
"I must tell the truth," she said to the reporters, her voice trembling, "my sister Emma... she's not the person you think she is."
I calmly walked out: "What are you doing, Aria?"
"Telling the world the truth!" she turned to me, malice flashing in her eyes, "Tell them how you threatened the Reed family, how you used your werewolf identity to intimidate us!"
The reporters immediately turned to me, camera flashes continuously flickering.
"Werewolf? What does that mean?" one reporter asked.
I took a deep breath, staying calm.
"I think my sister needs to rest," I said calmly, "she's been under a lot of stress lately."
"No, they need to know the truth!" Aria screamed, "Tell them how you turn into a monster, how you threatened to kill our entire family!"
The reporters frantically took notes, cameras aimed at my face.
I looked at Aria, finally understanding her plan.
She wanted to force me to lose control in public, exposing my werewolf identity.
According to the prenuptial agreement, if my werewolf identity posed a danger to the public, James could gain control of my company.
This was their last attempt.
"Aria," I said softly, yet loud enough for everyone to hear, "are you sure you want to do this?"
"The world needs to know the truth," she continued her act, "about how you controlled James, how you forced him to break up with me!"
I laughed, with a coldness in my laughter.
"The truth? You really want the truth?"
I turned to the reporters: "Everyone, I have a better story for you. About betrayal, conspiracy, and how a family would stop at nothing for money."
Aria's expression changed, fear replacing confidence.
"Emma, no..."
"The Reed family orchestrated a plot," I continued, my voice clear and firm, "using my sister Aria to get close to my husband James, with the goal of taking control of my company."
The reporters immediately turned to Aria, her face turning pale.
"They set a trap, keeping me trapped in a dangerous place during my pregnancy, causing me to miscarry," my voice began to tremble, not from fear but from anger, "When I called for help, my husband refused to help me because he was with my sister."
The reporters frantically took notes, cameras flashing continuously.
"This is defamation!" Aria screamed, "She's lying!"
"I have evidence," I said calmly, taking out my phone and playing a recording of James and Aria.
In the recording, they clearly discussed how to take advantage of my werewolf identity and how they planned the trap during that trip.
When the recording ended, the entire hallway was silent.
"There's more evidence," I continued, "including medical records, witness testimonies, and more recordings. I have all the materials ready to sue the Reed family."
Reporters immediately surrounded Aria, questions coming like raindrops.
She panicked, trying to escape, but the reporters followed closely.
I stood there, watching it all, feeling a strange sense of calm.
The truth was finally revealed to the world.
The next day, all major media outlets reported the story.
"Business Giant Family Suspected of Murdering Unborn Baby", "Wealthy Family Conspiracy: Willing to Do Anything to Control Billions in Assets".
Reed family's stock prices plummeted, with investors withdrawing their investments in droves.
Victor was forced to call an emergency press conference, but his defense was weak and unconvincing.
"These accusations are completely fabricated," he claimed, his voice trembling, "The Reed family is respected..."
A reporter interrupted him: "What about the recording? That's your son's voice, clearly discussing this conspiracy."
Victor was left speechless and eventually ended the press conference early.
At noon, I received a call from James.
"Are you satisfied now?" his voice was filled with anger, "You've completely ruined us!"
"No, James," I answered calmly, "You ruined yourselves. I only revealed the truth."
"Aria is surrounded by reporters and cannot leave the house," he continued, "Victor might face a second heart attack."
"I gave you a chance," I reminded him, "You chose to refuse."
"I hate you," he finally said, his voice full of venom.
"No, James," I softly replied, "You hate yourself, because you know all of this is your own doing."
After hanging up the phone, I received a text message from Noah:
"The Reed family has called an emergency family meeting. They're discussing whether to make a public apology."
Too late, I thought. The truth is already out, and apologies are meaningless now.
But I still replied: "Let them do what they think is right."
In the afternoon, my lawyer visited, bringing the latest news.
"The prosecutor is very interested in the recordings," he said, "They're considering filing criminal charges against James and Victor for conspiracy to commit murder."
I remained silent for a moment, contemplating the consequences of all this.
"I don't want them to go to prison," I finally said, "I just want justice and acknowledgment."
"That may not be up to you anymore," the lawyer explained, "This has become a public matter."
In the evening, I received an unexpected visitor—Helen.
She looked ten years older, her eyes bloodshot.
"Emma," she knelt down as soon as she entered, "please stop all this. Victor's condition has worsened, the doctor says he might not make it through the night."
I looked at her in surprise: "I haven't done anything. It was Aria who chose to provoke all this in front of the media."
"I know," she painfully admitted, "that was James's idea. He thought he could force you to expose your werewolf identity in public."
"They're still thinking about controlling my company?" I asked in disbelief.
"Not anymore," she shook her head, "now we just want to survive. The Reed family is falling apart, Emma. Stock prices have hit rock bottom, partners are withdrawing, banks have frozen our accounts."
I looked at this once proud woman, now begging so pitifully.
"Are you ready to apologize?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered immediately, "any conditions, we'll accept them. Just help stop this disaster."
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I will do my best," I said, "but I cannot promise anything. Things have already gone beyond my control."
After Helen left, I contacted my media friends, trying to reduce the pressure on the Reed family.
But as the lawyer said, it has already become a public event, and there's little I can do.
The next morning, I received a call from Noah.
"Victor has passed away," his voice choked, "his heart attack recurred last night, and the doctors couldn't save him."
I sat in my chair, feeling dizzy.
I never thought things would develop to this point.
What I wanted was justice, acknowledgment, not death.
"I'm sorry," I said softly, and I meant it.
"It's not your fault," Noah replied, "it was our own choices that led to all this."
Victor's funeral was simple and private, with only family members attending.
I stood at a distance, watching James and Helen crying at the grave.
Aria didn't show up; she had reportedly left the city and gone abroad.
After the funeral, James noticed me.
He walked over, his expression complex and painful.
"What are you here for?" he asked, his voice hoarse, "To celebrate your victory?"
"No," I answered softly, "I came to say goodbye, and also to apologize."
"Apologize?" he laughed bitterly, "For what? For exposing the truth? For destroying the Reed family?"
"For things developing to this point," I said honestly, "I never thought anyone would lose their life because of this."
He looked at me, the hatred in his eyes gradually replaced by exhaustion.
"You know what's most ironic," he said quietly, "Father confessed everything on his deathbed. He said he was wrong, that he should have apologized earlier."
I remained silent, letting him continue.
"He said greed had blinded him, making him forget the most basic humanity," James continued, his voice trembling, "He asked me to tell you that he was sorry, for everything."
Tears gathered in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.
"I accept his apology," I finally said.
James nodded, then asked: "What now?"
"I will withdraw the lawsuit," I answered, "and I will also try my best to quell the media coverage."
"Why?" he asked in confusion, "After all this?"
"Because revenge was never my goal," I explained, "justice and acknowledgment were. Now I have them."
He was silent for a moment, then extended his hand.
"Thank you," he said simply.
I took his hand, feeling a strange sense of peace.
"Goodbye, James," I said, releasing his hand and turning to leave.
Walking out of the cemetery, I took a deep breath of fresh air.
An era had ended, and a new beginning was about to come.
I was no longer the betrayed wife, nor the embodiment of vengeance.
I was just Emma, a woman who had experienced pain but chose to move forward.
And also Luna, a powerful and free werewolf, no longer bound by any chains.
The truth had come to light, justice had been served.
It was time to begin a new chapter.
