Chapter 70 Confess

Chapter 70 Confess
The house felt smaller once the door closed behind them. The air inside was warm but heavy, like it had been holding grief for too long. Dust floated in the thin beam of afternoon light that slipped through the cracked window. Selene helped her aunt sit on the edge of the bed, and for a moment neither of them spoke. They were simply breathing. Simply holding hands. Simply trying to understand that this was real.

Her aunt’s tears had not stopped. They fell slowly now, no longer violent sobs but quiet streams that ran down her tired face. Selene knelt in front of her and rested her hands gently over her aunt’s trembling fingers.

Minutes passed like that. Long, quiet minutes.

Finally, her aunt wiped her face with the back of her sleeve and looked at her more carefully. Her eyes were red and swollen, but there was something else in them now. Confusion. Fear. Questions.

“What happened?” she asked softly.

The words were not loud, but they carried weight.

Selene felt her chest tighten. She had imagined this moment many times during the nights she lay awake in Montclair. She had rehearsed what she would say. She had promised herself she would not cry. But now that she was here, sitting in front of the woman who raised her, it felt harder than any battle.

Her aunt squeezed her hands gently. “Tell me everything,” she whispered.

Selene inhaled slowly. The air smelled faintly of dried herbs and old wood. It was familiar. It was home. And because it was home, she decided not to hide.

“I didn’t run away,” Selene began carefully. “I didn’t betray the pack.”

Her aunt’s jaw tightened slightly.

“I know,” she said quietly, though her voice shook.

Selene swallowed.

“Kai and Christopher lied.”

The name Kai made her aunt’s expression change. Pain flashed across her face, followed by anger she tried to hide.

Selene continued slowly, choosing each word with care. “It started long before the river.”

Her aunt listened without interrupting.

“I thought Kai was my sister,” Selene said. “I thought Christopher was just protective. I trusted them.”

She paused for a second, remembering.

“At first, it was small things. Kai would pull away when I tried to talk. Christopher would always stand between us like he owned the space. I told myself I was imagining it.”

Her aunt frowned slightly.

“One day, Kai told me she was going to her club to get some materials,” Selene continued. “I did not bother to ask a question so I went to the library to search for some books..”

Her aunt nodded slowly.

“I wasn’t supposed to see anything,” Selene said. “I was just walking past the huge window overlooking the secret garden but I saw them.”

Her aunt’s fingers tightened around hers.

“They were under the tall tree near the stone path. Kai and Christopher.” Selene’s voice lowered slightly. “They were kissing.”

The room felt still.

Her aunt’s eyes widened.

“I didn’t understand at first,” Selene continued. “I thought maybe I saw it wrong. But then I watched them. They didn’t see me.”

Her aunt’s breathing became heavier.

“They weren’t careful,” Selene said quietly. “They touched each other like they were used to it. Like it wasn’t the first time.”

Her aunt closed her eyes slowly.

“I walked away before they noticed me,” Selene continued. “I didn’t confront them that day. I told myself I would think about it first. I didn’t want to accuse anyone without proof.”

Her aunt opened her eyes again. They were darker now.

Selene lowered her gaze.

“But after that, I started seeing more,” she said. “Small touches. Secret glances. The way Christopher would look at Kai when he thought no one was watching.”

Her aunt’s voice trembled slightly. “And they knew you saw?”

Selene nodded slowly. “Kai realized it later. I think Christopher did too.”

She inhaled carefully.

“That’s when things changed.”

Her aunt’s fingers trembled again.

“They began isolating me,” Selene said. “Christopher would speak for Kai. Kai would avoid being alone with me. I tried to pretend that everything was normal because I do not want to cause any issue but these past few months, I noticed how cruel Kai could get. She pretended to be innocent while twisting some words to manipulate everyone around me.”

Her aunt’s face hardened.

“And then came the outing,” Selene continued.

Her aunt looked at her sharply.

“You remember,” Selene said softly. “The day you were exhausted and fell asleep early.”

Her aunt’s eyes filled with guilt immediately. “I should have—”

“No,” Selene interrupted gently. “It wasn’t your fault.”

She continued carefully.

“Kai told me, we are going for an outing. I am not sure what made her think of that but I thought, maybe this is the reason why they are being so close. Maybe they prepared a surprise, or maybe they are doing something nice for me.”

Her voice grew quieter.

“I really hate lying to you like this, aunt but I cannot tell you that I turned back time…”

“I wanted to believe everything was fine.”

The memory rose in her mind clearly.

“The air was cold. The ground was damp. We stood near the edge. Christopher left because I asked him to get me some water, as I grew thirsty walking near the river.”

Her aunt’s breath caught.

“Kai and I talked that day,” Selene said. “I asked her what she is trying to do, why she planned this outing.”

Her aunt leaned forward slightly.

“She looked at me,” Selene whispered. “And told me everything.”

The room seemed to shrink.

“She said I should have kept quiet,” Selene continued. “She said I didn’t understand their bond.”

Her aunt’s hands began shaking again.

“I told her I wasn’t angry,” Selene said.

Her voice trembled now.

“I didn’t think she would go that far,” Selene said softly. “I really didn’t.”

She swallowed hard.

“Kai pushed me.”

The words hung in the air.

Her aunt gasped.

“I remember her hands on my shoulders,” Selene continued. “I remember the shock more than the pain. I didn’t even scream at first. I just looked at her.”

Her voice cracked.

“She looked back at me,” Selene whispered. “And there was no hesitation in her eyes.”

Tears fell down her aunt’s face again, but this time they were mixed with fury.

“I fell,” Selene said quietly. “I hit the rocks. I don’t remember much after that. Just the cold water.”

The room felt suffocating.

“I thought I was going to die,” Selene admitted. “I thought that was the end.”

Her aunt covered her mouth with her hand, trying to contain her sob.

“They told everyone I ran away,” Selene continued. “They said I betrayed the pack. They said I was unstable.”

Her aunt’s body shook.

“They needed a story,” Selene said softly. “And I was convenient.”

Silence filled the room.

Her aunt suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth. Her movements were sharp, restless. She looked like she wanted to tear something apart.

“I trusted them,” her aunt whispered harshly. “I defended them.”

Selene stood slowly as well.

“You couldn’t have known,” she said gently.

Her aunt stopped and looked at her. Her eyes were red, but there was steel inside them now.

“You could have died,” she said.

Selene nodded.

“But I didn’t.”

Her aunt stared at her.

“And I didn’t come back just to cry,” Selene added quietly.

That caught her aunt’s attention.

“What do you mean?” she asked carefully.

Selene took a deep breath.

“I have a plan,” she said.

Her aunt’s expression shifted again, this time wary.

“I don’t want chaos,” Selene continued. “I don’t want blood.”

Her aunt’s jaw tightened.

“I want truth,” Selene said firmly. “I want them exposed in front of everyone.”

Her aunt listened closely now.

“They built their position on lies,” Selene continued. “Kai pretended to be loyal. Christopher pretended to be honorable. They painted me as unstable to protect themselves.”

Her aunt nodded slowly.

“I want to make them confess,” Selene said. “Or at least make them slip.”

Her aunt crossed her arms.

“And how will you do that?” she asked.

Selene’s gaze sharpened.

“I will not change how I approach Kai,” she said. “I will act as if I know nothing new. I will be calm. I will be patient and I will pretend I lost my memories.”

Her aunt studied her face.

“They think I am emotional,” Selene added. “They think I react quickly. I won’t.”

Her aunt’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“I will gather proof,” Selene continued. “Witnesses. Inconsistencies in their story. And when the time comes, I will speak.”

Her aunt’s breathing slowed slightly.

“And you want my help,” she said quietly.

Selene nodded.

“I need you to act like nothing has changed,” Selene replied. “Don’t confront them. Don’t show anger. If they see it, they’ll be careful.”

Her aunt looked conflicted.

“You’re asking me to pretend,” she said.

“Yes,” Selene answered softly. “For now.”

Her aunt turned away for a moment, gripping the edge of the table.

“They hurt my child,” she whispered.

Selene walked toward her slowly.

“I’m not asking you to forgive them,” she said gently. “I’m asking you to trust me.”

Her aunt closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, the anger was still there but controlled.

“You’ve grown,” she said quietly.

Selene gave a small smile. “I had to.”

Her aunt walked back toward her and placed both hands on her shoulders.

“If I see even a single sign that they try to hurt you again,” her aunt said calmly, though her voice carried quiet threat, “I will not stay silent.”

Selene nodded.

“That’s fair.”

Her aunt exhaled slowly.

“We will do this carefully,” she said.