Chapter 194 Shattered Pretense

Chapter 194 Shattered Pretense
The whole family gathered in the living room. Silence defined the atmosphere, with some shifting uneasily at the abrupt summons, while others were bracing themselves for what was to come. My father locked eyes with me, his pupils bearing a menacing glint.

“Why have you called for a meeting, son?”

Don't call me that… Is what I would have said if I still had that rage coursing through my veins. But now, what I felt was mostly emptiness. Raising my head, I stared at the man for a few seconds, before saying, “We're still waiting for someone.”

He fell silent after, but his eyes still remained dead-locked on me. Perhaps he was wary of me exposing the fact that he was indulging in adultery once again. But no, the reason for this gathering was way more grueling. 

Tonight, everything was going to end. 

I had been through too much to care— or to even pretend like I did. The only reason I could muster a smile was the knowledge that Rosemary was behind me, supportive as ever.

The seconds slowly passed, neither party uttering a word, until finally, the star of tonight's show walked in. 

Garbed in her usual maid attire—which was different from that of the regular maids—Aurora stepped into the living room. A frown wormed its way into her features when she saw the assembly. She paused for a moment, before adjusting her expression and wearing that smile. Pretending came easy for her. Practiced, too. 

“Good evening, family.” She spoke first. “Might I ask the reason for this gathering? Is there anything you'd like me to do?”

I smacked my lips, chasing away the dryness. Then, I said, “A lot of things have happened. Some have changed the fate of this family, and tonight, I'm about to reveal even more. Before I begin, I would like to say that this family will never remain the same after tonight.”

“Caligo.” My father's jaw tightened. “Choose your words wisely.”

I glanced over at him and scoffed inwardly. The man still believed I was hung up on the matter with him and that shameless woman. He still strongly believed that the misdirection he had done was still clouding my Judgement. 

“Do not interrupt me.” I shrugged back, even though my words sounded threatening. I couldn't care less for respect or fear at this point. We were at the crossroads already.

After shutting the old man up, I turned back to Aurora. 

“As for you, I would like to pose a question.”

Aurora frowned slightly. She nodded with a gaze of inquiry, saying, “Of course, Alpha. You can ask anything at all.”

Seconds passed by in silence, until finally, I asked, “What did I ever do to you?”

Aurora’s frown deepened. She looked around and muttered like I had just said the most incredulous words, “Forgive me, Alpha, but I'm not quite sure what you mean by that?”

“Why do you hate me, is what I'm asking,” I said, taking a step towards her. “So much so that you would rather see me dead.”

“What?” Aurora blurted out. Her eyes flickered with shock for a moment, and her gaze darted from side to side. After a moment, she went with the option of feigning puzzlement. 

“Please don't joke with such things, Caligo. I do not like it.”

“Oh, you don't?” I almost snickered. I half-turned and gestured for Cassian to do the needful. He instantly opened the laptop in his hands and clicked on a button. 

In the next moment, Aurora’s conversation with Rose, which had been recorded, played out loud— for the whole family to hear. Those of us who'd heard it before, we did not necessarily react.

However, for the rest, their shock was unprecedented. 

“What?” Nox’s jaw dropped, unable to believe her ears. Catherine was the same. The already disdainful eyes she used to look at Aurora went up a notch.

I exhaled softly and said, “In case you aren't able to properly understand what the recording shows, let me break it down for you. For the past months, Aurora has been brainwashing and hypnotizing the love of my life, trying to turn her against me. And worse still, trying to make her kill me.”

I paused for a moment, enjoying the pretentious expression slowly breaking from Aurora’s face.

“That is who she really is. A vile demon pretending to be someone you can entrust your life to.” I gave Aurora a smile. “The gig is up, woman. You don't need to pretend anymore.”

The room stilled. 

Because immediately I uttered those words, the energy surrounding Aurora suddenly became deep and twisted. I literally felt like multiple depraved tentacles were crawling towards me, wishing to ensnare, then kill me.

“So what?” She suddenly scoffed.

Okay… I had not been expecting that. 

Aurora did not back down and instead took a step closer. We were just a few inches away from each other now. 

She repeated, “So what? Is this supposed to make me remorseful or something? So what if my true thoughts have been discovered? That doesn't change the fact that I despise you with every fiber of my being.”

“Why?” I asked once again. That was the only question I heavily desired the answer to. Because no matter how much I racked my head, I could not think of one reasonable reason for her to want me dead.

“You want to know? You really want to know?” Aurora laughed menacingly. When she was done indulging in the strange laughter, she turned and looked at Rose. 

“Ah, we could've conquered the pack… together. But you made the wrong choice.”

Rose did not back down. Under the shocked gazes of Nox and Catherine, she fired back, “Picking Caligo will never not be the right choice, you wench.”

“Ah, is that how it is…” Aurora smiled faintly. “Anyway, back to the reason I hate you so much, Caligo. It is because you constantly make life hellish for someone I care about.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

The lady paused for a moment, and just when she was about to clarify, someone else declared, “Because she is the true mother of Ciro and the twins.”

Huh? My brain froze, as did the majority of the wolves in the living room. 

WHAT… THE… HELL?