Chapter 29 Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Chapter 29
_Leon’s POV_

The drive to Talia’s house felt endless. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Every part of me burned with humiliation and fury, yet I forced myself to keep driving.

This was necessary.

That was the only thought keeping me moving forward. I needed to do this for Anya.....for the truth.....for revenge.

Shadow remained silent inside me but I could feel his rage simmering beneath the surface. He hated this just as much as I did.

When I finally pulled into the driveway of Beta Taylor’s estate, I shut off the engine and sat there for several seconds, staring at the large house ahead of me.

My jaw tightened. Then I forced myself out of the car and walked to the front door.

There were no guards outside. The estate looked quiet, almost peaceful, which only made my anger worse. While my life was falling apart, they were inside resting comfortably.

I knocked.

A few moments later, the door swung open.
Beta Taylor stood there. The moment he saw me, his expression darkened.

“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly. His tone made it clear that I was unwelcome.

I kept my face neutral. “I came to speak with Talia.”

Beta Taylor gave a harsh laugh. “You have done enough to my daughter for one night.”

“I need to apologize.”

His eyes narrowed. “Apologize?”

“Yes.”

He stepped partly into the doorway, blocking my entrance completely. “My daughter does not need apologies from a bastard who publicly humiliated her.”

My jaw clenched.

“You should have thought carefully before disgracing her,” he continued sharply. “A man who shoves his own fiancée to the ground is no man at all.”

Every word scraped across my pride like a blade. Still, I forced myself to remain calm. “I know I was wrong.”

“You know?” he snapped. “Now you know? After accusing her of murder like a lunatic?”

Before I could answer, a soft voice came from deeper inside the house.

“Father…”

Talia appeared behind him.

Her eyes were red as if she had been crying for hours. Her face looked pale and delicate. She wore the expression of a wounded angel. This was a perfect performance.

She looked at Beta Taylor gently. “Please… let him speak.”

Beta Taylor turned toward her. “Talia, there is nothing he can say that will excuse what he did.”

“Please,” she repeated softly. “Just let me hear him.”

He stared at her for a long moment before finally stepping aside. “Fine. But only because you ask it.”

I walked inside. The tension in the room was suffocating. Talia stood a few feet away from me. She was clutching her hands together. Her mother sat nearby with a look of pure disapproval. No one invited me to sit. I remained standing.

Talia looked at me with trembling eyes. “Why are you here, Leon?”

I lowered my gaze slightly and forced the words out. “I came to apologize.”

Beta Taylor scoffed loudly.

Talia swallowed hard. “For what exactly?”

I hated every second of this. “For everything I said tonight,” I replied. “For accusing you. For humiliating you. For pushing you.”

Tears gathered in her eyes instantly. “You truly hurt me,” she whispered. “Do you know how much pain you caused me?”

Inside, I felt nothing but disgust. Outside, I let remorse fill my face. “I know,” I said quietly. “And I regret it.”

Beta Taylor folded his arms. “Regret means nothing. Words are easy. Any fool can apologize after causing damage.”

I nodded slowly. “Then tell me what I must do to make this right.”

His expression sharpened. “Oh, now you wish to make it right?”

“Yes.”

He stepped toward me. “Then prove that your apology is sincere.”

I already knew I would hate whatever came next.

Beta Taylor’s voice turned cold. “Get on your knees and beg my daughter for forgiveness.”

Silence filled the room. My entire body went still. Even Talia looked surprised.

Shadow exploded inside me. Do not do it.

My fists clenched at my sides.

Beta Taylor smirked. “What is wrong, Future Alpha? Too proud now?”

My breathing turned heavier. Then Anya’s face flashed through my mind. Anya was suffering and she needed me. She had no one else apart from me.

Slowly, I lowered myself to my knees. The marble floor felt like ice beneath me. Talia stared down at me with parted lips.

I bowed my head. “Talia,” I forced out, “please forgive me.”

Beta Taylor’s wife gave a satisfied nod. But Beta Taylor was not done.

“Louder.”

My jaw tightened. “Please forgive me,” I repeated louder.

Talia’s eyes gleamed with victory. She stepped closer and looked down at me. “Why should I forgive you, Leon? After everything you said?”

I forced myself to look at her. “Because I was wrong.”

The lie tasted bitter.

“You accused me of terrible things,” she whispered. “You called me a liar. You accused me of murder. You made me look like a monster.”

My voice stayed low. “I know.”

“And now?”

I swallowed my hatred. “Now I know that I was mistaken.”

Her lips curved almost imperceptibly. She loved this. I could see it.

Finally, she sighed softly. “Stand up.”

I rose slowly to my feet.

Then Talia turned toward her father. “Please, Father. I still love him.”

Beta Taylor frowned. “Talia…”

“I do,” she whispered. “And if he truly regrets what he has done… then I want to forgive him.”

Her mother looked shocked. “After this humiliation?”

“Yes,” Talia said tearfully. “Love means forgiveness.”

I nearly laughed at the performance.

Beta Taylor studied me for a long moment. Then he said coldly, “If my daughter forgives you, then I will respect her wishes. But hear me clearly, Leon.”

His voice dropped lower. “If you ever humiliate her again, I will make you regret it for the rest of your life.”

I nodded. “Understood.”

I took a slow breath and reached into my pocket. Everyone in the room watched as I pulled out the engagement ring. The diamond caught the light as it rested in my palm.

For a brief moment, I stared at it. My stomach was twisting with disgust at what I was about to do.

Then I stepped toward Talia. “If you can forgive me,” I said quietly while forcing remorse into my voice, “then let me make this right.”

Talia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before she slowly lifted her hand toward me. Her fingers trembled like she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Her performance was worthy of an award.

I took her hand gently. Then I slid the ring back onto her finger. It fit perfectly, as though it had never left her hand at all. A soft gasp left her lips.

To anyone watching, it looked like a beautiful and emotional reconciliation. But when she leaned closer to me, her lips barely moving, she whispered so only I could hear,

“You should have trusted me from the beginning.”

My body went rigid. A cold chill raced through me. My blood turned to ice.

She knew.

Or at least, she knew enough to suspect that I had never truly believed her innocence.

Still, I forced myself to keep my expression soft.

“I know that now,” I murmured.

Her smile widened at my answer. This was perfect. Let her believe I was fooled....let her think she had won.

Because while everyone in that room believed I had returned broken and ashamed….

In truth, I had only begun playing the game.

I would uncover the truth, and when I did, I would make every single one of them regret this night.