Chapter 126 MANIPULATED HEART
Edeline
“Oh, I am familiar with Darius,” I said, trying to maintain my composure. “I trust what you have told me. Is there anything else?”
He took a deep breath, clearly bracing himself. “Um, she seemed to have complete control over me. She asked me to get the items and bring them back to Anita. I did as she asked.”
He looked up at me, his eyes full of regret. “It was really devastating. I had always thought it was Tatiana behind everything. I never expected it to be Darius. I can’t bring myself to hate him, though, knowing he was manipulated.”
My emotions shifted as I listened, the weight of his words settling in.
“Tatiana had already left by then,” he continued, his voice softening. “She gave me a drink as a reward, which I foolishly drank. Afterward, I felt a strange sense of strength. And, well, you were on my mind too. That’s when I decided to find you at the party. You were already quite drunk, and for some reason, I kept offering you more drinks. You were entertaining that night, and you looked absolutely stunning. I felt this nagging urge to spend time alone with you, so I took you to the hot springs.”
He hesitated, avoiding eye contact. I gripped the bars, steeling myself for the rest of his story. The truth about that night had always been elusive, and now he was finally revealing it.
“I placed you on my lap,” he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. “I... um, accidentally made contact with you. I wanted to give you a pleasurable experience with my hand. I couldn’t resist my feelings for you. We shared a kiss while you were on my lap. I was considering getting closer, but when I asked if you were sure, you said you were feeling warm and about to faint. You mentioned taking one of your mom’s pills, along with all the drinks. That really frustrated me. I was concerned and full of remorse. It was these feelings that helped me regain my clarity.”
He took a deep breath, his face etched with unease. “Without thinking, I moved you out of the hot springs and laid you gently on the stones. You fainted, so I took you back to your place and put one of the t-shirts you leave on your back porch over you,” he said, his voice breaking slightly.
I fought back tears as I listened, feeling a mix of sorrow and pain. The next part was almost too much to bear.
“The next morning, I forgot to drink any of the tea,” he said, frustration creeping into his voice. “When Tatiana put your things on the table during breakfast, I was overwhelmed with anger at my own forgetfulness. I also felt a lot of resentment toward Anita because those items came from her. I couldn’t control my anger, and I was so frustrated, my gaze was fixed on the floor.”
His anger was evident, but it was clear that his guilt and regret overshadowed everything. I had to process everything he had shared, grappling with the painful truths and his genuine remorse.
"That was the day I noticed a shift in the group," he began, his voice laden with regret. "Remember how they were all ganging up on you, targeting both you and Percival? It was clear that the pack had a strong affection for you—more than for Percival, it seemed. But that was also the day something shifted within me. I’m not sure if it was the combination of everything I had consumed, but when I got home, I decided to drink the tea Tatiana had given me. Surprisingly, it made me feel quite empowered. But it didn’t mix well with the alcohol from the previous night."
He paused, his eyes reflecting deep discomfort. "I felt this intense loyalty towards Anita. I visited her, unexpectedly, just seeking her approval. That evening, she kissed me, the night Tatiana was hospitalized due to her arm injury. I’m not sure how to explain it... Anita was extremely angry with you, and in trying to appease her, I also became furious. I just wanted to do whatever would bring her joy, to make her proud." His voice was tainted with contempt, dripping with disgust.
"She told me to find you and leave my mark. Remember that night I showed up at your place, throwing pebbles at your window? And then revealed that Nixx had been snooping around? I knew Anita’s intentions and acted on them, even though I knew it would hurt you. That was when I confessed my feelings for you... and you managed to evade me. But then you turned things around and attacked me. I can't believe you went straight to Percival as soon as he arrived, not even an hour later. Our wolves had a confrontation, and, unfortunately, he overpowered me. Someone warned me to keep my distance."
His voice faltered as he relived the memories. "I healed quickly from the injuries caused by both you and him. I had this strong feeling that the tea was boosting my strength, so the next day, I decided to double my intake. That was the day Mirabelle was poisoned. Anita had given me a bag of teas she had crafted herself. You mentioned it was for your heat, to mask the scent of recent days until it overwhelmed you completely and kept Percival from getting too close. I gave it to Mirabelle, feeling uneasy about passing it along to you. Looking back, I should never have given you something from her. Ugh, those herbs practically forced me to listen to her, Edeline!" His voice rose in distress, clutching his head as sobs wracked his body. I bit my lip, struggling to keep my own tears at bay.
"In addition to the drink I had before Mirabelle went to the doctor... Later that afternoon, Anita offered me a cocktail and gave me a few more bags of tea to take home. She suggested that I drink it to make myself more appealing to you. The flavor was familiar, but it was more intense. I suspect she added additional ingredients, possibly some toxic substances. That evening, when I confronted you..." His eyes were filled with a haunting sadness. "Goddess, I can’t understand what came over me. I was only told about my actions—I can’t recall a single moment from that time. I have no memory of being there at all! Oh, Edeline, I can’t believe it... I swear, my feelings for you are genuine. I would never intentionally hurt you!"