Chapter 189 ANITA'S RECKONING
Edeline
The crowd rumbled in agreement, and William glanced at Darius, his expression faltering, a lump clearly forming in his throat. His voice shook as he announced the sentence.
“Darius will face serious consequences,” he said, struggling to keep his composure. “He will spend one month in the cellars, and another month in the dog house—chained in wolf form, wearing a collar.”
I felt the blood drain from my face, my whole body going numb. One month for each? My stomach twisted painfully. He doesn’t deserve that! He doesn’t! The crowd, oblivious to the truth, erupted in cheers. They had no idea—no idea what really happened.
I was reeling, my mind racing, when suddenly a piercing scream sliced through the air behind me. I whipped around, drawn to the sound, my heart leaping into my throat.
Tatiana. She was pushing through the crowd, with Percival at her side, her tear-streaked face wet and shining in the moonlight. My breath caught at the sight of her, an overwhelming mix of anger and hurt surging through me as I watched her. Her eyes were locked on Anita, her movements frantic and desperate.
I stood frozen, my skin prickling as Anita’s face began to change. For the first time, the tough, angry facade cracked. Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked up at Tatiana, helpless. It was jarring to see her like this, vulnerable and broken.
Percival, ever-serious, kept his arm firmly around Tatiana, supporting her. A fresh wave of pain stabbed through me, like a physical blow. Seeing them together—him standing there, helping her—made me want to scream. Our eyes met briefly, and I felt a chill run through me. His expression was guarded, but I could feel the tension. He knew exactly how I felt about him now. I’d made sure of that. He shifted uncomfortably when I told him exactly what I thought of his choices, his betrayal.
Tatiana’s voice broke through the thick silence as she cried out, “Anita! Why?!”
The entire crowd fell silent as Tatiana’s plea echoed in the still night air. Behind Anita, a large wooden post was rolled onto the stage, casting a shadow over her. It loomed like some cruel symbol of judgment.
Tatiana hadn’t spoken to Anita since the truth came out—the story I had shared with Percival. He’d told her everything. Of course he had. The memory of it made my stomach churn. I was disgusted with him. And I made sure he knew it.
Anita’s tears flowed freely now, her face crumpling as she met Tatiana’s gaze. “I’m sorry,” she cried, her voice trembling. “I just... I wanted the best for you, Tatiana. Please, believe me.”
The crowd stayed eerily quiet, not a single sound breaking through. Everyone was watching, waiting. My heart raced as I watched Anita crumble under the weight of her guilt, her confession hanging in the air like smoke.
Tatiana shook her head, her blonde hair swaying wildly as her face twisted in anguish. "No! You lied to me! You made my mom take her own life!" Her voice cracked as she screamed, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Anita flinched, her wide eyes darting to mine for a brief second before returning to Tatiana. There was a heaviness in her stare, a desperation as she watched Tatiana falter, her body swaying slightly as if on the verge of collapsing.
"I'm sorry, Tatiana." Anita’s voice was barely above a whisper, thick with regret. "I messed up... I was stupid. I wanted power, but I swear, I love you. That will never change. Everything I did, I thought it was to keep you safe, even though now I see how wrong I was. I tried..." Her words broke as sobs wracked her body, echoing through the room. She was shattered.
Tatiana looked crushed, her eyes vacant, like the world around her had collapsed. She seemed lost, broken beyond words, her hand resting on her stomach, as if drawing strength from somewhere deep within. I could feel my own heart race, anxiety bubbling up in my chest. The room felt heavy, the air thick with tension, and I clenched my jaw, trying to keep it together.
Percival gently pulled Tatiana back, his arm firm but careful as she cast a vulnerable, tear-streaked look up at Anita. Suddenly, Anita was jerked off her feet, dragged toward the wooden post that had been set up for her. The harsh sound of chains clinking against the silver rang out as they wrapped around her.
The crowd erupted, their cheers swelling as if this was some kind of entertainment. I caught Darius's glance at Anita; there was something unsettling about the smug smile pulling at his lips.
Tatiana began to mumble, her words a string of incoherent sounds as Anita was bound to the stake, her once proud stance crumpling under the weight of it all. Her shoulders drooped, head hanging to one side, no longer the confident woman she once was.
"Anita, got anything you want to say before you go meet the moon... or wherever you think you're heading?" William's voice cut through the noise, his tone casual, almost mocking, as he approached the platform with a torch in hand.
Anita lifted her head slowly, her eyes dull with desperation. For a moment, they flickered—a faint glow of hazel that landed on Tatiana. "Tatiana..." her voice trembled. "I’m so sorry. I should’ve listened to you. I shouldn’t have tried to control you, to make you do things my way. I regret what I did to your mom, my sister. I just... I hope you can forgive me, even a little. Because... I love you." Her voice broke as her eyes squeezed shut, tears streaming down her face, her head dropping once more in defeat.
A heavy silence fell, the kind that presses down on your chest, making it hard to breathe.
"I forgive you," Tatiana whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with the weight of her own pain. My partner tightened his grip on her, keeping her steady as her knees wobbled beneath her. "I forgive you... but I won't forget how you ruined my life."