Chapter 54

~Alistair~

I was recording some information regarding the business I had just launched: Duke Motors. The phone was ringing for the umpteenth time that morning, and I declined the call, without even bothering to know who it was from. Reporters from everywhere had been calling to see if I could shed more light on what had happened between myself and Eliana, and some TV presenters even wanted to know if I could be a guest in their shows to talk more about cheating in a relationship.

Not surprisingly, majority of the people had supported my actions. To them, cheating was an act that shouldn’t be condoned, and once again, the Venator family had been faced with yet another scandal. Will their troubles ever end? People wondered. I was done with playing games with that family, and destroying Eliana in front of the whole world had been the last piece that completed my puzzle. I was done with carrying out my revenge, but I still didn’t feel inner peace, neither did I feel fulfilled.

“Alistair, I have to tell you something,” Garrett said, in a tone of urgency, barging into my office.

“Have you come to rant about my actions again?” I retorted, lifting up my head.

Garrett and I hadn’t been on speaking terms since the anniversary, which took place three days ago, and I assumed he needed time before things could go back to how they used to be before.

“Just for the record, I still think that what you did to Eliana was totally uncool, but that’s not why I’m here. Alistair, how would you feel if you found out that Eliana was innocent of all your accusations, and that you made a grave mistake in ending things with her and publicly humiliating her?” Garrett asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Can’t you forget about this issue? What’s done is done, and you and I saw those pictures and verified that they weren’t fake. Therefore, I didn’t make any mistake since Eliana can’t be innocent, and I’d appreciate it if you never bring her up again,” I said.

Garrett scoffed, then pulled a seat towards where he stood, and sat down. “Listen, Alistair, those pictures you saw just contained what the people who sent it wanted you to see,” Garrett said.

“I don’t get it,” I said, befuddled.

“Some people conspired to make Eliana seem like she cheated on you by taking those pictures of she and Sam,” He explained.

I was getting more confused. “I am well aware of the fact that someone wanted to expose Eliana for the cheat that she is, and that’s why those pictures were taken and sent to me. What’s your point?” I inquired.

He heaved a sigh, looking frustrated at my inability to grasp what exactly he was trying to say. “My point is that those pictures aren’t real...”

“And how exactly is that possible?” I retorted, cutting in.

“Please, let me finish. Eliana was framed and the pictures were taken without her knowledge...”

“Of course, the pictures were taken without her knowledge,” I said.

He raised his brows, giving me the ‘if looks could kill’ look.

“I won’t interrupt you again, I’m sorry,” I apologised, knowing what was making him annoyed.

“Nothing happened between Eliana and Sam. She was drugged, undressed and while Sam laid beside her, my sister, Jennifer, took pictures of them,” Garrett explained.

Confusion was written all over me, as I began to connect the dots to his story. “Wait, I don’t get it... I mean... um... I mean, why would Sam lay naked beside her after drugging her? Why was Jennifer there to take pictures of them?” I managed to ask, with a stutter.

“Can’t you answer those questions by yourself? Obviously, Sam and Jennifer were working together,” He replied.

I stood up, abruptly. “You’re lying, right?” I asked.

“I suspected that something was wrong somewhere, and even though I haven’t known Eliana for so long, I could tell she wouldn’t do such a thing, and it began to dawn on me that my sister could have a hand in those pictures as she seemed to have enjoyed the drama,” Garrett said.

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, trembling with anxiety.

“My sister received a call last night, and it was from Sam. I wondered why he could be calling her, and I decided to use my hearing abilities to eavesdrop on their conversation. He was mad at her about making Eliana look bad in front of the world, and stated that it was never their plan to release those photos of himself lying in bed with Eliana, and that it was going to forever be a stain on his reputation, and even worse for Eliana.

“Jenny apologised, saying that you were mad and she couldn’t do anything to stop you from having your revenge in that manner. It was either you exposed Eliana in public or you ended things with her in private, which was risky for her as Eliana would tell you the truth that she didn’t know what happened and you’d believe her. Sam then threatened to come to you and reveal that they had both conspired to drug Eliana and taint her image before you, in order for you to break up with her. He was upset because Eliana had cut all ties with him after finding out what he did, but Jennifer pleaded with him, stating that she was going to get a witch to cast a spell on Eliana in order for them to be together, so that it could be a win-win situation for both of them,” Garrett explained.

I fell back to my chair, trying to deny the truth in Garrett’s words. How had it all happened? How had I been managed to be fooled? I had been so stupid and I still couldn’t believe that the person who had betrayed me wasn’t Eliana, but Jenny, the one I had thanked a few days ago for being on my side.

“I...I can’t believe this, Garrett. You’re lying, right? Tell me I didn’t make a mistake. Tell me you’re making this all up,” I said, in a shaky breath, with my lips quaking, and my body shivering as though it was winter and I was without a coat.

“I wish I was lying, Alistair, but you can tell that I am telling the truth, can’t you?” Garrett asked.

I placed my head in my palms, breathing shakily. “You’re right. I can tell when someone is lying, but if what you just told me is the truth, why couldn’t I tell that Jenny and Sam were lying to me all along?” I inquired.

“Trust me, you can’t tell when a pathological liar is lying. There is always a lie on their lips, and so, it’s in their nature. Whether they are telling the truth or not, their heartbeat would remain the same, as lying is normal to them and is a part of them,” He explained.

As the reality of what had happened began to dawn on me, I stood up from my chair once again, and punched a hole in the wall. I had been so stupid, and slowly, everything I had done to Eliana and her family began to flash through my mind, and I was filled with total despair.

“She’ll never forgive me,” I mumbled, with tears welling up in my eyes.

Garrett came to where I stood, and patted my back. “I’m sure she’ll forgive you. All you need to do is tell the public that you were wrong just like how you told them all that she had cheated on you. That girl loves you more than anything, she’ll be mad for a while, but if you keep offering your sincere apologies, she’ll surely come around, trust me,” He said.

I turned around slowly, blinking back the tears that were threatening to fall. “You don’t understand, Garrett. She wasn’t the only person I hurt. I also hurt her family members by revealing their deepest secrets,” I said.

“Wait, it was you who made her family’s reputation go down the drain?” He asked, with his eyes bulging in disbelief.

“It was I,” I replied.

His hand left my back, and he stared at me distastefully. “Gosh, Alistair. How could you be so mean? You extended the punishment of one person’s sins to other people? For crying out loud, they didn’t offend you in any way. Why did you have to do that? You know the most painful part? Everything you exposed about her family is true, and no matter how many apologies you render, it will never bring back their lost dignity. Alistair, you really messed up, and it will take the grace of God for Eliana to forgive you,” Garrett said.

“And who needs the forgiveness of a psychotic cheat?” Jenny asked, as she walked in, wearing a mini skirt and a tight shirt, that hugged her cleavage, making me wonder who she was trying to seduce in my company.

“You would make no degrading comment about Eliana Venator,” I said, walking towards her, with anger in my heart.

“Why? What has gotten into you?” She asked, perplexed.

“Stop the act already, Jenny. We now know what you did,” Garrett said.

“What are you talking about?” She retorted, seeming a little bit scared.

I stood in front of her, eyeing her menacingly. “Why did you do that?” I asked.

“Why did I do what?” She retorted.

“Why did you lie to me about Eliana?” I yelled.

She appeared taken aback. “Alistair, I can explain,” She said, trembling.

I scoffed. “So, it is true. You made me hate Eliana, and ruin her life and that of her family. It was you who kept planting things about the so-called Sliana in order for me to start doubting Eliana, not so? You drugged the poor girl, undressed her and took pictures of her just so I could regret ever knowing her in the first place. How could you do such a thing?” I yelled, angry as hell.

“Well, you were the one foolish enough to believe my antics. Since my game’s apparently over, I might as well say it to your face that you are the most foolish person I’ve ever come across. You could have gone to Eliana to ask her what really happened, but instead, you chose to do whatever I asked you to. You were so easy to manipulate, Alistair, and I’m not sorry about what I did,” Jenny said.

“Why did you do such a thing?” Garrett asked, looking really disappointed in his sister.

“Isn’t it obvious? I wanted Alistair to be mine, and Sam wanted Eliana back in his life. We both decided to join forces to get that which we desire...”

“Well, with what you’ve done, you’re not going to get me now,” I said, cutting her off.

She laughed boisterously. “Spare me that, Alistair. Even if I didn’t do anything, you weren’t going to come back into my arms. You’re so into this Eliana girl for whatever reason that even when you thought that she betrayed you, you still didn’t let me in again. Well, it’s better this way. Eliana is never going to forgive you for all you’ve done, and you won’t forgive yourself either. Guess what? It’s okay by me. At least, neither of us will get to be happy,” Jenny said.

I couldn’t control it anymore as the tears I had been holding back all this while rolled down my eyes uncontrollably. I cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes.

“For what you’ve done, Jenny, I’ll never forgive you again. From this day, we are no longer friends and I don’t want to ever see you again. Take your things, leave my company and my estate, and don’t forget to drop everything I’ve ever given to you. They were all bought in my name after all,” I said, then released her, making her stumble.

She glared at me. “I don’t even want anything you own, you bastard. Come on, Garrett, we have some packing to do,” She said, without a single iota of remorse.

“I don’t remember Alistair punishing me for your sins,” Garrett said.

Jenny scoffed. “Are you going to choose a total stranger over your own biological sister?”

“As from this day, Jenny, you and I cease to be siblings. Yes, you heard me right. I have disowned you, and I choose Alistair over you. I hope I don’t see your face when I get back,” He said.

Jenny seemed hurt, but she took it all like a slice of cake, and without saying a word, she turned her back on us after giving us a deadly stare, then slammed the door behind us.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I told Garrett.

“Oh, but I had to. You see, what you said to Jenny didn’t hurt her at all, and I felt the punishment was too little. When she sees that no one is on her side, maybe she’d come back to her senses. I want her redemption, and that’s why I had to tell her not to think of me as her sibling anymore,” He explained.

I nodded my head, showing him that I understood his actions. “What do you say about giving Sam a run for his money?” I inquired, wearing a smirk as my tears had dried up.

Garrett grimaced. “What can I say? That’s the best news I’ve heard all morning,” He replied.

Sam lay on the floor beaten to a pulp by myself and Garrett. I didn’t give much of a damn that he was lying half-dead or that my clothes were drenched in his blood.

“I’m sorry...I...I just wanted what was mine,” He managed to say.

“I didn’t know Eliana was a property that belonged to people,” I retorted, panting heavily, as I smashed his nose with the heel of my shoes.

We had waylaid him at a spot where there were no CCTV cameras, then we had kidnapped him, covering his face with a black piece of cloth, so that it was impossible for him to see and we sealed his mouth with an adhesive tape, in order for him not to make a noise as we swiftly smuggled him into the car and drove him away into the forest that was hidden from the field in my estate.

“You do realise that I would heal and this injuries you’re inflicting on me won’t last for long, right? I’m asking because I don’t understand why you’d be wasting so much time and effort in beating me up, when you know that I’m a werewolf and I’ll get healed in a few minutes,” Sam said, unapologetically.

“Well, you won’t be a werewolf for much longer,” I told him.

“What do you mean? Are you going to kill me in order to take my powers?” He asked, shuddering with fear.

“That’s an option, but Alistair is going to be merciful to you. You see, you either use dark magic or death to take an Alpha’s powers, but you’re just a beta, and all we have to do is make you get to the brink of death, so that Alistair can take your powers, and you’d spend months in the hospital, paying for what you’ve done,” Garrett explained.

“No! No!” Sam yelled.

Garrett kicked his balls, then kicked his neck, twisting it. Sam lay on the grass, struggling to breathe with blood oozing from most parts of his body.

“You’ll...pay,” He managed to say.

“No one will believe your side of the story without proof,” I said, and bringing out my claws, I scratched his throat, with my glowing red eyes meeting his, as I took away every power he possessed as a werewolf, and felt renewed with energy.

He collapsed, and I smiled at Garrett, satisfied at a job well done. Garrett's phone beeped immediately after that, and he took it out of his pocket to check what the notification was for.

I could sense that he was apprehensive.

“What’s wrong? Did someone see us dealing with Sam?” I asked.

“No, even worse. Carrie just texted me that she got a text from Eliana, stating that that was on her way to the airport and would be leaving Los Angeles,” Garrett revealed.

My heart began to race in fear. “No, it can’t be...”

“Listen to me, Alistair. You have to try and stop her from leaving. You must go to the airport and beg her on your knees, because it’s your fault that she’s leaving, and you have to do everything in your power, so she doesn’t go in shame. If not...”

“If not, I’ll never forgive myself,” I said, completing what he had to say.

“Exactly, Alistair. Now, go. Don’t stop on the way. I’ll handle Sam exactly in the manner which we discussed. Just go and get back the love of your life,” Garrett said.

“I owe you one,” I said, running faster than I had ever done before, without bothering to look back.

Instead of carrying out my revenge on Sam, I should have gone to see Eliana first to apologise for the wrong I had done to her and her family. I was just trying to put the blame of what happened on other people, but I knew deep down that everything that had happened was my fault. It was I who was to be blamed because I had believed other people over the only woman I had ever wanted, and I hadn’t even bothered to listen to her own side of the story.

“Eliana, please, wait for me,” I whispered, getting into the car, as I drove speedily, and it didn’t matter if I could get arrested for it.

I just needed another chance to tell Eliana how sorry I was, and to ask her not to leave. If she left now, our bond will forever be broken and whenever I thought of her from now on, I’d always remember the woman who had taught me how to love, and had also given me a reason to never love again, because for as long as I lived, I would never love again.

My heart belonged to her, and if she wasn’t going to have it, I had to say goodbye to love.