CHAPTER 350
Sarah was the first to lash out, her voice sharp and trembling with fury.
“Selby, do you even understand what you’re saying? Are you going to expose everything your father and I have done? Are you willing to turn your back on your parents and destroy our lives, all for a girl like her?”
Her rage boiled over, and tears streamed down her face as she pounded her hand against his chest.
“Do you think this is how you repay us for everything we’ve done for you? For all the love and care we’ve given you over the years? We sacrificed so much to protect and raise you, and this is the thanks we get?”
Brian’s face turned red with anger, his voice low and shaking.
“What kind of hold does that woman have over you, Selby? This is madness!”
Selby stood firm, letting his mother’s blows land on him and enduring his father’s rage without flinching.
His eyes grew bloodshot, and his throat tightened as he spoke, his voice hoarse but unwavering.
“Father, Mother, you’ve always taught me to live with integrity. You made me believe that our family’s greatest value—the legacy you instilled in me—is built on the foundation of honour.”
His gaze dropped for a moment before lifting again, steady and filled with sorrow.
“That’s why I can’t stand by and let you continue down this path.”
His parents froze, their faces a mix of disbelief and fury.
Selby’s heart clenched as memories of his parents’ teachings clashed with the reality of their actions.
They had taken the word honour, a value they so fervently upheld and twisted it into a justification for their crimes.
Everything he had believed in shattered the moment he overheard the truth.
For his sake, they imprisoned Renee, lied to him, manipulated him, and even attempted to take her life. The people he once admired now felt like strangers—dangerous, ruthless strangers who left him questioning everything he thought he knew.
“And…”
Selby inhaled deeply, his voice heavy with emotion.
“It was me. I was the one who fell in love with Renee first. I was the one who pursued her because I believed I could make her happy. She kept her distance at first, always mindful of her position as my student. But I didn’t give up. I was relentless, and eventually, she gave in and allowed herself to care for me.”
He paused, his jaw tightening.
“Yet, you both blamed her entirely. You painted her as the one who seduced me as if she led me astray. No matter how much I tried to explain, you refused to listen. And still, after everything, you did such… heartless things to her. Even after I broke up with her to appease you, even after I promised never to see her again, it wasn’t enough for you. Why? Why did you have to go so far and ruin her life like that?”
His chest tightened as the weight of his parents’ actions pressed down on him.
If Arianna hadn’t brought Renee back to him, he might have lived the rest of his life oblivious to the torment Renee endured.
The woman he had loved with all his heart had been turned into a shell of her former self, forced to endure unspeakable suffering.
“You… You shouldn’t have done this to the woman I love,” Selby said, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face.
“That’s why I can’t stay silent. I have to ensure justice is served… for Renee’s sake.”
He needed to pay for the pain he caused her, the suffering she endured, the years she lost, and the youth stolen from her.
Selby’s parents were left speechless, their faces pale as his words struck them like a blow. The weight of his conviction caused them to stagger back, collapsing onto the sofa as if all their strength and resolve had drained away.
Renee’s tears flowed freely now. Her hand trembled as she covered her mouth, overwhelmed by emotion. Despite everything, Selby had proven that his love for her had never wavered. She hadn’t placed her trust or her heart in the wrong person.
Unable to hold back, Renee stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Selby, resting her tear-streaked face against his back. Her emotions poured out in silent sobs, each one a mixture of pain and relief.
Xander approached Arianna, his steps slow and deliberate as he found her standing still, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.
Tears traced silent paths down her cheeks, her expression caught between relief and happiness.
He stopped in front of her, his gaze softening as he took in her tear-streaked face.
Gently, he reached up, brushing a strand of hair back from her face before his fingers moved to tenderly wipe away her tears.
His touch was light and careful, as though he were afraid of breaking the fragile moment between them.
“You did it,” he said softly, his voice steady and full of quiet warmth. “You gave them the happy ending they deserved.”
Xander let his hand linger for a moment, his thumb lightly grazing her cheek as he offered her a small, reassuring smile—one meant only for her.
Then, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close against him. His hand cradled the back of her head as he placed a gentle kiss on her temple.
“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered, his words soothing her frayed nerves.
Arianna melted into his embrace, finding comfort in the steady beat of his heart. In that instant, the burdens they had faced seemed to lift, replaced by the quiet strength and love he provided.
...
In a stylish apartment hotel, the digital clock on the wall glowed: 11:55 PM. Just five minutes stood between now and midnight.
Harmony carefully uncorked a bottle of aged red wine, her expression smug and satisfied as she prepared to celebrate what she believed to be her inevitable victory. The pieces had fallen perfectly into place, and soon Arianna’s last shred of hope would be extinguished.
She poured the deep crimson liquid into a glass, watching it swirl elegantly before carrying it over to the counter. Lifting the glass toward her lips, she relished the taste of success—until her phone buzzed suddenly with an incoming notification.
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