Chapter 73|Face-off.

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**Arabella's P O V.

The first thing that came to my mind when I regained consciousness was if I was dead and had gone straight to hell. I shivered all the way to my toes in fear, the feeling escalated when the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears.

My blood ran cold and my whole breath got struck in my throat. I let my eyes shut close instinctively when the person approaching drew closer.

My jaw slacked off and my body tensed at the sight of my grandfather striding in with a cane in his hand. I knew better than to think the cane was what it seemed like. It was obviously a weapon to be wielded at his disposal. Probably one with a very sharp edge glistening in silver.

I assumed a very stern expression, pulled a straight face and looked him in the eye, the same way he was doing to me.

"You actually thought I would let you mate with that silly excuse you take as a man? A wolf? A nobody like him? Someone who wasn't groomed for the position of leadership, who had no idea what responsibility meant, someone who gives no shite about anyone but himself?" He scoffed, "Think again Arabella. I'd rather have you dead than be with the likes of him."

"Your own granddaughter? You killed the man guarding me for what reason?" I asked, my voice sounding cold to my own ears.

"Would you have let me see you if I had used a different approach? Would you have agreed to meet with the only man who truly loves you even if it was for the last time? You wouldn't have and I'm aware Arabella. I'm aware because you stink of those imbeciles you hope and wish to impress, the same people who took away your happiness are the ones you follow about like a puppy sniffing at their skirts. It's so pathetic, you disgust me to no end." He spat.

I let his words sink into my head and weighed the possible consequences of what I had to say, they were words that'll undoubtedly vex him but at the moment I'm not sure if there's a way out for me, a way out that'll result in me leaving this darkened room unscathed.

It's hardly. The expression on his face says it all.

He would have to hear me out too if this is truly going to be the last time I speak with him, even if he's going to be the reason for it.

"You speak about love when you know nothing about it." I snarled, my nostrils flaring.

He scoffed, "You do not know what your grandmother and I shared, you wouldn't have had the guts to say this to me."

With a swift roll of my eyes I replied his bullshit, "Oh I know, I know how much you loved your mate and she you but do you really know what what you shared is? It's called the toxic love, it's toxic because you both are toxic. So full of hate and nothing else!"

"You dare to speak ill of your grandmother?" He growled.

"See? You're so gone with your idea of love that you're letting it kill you slowly. It's poisonous, I loathe the idea of thinking of her as mine but she was poisonous. Your mate, the same woman who was my grandmother was poisonous, malicious." I snarled feeling like a venom had been bitten out of my flesh. I felt free saying those words out loud.

But not for three more seconds because Martin covered the distance between us in the blink of an eye, wrapped his hands around my neck cutting out my air supply as he squeezed hard.

I probably looked hopeless with my eyes engorged and my mouth wide open but I couldn't let myself plea for my life. I was going to die anyways. No time would be early nor could any be late.

"You traitor, you bitch, you worthless piece of shit. I regret the day your mother conceived you." He spat right into my face.

I gulped and heaved as he loosened the hold he had on my neck, "I regret that day too as well as everything else you made me do. I regret not dying when my mother did, I regret believing in you but you know what I regret most? I regret having hope that you would one day be proud of the woman I have become, the vile creature, one you created yourself but another person got that medal from you and made my eyes clear from the fog they were so used to seeing. Leah's intrusion actually is a favor to me, I didn't realize it until then, everything came out in the open and believe me I am glad she took the position I had with you and fitted herself to your side. I'm glad she gave me the ability to look at things from another angle because she made me realize and understand how big a fraud you are. You are nothing but a man walking in the shadows from fear. I know your reason for killing Stephano De Luca and for Christopher Knight's attempted murder, it's because you were scared, you were afraid they'll help you overcome what you went through after your mate's betrayal. You were so gone with hatred, envy and jealousy, self-loathing that you couldn't be a man of your own, you had to learn to hide in the shadows. It doesn't make you infamous or anonymous, it makes you appear the weak villain. A very weak one." A slap to my face had my face turning to the side. I felt the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and knew his rings were manipulated before the slap came through.

The truth always hurts and I do not regret spewing them as I did.

In fact, I deserve that slap.

"I'm killing you Arabella. Such a waste of something potential, I renounce your existence as one of us, you're no more a part of my family. You're nothing but a worthless rogue." He grunted.