Chapter 12 The Brutal Truth
Chapter 12 The Brutal Truth
Lonnie heard the threat loud and clear.
+5 Free Coins
He had told Hunter there might not be a full payout of 10 million, but if he didn’t come clean now, he knew his wife and child would suffer for his cowardice.
In the city of Verton, Hunter was a man who could bend the world to his will. There was nothing he wouldn’t do nothing he couldn’t.
Lonnie cursed himself for not messaging Celine to check if Hunter was with her before he made the call.
But it was too late to regret it.
He exhaled shakily, his voice trembling. “M–Mr. Gedge, it was Celine. She never lost her memory. Two years ago, she paid me a large sum to pose as a doctor and lie to you–make you believe she had amnesia so you’d pity her.
“She orchestrated everything. That stunt at the hospital, seeing Ms. Archer break down–that was all to trigger her supposed memories and manipulate your feelings. She wanted you to hate Ms. Archer and punish her to satisfy her twisted desires.
“It was all Celine’s plan. I was just following orders–paid to play my part. This whole farce has nothing to do with me. Please, Mr. Gedge, you’re a man of reason. Don’t take it out on me.”
As Lonnie spilled every secret, Celine closed her eyes in despair.
Hunter’s face darkened with every word, the fury in his expression deepening until it was as black as ink.
He clenched his jaw, suppressing his rage. “And what about the 3 million? And the 5 million you demand Celine pay up? Did any of that have to do with Dana?”
“N–no! Absolutely not!” Lonnie stammered. “Celine said she was bringing you to the hospital today, and I should tell you her memory had fully returned.
“She told me it was our last deal. Once it was done, she’d give me one million as hush money so I could take my wife and kid and leave Verton for good.
“We agreed on one million a long time ago, but I felt one million wasn’t enough to start over, so I asked for 3 million yesterday. She didn’t respond. Then this morning, she finally agreed. But I figured a secret that big should be worth more. I told her I wanted 5
million.
“I swear, Mr. Gedge, I never touched Dana. I only called to squeeze more money from Celine!”
Hunter let out a cold laugh. “You know, when you take someone’s money, the rule is simple: take it and disappear. But you? You kept raising the price, threatening her. Do you think you’re some kind of saint?
“If it weren’t for your greed, I might never have found out the truth. You could’ve walked away and started fresh with your family. But you got greedy,”
Lonnie sobbed, “I know, I know! I was wrong. Please, I beg you. Please spare me! It was all Celine’s idea!”
“I’m aware,” Hunter replied coolly. “But that doesn’t make you innocent. Ever seen a murder accomplice get to walk free?”
With that, Hunter hung up.
1/4
2:57 pm G ppp.
Chapter 12 The Brutal Truth
45 Free Coins
He took screenshots of Lonnie’s messages with Celine and sent them to his secretary, instructing her to draft a lawsuit–under Celine’s name–accusing Lonnie of blackmail and extortion.
That done, he turned his attention to Celine.
Hunter crouched down in front of her, his gaze sharp and cold. Celine felt a chill run down her spine under his stare.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and steady. “You’re bold, Celine. Faking amnesia, using me as a weapon to torment Dana–just to satisfy your twisted desire?
“You think I’m some fool you can play like a puppet?”
He grabbed her chin, his thumb brushing her jaw with unsettling calm.
Celine could no longer talk her way out of this.
She knew Hunter well–his calm voice only meant the storm was coming.
She whispered, “I’m sorry, Hunter. I didn’t mean to lie to you, I just-”
“Just what? Loved me too much?” He cut in, mocking her.
“Yes,” she cried. “That’s exactly it. I did it because I love you!
“I just wanted Dana to see that you didn’t care about her anymore so she’d give up. But she didn’t leave. She stayed for three years!”
Hunter snapped. “Ridiculous! Love isn’t lies and manipulation. Since when does love mean using people, manipulating them, and breaking them down? Just because you love me, I’m supposed to forgive everything you’ve done? Be grateful even?”
Celine shook her head desperately, tears falling. “No, that’s not what I meant, Hunter.”
“Then what did you mean? I thought you were kind.” His voice turned bitter.
“But I was wrong. You’re cruel, a hypocrite even. Who knows what else you’ve done behind my back?”
Hunter’s words cut into Celine like blades across her chest.
Once upon a time, she wouldn’t even harm an ant. She had been that kind of girl–sweet, innocent, the kind who wore sunshine like a second skin.
She was cheerful, generous, always smiling, the kind of presence people gravitated toward.
When did she change?
It started when she lowered her pride and pursued Hunter, only to be turned down time and time again.
When she refused to give up, people laughed behind her back, calling her pathetic and saying she didn’t know her place.
She had done so much. Given so much. Yet in Hunter’s eyes, there was only Dana.
Celine couldn’t understand it. She was talented, beautiful, and driven. Why was she never enough? Why couldn’t she measure up to half of what Dana was?
2/4
2:58 pm
Chapter 12 The Brutal Truth
+5 Free Coins
Her pride took a brutal beating. Jealousy festered until it consumed her, until it twisted her into someone she barely recognized. That was the moment everything changed.
She swore to herself that she would have Hunter and crush Dana under her heel.
So when the chance finally came, when she could step into Dana’s place, she didn’t hesitate. She wanted Hunter to hurt Dana, to punish her, to make her feel small. It would feed the vanity Celine had buried under years of rejection.
And that was how her plan began to take shape.
But what Celine never understood–what she still refused to face–was that Dana was never the one who turned her away. Dana
hadn’t mocked her nor humiliated her.
Every scar Celine bore came from one thing: her refusal to accept the truth. Hunter had a girlfriend. He was never hers to begin
with.
None of this mess had anything to do with Dana, but she became the one who paid the price.
How could anyone admit they were wrong when denial was so much easier?
Celine knew whatever good impression Hunter once had of her had shattered beyond repair. So she dropped the act completely. She laughed bitterly. “So tell me, how do you think I ended up like this? You never gave me any real sense of security.
“I loved you more than anything. But what about you? Did you ever truly love me? You said you did. You said we’d get married. But your heart? It’s always belonged to Dana. You’re with me because I saved your life. That’s it, isn’t it? A debt.
“I knew that as long as Dana was in the picture, what we had would never be real. I just wanted her gone so we could be together. Is that such a crime?!” D
Her voice rose higher, cracking as it turned into a shout.
Hunter stared at her, shocked by how unhinged she had become. And then, without warning, he slapped her–hard.
“You’re insane,” he growled through clenched teeth. “Truly, utterly insane. I hate that I didn’t see it sooner. I hate that Dana had to suffer because I was blind.
“Celine, hear me now–if anything happens to Dana, I swear, I’ll make you pay.”
The blow sent her sprawling to the floor, her cheek blazing red, blood trickling from the corner of her lip.
She wiped it away with the back of her hand and sneered. “Don’t forget, Hunter. Every lie, every insult, every moment of pain Dana endured–didn’t all of that come from you?
“And yesterday, on that island, wasn’t it you who sent her there? What did these events have to do with me?”
Hunter barked, “Don’t twist it! You told me to take her there–it was your idea! How is that not your fault?”
Celine let out a cruel, bitter laugh. “Sure, I said it. But you didn’t have to do it. What happened to the great Mr. Gedge? When did you start taking orders from a girl like me?
“You were the one who took her there. You made that choice. So if Dana dies out there, the first person you should blame is yourself.”
3/4
2:58 pm GP pp.
Chapter 12 The Brutal Truth
Her words revealed a raw, bleeding truth, leaving Hunter seething with rage, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
Celine tilted her chin and challenged him. “What? Are you going to kill me now?”
+5 Free Coins
Hunter’s jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might snap. “You saved my life once. That’s the only reason I’m not ending your life here and now. But don’t push me, Celine. If something happens to Dana–if she’s gone–I’ll make sure you wish you were dead.”
Just then, Hunter’s phone rang. It was Adrian.
“Boss!” came Adrian’s breathless voice. “Good news. We cut open every single wolf. Not a trace–no human remains in any of
them!”
4/4
