Chapter 168
Juno’s POV
Today was the worst day of my life,” I read. “When I expressed to Nathanael my desire for a child, he cruelly refused me. His exact words were that he already had ‘one bastard and couldn’t have another. The pain is unbearable. I’ve given him everything, and I thought bearing his child would be the ultimate gift of my love. But he doesn’t want that connection with me.*
I paused, looking up at the others. “This isn’t very helpful, but gives insight Into Nathanael’s attitude toward Helena.
I flipped through more pages, looking for something more meaningful. Helena seemed to be quite the complainer, which wasn’t surprising considering she spent most of her life alone. Everyone needs an outlet, especially when they have dirty, shameful secrets.
“Nathanael punished me today for seeking a permanent relationship,” I continued reading from another entry. “After he confided his growing dissatisfaction with Amelia, I dared to suggest he make me his Luna instead. He flew into a rage. He subjected me to the ultimate humiliation, sharing me with his friends as though I were nothing but property. His actions made it clear that in his eyes, I’m just a whore. I was stupid to think he would ever love me.”
“I don’t feel sorry for her,” Scarlett said coldly. “Amelia considered her a friend, and look how she repaid that trust.
I nodded and continued reading from another entry: “I’m certain Nathanael is lying to me. I know he loves Amelia, cause he now forbids me from even speaking her name, and I can see it in his eyes. I hate her with every fiber of my being. She doesn’t
deserve his devotion.”
We all laughed at that.
“Can we skip that book?” Augustin asked, his face twisted in disgust. “I don’t need to hear about her obsession with my
father.”
“Let Juno read a few more pages, then we’ll move to the next one,” Bryloch suggested.
I turned to another entry: “That bitch Charlotte. I need to put her in her place. She thinks she can steal Nathanael from me? I need to find a way to get close to her. I’m not sure how yet, but I will. I’ll pretend to be her friend, pretend to support her against Amelia. She’s a thief and a threat. She needs to be sent back where she belongs.”
I put down that journal and picked up the second–to–last one, which Helena had started the year Nathanael was about to
begin his pilgrimage.
“Are we bypassing all the earlier journals?” Freya questioned, gesturing toward the untouched volumes.
I nodded. “Unless you want to spend the entire day learning how Helena felt about all of Nathanael’s lovers, we need to move on.” I glanced at Freya. “You can read them in your spare time if you want.” Lplan to.
I searched for relevant entries and found one that caught my attention.
f
“My heart suffered another wound today. Nathanael has never mentioned my son. He acts as if he doesn’t exis even prefers his bastard to my son. His scheme to position Chris as council head is beyond cruel. I must warn Amelia. I’m s she’ll be furious, and she might fight with him. Who knows, Nathanael might snap and get rid of her. If he does, he’ll surely come to me, and I can find a way to get my son back.”
I looked up. “Now we understand why Helena warned Amelia about Nathanael’s decision. And we know she had a son, but
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he wasn’t with her. It seems she wasn’t in her son’s life and poibly didn’t know where he was. It looks like Nathanael took her son away, but I cart say for certain yet.”
Further pages revealed Helena and Amelia’s collaboration to secure the Montalvo intended to manipulate Amelia in this matter, the woman truly was contemptible.
seat for Evanth. Helena had clearly
When I reached for the final journal, I read several passages silently, until I encountered information too shocking to share continue reading aloud.
“What is it?” Scarlett asked, noticing my expression.
I tried to mask my reaction. “Nothing interesting. We should check the documents instead.”
Everyone agreed, and Freya took the first journal while I kept the last one.
Is everything okay? Augustin linked me.
We need to talk privately, I replied.
Is it related to what you found in that journal?
I gave him a subtle nod.
I’ll join you upstairs shortly, he promised.
“I’m not feeling well,” I announced, standing up. “I think I need to use the bathroom. I’ll read this while I’m there.”
I hurried upstairs to our bedroom and sat on the bed, my hands trembling as I read the damning pages.
“I’ve always known Amelia was behind Nathanael and his officers‘ deaths. She’s denied it, but now I have proof. I received a letter from a Fireland spy. Someone sent Kieran a letter claiming the Alpha King was planning to attack and take over Fireland. The letter was pure evil–it detailed the Alpha King’s route, the name he was traveling under, who was with him, where he was staying, and when he planned to attack. The sender fabricated claims about a secret military force accompanying him, providing Kieran with precisely the information needed to execute a successful ambush. Only Amelia would have had so much information
about Nathanael’s movements.
I’ve scanned the letter and emailed it to Amelia, threatening to expose her and let her face the full punishment. Once she’s on trial, I can claim she conspired with her sons to kill their father. That would automatically disqualify Augustin and Evanth from taking over. I will have the last laugh after all.”
My hands were shaking as I read how Helena had been blackmailing Amelia with this letter for five years. Amelia had denied writing the letter, even begging Helena not to hurt her sons‘ reputation with lies. Helena apparently found these entreaties amusing, documenting in detail how she relished tormenting Amelia with the incriminating document.
We needed to confront Amelia directly. She needed to provide Augustin with the complete truth so he could address this situation appropriately.
Augustin walked into the room, and I looked up at him with fear in my eyes.
“Helena was a very mentally unstable woman,” I said.
Augustin frowned, coming to sit beside me on the bed.
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You need to question your mother, I told him. She’d better te you the truth
I explained what I’d found: Helena claimed your mother engineered your father’s assassination. She got hold of a letter someone sent to Kieran and sent your mother a copy. She’d been blackmailing your mother with it for free years.
“Augustin looked stunned, I could only imagine what he was feeling.
Even if Amelia hadn’t done this, the Alpha King’s death was serious matter. I understood now why Amella Had Been in insistent that Augustin avenge his father. If someone had already been held accountable for the crime, Amelia couldn‘ face prosecution for the same offense. If the killer had been dealt with, no one would investigate further.
Although Nathanael might have deserved what happened to him, Kieran had legitimate reason to believe the Alpha King was trespassing. The letter’s author had deliberately misled Kieran into believing an invasion was imminent.
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