Chapter 137 - Harsh Truth

Grandpa Roland had mixed emotions when Marceline said those words. After so many years of trying to find the truth about her parents' death, Marceline finally found the real culprit. But how? How did she learn about it?

Grandpa Roland also wanted to know who exactly murdered Marceline's parents. He held her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes.

"Tell me… who is it? How did you know?" Grandpa Roland asked Marceline.

Ronan's brows furrowed. He had a bad feeling about this. His father was willing to listen and believe his niece.

'Does Marceline have proof? If she does, this will be a great problem.' Ronan was worried that Grandpa Roland would never forgive him and their relationship with Cedric Morgan would be ruined.

His father had been quiet for so long. He thought he already accepted his elder son's fate. Ronan thought Grandpa Roland already moved on.

But unknown to him, just like Marceline, Grandpa Roland never forgot what happened eighteen years ago. Both of them wanted to seek justice for her parents.

Now that Marceline was aware of the existence of supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, and witches, there was a big possibility that she discovered something about the tragic incident eighteen years ago.

"He is very close to us," Marceline said meaningfully, tossing a glance at Ronan.

Ronan's heart pounded rapidly. He felt that his entire body was now covered with sweat. He clenched his fists, waiting for Marceline to tell something.

He tried to maintain his composure so that he would not look guilty in front of Grandpa Roland. Whatever information Marceline would reveal tonight, he just had to deny everything because he believed Marceline didn't have any evidence against him.

"Who is he?" Grandpa Roland could no longer wait to hear the person's name.

"It's Cedric Morgan! He is the murderer, along with the other beasts! The werewolf clan did this to our family," Marceline declared to them, not hiding the truth that she already knew the existence of werewolves and other creatures.

There was a moment of silence as Ronan and Grandpa Roland just looked at Marceline with different expressions on their faces. 

Grandpa Roland's face darkened, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. If Cedric was the one who killed his son and daughter-in-law, then he had to break their connection with Triple W as soon as possible.

'I have to ask Raizel's help. I know he loathes the Triple W as much as I hate Cedric Morgan. But how did Marceline know all of this?'

Meanwhile, Ronan was utterly astounded when Marceline mentioned Cedric Morgan and the werewolf clan. She was not supposed to know about the existence of werewolves. She was not yet a gatekeeper! 

"Cedric Morgan is the werewolf who bit me eighteen years ago. He and his men killed my parents. And someone helped him… that someone is also here." Marceline pointed her finger at Ronan.

"Grandpa, Uncle betrayed us… he betrayed my father… his own brother… just because of the Zhou Empire. No, I'm wrong. The truth is... this happened because of his greed! He wanted to have the Zhou Empire for himself so he colluded with the werewolves!"

"That's nonsense! Dad, don't tell me you will believe her just because she's your favorite granddaughter. But how about me? I'm your son too!" Ronan tried to look pitiful. Then he turned to Marceline with his angry eyes. "Do you have proof of your claim? You are slandering me in front of my father!"

"Please show respect, Marceline. I am your Uncle, an elder from Zhou Family! Stop accusing me of something I didn't do!" He added through his gritted teeth.

"What is the meaning of this, Marceline? Why are you involving your Uncle with what happened eighteen years ago." Grandpa Roland asked her in puzzlement. He couldn't believe this.

For the first time, Grandpa Roland was torn between Marceline and Ronan. He trusted Marceline but he refused to believe that Ronan had something to do with his brother's death.

He knew Marceline was not the kind of person who would make up some lie. But at the same time, he couldn't believe that Ronan would hurt his elder brother. Grandpa Roland had witnessed the brotherhood and closeness of the two brothers so he somehow believed that Ronan would never betray his brother. Was there a  misunderstanding about this issue?

"Grandpa, I have proof. The reason the werewolves were able to hurt my parents is that… someone stole their Ametiz Protection Stone from them. It was him! He swapped the real ones with fake stones."

This time Ronan and Grandpa Roland were both astounded as Marceline mentioned the Ametiz Protection Stone. 

'Why? How did she learn about  this information that only a gatekeeper was supposed to know?' Ronan felt like he was solving a mystery puzzle just thinking about this. 'She already knew lots of things about those creatures! Who is helping her? Who is the source of her information? Is it Kira?'

Now it made sense why his wife warned him about Kira. He didn't seem like he was just an ordinary bodyguard. There was a secret behind his real identity.

"What proof are you talking about? Show it!" Ronan challenged Marceline. "If you can't, then I have to punish you for slandering me and making up stories!"

"Grandpa, there is only one proof. If you find my parents' Ametiz Protection Stones here, it only means my Uncle truly took and stole the stone from them, leading them to their deaths."

Ronan just sneered at her, rejoicing. He was confident that they wouldn't find anything there as he had already thrown away the Ametiz Protection Stones of Marceline's parents.

"Go ahead, search my room!" He urged them as he feigned innocence.

Marceline smiled inwardly. "Alright. Then allow us to open some of your vaults."

"Sure, go on! Suit yourself." 

Grandpa Roland and Marceline exchanged glances with one another. The old man already felt anxious and nervous. How would he react once he found out the truth? 

Deep down in his heart, Grandpa Roland was hoping that his second son had nothing to do with the tragic incident eighteen years ago.

They continued to search the room. Grandpa Roland was familiar with the design and appearance of the Ametiz Protection Stone so he could tell and recognize the stones right away if ever the stones would be spotted there in the villa.

Several minutes had passed when Grandpa Roland saw something inside one of the vaults of Ronan. His eyes widened and his fingers were trembling as he reached out to pick the protection stones.

"These are their protection stones. Why do you have this here??!" 

Ronan frowned when he heard his father's authoritative voice. "What stones?! There is no way I have their stones! Remember that their stones are being kept inside their graves. This is just a set-up! That's not–" he was not able to finish his words as a hand hit his face. Grandpa Roland slapped Ronan's face.

*Pak!*

"How could you do this to your own brother! Now it made sense as to why my son and daughter-in-law were killed despite the fact the Ametiz Stones were in their possession. You swapped them! Why did you do that?"

*Pak! Pak!*

Grandpa Roland slapped Ronan thrice. It was a hard slap!

"Dad! This is not what you think! Marceline is trying to ruin me. I don't know why she is doing this to me. Don't trust her! She's lying!"

Grandpa Roland tugged his collar, shaking him. The rage could be seen in his eyes.

"A set-up? You are the only one who has access to your vaults. Do you think I could just open your vault just to put falsified evidence inside?" Marceline let out a humorless laughter, giving Ronan a ridiculing look.

"Besides, this is my first time coming here in your study room. How would I know where you keep your vaults? Stop denying anymore. This is the evidence!"

Ronan clenched his fists tightly. He didn't expect this turn of events. He knew that the stones in Grandpa Roland's hands were just fake. He already got rid of the Ametiz Protection Stones!

"This is a frame-up! Dad, those stones are fake. I could tell! Please believe me. Why can't you do it even for once?!" Ronan said desperately, feeling so helpless.

"Why do you always make me feel inferior and insecure?! Am I really your son? Why do I feel like you only have one child… and that's my brother. You've never trusted me! You never acknowledge my hard work and efforts! I am nothing to you!" Since Ronan had been cornered using these fake stones, he couldn't help but express his inner thoughts and feelings.

"Do… Do you always feel like that? Is that the reason you decided to scheme against your own brother which led to his death?" Grandpa Roland's heart constricted as if it was being squeezed right now. He felt suffocated.

Before Ronan could answer him, Grandpa Roland suddenly collapsed and fainted from too much shock! His heart couldn't handle this truth.

"Dad!" Ronan moved quickly to catch his father.

"Grandpa!" Marceline screamed in fear. She didn't expect that he would collapse after knowing the truth.

"Marceline! This is your fault! My Dad has a weak heart! Are you trying to kill him now that he appointed you to be the new Chairman of the Zhou Empire?" Ronan started to blame Marceline but she just ignored him. The priority right now was to make sure that Grandpa Roland would be fine. 

It did not take long when Kira and Evelyn came running inside the room when they heard that Grandpa Roland collapsed!

"Kira, carry Grandpa! Let's bring him to the hospital Now!"