Chapter 166 - The Root Cause

After the commotion in the living room, the two policemen were able to bring Evelyn with them to the police precinct. Natasha and Enrique followed them as they contacted a lawyer for their mother.

Natasha still couldn't believe that her father slapped her because of the bad things she said about Marceline. She was very upset with her father and at the same time, very furious at Marceline.

Natasha felt like Marceline succeeded in destroying their family. She witnessed how mad his father was at her mother. She didn't know what happened upstairs, making her father hate her mother so much.

'Is it really true that Mom hired and ordered our family guards to assassinate Marceline? Did she poison grandpa?' Natasha asked herself inwardly as she and Enrique were following the police car.

She kept asking her brother but Enrique remained tight-lipped. He was also confused and puzzled about the latest happenings in their family.

On the other hand, Ronan left the mansion after Evelyn was taken by the police. He was still fuming with rage and his heart was filled with regrets.

He dropped by the cemetery, visiting the grave of his brother and sister-in-law. His mind was in shambles and he had mixed emotions upon seeing their graves. The realization of his wrong-doings struck him too much.

Ronan kneeled in from of the graves, punching the ground using his bare fists. He was shedding tears as he continued apologizing to them.

"Brother… please forgive me… I let my greed and insecurity cloud my judgment. I was fooled by the woman whom I thought was the only person who understood me and cared for me. I… I killed you… and my sister-in-law. I took away the chance for Marceline to have a complete family."

It was now too late. Even if he regretted what he did and apologized to them, he couldn't bring them back to life. They were gone and it was all his fault!

Meanwhile, in the Zhou Family Villa, Marceline and Kira were still there, talking to each other.

"Ki, what happened there? What did you see in Evelyn's memory?" Marceline asked Kira with so much interest in her eyes.

"My Lady, there is something you have to know about Evelyn and your Uncle. It's not entirely your Uncle's fault. What happened eighteen years ago was the result of Evelyn's scheme."

Marceline was taken aback when she heard that. She didn't expect that Evelyn was the root cause of everything. She only blamed her Uncle for that incident eighteen years ago.

Who would have thought that her Uncle was also a victim? He was deceived and used by his own wife. But he was not innocent at all. His greed brought this upon himself.

"Evelyn has a connection with Cedric's advisor and the werewolf clan, the White Claw Pack in particular. Evelyn intentionally approached him to infiltrate the Zhou Family because the Zhou Family was the only gatekeeper who remained neutral. They didn't side with the werewolf clan, instead they helped vampires in escaping from the werewolves' cruelty."

"Evelyn became part of the Zhou Family for the werewolf clan. With her schemes, she managed to create a dispute between your father and your uncle. When your parents died, the werewolf clan gained control over the Zhou Family. They are now controlling the four portals going to the Kingdom of Phantasia." Kira's eyes gleamed with coldness. The werewolves were very cunning. They would do anything just to gain power.

Marceline didn't know what to think anymore. She also saw how the vampires became brutal towards the hybrid boy. But their anger and hatred were caused by the werewolves who made them suffer for thousands of years.

"What are you going to do now… with your Uncle? Will you forgive him and gave him another chance to redeem himself?" Kira asked her when Marceline remained quiet.

"I don't know. I can't forgive him… for now. He was part of the scheme wherein my parents died. He didn't do something when they died. He turned a blind eye to everything." Marceline expressed her thoughts with Kira.

"But Evelyn… she has to pay for her crime. She poisoned Grandpa! And he is dying. I… I want her to pay for her crime with her life!" Marceline gritted her teeth while clenching her fists.

"Can we look for an antidote? Ki, let's ask her!" Marceline suggested with a hopeful look in her emerald eyes.

But Kira could only shake his head. "I'm sorry, my Lady. But no antidote can heal Grandpa Roland. He has been drinking the poison for a long time. His life essence is already drained and absorbed by the black flower poison."

Marceline staggered with her footings upon hearing that. She thought they could still save him using an antidote. But now, she felt so hopeless.

"No… I can't lose him… He is the only family I have left… the only one who truly cares about me." Marceline could no longer hold her tears. She was so sad because of her grandfather's condition.

"I'm still here… and Aunt Brianna. We both care for you." Kira softly said, consoling her. He moved closer to her, stroking her hair to comfort her.

"Ki… can you turn him into a vampire? Do you think Grandpa will live if he becomes a vampire?"

Kira fell silent upon hearing that. Complicated emotions flashed in his eyes.

"Marceline… there are pros and cons if I will turn him to become a vampire. Yes, he can live… but there is a great consequence for this."

"He might become a killer vampire. An ordinary human can become a monster once they turn into a vampire. Unlike us, they can't control their bloodthirst and hunger. They might hurt other humans and kill them."

"Others can't regain their sane mind! Do you want your grandfather to be like that? He would no longer be the same grandpa that you know. He might not recognize you. He might lose his memories. His judgment will be influenced by the craving for blood. He will suck blood for survival and to satiate his hunger."

"If he became uncontrollable and hurt innocent people, will you be able to hurt him just to stop him? Can you bear this consequence, Marceline?"

Kira's question made Marceline's heart become heavy. Of course, she didn't want her grandfather to be a bloodsucker monster. If he would lose his mind, then it was like he also lost his soul.

Keeping him alive would not be worth it. She knew that Grandpa Roland wouldn't want that to happen. 

Now Marceline was put in a dilemma. She didn't want him to die but turning him into a vampire was not a good option as well. 

Marceline could only hug Kira tightly. She needed a warm embrace at this moment. Kira didn't fail her as he engulfed her with his strong arms.

They just stayed like that for several minutes, just hugging each other.

"Do you want to go home first? Then after that, we will go back to the hospital to see your grandpa." 

Marceline just nodded her head. She was too tired both mentally and physically. She finally found the answer she had been seeking for the past eighteen years. But she still felt empty as if something was still missing.

Then Stella popped up in her mind. She didn't know what to do with her wolf. She hadn't accepted her yet. She still wanted to find a cure, getting rid of her wolf. She just wished to be an ordinary human being again.

Now that she found out the truth behind her parents' deaths, Marceline felt like she was one step closer to her revenge. But she was questioning herself if she still needed Stella's power. 

She just had to see Evelyn suffer then she would be fine. But putting her in prison was not enough. As for the werewolves who were involved with the tragic incident eighteen years ago, they also had to pay for their crime.

Marceline and Kira were about to leave the Zhou Family Villa when Marceline received an emergency call coming from the Golden City District Hospital.

"Miss Zhou, something happened to your grandpa! You have to come here asap!" The assigned nurse to his grandpa was the one who called Marceline, informing her about Grandpa Roland's urgent situation.

Marceline and Kira didn't waste their time as they rushed to the hospital.

*****

[ Golden City Police Precinct… ]

The police officers were now interrogating Evelyn, gathering her statement in front of her lawyer.

Natasha and Enrique were also waiting outside the interrogation room. While waiting, Enrique also received an emergency call from the hospital.

"Natasha, I have to go back to the hospital. Grandpa's condition doesn't look good. Stay here with Mom." After saying that, Enrique left in a hurry.

That was also the time the two police officers came out of the interrogation room. Evelyn's lawyer asked Natasha to come inside as Evelyn have something important to say to her daughter. 

When Natasha entered the room, the lawyer left to give the mother and daughter duo some privacy.

"Mom, are you okay?" Natasha immediately embraced her mother.

Evelyn just hugged her back and said, " Natasha, listen to me carefully. I need you to do something for me."

"What is it, Mom? Just tell me."

"Go to Triple W headquarters and look for Vladimir Chua. Tell him about my situation. He is the only one who can help me."

Natasha nodded her head frantically.. "I understand, Mom! Don't worry. I will do anything just to get you out of here!"