Raphael POV
I was downstairs in Creaty's office within ten minutes, but Araceli never came down, so I had to go to the office to find her.
I was about to knock on the door when I heard her on the phone with someone, so I stood at the door and waited for her.
After a while, I heard her say that Krish had gone for a paternity test and that I was his father.
I froze completely.
There was no way Araceli could have known I was at the door and she spoke in a somber and despondent tone.
There was no way she was lying.
That meant Araceli was Essel and Micah's real mother.
It also meant that Melany had been lying to me...
I clenched my fists, veins rippling in my hands, and quickly descended the stairs and drove as fast as I could towards Eclipse.
The car quickly pulled up in front of Eclipse's villa.
I violently pushed open the car door, got out, and approached the door with large strides.
The servants immediately greeted me respectfully when they saw it was me.
I frowned, internally annoyed, and ignored them.
Melany came running out of the villa before I could knock on the door.
"Raphael? Why are you here? Are you here to see me?"
I gave her a look with a somber look in my eyes. It seemed to startle her.
I walked coldly towards the villa, my voice cold and penetrating.
"Everyone, get out immediately!"
The servants in the living room were so scared that they hurriedly and quickly left the house.
Melany's face turned pale with fright.
She squeezed out a smile, "Raphael, you scared me... What happened?"
I sneer and turn around, my eyes landing on Melany's face. She had been wearing exquisite makeup, living such a luxurious life, and lying to me for five whole years.
"Melany, I know all about it. I can't believe you lied to me for five years."
Melany took two steps back in shock and had to hold onto the couch to keep from falling.
She took a deep breath and seemed to be using all her strength to push the panic down.
"Raphael, what are you talking about? I never lied to you..."
I raised my hand and choked her as hard as I could. Her eyes widened in fear and she struggled frantically.
I'd never been one to tolerate others. Those who had offended me have never been easily spared by me.
I coldly squeezed Melany's throat and said, word for word, "You're not Essel and Micah's mother, are you?"
Melany's braced spirit crumbled instantly at that moment.
I showed no mercy because I would never allow someone to lie to me about my children for five whole years.
"Raphael, you're mistaken! That's not what happened..."
Melany struggled desperately, shaking her head. "You let go! This hurts! I'm suffocating! You have to let go before I can tell you what happened five years ago..."
Gritting my teeth and holding back the rage inside me, I threw Melany onto the couch with one hand.
Melany coughed madly.
As I looked at her appearance, I suddenly remembered that five years ago, this woman appeared in front of me holding two children with a paternity test report.
I then believed her, thinking she was the children's mother. After that, I tolerated the presence of such a woman in my life whom I didn't love at all and wasn't interested in.
That night, I felt that woman was my Luna. She should be my destined mate.
In all these years, I never felt a bit of that familiarity when Melany approached me.
I thought I was wrong at first, but it wasn't until I met Araceli and Valeria.
I was surprised to feel that feeling in them again...
I looked back at Melany lying on the couch.
The coldness inside me slowly spread all over my body.
This was all a lie after all...
"Raphael, I beg you believe me! I'm really their mom..."
Melany braced herself for a breath of sophistry.
"Raphael, I had a paternity test done! I'm Essel and Micah's mom..." Melany gasped and said, "Can't you see what I've done for my children over the years? How can you deny what I've done?"
She was still telling lies to deceive me.
Five years ago, from the moment I heard those words from her, I recognized her as the mother of my children.
Even if I didn't feel any connection from her, I was beyond convinced.
When I first met Melany back then, I thought she looked familiar, like someone I'd loved for a long time, so I believed she wouldn't lie to me.
Essel and Micah were slowly growing up and were very attached to me. I was sure they were my children.
It wasn't until I met Valeria and Krish that I realized how powerful the blood tie was.
Valeria was like a ray of sunshine shining into my heart.
The first time she hugged me, the first time she called me 'Daddy', the first time she kissed me on the cheek...
These images kept flashing through my mind.
Araceli was the woman of that night, my Luna, my destined mate.
She was the mother of Micah and Essel.
I was supposed to have four children...
Valeria and Krish were my children too...
I missed five whole years with Araceli, Valeria and Krish because of Melany's setup.
All because of Melany!
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, and the murderous intent surfaced within me.
I walked over and choked Melany again.
My fingers tightened a little.
Melany opened her mouth wide and breathed in air greedily.
"Help..."
Melany lay on the sofa and raised her hand to push the table lamp in her hand to the floor.
The servants outside, however, didn't even dare come in.
There would simply be no one in the large villa to save her.
Watching her face turn a little bit paler and her breathing a little bit weaker, the faces of Araceli and the children suddenly flashed through my mind.
I let out a small, deep breath and gave her a disgusted look, letting go of my hand.
I stood up and said to her, "I'm going to give you one last chance."
Melany pressed her neck and gasped.
She should have truly experienced death just now, because I did really want to kill her immediately.
If she continued to lie, I wouldn't hesitate to kill her.
Melany said shakily and hoarsely, "Raphael..."
I gave her a cold look.
"Five years ago, Araceli gave birth to two dead babies..."
Melany fell to her knees, tears pouring down her face. Her voice was choked and hoarse, and her whole body shook as if she were a feather.
"That night, Eclipse was burned by a fire. Everyone thought Araceli was dead."
I frowned, listening to her.
With a sob, she continued, "When I went to rescue her I found the two dead babies still breathing. If Araceli had been burned to death, the two children had lost their real mother. They will surely have a hard time living in the future. I'm Araceli's sister, so I just decided to bring them to Royal Pack to find you. What did I do wrong? "
She was getting more and more agitated.
"Raphael, tell me, what did I do wrong? Was I never supposed to save your two children in the first place? If I hadn't saved them, they'd be dead already!!!"
She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and continued, "That's why I faked the paternity report to come to you. I wanted to be the mother of two children and protect them instead of Araceli... I did it all for their sake! I've given so much to both children! I was at fault, but without me, they would have died! I saved their lives!"
Melany covered her face and bawled.
I looked at her with my eyes full of ice and a cold face.
How could I not know that she had wanted to use her two children to marry into Royal Pack and marry me from the very beginning?
Melany had told me the truth, but she was still weaseling her way out of it.
I needed to think about how to make her pay.