A MAZE OF GREED

Edwin's wolf was upset with the day's events more than Edwin himself. He was roaring and howling, craving for her. He was also furious that Ruth misunderstood him. But Edwin, though a werewolf, had been grown up as a human in the human world.

Ruth's every single word was a slap to his ego. He couldn't get a chance to react when she threw insults at his face. At that time not only he but his wolf was also trying to announce his appearance.

It took him a lot of effort to control his beast and not let him out. Only the Moon goddess knew what would have happened if he had failed.

As soon as he came back to his senses, he rushed to his office chamber and Rees followed his trail.

"Speak!" His thunderous voice was enough to let Rees knew what kind of state his master was in.

Rees was hesitant at first, but then knowing there was no way to escape, he informed Edwin about every detail of Ruth that he knew. From her family background to her friendship with Florence, Rees didn't hold back and spilt everything.

"Aaaggghhh!" Edwin punched on his table that rattled with the impact.

Rees cringed inwardly but maintained his composure.

"Why she had to be Florence's friend? You knew about it then why didn't you talk some sense into her?" Edwin gave a murderous glare to Rees.

"I... I didn't know that the neighbour who helped Ruth to pay her rent was the same Florence as this. I got to know about it just before our... misunderstanding."

Nervousness was evident in Rees's voice. He didn't know what was bound to happen.

Edwin kept staring at Rees for some moments then asked, "Is she right? Ruth? Do you think lowly of her because, of her social status and thus don't want the world to know that she is your friend?"

Rees's eyes widened. He knew if he gave a wrong answer then he was done for good. But it was not Edwin's fear but his affection for Ruth that made Rees answer truthfully.

"No, Master. I would never think that way about anyone let alone Ruth. I met her only recently but I have heard enough about her and her life that it feels like I know her for years.

She is a strong-willed woman with high morals and a kind heart. And that is the reason I wanted to be her friend. Growing up as a supernatural in the human world was not easy. My parents had to keep me away from people's eyes for my safety.

And that didn't let me have any friend or any close person to rely upon. And then one day I found my mate, Thea. I thought my world was complete with her.

She dotes on Ruth and listening to Thea's non-stop praises for her friend, somehow I ended up harbouring a soft corner for Ruth. And the day I met her for the first time, I knew that she was the perfect friend that I was looking for all my life.

Hence, there is no way that I want to hide my friendship with her because of her social status. Because irrespective of that I know Ruth is a much better person than most of the high-class nobles."

Rees didn't lie completely but neither he revealed another reason why he desperately tried to be Ruth's friend. Edwin didn't need to know that, not yet!

Edwin was astonished hearing Rees. His wolf was angry to hear his feelings for Ruth but his human side was relieved that she had someone to take care of her.

'How much this little spitfire influence everyone!' Edwin smiled gently remembering her angry face.

Soon he noticed something and asked, "What is that bothering your mind?"

His question caught Rees off guard. He opened his mouth to answer but Edwin showed his palm to him.

"Don't think of lying, Rees. You are too disturbed that you forgot to lock your mindlink."

Rees cursed himself silently but only after making sure that he had locked his mind link.

"Master, it is personal. I don't want to bother you with it."

"Rees, you are my most trusted man after Lester. You only said how difficult it is to grow as a supernatural being in the human world. I have been through the same and now I think I also have someone to rely upon.

Do you trust me?"

Rees looked at Edwin dumbfoundedly and thought how fast his master's mood changes. He nodded his head in affirmation. "Yes, Master! I trust you with my life!"

"Then don't hesitate to tell me."

Without giving another thought, Rees told Edwin about his fight with Thea and how she told him that she didn't want to marry him anymore. He also told Edwin about the reasons behind Thea's outburst and Ruth's suspicion of him.

Edwin sensed how hurt Rees was. 'Is that what happens when we find our mate only to realise that our very existence damages the foundations of our relationship?' Edwin wondered and for some reason, Ruth's face resurfaced in his mind bringing back the painful memories of their fight.

"Hmm... you know what, Rees. The Green family will host two guests tonight."

The smirk on Edwin's face suggested that he had a plan and Rees didn't have any choice other than to agree with his master.

While leaving Edwin's chamber, Rees prayed the Moon Goddess to not bequeaththeir lives with more troubles. But he had no idea that his prayers were bound to go into vain.

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"aaaaggghhh!"

A loud sound of the metal hitting the ground and the glass shattering into thousands of shreds echoed in a room.

"How dare he? How dare he insult me that way? It was humiliating. It was disrespectful! HOW?"

Florence's face was red in anger. Not only her ears but all her insides burned in fury. Her body experienced the shallow waves of shock that made it shook in vibrations.

Her room was devastated. The furniture was thrown upside down. The curtains were torn. The glasses and other utensils were scattered all over the floor. Everything in her home, from her jewellery to her clothes was dispersed in every direction.

She couldn't control her anger, she needed something to cool down her burning insides. But she was helpless. There was no means to calm her down. There was nothing that could satisfy her.

Her mind screamed only one word- revenge!

She wanted to make him pay for every hurtful word that he spat on her face. She wanted to teach him a lesson for underestimating her. She wanted to punish him for every drop of tear that her eyes shaded.

She wanted to take revenge on Edwin O'Dell for rejecting her.

-"Why should I answer a slut like you? Warming my bed for nights doesn't give you any right over me."- He had said.

How could he say that to her?

It was her arms that he sought solace in. It was her body that he adored for hours and hours. It was her company that he asked time and again.

She was once the most beautiful woman in his eyes and now he had called her slut?!

-"You think you deserve my time and attention, Florence?! There are hundreds of women if not thousands at my beck and call. And you think that I will prefer you over them?"-

"It was me whom you chose every time over those hundreds of bitches. It was me who have bore losses by denying my other men. It is only me who deserves to stand by your side, rule by your side. It is ME... ONLY ME!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

It was so loud that an ache started growing in her throat. But the tears... they were nowhere near to stop. Her heart was not only paining it was bleeding blood and that she couldn't handle anymore.

When it became impossible to breathe through her nose her pink and dry lips parted to suck the air inside her body.

Her mind for a moment wandered to Ruth.

-"After this, you still want him? Are you that dense or have you lost all the self respect and morals over the years in your business?"-

Florence scoffed through her tears. That ungrateful woman could never understand what Florence felt, what she wanted in life. Ruth was not capable of understanding any of it.

"But you will realise one day that I was right! I will see where your morals will lead you and where my greed will lead me. Then you will realise that you were wrong and only I was right!"

In the surge of fury, Florence picked up a vase from the ground to throw it at the full-length mirror that was in front of her. The mirror cracked, numerous lines spreading from the central circle in all directions.

Florence's red and puffy eyes with ruined mascara watched at the cracks. Her face hardened more when her brown hazel eyes caught the red finger marks on her neck.

-"You are nothing but a blunter in my eyes! Yes, that's who you are."-

Edwin's words burned her heart as if someone had pierced hot iron rods into it.

Clenching her fists at her sides, Florence promised. "I will show you what this bunter can do to get what she wants and deserves. You will be mine one day and no one... not even the God above can stop me from claiming my right over your body, your soul, your name and your fortune!"

A wicked smile started creeping up on her face. The residents of the apartment building heard sounds of crashes, and Florence's yelling and cursing that made them curious.

But the cold laughter now that fell on their ears sent chills down their spine and they hurriedly retreated from near her door.