My Mate Chose My Best Friend, So His Uncle Claimed Me novel Chapter 9

From Redmund's note, what he meant by same time and same place was meeting him in the old garden at midnight. Our love rendezvous usually happened there for the whole year.

That place became our witness to how deeply I cherished Redmund with all my heart and would do anything to please him. However, there was one thing I couldn't give him, no matter how he coaxed me, which I eventually gave to his uncle, and he had no idea about it.

As I gawked at the starry night sky, arriving a little earlier, my heart was still aching over how I would confront Redmund about what I had seen and heard. I thought that he would never talk to me again, but when he made a move, I had a feeling that this could be the last meeting we would ever have.

My eyes lingered on the surroundings as soon as the cold breeze hit my skin. It felt lonely with the heavy smell of the moss and wilted roses. Some cracked stone benches were standing in the dark, signifying my heart was like this when I caught their betrayal.

My pulse was racing right now when I dove deeper into the old garden, but I didn't expect that Redmund had arrived earlier than I, which I thought I should be more punctual than him. My breath hitched, seeing him leaning against the broken archway like he always did when we met here before.

I clutched the folds of my cloak tighter when I remembered that I would be enthralled to run towards him, which would permit me to hug him. Now, realization hit me. I realized that all the things I wanted us to do needed to be permitted by him, like I couldn't just kiss him on his cheek or lips or even hug him.

There were so many restrictions that I thought that our love was perfect.

When I approached him, my heart faltered as soon as I saw Lilith was there behind him.

She popped out from his back, waving at me. "Hello, Euphie. You've been avoiding me lately. You didn't have to, you know." She fluttered her eyelids and took a step forward.

I distanced myself, not expecting her. "W-Why are you here?" I asked, and it sounded betrayed.

I wanted to speak with Redmund alone, to confront him, but why was she here? They were really going to slap their relationship on me, weren't they?

"I asked her to be here, Euphyllia." Redmund was the one who answered my question.

I exchanged glances with them as my heart was shattered.

I see now. I already see it now that they were going to flaunt their relationship.

The two people I loved the most were here to tell me their betrayal. I came here to confront Redmund about everything, and I was planning to end things with him, but it looked like the Moon Goddess helped me.

This was really two birds hitting them with one stone.

When I locked my gaze on Lilith. "So, you want Redmund, after all, Lilith?" My lips were quivering as I finally said the words I wanted to say. "You told me that you never liked him for me, but I wasn't aware that you had hidden motives to steal him from me..."

I thanked myself for being brave enough to say the words. And I didn't know where this courage came from, but my wolf was howling in pain seeing the confirmation in front of us.

"You were my best friend, and you're doing this to me?" My voice croaked.

Lilith hissed with a wry smile as she hummed. "Oh, Euphie. Don't pout." She took a step forward and leaned forward. "You should be more grateful to me, you know. I have let you own him for a year." She fluttered her eyelids as my brows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean?" I exchanged glances between them, but it stayed longer on Redmund, asking for his explanation. "What does she mean, Redmund?"

I thought that I would be seeing remorse and guilt plastered on his face, but nothing of the sort. "Before meeting you," he began. "Lilith and I have been secretly dating, Euphyllia."

I could feel my world getting imploded from his answer.

"We are honestly waiting for the right time to expose our relationship, but then... You came," Redmund added. "And I got confused with my feelings that I wanted to test the waters with you, but still, Lilith is the one I wanted." With that, his eyes darted at Lilith as he took her hand, bringing it to his lips.

I pressed my hand on my mouth, feeling nauseous, trying to hold myself together. My hands were trembling from his answer, couldn't believe what I just heard.

Recalling everything from Lilith's reaction when I told her that Redmund was my mate, she told me that she didn't like him for me because of his family's reputation. Everything was just her wanting to tell me that I had stolen what was supposed to be hers, but I didn't take note of the signs.

"W-Why didn't you tell me the truth?" This time, I turned to Lilith, my lips quivering when her smile became hollow. "Lilith... You were my sister... my best friend. My only family in this world..."

Her expression hardened, her mocking smile gradually fading into oblivion. "Because I knew you wouldn't let go of him," she replied simply as if her betrayal was the most logical choice. "And I knew well how you have been wanting to meet your mate. See? I am even generous to share what's mine in the first place." She shook her head, a smirk imprinted on her lips. "Redmund was never yours to begin with, my dear. You see how he didn't even care about your mate bond to each other." She inched forward. "You should have realized by now why he wanted to keep your relationship with him a secret."

Her words pierced deeper than any sharp blade. My knees buckled and weakened. At any moment, I could feel myself collapsing onto the mossy stone below me.

I lurched afterwards, and Redmund didn't even move to help me and just watched me in my misery. He didn't have an ounce of guilt glued to his face. Just a nonchalant expression.

I clutched my chest as if I could physically hold my heart together. Redmund's silence and reaction were louder than Lilith's words.

My wolf whimpered inside me, torn between rage and despair. We both knew now that our mate didn't even want to acknowledge it.

So, our relationship was only a one-sided feeling, after all... This... was such a cruel fate for me.

"Redmund." My voice croaked, a hint of desperation in it. "Is it true? Did you... Did you never feel anything at all? F-For me? O-Our mate bond?" My vision was getting blurry from my tears.

His expression remained unchanged. There was no warmth in it, but when he looked at Lilith, it was different.

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