Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 342

342 /421

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**

**Chapter 342: A Mother’s Betrayal**

“Mother?”

The word slipped from his cracked lips, a tremor of disbelief lacing the question.

His expression twisted into a sardonic smirk, and a bitter, hoarse laugh escaped him, echoing with an icy edge. “Are you truly my mother?”

Malrik’s gaze bore into Celia Yates, a flicker of self-mockery dancing in his weary eyes, as if he were staring at a stranger rather than the woman who had brought him into this world.

“You bribed my men,” he continued, his voice hardening like steel. “You discovered that I had taken the Beast God’s fruit, and while I lay gravely injured and unconscious, you orchestrated my return here—just so you could hand that fruit, the very thing I nearly perished for, over to your precious son, Merlin.”

“Merlin’s your brother,” Celia replied, her brow furrowed in displeasure at his accusatory tone. “Malrik, you mustn’t forget—it’s because of you that your brother has always lived in your shadow, enduring endless humiliation. As his elder sibling, you owe him a debt that must be repaid.”

Malrik let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Humiliation? Repayment? Do you have any new excuses up your sleeve?”

This was a refrain he had grown weary of, a melody that played on repeat throughout his life.

To the outside world, he was the heir of the Enchanter Clan, cloaked in power and privilege. Yet, beneath that facade lay the truth: most of the resources intended for him had always found their way into Merlin’s hands. In Celia’s eyes, he had robbed his younger brother of everything, and she believed that as the eldest son, he would forever owe Merlin for that perceived theft.

“The Beast God’s fruit…” His voice became a low growl, filled with determination. “Even if it costs me my life, you will never possess it. So just give up.”

He had long since abandoned any hope of Celia fulfilling the role of a nurturing mother. That was why he had willingly relinquished the title of heir and left the Enchanter Clan behind, choosing instead to scavenge through the unforgiving outer realms.

Celia’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing with disdain. “You’re truly beyond saving. Don’t tell me you still plan to give that fruit to that human female, Emma Tibarn?” Her voice sliced through the air like a shard of glass. “Do you honestly believe she cares about you? Let me enlighten you—I’ve already had her investigated.”

Her gaze bore down on him, filled with contempt. “That Emma isn’t even sick! She bore Silas Hamblin’s child and has taken Drake Smith as one of her mates! Malrik, her supposed ‘illness’ was nothing but a ruse to manipulate you into risking your life on Beast God Mountain. You fool—you were nothing more than a pawn!”

She anticipated a reaction from him—shock, rage, heartbreak—anything that might indicate her words had struck a chord. But instead, he laughed.

His cracked lips curled into a faint smile. So, Ms. Tibarn isn’t sick. That’s… splendid.

So what if he had been used? As long as his huntress was alive and safe, even if she had deceived him, he would willingly lay down his life for her without a moment’s hesitation.

“You’re still laughing?” Celia’s voice trembled with disbelief, her fury palpable. “Malrik, snap out of it! That woman doesn’t give a damn whether you live or die. She’s surrounded by powerful males—she’s never even glanced your way!”

Yet, the more she raged, the more he laughed.

What in the world is he finding so amusing? His smile was maddening, almost blinding in its quiet defiance.

“My huntress has never lied to me,” he murmured, his voice soft yet resolute. “I don’t care how many males surround her or whom she chooses to love. I just want her to thrive. Even if she asked me to sacrifice myself for her, I would do so willingly.”

Emma truly hadn’t deceived him. Before he embarked on his perilous journey to Beast God Mountain, she had sent him a flurry of messages, revealing that she had feigned illness to coax him into revealing his true identity. He had misinterpreted her intentions, believing she was trying to dissuade him from taking the risk.

“You’re insane…” Celia’s body shook with rage, her frustration boiling over. She couldn’t fathom what that woman possessed that could drive her son to forsake his pride, his reason, and even his very life for her. Even Merlin, her youngest, had fallen under Emma’s spell.

“Malrik, can’t you see?” Celia hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “The mate I’ve chosen for you—Dahlia Lane—is a human female. If you bond with her and drink her blood, your body will heal instantly. You’ll reclaim your Rank 11 power—perhaps even ascend to Rank 12!”