Carmen's words were like cold water poured on Damon's head. She sneered at his stepson and his stolen mate, looking at them with disgust.
Charlotte clutched on the chair. She had expected that kind of stare from the Sullivan family and Crimson Moon Pack, but she didn't like it when they framed her as a wicked woman.
"We're not ruining anyone's life." Charlotte spoke up. Her chest felt heavy every time the words came out of her mouth. "If any of you want to throw dirt on someone's face, throw it to my husband's face."
Carmen widened her eyes and growled at her. If she hadn't held back, she might have torn Charlotte's mouth open. "What did you--"
Charlotte cut her off. "My former mate, Julian, was constantly abusing me mentally and physically." She took a deep breath. "You can't see the wounds on my skin anymore, but I have evidence."
The room suddenly fell silent, even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly.
It was a heavy accusation, something that could not be joked about. Since adapting to modern life, the supernatural organization—The Nortunal Ordeal—had taken a hard line against domestic violence.
Although there were still many cases that went undetected, there were also many abused werewolves who braved enough to file domestic violence complaints.
The Nocturnal Ordeal would give the defendant two options; they could keep their mark, or the higher-ups could break their bonds.
However, breaking the bonds between two mates was very difficult and painful. They would feel as if all their bones were breaking at once, and sometimes one of them might be disfigured by the effects of breaking their sacred bonds.
Therefore, most of them chose to keep their marks, but filed a restraining order against their abuser.
But Charlotte didn't want any of that. She didn't want to be maimed, but she didn't want to keep her mark either.
Mona was the first one who broke the silence. "Can you show us the evidence?"
Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment before she said, "I can." She took out an USB from her purse, then handed it to Damon. "I save all of my evidence here, you can show it on the projector."
Damon asked Theodore to do what she said. The first thing that came out on the screen was a picture, a disturbing picture of Charlotte's wounds.
She was exposing her back that was covered in lacerations. Her skin turned red because of the blood, and her arms looked purplish.
Everyone in the room grimaced at the disturbing sight. They couldn't believe a man that looked so innocent was capable of doing that.
On the other side, Damon's face darkened, looking like he could kill someone right here and then.
"This is my life." Charlotte laughed at herself. "For five years, I've been enduring all of his tortures."
The screen switched to another photo, a picture of her disfigured face. Her nose was broken, while her eyes were swollen and blue.
Charlotte felt her legs weaken as she remembered the day Julian had beaten her just because she wanted to go to her best friend's wedding.
Her face was swollen for two days, and she had to endure the pain of it.
Then the image kept changing, making her feel nauseous and wanting to throw up. "Besides all of these disgusting photos, I also had recorded the audio when we were fighting."
The screen went black and the sound of someone slamming things came from the speakers.
"Look what you did! You made me break my favorite glass!" Julian's voice echoed in the room. "I told you a million times not to make my coffee too hot!"
"I'm sorry! I'm really … really sorry!" The audio had captured the dreadful fear in her voice. "It's my fault … I'm sorry."
Charlotte found herself hard to breathe when she heard her own voice in the speaker. The sounds of her crying and screaming made her stomach turn.
She put her hands on the table, and tried as hard as she could to speak. "I … I also have other—"
"It's enough." Damon held Charlotte's hand. His voice went softer. "The evidence is enough."
Charlotte was surprised by how soft and gentle his tone was. She unconsciously held his hand tightly, as if wanting to find a sense of safety in him.
"I think there is no further explanation for this." Damon shifted his gaze to people in the room. "I claimed Charlotte as my mate to protect her from her abusive mate, who unfortunately is my own nephew."
There was a hint of disgust in his tone. He would always protect and defend his family at all cost, but Julian was an exception.
He crossed the line by abusing a woman who begged Damon to let her marry him.
The moment Damon learned of the pain Charlotte had been going through for five years, he immediately planned to cut all ties with his nephew.
"But why didn't you run away before?" Carmen didn't vent her anger at Charlotte anymore, but her words still humiliated her. "Five years ... even though it's hard, I know there are chances when you can run away or fight him."
Charlotte returned the question. "What about you? Did you ever run away?"
Carmen looked at Charlotte in disbelief after she hit Carmen's sore spot with her words.
Charlotte didn't know much about the Sullivan family affair, but Julian's mother always seemed to hate her late father so much and avoided talking about him.
Hence, Charlotte concluded that Damon's late father wasn't a good husband either and he had left many scars on his family.
Carmen didn't say anything, so Charlotte said, "You're right, there are chances where I can run away, but I chose to stay because I was a fool and a coward."
She had a strong belief that Julian would change and become a man she had met before they were married. But she realized that man never existed.
He was just put on a show to snatch her heart and then showed his fangs after he claimed her.
She believed in that fantasy because Julian would act like a good husband after he hit her or vented his anger at Charlotte.
He would shower her with gifts, flowers, and expensive dinners. But the cycle would repeat itself and she would be trapped in an endless hell forever.
She wanted to run, but her mind was too scared to step out of the door.
She wanted to fight, but Charlotte was afraid Julian would hit her harder if she fought him.
Each day, she felt helpless and weak.
Until one night, Charlotte found an old crusty paper beneath her bed. It was a note that Damon gave to her a long time ago.
The ink had worn out, but she had memorized those numbers.
That night, she wondered if her life would have been better if she hadn't asked Damon to reject her?
She didn't know that for sure, but her heart was screaming at her to ask Damon for help, and it turned out to be the best decision she ever had.
"But here I am, standing before you, alive. I was a fool, but I never intended to give up." Charlotte emphasized her words. "And once I stand up for myself, I will never stop fighting."