Chapter 97

[ 1,063 words ]

Emilia’s POV

The moment I walked out of that cafe, I felt like my back was soaked through with cold sweat.

Richie Lind. That bastard was like gum stuck to the bottom of my shoe, disgusting and impossible to shake off. He answered my phone. Told Sebastian it was a “wrong number.”

I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if Sebastian started digging.

I practically ran back to my room.

I locked myself in and tried to go through Hanson Group’s work files, but the numbers swam in front of my eyes. I couldn’t focus on a single word.

My head was full of Richie’s scheming face and Sebastian’s all-seeing green eyes.

Damn it. I hated this feeling.

In the evening, I heard a car engine pull up downstairs. He was back.

My heart sped up instantly, a familiar kind of tension grabbing hold of me. I took a deep breath, fixed my expression, and walked out of my room.

“Hey.” I greeted him like I always did, trying to sound casual.

Sebastian took off his coat. His green eyes swept over me without a trace. He walked closer, his tone light.

“Where did you go today?”

Here it comes. My alarms went off.

My fingertips felt cold, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.

“I went to see a distant relative. Oh, you called me, right?”

He looked a little surprised, like he hadn’t expected me to admit it so easily. “Yeah, I did. He said I had the wrong number.”

“I was in the bathroom.” I shrugged. “He wanted to borrow money. I said no. He got a little upset, so that’s what he told you. You know how some people are when they get rejected.”

As I spoke, I held my breath and concentrated. I tried to read Sebastian’s thoughts.

Nothing.

“Oh, I see.” He let out a soft breath and smiled. “I was worried you might be lying to me. You know, Emilia, I hate it when people lie to me.”

My heart sank, but I kept my smile steady.

“Why would I lie?” I tilted my head. “I’m an honest wolf.”

He patted my shoulder. “I don’t see you as an outsider anymore. So remember, don’t ever lie to me about anything. Otherwise … I’d be very disappointed.”

“Of course.” I nodded, feeling my throat go dry.

The crisis was over for now. But the weight in my chest didn’t lift. It only hung higher. Richie Lind, the man who knew too many of my secrets, was like a sword hanging over me and Sebastian. I had to deal with him.

Otherwise, whatever was growing between us would eventually fall apart because of him.

Before dawn, I made a decision.

I didn’t want to live in the dark anymore. I wanted to save myself. And I wanted to save Sebastian. Yes, I wanted to save him, that man who was even better than me at locking himself in a cage.

After breakfast, I drove to the cemetery alone. I brought a bouquet of lilies, my mother’s favorite flower. Back then, Henry Taylor had won her heart with a truck full of lilies. And that started her miserable life.

I bent down and placed the flowers in front of her tombstone.

“Mom, I came here today to ask for your forgiveness.” I said quietly. “Forgive me. This is the first time I want to give up on revenge … because of a man.”

I crouched down. Something was stuck in my throat.

“You must be so disappointed in me, right? How could I be so selfish? Because of a man, I forgot all the pain you went through …” I gently touched her photo. “I’m sorry, Mom. I really am. But I can’t use him to finish my plan anymore. Maybe from the very beginning, he was my weakness. I told myself over and over again … make him trust me completely, then use him to destroy Henry Taylor. But I can’t … because he’s just like me. His heart has been hurt just as deeply. I can’t hurt him anymore.”

The tears finally slipped out. My whole goal … and now I wanted to give it up.

I never understood why my mother fell for a man like my father. Until that day, when Sebastian said to me: “Because I was never normal, I want you to live a normal life.” When he said that, I finally understood my mother.

Love always shows up when you least expect it. Love doesn’t need a reason. Even if you know you’ll get hurt, you still run toward it anyway.

I stood up. Took one last look at my mother’s photo. Then I turned and walked away. For the first time in years, I wanted to be brave, for myself.

I left the cemetery and went to the best cake shop in town. Even though I barely slept and my heart was still heavy, I remembered one thing … today was Sebastian’s birthday.

I ordered a cake. I told the staff to write “LOVE” on it in frosting. If he understood, then he would know how I felt. If he didn’t … well, at least I tried.

After picking up the cake, I went to the nearby mall to find him a gift.

On the way home, I made up my mind. Tonight, I would tell Sebastian everything. Why I married him in the first place. And how I really felt about him now.

When I got back to the mansion, Alpha Titus and Mila were already gone. The house felt empty.

“Where are Alpha Titus and Mila?” I asked the housekeeper.

She bowed respectfully. “They went to a funeral. They’ll be back in the afternoon.”

“Okay.” I nodded and went upstairs.

I picked up my phone and sent a text. “What time are you coming back?”

Sebastian replied quickly. “What’s up?”

“Obviously.” I stared at the screen.

“What?”

“Secret for now.” I typed, my heart racing a little.

He sent a speechless emoji, followed by three words: “You win.”

After that, I fell into deep anxiety. I didn’t know if Sebastian would forgive me for my original purpose. I didn’t even know if he felt the same way. Every minute felt like an hour. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

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