Chapter 227

[ 977 words ]

Emilia’s POV

When Abigail heard me introduce myself as “Sebastian’s wife,” something flickered in her eyes. She recovered fast, though, giving me a polite smile as she held out her hand. “Hello.”

I shook it briefly, then nodded at the steaming bowl of spicy pasta that had just arrived. “Mind if I join you two?”

“Well… okay.”

Without waiting for Sebastian to say anything, I picked up my bowl and slid into the seat right next to him. I could feel his tension, but I ignored it, twirling pasta around my fork.

“So, Miss Tanner,” I said between bites, keeping my tone light. “What brings you back to Silverlake City after all this time?”

“Yes, there’s… a reason.”

“Care to share?”

Her smile tightened. “I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss that.”

“Then what exactly are you doing, asking my husband out to dinner?” I raised an eyebrow, meeting her eyes.

Abigail’s composure cracked a little. She looked uncomfortable, opening her mouth and finding no words.

“Don’t tell me this is just two old friends catching up,” I went on. “Because we both know you lost that privilege three years ago, the day you walked out on him at the altar.”

“Emilia, that’s enough.” Sebastian’s voice was cold as he cut me off, his jaw tight.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” Abigail said quickly, her eyes darting between us. “I didn’t ask Sebastian here with any ulterior motive. I just wanted to apologize to him.”

I let out a short laugh. “Apologize? Now? Three years ago you left without looking back. Three years later you turn up out of nowhere just to say sorry?” I leaned in a little. “Do you honestly think a simple apology undoes everything you did to him?”

Abigail looked genuinely taken aback by how blunt I was. To her credit, she didn’t get angry. “Of course it can’t fix everything. I just… I needed to say what I came to say. For my own peace of mind.”

“For your own peace of mind?” I repeated. “How convenient. But did you ever stop to think what this does to him? You knew he spent three years trying to get over you, and you asked him out anyway. So tell me, Miss Tanner, what exactly are you trying to accomplish here?”

“Emilia, stop.” Sebastian stood abruptly, his face darker than I’d ever seen it. But I couldn’t tell if the anger was aimed at me or her.

“Why should I stop? I’m only stating facts.” I set down my fork and looked straight at Abigail. “You shouldn’t have come back. Whatever your reasons, you should have stayed away. The fact that you’re sitting here now, in front of him, in a place that clearly means something to you both… it’s either incredibly selfish or incredibly shameless. I’m leaning toward both.”

“That’s ENOUGH!” Sebastian grabbed my arm, trying to pull me up. “Are you done yet?”

I yanked my arm free, anger flaring hot in my chest. “You don’t want me to talk? Too bad. I’m going to say what needs saying.” I turned back to Abigail. “Listen carefully, Miss Tanner. This man you abandoned? When he was at his lowest, when he was drowning in the dark you left him in, I was the one who pulled him out. So whatever game you’re playing, whatever reason you’ve got for getting close to him again, you go through me first. And trust me, I’m not on board with any of it.”

I could feel eyes on us from every corner of the room. People were staring, whispering. I didn’t care.

“This dinner tonight?” I went on, my voice shaking now. “It’s the first and last time. Try it again, and don’t blame me for what I do next.”

“Have you had enough?” Sebastian’s voice was a low, furious growl. The other diners were openly watching now, and I could see the embarrassment and fury on his face.

I turned to look at him. “You think I’m being unreasonable? Making a scene?” My laugh came out bitter. “You told me we’d have dinner tonight. You promised. And instead I find you here, in a place full of memories of her, having a cozy little dinner with your first love.”

My voice dropped, but the hurt in it was plain. “And you’ve got the nerve to tell me I’m overreacting?”

“Tell me, Sebastian Simons.” The tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “Is that all I am to you? Someone convenient? Someone you call when you need me and push aside when you don’t?”

Before he could answer, before I had to hear whatever excuse he was about to make, I turned and ran.

How could I accept it? Why was he being so protective over Abigail? How could he forget the pain that he had experienced that woman had brought him for the past three years? A pain that was worse than death.

I barely made it out the door before the tears started.

How could I not be hurt? I thought that as long as I tried hard, even the end of the world could not separate us apart. But now, I found out that the end of the world was not as harsh as the reality…

I made it to my car before the sobs came. I collapsed against the steering wheel, my shoulders shaking, all the hurt and anger and betrayal pouring out of me.

“He chose her,” I whispered. “After everything, he still chose her.”

“No,” Eve said firmly. “He will not, WE Are Fated.”

Before I could take that in, someone was pounding on my car window.

I looked up through my tears and saw Sebastian standing there, his face caught between anger and something that might have been panic.

“Emilia, open the door!” Sebastian shouted.

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