Chapter 104

[ 728 words ]

Sebastian’s POV

I sat in my office, turning my phone over and over in my hand. Three days since Emilia had confessed her feelings, and we hadn’t exchanged a single word.

Every time I tried to approach her, she’d vanish before I could open my mouth. This morning, I’d caught a glimpse of her heading downstairs, but by the time I reached the first floor, she was already gone. Last night, I’d heard her door close just as I was about to knock.

She was avoiding me. And I understood why.

I’d rejected her. What else was a woman supposed to do after pouring her heart out, only to be met with “I’m sorry”? Of course she was hurt. Of course she needed space.

But this silence was killing me.

“You know what would fix this?” Ryder’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and impatient. “Actually talking to her instead of sitting here like a coward.”

“Shut up,” I muttered under my breath.

“Abigail is the past,” Ryder continued, refusing to back down. “Whatever her reasons were for leaving, she’s gone. She made her choice. But Emilia? She’s here. She’s our fated mate. She likes us. We should be with her.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I know I haven’t let go of Abigail yet. How is it fair to Emilia if I accept her when my heart still belongs to someone else?”

Ryder went quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was softer, almost sad.

“You’re loyal, Sebastian. It’s your greatest strength. But it’s also your greatest weakness. The love you had for Abigail was deep. I know that. But answer me honestly. Have you never felt anything for Emilia? Not even once?”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.

Because the truth was, I had felt something. Every time she smiled. Every time she challenged me. Every time she refused to back down, even when I tried to push her away.

But was it love? Or was it just the mate bond?

I grabbed my phone and typed out a message before I could overthink it.

[Do you have time tonight? Let’s talk.]

I stared at the screen, waiting for the three dots to appear. They didn’t.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then half an hour.

Frustrated, I called her. The phone rang and rang until it went to voicemail.

I called again. And again. And again.

Four times, and she didn’t pick up once.

“Damn it, Emilia,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

I typed out another message.

[I’ll wait for you at Ember Lounge at six p.m. See you later.]

I hit send and leaned back in my chair, praying to the Moon Goddess that she’d show up.

At five o’clock, I wrapped up my last meeting and prepared to head out. I tried calling Emilia one more time, but she still didn’t answer.

Just as I was about to leave, Fynn strolled into my office without knocking, a knowing smirk plastered across his face.

“Let me guess,” he said, dropping into the chair across from me. “Trouble in paradise?”

“What are you talking about?” I said flatly.

“Oh, come on, Sebastian. Don’t play dumb with me.” He leaned forward, his smirk widening. “You’re in love with your wife, aren’t you?”

“I’m not—”

“Do you know how long you’ve been married?” Fynn interrupted, pointing at the calendar on my desk. “Three months. You’ve officially broken the record of all six of your previous marriages combined.”

I froze.

Three months.

Holy shit. He was right.

I’d been so distracted by everything else that I hadn’t even realized. And suddenly, it hit me why Emilia wasn’t answering my calls. She thought I was calling to end things because our time was up.

“Looks like someone just had an epiphany,” Fynn said, clearly enjoying himself.

I ignored him and grabbed my phone, quickly typing out another message.

[I have something to talk to you about, but it’s NOT about a divorce.]

I called her again. Still no answer.

“Goddammit!” I slammed my phone onto the desk.

Fynn raised an eyebrow. “When a woman doesn’t answer the phone, there are only two possibilities. Either she likes you too much, or she hates you too much.”

I shot him a look.

“Or,” he continued, clearly on a roll, “she hates herself for liking you too much.”

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