Chapter 147

[ 1,073 words ]

Emilia’s POV

The moment I stepped out of Simons Imperial Group, I pulled out my phone and dialed Henry’s number. It rang for what felt like forever before he finally picked up.

“What do you want?” His voice was ice cold.

Well, hello to you too, Father Dearest.

“We need to meet,” I said, keeping my tone businesslike. “Are you free?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be overseas?” Linda must have run her mouth about everything.

“Clearly I’m not overseas since I’m calling you from Silverlake City. Look, I have a business proposition. Interested?”

“What kind of proposition?”

“Sebastian is developing a holiday resort in Florida. If you want in on this project, we should meet and discuss the details in person.”

Silence stretched on the other end. I could almost hear him thinking, weighing the profit in his head. Henry Taylor might be a terrible father, but he was still a businessman who could smell money from a mile away.

“There’s something else I need too,” I added before he could respond. “Everything you have that belonged to my mother. Photos, letters, belongings, anything and everything. I want it all.”

“Why would you want that old stuff?”

“That’s none of your business,” I said sharply. “Do we have a deal or not?”

I remember when Eve awakened, she said she had been sealed away, locked inside me all these years. The only person who could have done something like that was my mother. But why? What was she hiding?

The questions kept eating at me. Henry was the only person left who knew anything about my mother’s past. He had to have something that could give me answers.

“I’ll think about it,” Henry finally said.

I gave him the address of an upscale tea house. “Tomorrow morning. Don’t be late.”

The next morning, I arrived at the tea house fifteen minutes early, but Henry was already there. On time for once in his life. Money really did motivate him.

We sat across from each other in a private room, the air so cold and formal you’d never guess we were related by blood.

“Let’s cut to the chase,” I said, sliding a folder across the table. “I can get you the construction rights for the Florida resort project. In exchange, you give me two things. First, the recording pen Linda’s been using to threaten me. Second, everything you have that belonged to my mother.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m stupid enough to fall for this twice?”

“This isn’t a trick, it’s a trade,” I said calmly. “You give me what I want, I give you the signed contract. Simple as that.”

“Will Sebastian really hand over such a huge project just because you ask?”

I met his eyes without flinching. “Believe it or not, that’s exactly what’s happening. He promised me I could give the contract to anyone I choose.”

“Why would you choose me?” Suspicion crossed his face. “After everything?”

“Don’t flatter yourself by thinking this has anything to do with family feelings,” I said coldly. “I have my reasons, and they’re none of your concern.”

I needed answers about my mother, and this was the fastest way to get them. Plus, once I had that recording pen, Linda would lose her leverage over me completely.

Henry leaned back in his chair, studying me carefully. “You’ve changed.”

“People tend to do that when they’re repeatedly betrayed by their own family,” I replied sweetly. “Funny how that works.”

“Let me think about it.”

“Fine. You have until tomorrow morning to decide.” I stood up, gathering my things. “Same time, same place. Bring what I asked for, and I’ll bring the contract. Don’t waste my time by showing up with empty hands.”

I walked out without looking back, his eyes on my back the whole way.

“That went better than expected,” Eve said.

“He’ll take the deal,” I said confidently. “Henry would sell out anyone for the right price, and this project is worth millions.”

“You sound really sure of yourself.”

“I learned from the best,” I said dryly. “Years of watching him scheme taught me exactly how his mind works.”

Just as I predicted, my phone rang that evening. Henry’s name flashed on the screen.

“Deal,” he said right away.

“Tomorrow morning then,” I confirmed. “Don’t forget anything I asked for.”

After hanging up, I let out a long breath. One problem down. About a million more to go.

After dinner that evening, Tiffany bounced over to me with an excited grin. “Emilia, let’s play cards!”

“Sure,” I agreed easily. “Why not?”

I turned to Sebastian, who was scrolling through something on his phone. “Want to join us?”

He looked up with the most offended expression I’d ever seen on his face. “Do I look like someone who plays children’s games?”

“Children’s games?” I raised an eyebrow. “Your parents are playing too. Are you calling them children?”

“Time is money for me,” he said like a total snob. “One minute of my time is worth ten million dollars. I don’t waste it on boring card games.”

I snorted. “Right, because texting your wife sarcastic comments is such a great use of the great Alpha’s precious time.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just is.” He stood up, clearly done with this conversation. “Enjoy your card game.”

“Oh, we will,” I called after him. “Try not to die of boredom up there all alone, Mr. Ten Million Dollars a Minute!”

Tiffany giggled. “You two are ridiculous.”

“Your brother started it,” I said, taking a seat at the table in the living room.

Mila and Titus joined us, and we began playing. I’d actually gotten pretty decent at cards over the years, but tonight I had a different plan in mind.

“You seem distracted, dear,” Mila said after I made a particularly bad play.

“Just thinking about tomorrow,” I said, which wasn’t entirely a lie.

The truth was, I was losing on purpose. Mila loved winning at cards, Titus enjoyed the competition, and Tiffany got so excited whenever she had a good hand. Making them happy was worth losing a few rounds.

“This is painful to watch,” Eve said as I discarded a card I definitely should have kept. “You’re terrible at being bad on purpose.”

“Shut up,” I thought back at her. “I’m doing fine.”

After a few hours of “terrible” playing, I’d lost quite a bit of money. My phone buzzed with a text.

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