Chapter 20

[ 987 words ]

Emilia’s POV

My breath caught. I turned my head and glanced at him in surprise.

He pulled me closer, his other hand settling possessively on my waist. The gesture was natural, like I was something precious he couldn’t bear to let go of.

“Let’s go in,” he murmured gently.

His eyes, when they met mine, were impossibly soft. Warm. The complete opposite of the cold, mocking man who’d banished me to the guest bathroom.

“All right,” I managed.

I couldn’t help but smile a little. This sudden kindness caught me completely off guard, and my whole body tensed up.

Sebastian must have noticed because he moved his hand away from my waist and took my hand again instead. Our fingers laced together, and I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest.

I’d been so worried he’d refuse to play along, that he’d humiliate me in front of everyone. But this? This was beyond anything I’d imagined.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Brandon’s expression. His jaw had gone slack, his eyes wide with something between shock and… was that jealousy?

And Linda—Oh, Linda’s face was absolutely priceless. Her mouth had formed a perfect ’o’ of surprise, her carefully applied makeup doing nothing to hide the ugly flush creeping up her neck.

We walked hand in hand into the living room, Sebastian’s thumb absently stroking the back of my hand. The gesture was so effortlessly intimate, that I almost forgot it was fake.

When he finally released me, I realized my palm was drenched in sweat.

“Have some tea, Alpha Sebastian,” Henry practically tripped over himself to serve my husband, presenting the cup with both hands like Sebastian was royalty.

I supposed, in a way, he was.

Henry ran a small company that was barely staying afloat. Compared to the Simons empire, he was nothing. A minnow trying to impress a shark.

His humble, almost groveling behavior now was nothing like the cold, heartless father I knew. It was hard to believe this was the same man who had traded me away so easily and never once defended me against Dorothy’s abuse.

“Sister, welcome home with your husband.”

Today was really a special day. Linda had always rudely called me by my name in that sneering, dismissive tone. But today, for the first time, she called me “sister” in such a gentle voice.

This was new.

I turned to face her, putting on a polite smile.”How have you been recently?”

“Not doing well.” She pouted prettily, clearly performing for Sebastian’s benefit. “Ever since you got married, I got so bored. Come, let’s go somewhere else to talk.”

Before I could protest, she’d grabbed my arm with false intimacy, her fingers digging in just a bit too hard. She shot Sebastian a coy glance—trying for flirtatious, before practically dragging me out of the living room.

We ended up in the backyard, far from prying eyes and ears.

The moment we were alone, Linda’s mask shattered.

“My, look how capable you are.” Her voice turned sharp, venomous. “What black magic did you inherit from that witch mother of yours to get that well-known cruel man wrapped around your finger?”

The sudden rush of thoughts crashed into my mind like a flood.

*How did she do it? That nobody, that worthless half-breed with no wolf—how did she make Alpha Sebastian fall for her? It should have been me. I’m prettier, I’m pureblooded, I’m—*

Linda’s jealousy was a living thing, acidic and all-consuming. Every word in her head dripped with it.

And beside her—Brandon’s thoughts slammed into me next.

*Damn it. She actually did it. Made that bastard Alpha fall in love with her. I didn’t think… She was always so sexually conservative. But if she can capture someone like Sebastian Simons… God, that’s hot. What would it be like to have her now? To take her from him?*

My stomach turned.

I’d thought I couldn’t be surprised by how low these two could sink.

I was wrong.

A cold smile curved my lips.

“I am not capable,” I said sweetly, meeting Linda’s envious glare head-on. “I did not do anything. The rumors did not do Sebastian justice. He treats women really well.”

“So what now? Linda, did you regret losing the opportunity to me?”

Linda’s face flushed an ugly red.

“You’re lying!” she spat. “His previous six Lunas are all dead, and you won’t last long either.”

“But I’m alive now, and we had a perfect wedding night.” I looked at her mockingly and deliberately licked my lips. “I have to admit, his performance was… very good.”

*This bitch. Dammit, how dare she show off to me—*

“Even if he’s obsessed with you now,” Linda pressed, desperate now, “if he found out you had the same intentions as all his ex-wives, your marriage would end as well.”

I laughed.

“Do you want to watch me be abandoned as soon as possible?” I asked. “Or do you want to be his eighth bride?”

I took a step closer.

“Let me remind you, Linda. Women of your quality will never make Sebastian fall for you. You’re too obvious. Too desperate. Too… cheap.”

Her thoughts exploded into incoherent rage.

Brandon’s were worse—a twisted mixture of arousal and wounded pride.

*She’s different now. Sharper. More confident. God, I want to break her, make her remember what it was like when she was mine—*

“And Brandon,” I added, finally turning to address him directly. He’d been lurking at the edge of the garden, clearly eavesdropping. “Whatever conquest fantasy you’re entertaining in that pathetic brain of yours? Forget it.”

His eyes widened in shock. *How did she know I was there?*

“I stopped being your anything the moment you climbed into my sister’s bed,” I continued. “You’re nothing to me now. You’re just another mistake I’ve moved past.”

I brushed past Linda, my head held high.

“Enjoy each other. You deserve one another.”

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.