Chapter 379 If You Leave, Don’t Ever Come Back

Sebastian’s POV

Emilia pushed me away, her shoulders slumped. “Marriage takes more than love. I’m tired, Sebastian. I’m so tired. Let me go.”

She brushed my hand off her shoulder and turned toward the door.

Ryder snarled inside me. I shouted at her.

“If you leave, don’t ever come back!”

She picked up her suitcase, adjusted her bag on her shoulder, and walked out without looking at me.

The door clicked shut. I stayed where I was, breathing hard.

Her scent lingered in the room. My knees gave way, and I sank to the floor, struggling to hold back a sob.

I’d tried to be careful with her, measuring my words and keeping my temper under control. I’d been afraid of asking for more than she could give. Yet when it mattered most, I’d lashed out and watched her leave.

I lay on the cold floor and closed my eyes. I didn’t have the strength to get up.

The door opened, and my mother rushed inside. “Sebastian? What happened? Why are you on the floor?”

I kept my eyes shut. She crossed the room, then stopped.

“Where’s Emilia?”

Her breath caught. She must have seen the neatly folded blanket and the pillows Emilia had straightened before leaving.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. “Where did she go? Shouldn’t you know better than I do?”

“I… I didn’t…”

She couldn’t finish. After a moment, she hurried out. I heard her speaking into her phone.

“Send someone after Luna Emilia. Find out where she’s going. Now!”

Emilia’s POV

I stood near the airport gate beneath the departure board. Boarding would begin in ten minutes. I held my ticket and stared at the floor.

Leaving Sebastian was the only choice I could have now, but it still hurt. I’d gone over every alternative and found myself here each time. Knowing why I had to leave didn’t make walking away any easier.

“Emilia!”

I recognized Mila’s voice over the announcements and turned. She was hurrying through the crowd. I straightened and waited for her.

She threw her arms around me and began to sob. “My child, I only asked you to divorce Sebastian for a little while. I never asked you to leave. Where are you going?”

I kept my arms at my sides. She still believed we could put our marriage on hold until it suited the pack, then return to it unchanged. She didn’t understand what she’d asked us to give up.

“Anywhere I like,” I said. “It’s a big world. There should be room for me somewhere.”

“You can’t go.” She caught my sleeve. “Sebastian will hate me for the rest of his life.”

I stepped back to look at her. “So you want me to stay and watch my husband start a family with another woman? Is that your idea of being kind?”

“No, that isn’t what I meant. I’ve arranged a house for you, with staff and everything you need. You can spend the year resting and looking after yourself. You can still have a wonderful future. I promise.”

I gave a short laugh. “You’ve planned everything except asking what I want.”

“Emilia, I’m trying to help.”

“By telling me to divorce my husband and wait in a house you’ve chosen?” I shook my head. “Did you think I’d agree as long as it came with good furniture?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Her voice broke. “Your parents are gone. I only wanted to spare you more pain.”

“Then you shouldn’t have asked me to give up my marriage.” I pulled my sleeve free. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ve had enough of the family’s help.”

I reached for my suitcase. Mila had nothing to offer that would change my mind, and I didn’t want to keep explaining why my life belonged to me.

“Do you really have to go?” she asked. “Is there nothing I can say?”

I paused. “Your son couldn’t persuade me to stay. What makes you think you can?”

She let go of my arm and opened her handbag. After searching inside, she took out a folded check and held it toward me.

“If you’re determined to leave, at least take this. You’ll be on your own. I need to know you can look after yourself.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I didn’t reach for it. My marriage had meant something to me, whatever her family had decided it was worth. I wasn’t leaving with a payment for making things easier for them.

“Please, take it.” When I refused again, she stepped forward and pushed the check into my coat pocket.

The final boarding call sounded overhead. I took the check out and let it fall between us.

It fluttered to the floor beside her shoes. Mila stared at it, then bent to pick it up.

When she straightened, tears were running down her face.