Chapter 28 Come to the Party with Me
Emilia’s POV
The throbbing in my skull had finally subsided after I returned from Lily’s. Too many voices, too many thoughts bleeding into mine until I couldn’t think straight.
Now I sat at the small desk in my room, staring at the cream-colored invitation in my hands. Hanson Group’s annual company gala. Tomorrow night.
The door suddenly slammed open.
I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Those heavy, angry footsteps were unmistakable.
Sebastian stormed toward me and growled, "I’ll give you one minute to get downstairs for dinner. Now."
I looked up slowly, meeting those furious green eyes. "Can you stop ordering me around? If you had a better attitude, I might have some appetite. Unfortunately, looking at you like this, I’ve already lost mine."
His jaw tightened. "You should feel honored that I’m personally inviting you to dinner. Don’t be ungrateful."
"Thank you for the honor," I said coolly. "But I’m not taking it. So you can leave and stop disturbing me."
"Are you chasing me away? Don’t forget whose house this is!" Sebastian shouted.
"This is also my home." I stood up, forcing myself to meet his towering height. "We’re husband and wife. We’re equal. You have the right to come in, and I have the right to ask you to leave."
For a moment, I thought he might actually explode.
His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, his grip tight enough to bruise. "If you weren’t a woman, my fist would already be in your face."
"Do you think threats will make me give in?" I lifted my chin. "I’m not afraid of you, Sebastian Simons."
"Why did I ever give such an audacious woman like you a chance? If I had known things would turn out this way, I never would have done it."
He released my wrist and stepped back, his chest heaving. "I’ll ask you one last time. Are you coming downstairs or not?"
His Alpha aura pressed against me like a physical weight, demanding submission.
I didn’t want to make the scene too ugly.
I softened my tone. "I know Mila must have threatened you. I don’t want to make things harder for you than they already are."
His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Okay," I continued. "I’ll go downstairs with you for dinner. But I have one request in exchange."
"What is it this time!?" He looked like he wanted to strangle me.
I picked up the invitation and held it out. "There’s a company gala tomorrow night. I need you to come with me."
Three... two... one...
I counted anxiously in my mind, waiting for Sebastian to explode in rage. As expected...
"Are you serious?" Sebastian exploded. "I just went to meet your parents today, and now you want me at some corporate party tomorrow? Do you think I have nothing better to do than follow you around like a fucking puppy? I run an empire, Emilia!"
"No, no, you misunderstood..." I raised my hands placatingly. "I didn’t plan for the timing to be like this. But everyone at these events brings their spouse. You can’t make me stick out like..."
"A couple?" He laughed harshly. "What about last year? Who did you bring then?"
"I was single last year. It’s completely different now. My colleagues all know I’m married."
"I don’t care." His voice was ice. "Whatever excuse you give, I won’t go."
He turned toward the door.
I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. "Wait! It’s just a dinner. If you don’t want to stay for the meal, at least show up. Please?"
He jerked his arm away. "Forget it. I haven’t even begun to punish you for hiding your identity from me. Don’t think I’m letting that go."
My identity. Bastard. Witch blood. Wolfless.
The familiar shame tried to rise, but I shoved it down. I needed him tomorrow.
"Fine," I said quickly. "We can deal with that later. Punish me however you want. But please, just agree to come tomorrow. I promise this is the last time I’ll ask you for help this year."
I dropped my tough stance and began pleading with him.
Sebastian scoffed. "This year? Don’t make it sound like we’ll be together for years. Stop being so full of yourself."
I bit back my retort and nodded. "Whatever you say. I’ll be more careful in the future. I won’t make you angry or annoy you on purpose. Anything you dislike, I won’t do."
He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
Then, to my shock, his shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Well," he said slowly, "since you’re actually being sincere for once... I’ll agree. One last time."
Relief flooded through me.
"But remember," he continued, his voice dropping to something dangerous, "this is the last time. If you try to boss me around again, I’ll make you pay for every single thing you’ve done. You owe me a favor now, Emilia. A big one. And when I call it in, you’ll do exactly what I say, as long as it doesn’t threaten your life."
I swallowed hard. "Deal."