Chapter 37 Don’t Be So Ungrateful
Emilia’s POV
"I can’t help you."
The words came out harder than I intended, but I meant them. Mindy stood in the Hanson Group lobby, mascara streaking down her cheeks, looking at me like I’d just sentenced Chuck to death.
"Emilia, please..." Her voice cracked. "Fifty kilograms, yes, but the supplier lied to him. Chuck didn’t know what he was getting into. You have to believe me."
I rubbed my forehead and asked angrily, "How many times have I told you not to do illegal business? Why didn’t you listen to me? What’s the point of coming to me after you got into trouble? I can’t do anything about it either!"
"Didn’t you marry Alpha Sebastian..." Mindy muttered.
"I didn’t marry him to clean up your mess. And if he was really framed, there would be an investigation, right? He was arrested immediately. What else did he do?" I asked.
Mindy nodded guiltily at first, then shook her head. She thought to herself, "He slapped one of the officers twice."
I was completely speechless. He actually dared to slap a police officer when he was in the wrong. Who did he think he was?
"What should we do now? The police station won’t let me see your uncle. With his temper, I’m worried he’ll get beaten by them..." Mindy said.
"You’re only worried now? He deserves to get beaten. If he doesn’t suffer a little, he’ll never learn," I blurted out.
I crossed my arms. "Mindy, he assaulted federal agents. Even if I wanted to help—and that’s a big if—I don’t have that kind of power."
"But you married into the Simons family!" She grabbed my wrist. "One call from that Alpha Sebastian could make this disappear. You’re family, Emilia. Family helps family."
My jaw clenched. "Family doesn’t smuggle cocaine and then expect me to clean up the mess."
Her expression shifted—grief melting into something sharper, more calculated. She released my wrist and pressed her palms together as if she was praying. "Your mother would be so disappointed in you right now."
"Excuse me?"
"When you and your mother had nothing, who took you in? Who fed you?" Mindy’s voice rose, drawing stares from passing employees. "Your mother’s last words to me were ’take care of Emilia.’ And now when we need you, you turn your back on us? Don’t be so ungrateful."
"I’m not saying I don’t care about him. I mean you shouldn’t do anything illegal. If you don’t realize your mistake, I can’t help you either. You’re right, we shouldn’t be ungrateful, but it’s equally important not to go against your conscience!" I argued.
"Okay, I know we made a mistake. I promise there won’t be a next time. Once you get your uncle out, we’ll stop immediately. Please, for your mother’s sake, help us one last time."
I can’t let her manipulate me like this. This isn’t about Mom.
But the knot in my throat wouldn’t go away.
"Fine." The word tasted bitter. "I’ll try. But I’m not promising anything. Chuck got himself into this mess."
Mindy’s face lit up. "Oh, thank you! Thank you, Emilia. I knew you wouldn’t abandon us. Your mother raised you right—"
"I said I’d try. That’s it." I stepped back before she could hug me. "Go home, Mindy. I’ll... I’ll see what I can do."
I watched her hurry out of the lobby.
Goddess, what have I just agreed to?
The next day was torture.
I kept replaying my conversation with Mindy, trying to figure out how to approach Mila or Titus. "Hey, my uncle’s a drug trafficker. Mind using your Alpha connections to get him out of federal prison?"
Yeah, that would go over well.
At work, I couldn’t focus. Numbers blurred together on acquisition reports. I typed the same email three times before realizing I’d addressed it to the wrong department.
"Emilia."
I jerked my head up. Scott stood in my office doorway, concern etched across his face. He held the market analysis I’d submitted an hour ago, and from the red pen marks covering it, I knew I’d screwed up.
"I’m sorry." I stood quickly, heat flooding my cheeks. "I’ll fix it right now. I just... I haven’t been sleeping well."
Scott’s hazel eyes studied me—not with anger, but something softer. Worry. "Are you sure that’s all it is?"
For a split second, I considered telling him everything. Scott had always been kind to me, always listened. But the words stuck in my throat.
"I’m sure. Just tired." I reached for the report. "Give me an hour. I’ll have it corrected."
He handed it over slowly, like he didn’t quite believe me. "Take your time. And Emilia? If something’s wrong... you can talk to me. You know that, right?"
"I know. Thank you."
He lingered another moment before nodding and leaving. I collapsed back into my chair, pressing my palms against my eyes.
Pull yourself together. Chuck’s mess isn’t your responsibility.
But the guilt gnawed at me anyway.
Two days later, my phone rang during lunch.
"Emilia! Your uncle’s out!" Mindy’s voice was breathless with relief. "He was released last night. I don’t know how you did it, but thank you, sweetheart. We’ll never forget this."