Chapter 52 I’ll Make an Exception. Again.
Emilia’s POV
Linda came out of the guest room looking like she’d spent an hour getting ready instead of twenty minutes.
Full makeup, curled hair, perfume so strong it was overwhelming.
*"Perfect. When Alpha Sebastian sees me like this, he’ll definitely fall for me."*
"Ready for that tour?" I asked.But before Linda could answer, I heard footsteps on the stairs.
Heavy. Deliberate. Male.
Oh no.
Sebastian appeared at the top of the landing, his eyes slightly unfocused from whatever he’d been drinking. When he spotted Linda standing there in her full glamour display, he stopped cold.
"Alpha Sebastian! You’re back!" Linda rushed toward him, putting on the sweetest smile of her life.
Sebastian’s entire body went rigid. His jaw clenched, Alpha aura radiating from him, forcing Linda to stop an arm’s length away.
"What the hell? Why are you in my house?" The words came out low and dangerous.
Linda didn’t seem to notice his tone. "Surprise! I came with my sister because she insisted I stay for a few days—"
*Oh, this is going to be a disaster.*
And then, because the universe apparently hated me, Sebastian’s green eyes locked onto mine over Linda’s shoulder.
The look he gave me could have killed.
I smiled weakly and opened the bedroom door behind me.
"Sebastian, darling," I called out, my voice sweet. "Welcome home."
I put myself between Sebastian and Linda, holding his arm in a way that I hoped looked like wifely affection instead of desperation.
"Wait a moment, Linda," I said steadily. "I need to talk about something important with your brother-in-law. You can come in after."
"Well, then I—"
I shut the door in her face before she could finish. Through the wood, I heard her stamp her feet in annoyance before her footsteps went away down the hallway.
As soon as the latch clicked, Sebastian’s sharp green eyes locked onto mine. Then they looked around the room, seeing my clothes hanging in his closet, the matching pillows on the bed, the small touches I’d added to make it look lived-in.
"You’re getting bolder, aren’t you?" he said quietly. "Making decisions without my permission. Moving your things into my space like you own it."
I lowered my head slightly, guilt rising up my spine. Honestly, I hadn’t had time to come up with a good excuse. Everything had happened so fast.
"Don’t tell me," he continued, "that I have to play the devoted husband again. In front of your sister this time."
I looked up at him, meeting those intense eyes. "Please."
A sharp laugh escaped him. He stepped closer, lifting my chin with two fingers, forcing me to maintain eye contact. "Could you be a little less vain, Emilia?"
"This has nothing to do with vanity," I shot back.
"No?" His eyebrow raised. "Then what? Your precious reputation? Do you realize I’m the one suffering because you want to keep up this pretense?"
"It’s not about reputation either."
"Then explain to me. What is it about?"
I hesitated. Self-esteem. It was about self-esteem. About not giving Dorothy and Linda the pleasure of seeing me fail. About proving to everyone who expected me to crumble that I could stand tall. But some things were too personal to say aloud, even to him.
I didn’t need anyone in this world to understand me. My greatest desire was simple: let those who wanted to see me suffer watch me succeed instead. Watch me live a wonderful life.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Sebastian pressed. "Do you have nothing to say, or did I guess right?"
"Think whatever you want," I said, lifting my chin despite his grip. "But can you please just do me this favor?"
I knew my eyes showed my desperation, but I couldn’t help it.
Sebastian’s expression hardened. He dropped his hand and shook his head. "I’m sorry, but I’m not here to save you. You brought her here yourself. You solve this problem yourself."
He turned away and began untying his necktie, the message clear: conversation over.
"I didn’t want to bring her here," I said quickly. "She demanded to follow me."
"And you just agreed?" He didn’t even look at me. "Were you that confident I’d help you?"
"What else could I do?" I asked, frustrated. "If I kept refusing, my family would get suspicious. They think I’m living the perfect life here after what happened last time."
Sebastian turned back to me, his eyes cold. "Oh, so now it’s my fault? I shouldn’t have helped you before?"
"That’s not what I meant—" I paused, changing tactics. "Look, I was overconfident, okay? I thought we were actually friends after you said you wanted to be friends with me that night. Isn’t that what friends do? Help each other?"
I took a breath, playing my final card. "If you ever need me, I’ll help you no matter what. I’m your only female friend, after all."
For a moment, Sebastian just stared at me. Then he let out a low chuckle. "I didn’t realize the Moon Goddess had blessed you with such speaking skills. Usually your mouth only produces poison."
I held back my retort. I needed him right now.
"So you’ve decided to help your friend, then?" I asked carefully.
He shrugged. "Fine. Since you’re being so clever and smart this time, I’ll make an exception. Again."
Yes. Victory.
"But I’m not letting you sleep in my bed," he cut me off.
"I wasn’t planning to," I said quickly. "We just need to look intimate when she’s around. At night, I’ll go back to the guest room like always."
"Good. Because if you cause me any more trouble, I won’t be so generous next time."
"Generous?" I raised an eyebrow. "Is that what we’re calling this?"
"Would you prefer I call it what it really is? Me saving your ungrateful ass?"
Before I could respond with something equally cutting, there was an impatient knock at the door.
"Sister? Brother-in-law? Are you two done talking?" Linda’s voice came through, sugary sweet and grating.
I looked at Sebastian. He gave me a look that clearly said you owe me for this.
I opened the door.
Linda practically burst in, her eyes immediately going to Sebastian like a heat-seeking missile. "Alpha Sebastian, you must be exhausted after working all day. Can I get you some water?"