Chapter 213 Why Did You Come Back?
Emilia’s POV
The man slowly turned his head. Sure enough, it was the lead singer from that band in France, the one who’d introduced himself as ’Ethan Rowling’.
Except his real name was Damien Zordon.
"It’s been a while," he said through clenched teeth.
I finally caught my breath, my lungs burning from the chase. "Can we grab a coffee?" I pointed toward the shopping mall entrance.
He nodded stiffly.
We walked side by side back to Blue Moon Cafe, the same place where Lily and I had been sitting just minutes ago. She was long gone now, probably wondering why I’d bolted like a lunatic. I found an empty table in the corner and sat down across from Damien.
The silence between us stretched thin.
"When did you come back?" I asked finally.
"Not long ago."
"Are you curious how I know your real name?"
Damien stirred the coffee in front of him. "I’m a little curious. But I knew you’d find out eventually."
"I saw the picture," I said. "The three of you together, in Sebastian’s drawer. Trust me, I was just as surprised as you are now when I called out your name."
His jaw tightened. "So you know what happened between us."
"I’m his wife now. How would I not know what happened to him?" I took a sip of my coffee, watching his reaction carefully. "That night in France, you left without saying anything because you saw him, didn’t you?"
Damien didn’t answer.
"Where is she?" I asked, my voice sharper now. "Is she back too?"
"Yes."
The single word hit me like a punch to the chest. I’d known it was coming, had braced myself for it, but hearing him confirm it still made my heart clench. Because I knew better than anyone how much of a hold that woman had on Sebastian’s heart. How deeply he’d loved her. How completely she’d destroyed him.
"Why did you two come back?" I couldn’t keep the anger out of my voice anymore. "You left. You betrayed him and you left. So why come back now?"
Damien was silent again, his eyes fixed on his coffee.
"Can you at least tell me why?" I pressed. "You know it’s important to me."
He looked up at my face, saw the desperation I was trying to hide. He sighed. "Hold on to your own happiness, Emilia. Don’t worry about our return."
"Don’t worry?" I nearly laughed. "The woman my husband loved more than anything has finally returned and you’re telling me not to worry?"
"Sebastian’s not an irresponsible man. You’re married to him. He won’t abandon you."
"Just how much do you actually know about him?" I shot back. "Do you know what kind of life he’s been living these past few years? Let me spell it out for you, I’m his seventh wife. The only reason I’m luckier than the other six is because I am his fated mate."
Damien opened his mouth to respond, but I wasn’t finished.
"And I’d feel pretty damn sure we’d grow old together," I added, "if you two hadn’t decided to waltz back into town."
"Our return shouldn’t be a burden to you." His voice was quieter now. "If you have faith in yourself, what does it matter if Abigail’s back? Remember that thief in France? You didn’t chase him for the money. You chased him because he took something precious to you. Love’s the same way. Just be brave and have a little faith in yourself."
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one whose husband had been broken by the woman who’d just come back to town.
"Does he know you’re back?" I asked.
"No."
"Does your aunt know?"
"No one knows except you."
I stared at him for a long moment. "Give me your number. I need to be able to reach you."
"I can give you my number," Damien said carefully, "but you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone you saw me."
"You trust me to keep that promise?"
"You’re not the kind of person who breaks promises. I could tell the first time we met."
He gave me his number, then got up and paid the bill before I could say anything else. He was gone so fast I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
I sat alone in the cafe for a long time after that, watching people pass by through the window.
I felt lost. Completely and utterly lost.
"You’re overthinking this," Eve’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. "He’s your fated mate, Emilia. The bond between you is stronger than whatever he felt for her."
"Is it, though?" I thought back. "He loved her enough that her betrayal broke something inside him."
"And he loves you enough to mark you," Eve countered. "To claim you as his Luna in front of his entire pack. To fight for you, protect you, choose you every single day. That means something."
"But what if..."
"Stop," Eve cut in. "What-ifs will drive you crazy. Trust the bond. Trust him. And most of all, trust yourself."
I wanted to believe her. I really did.
But the knot in my chest wouldn’t loosen.
I might have stayed there until the cafe closed if Sebastian hadn’t called. I gathered my things and headed home, my mind still churning.
Dinner that night was tense, at least for me. I pushed food around my plate, barely tasting anything. Sebastian noticed. He picked up a piece of rib with his chopsticks and set it on my plate.
"Why aren’t you eating any meat?" he asked. "Are you planning to survive on vegetables alone?"