Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Emilia’s POV

My phone lit up with Henry’s name, and I already knew what this would be about before I even answered. Money. Benefits. Using me.

I walked toward my secret room and put the phone to my ear. "Hello?"

"Emilia, it’s me, Dad."

"Why are you calling me at this hour?" I asked.

"Nothing much. It’s about the bidding project under Simons Corporation. Could you ask Sebastian how I can increase my chances of winning the bid?"

There it was. The real reason the Taylor family had forced me into this marriage: to get everything they could from the Simons Empire.

I stayed silent for a moment, letting him wait, then answered sweetly. "Okay, I’ll ask him. But I can’t promise you’ll get the answer you want. You know Sebastian. He’s careful about separating business from personal matters."

"Okay, okay, I’ll leave this to you then. Emilia, you’re really my good daughter."

Good daughter. The words disgusted me. He said it so easily, without shame, without guilt, as if he hadn’t sold me like livestock to save his own skin.

"Sure thing, Dad," I said lightly, then ended the call.

I stared at my phone screen, my jaw clenched. If family love could be measured by interests, then we had no family love at all. He wasn’t my good father. I wasn’t his good daughter. We were just two people using each other.

And I was done being the one who got used.

I wasn’t going to ask Sebastian anything. Henry had probably already tried and been rejected. That’s why he’d come to me. But this time, I had my own plans. From now on, I would be the bad woman they always thought I was.

Let the people who hurt me feel the same pain, slowly.

After ending the call, I locked my door directly. I didn’t want any meaningless arguments with Sebastian.

On Friday I went home early. The moment I stepped through the door, I saw Linda lounging in the sitting room.

"I have no objection to how long you want to stay here," I said coolly, crossing my arms, "but you should behave yourself. Don’t treat this place like your own home and do whatever you want."

Linda’s face darkened instantly. She jumped to her feet. "What do you mean? What did I do?"

"Do you dare to say you didn’t walk around when we weren’t home?" I challenged.

"What’s wrong with me walking around?" she snapped aloud. "Does it have anything to do with you? Mrs. Simons told me to treat this place like my own home. Why are you complaining?"

"If you really just walked around, I wouldn’t say anything," I replied calmly. "But you entered someone else’s room and touched someone else’s things without permission. I will lose face as your sister. People will say behind our backs that the Taylor family has no manners."

"Who said that?" Linda demanded. "Whose room did I enter? What did I touch?"

[Which lying servant told her? That nosy maid by the stairs? Damn it—]

I shrugged. "It doesn’t matter who said it. What’s important is that someone reported it to me. This is the Simons Estate, Linda. There are many more servants here than at the Taylor house. With so many people watching, do you think no one will notice?"

"Why not let me confront whoever told you?" she challenged, hands on her hips. "Only a fool would admit to a false accusation!"

"You can keep denying it," I said with a dismissive wave. "Anyway, I’ve already warned you. If you don’t behave yourself, Mrs. Simons will personally kick you out. Let’s see if you can afford to lose face like that."

That worried her. Her thoughts turned panicked. [No, no, I can’t leave yet. I haven’t even made Sebastian fall in love with me—]

But outwardly, she exploded. "I’m going to ask which person is talking nonsense!" She stormed toward the stairs.

"Stop."

My command froze her instantly.

"Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?" I said coldly. "Mrs. Simons doesn’t know about this yet. If you keep making a fuss, the whole family will find out. Even if my mother-in-law says she doesn’t mind, she’ll still be upset inside. No one likes their home disturbed by outsiders."

Linda stopped, shaking with rage but unable to move forward.

"Then do I have to endure this injustice?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"If you behave yourself, no one will wrong you," I said simply.

"You still don’t believe me, do you?" Her voice broke. "I’m your sister. I swear to God I’ve never entered anyone’s room or touched anyone’s things!"

"Isn’t it too late to call yourself my sister?" I said with a cold smile. "Knowing you like I do, I don’t think you’ve been wronged. You’re just that kind of person, aren’t you?"

"I’m guessing you’re the one who lied about me. I can’t think of anyone who hates me more than you."

"Think whatever you like," I said, turning toward my room. "You can’t do anything useful except overthinking anyway."

I walked toward my room, and Linda followed right behind me.

"So you admit it?" she called after me.

I paused at my door. "I didn’t admit anything. You thought of it yourself."

I stepped inside my room, but before I could close the door, Linda pushed in after me, grabbing my arm. "Don’t walk away from me! Admit you made it all up!"

I pulled my arm free. "Don’t bother me anymore. Do you think everyone is as idle as you? To be honest, you’re no different from a freeloader. You can’t share your family’s burdens, but you keep spending our parents’ money. You always boast that you’re a respectable lady, but you’ve never done anything worth respecting. I’ve been solving all the problems. If I hadn’t sold myself, where would Henry get the money to pay off his debts? It’s the same now—he can only come to me if he wants to win the bid for the Simons Corporation project. Yes, my mother may have been a dancer, but how am I not better than you?"

Her thoughts turned angry. [How dare she!—]

"Don’t flatter yourself!" Linda screamed. "Do you think you’re the savior? Do you think the Earth can’t spin without you? You’re just a little fox trained by an old fox! If my mother didn’t stop me, do you think you’d have anything to show off today? You’d still be the humble one I walked all over—"

"Don’t be jealous," I cut her off. "If you have the ability, just do something practical and show me results. If you can help Father get what he wants, prove it to me. Otherwise, I can only think that the Taylor family can’t survive without me."

Her face turned red. Her mind raced. [I’ll show her! I’ll prove I’m just as good—better—]

"Well, just you wait!" she spat. "I’ll prove you wrong!"

"Looking forward to it," I said mockingly, pointing at the door. "Now please leave. I need to change."

"We’ll see who wins," Linda hissed.

"I forgot to remind you," I said. "No matter which room you’ve been to, you’re absolutely not allowed to enter Sebastian’s study again. He has many important documents there. If you dare take one step inside, no one can save you—including me."

"Get lost!" she screamed. "Don’t pretend to be merciful!"

"If you feel unhappy living here, the door is open anytime. Take your luggage and go. No one will stop you."

I stepped back and closed the door, leaving her fuming.