Chapter 163 What Are You Hiding?
Emilia’s POV
By the time we got back to the pack house, it was already evening. The sky was deep purple and gold, and the air had turned cool.
Sebastian still wasn’t home.
I tried not to think about where he was. What he was doing. Who he was with.
After dinner, I finally caved and called him. "Aren’t you done with work yet?"
"I’m at a business dinner." His voice sounded normal. Distant. Like nothing was wrong. "Why? Did you need something?"
I swallowed hard. "No. I just... I missed you."
A pause. Then, quieter, "I’ll be home around nine. Just wait a little longer."
"Okay. Don’t drink too much."
He didn’t answer. The line went dead.
He didn’t come home at nine.
Or ten.
At 10:30, I finally heard the low rumble of an engine outside. I rushed to the window and saw Fynn’s car pulling up to the front entrance.
I ran downstairs, my heart pounding.
Fynn climbed out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door. Sebastian all but fell out, his tie loose, his shirt half-unbuttoned, reeking of whiskey.
"He’s drunk," Fynn said, like an apology. "Sorry. I tried to cut him off, but..."
"It’s fine." I ducked under Sebastian’s arm and looped it around my shoulders. "I’ve got him."
Fynn looked relieved. "You sure?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Fynn."
I half-dragged, half-carried Sebastian up the stairs. He was heavier than he looked, and by the time we reached the bedroom, my legs were shaking.
Sebastian blinked at me, his green eyes unfocused. "Emilia. Your eyes are all red. Were you crying?"
"Why did you drink so much?" I shot back, dodging the question.
"Because I wanted to." His words slurred together. "Why were you crying? Huh? You already stole my heart. What else do you have to cry about?"
I froze.
"I’ll get you some water," I mumbled, ducking into the bathroom.
The second I closed the door, I pressed my back against it and slid to the floor, my hands over my face.
"He knows. Oh God, he knows."
"No, he doesn’t," Eve’s voice cut through the panic, sharp and sure. "He’s drunk and hurting. He’s fishing. Don’t take the bait."
"I can’t do this," I whispered.
"You have to."
I stood up, splashed cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection. My eyes were swollen and red, my face blotchy from crying.
"Pull yourself together," I hissed at the mirror. "You’re not some weak little girl. You survived years in a pack that hated you. You can survive this."
The bathroom door banged open.
Sebastian stood there, swaying, his shirt fully unbuttoned now. "Is the bath ready?"
I blinked. "What?"
"The bath. You said you were getting me water. Or a bath. Or something." He waved a hand. "I don’t remember."
"I didn’t..."
Before I could finish, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward.
I yelped as I fell against his chest. "Sebastian, what are you..."
"Come here."
He pulled me toward the big bathtub in the corner, turning on the faucet with one hand while still holding me with the other.
"You’re drunk," I said, trying to pull away. "You need to sleep, not take a bath."
"I need you," he muttered, and before I could take that in, he tugged me into the tub with him.
I shrieked as cold water soaked through my clothes. "Sebastian! What the hell..."
"Relax." He wrapped his arms around me, pinning me against his chest. "It’s not a swimming pool. You won’t drown."
"I’m fully dressed!"
"Then take them off."
"No."
He smirked, his eyes glinting with that familiar dangerous spark. "I’ve seen every inch of you, Emilia. What are you so shy about?"
My face burned. "That’s not the point..."
"Then what is the point?" His voice dropped, suddenly serious. "Tell me, Emilia. What are you hiding from me?"
I went very still.
His hands moved to the hem of my soaked shirt, slowly pulling it up. "You have something to say to me, don’t you?"
My body went stiff in the water.
"What’s wrong, Sebastian?" I asked, on edge.
"Nothing. I just want to know if there’s anything else you need to tell me."
"I..."
I wanted to say something. But Mila’s tears and her warning came back to me, and I pulled back. My chest ached, but I kept it in. "No," I said.
I could feel Sebastian’s body go stiff beneath me, even stiffer than mine. After a long silence, he suddenly smiled.
"You’re scared," he said. "I’m just messing with you. If I didn’t know you so well, I’d really think you’d done something to piss me off."
"Sebastian, please don’t. You’re scaring me."
"Scared? Why? Did you actually do something wrong?"
I opened my mouth to deny it, but he pressed his fingers to my lips and stopped me.
"Forget it," he said. "The answer’s always ’no’ with you anyway."
They say the closer you get, the more the love fades. I never believed it. But Sebastian and I are proof. We’re married now, and somehow the love between us is slipping away.
He took me to the shower and washed me gently. I stood there like a puppet and let him. Half an hour later, he brought me back to the bedroom. I pulled on my pajamas fast and stood up.
"I’m going downstairs for some water," I told him.
I hurried out of the bedroom and went straight to the kitchen. I was breathing hard, like I couldn’t get enough air. He hadn’t said a word, but the pressure still pressed down on me.
"I..."
Tiffany’s voice came from behind me.
I jumped and turned around. "Tiffany."
"Is something on your mind? You’ve had your head down a lot lately." She asked me.
"It’s nothing. Why are you still up so late?"
"Can’t sleep. Something’s been bothering me."
"What’s wrong?" I asked.
Tiffany gave me a long look.
"Did... did you find out?" I asked carefully. "About me lying to your brother?"
"Yeah, I know. Why would you do it? Don’t you love my brother?"
My eyes went hazy. "No, it’s not that I don’t love him. I didn’t have a choice."
"But why him? He’s already been through enough. Why be so cruel to him?"
"I’m sorry, Tiffany. There are things you don’t understand."
"I really don’t. I don’t get your complicated feelings about love. I’ve only ever had two wishes in my whole life. First, I want my brother and his wife to love each other. Second, I want to be with Fynn Jermont."
I looked at Tiffany and stepped closer, resting my hands on her shoulders. "You’re a good girl. Your wishes will come true."