Cecilia
Mrs. Garvalle looks shocked for a moment. She probably didn't expect Emeric to say that.
But after a brief hesitation, she smiles and says, “Of course not. I would love for you to move in with Emeric, Cecilia. I’ll feel much better knowing my son has you there to take care of him.”
Emeric’s dark eyes slide from his mother to me, his lips curled in a satisfied smile.
What a touching scene of love between a mother and her son. Too bad I can't enjoy it one bit.
“I’m afraid I must rudely decline the both of you,” I say politely. “I’m busy with my new job and my own life. Mr. Garvalle will have to find someone else to be his live-in caretaker.”
Cecilia“Didn’t you tell me you loved me so much, you’d give up anything just to be near me?” Emeric tightens his grip, making me whimper in pain. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to marry you? And what, now that I need your help, you don’t care whether I’m dead or alive?”Breathless and devastated, I nearly collapse on the spot. But Emeric holds me in place.The room falls silent, and his words echo in my mind. I thought I knew Emeric well. But I never imagined he could be so cruel as to mockingly repeat in public things I’d said to him in private, intimate moments.I always thought that he just
DaltonI never should have given up on her the first time. I shouldn’t have just walked away and let Emeric have her.I knew she loved him, though, and I wanted Cecilia to be happy. That was the reason I clung to when I went abroad, leaving the two of them alone. I told myself I was being selfless.But I know the real reason I gave up on chasing Cecilia.It wasn’t just because it seemed she liked Emeric more than me. It wasn’t just to make her happy.It was because Emeric threatened to beat the shit out of me if I went after her, and I knew I couldn’t win that fight.No one could.&n
CeciliaWhat is past is over now.After the day, my mind was calmer than ever, as if after that day, I could not feel a single emotion towards Emeric even when I thought of him.I don't know if this is a good or bad situation, but because I'm no longer devastated by people, I still feel quite a bit of sarcasm when I think of Emeric──this is the man I've loved for ten years, this person is so formidable that he only needs to use a few words to sweep away ten years of my feelings, leaving no residue at all.He is really deserving of the industry's most favoured Alpha of our generation.The whole city is discussing when this formidable Alpha will marry his Luna, and now it is rumored that Emeric has already met Victoria's parents back in the country, and he has also gifted Victoria's parents a villa by the lake.There are also people who saw his mother Mrs. Garvalle and Victoria teaching abroad, now retired back to the country parents at the restaurant had dinner. Both parents have met, t
CeciliaAll my life I've been waiting for my mate. I never thought he would turn out to be my boss.I’m his secretary by day, but his secret lover by night. That’s been our status quo for four years now.He says an Alpha in his position must maintain his reputation. “My family’s honor is my greatest privilege,” he once said to me.Honor might keep Emeric Garvalle from claiming me properly as his. But it sure doesn’t stop him from devouring me during our weekly hookups. Nor does it stop him from locking his office door behind us and bending me over his big mahogany desk whenever he feels so inclined. Most of the time, Emeric is nothing but cold to me. But he’s like a different person in bed, where he can’t get enough of me. A secretary with benefits. That’s all he wants me to be.A car accident four years ago changed my horrible crush into something more. Emeric was high on painkillers—more than I realized at the time—and he threw me into his bed, tore my clothes off and fucked me h
CeciliaThe true mate of my mate shows up out of nowhere. Where does that leave me?Emeric’s still on the phone, pacing around his desk, when Victoria and I trail into the office behind him.“Do you want a coffee?” I ask Victoria, gesturing to the drinks I’ve been carrying around awkwardly this whole time.“Oh, no. I don’t drink coffee. It’s terrible for your skin, you know. Ages you.” She gives me a phony, closed-mouth smile. I have no idea how to respond to that comment. All I can think to do is nod politely.“Where can I go freshen up?” She tilts her head thoughtfully.“Restrooms are back the way we came. The last couple doors we passed.” My hands being occupied, I jut my chin in the direction I’m referencing.“Thank you, Cecilia.” She flashes another fake smile, then takes a step toward the door.But just as she is about to pass me, she wobbles on her heel. The next thing I know, she lurches to the side and crashes right into me, gripping my forearm as she does so; the little tra
CeciliaHis whore.That’s what I am to Emeric, my mate and the father of my child.A sharp pain stabs in the center of my chest, and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. It feels, quite literally, like a knife’s been plunged into my heart. There’s nothing more to say. I run past Emeric and fly out the door. I’ve got no plan right now. No clear thoughts in my head. Only shock and pain and a desperation to get as far away from that man as possible. But I freeze when I get close to the lobby and hear a familiar voice. Serena’s still here. And I definitely just heard her say my name.I linger in the hallway, wondering if she’s already heard my footsteps. Either way, she goes on talking. Loudly—as usual. She’s gossiping about me in my own workplace and not even trying to be discreet. I tiptoe back a few paces so I can hide around the corner.“She’s a manipulative gold digger,” Serena says next. “She’s been obsessed with Emeric ever since the two of them met in college. They slept together o
Cecilia“This ends today,” Victoria says.She crosses the room and sits on the sofa, much closer to me than I’m comfortable with, and reaches out to grab hold of my hand.I pull away from her cold, unwelcome touch immediately. “What do you want, Victoria? I’m waiting for Emeric—”“He’s not coming,” she interrupts. “Cecilia, he’s not happy about this…” She bites her lip and glances around the room. “It’s better I speak to you myself about all this.”“All what?”“The pregnancy, Cecilia. We’re going to take care of it. Today.”“We?” My head’s spinning.“Listen, I know you don’t want to hear this, but Emeric and I are getting married soon. We’ll be mated for life. He and I must start making decisions together from now on. There are no secrets between us.”I scoff, jumping up from the sofa. I feel like I’m in a dream—and it’s my actual worst nightmare.“Your little tryst with Emeric is over,” Victoria continues, shaking her head. “Our families are already planning our wedding. It will be
Cecilia“You can’t keep doing this, Cecilia.”My best friend looks down at me with deep sadness in her big brown eyes. She pats at my forehead with a fresh towel and pushes a lock of hair behind my ear.I have never felt so near to death in my life. I’m on my side in bed, with the covers tucked tightly around me. My entire body feels heavy as lead. “You can’t keep letting Emeric hurt you like this,” Grace continues. “It’s killing you. Tell me that you see that, honey.”I let my heavy eyelids fall closed and exhale a shaky breath.Of course she’s right. But my attachment to Emeric has never been about what’s logically right.He’s my mate. It feels physically necessary to keep myself as close to him as I can, whether or not he’ll ever claim me as his. Whether or not he treats me well.The only reply I can manage is to nod my head. I can’t deny it. Living like this is destroying me.I just haven’t been able to figure out how to live any other way. But I think it’s time I finally put an