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
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
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
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
CeciliaMrs. 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.”
CeciliaEmeric doesn’t look good. He looks thin.He’s sitting on the edge of the bed when I enter his hospital room. His eyes snap up to meet mine, but he doesn’t greet me. He just nods, then looks at his mother and says, “I’m ready to be discharged.”She slips out of the room to summon a doctor, and Emeric stands up. He takes a single step in my direction and holds out his hand, as if he expects me to take hold of it.But I am not about to do that. I just look at Emeric and wait for him to say something. To explain why he’s forced me to meet him here.But he only stares right back at me. His unblinking eyes narrow slowly, like he’s
Cecilia“I’ll tell him I can’t reach you,” Roy is just as cunning as any businessman, putting the whole thing on me.“If you really want to dodge Garvalle,” Roy says after a pause," Maybe you should leave town for a while.”It might not be a long-term solution, but some time out of the city doesn’t sound like a bad idea. What more can Emeric or Anna actually do, after all, if they can’t reach me? An early morning phone call from my paralegal provides one answer to that question. He informs me that Anna showed up at the firm looking for me, storming into the office with several others from AtCap. Security had been called. Anna was still on the property, though. They still haven't left even now. Still waiting for me.“Don’t come in today, Cecilia,” Danny warns needlessly. I thought about what Anna said yesterday, about her boyfriend being sacked from Emeric. I guess that's why she came to see me. But I'm not on speaking terms with her anymore. If something happens, she should go t
Cecilia:I leave the office without telling anyone, a couple hours early. Somehow I felt like I should leave early today, as if something bad was going to happen.I can’t focus on work. That disturbing call with Anna has me rattled. I’m not surprised Emeric’s been moody. He hasn’t been eating right. And I’m sure he’s been drinking too much coffee, too, if he’s struggling with sleep.I also know that Emeric will have a period of adjustment after I leave. After all, I have taken care of him for almost ten years, and I have given him the best and most comfortable things in every way. To be honest, maybe Emeric Gravalle doesn't understand his own stomach and body as well as I do.I used to take pride in keeping such a beautiful and important man in top shape. Of course, the credit was never all mine. Emeric worked hard in his home gym to maintain his stunning physique, and genetics are to blame for his gorgeous face. But I did keep him calm and healthy. I always knew it made a differen
Cecilia“I’m just calling Miss Thornhill,” Anna pleads.The fearful warble in her voice almost makes me feel sorry for her. But then I hear Emeric’s voice again and I remember I’m supposed to have already wrenched myself free from all this. “You know that I told you—” my ex-boss starts shouting. I’m so tired of that voice. That anger. And I don’t have to listen to it anymore. I hang up. I tell one of our paralegals that I need help screening my calls.“Put clients through, but anyone else, tell them I’m not here and take a message. Especially anyone from AtCap.” I suspect my paralegal had already heard the rumours about me. He knew that I had got a new mobile phone, that only he and our boss Roy knew the number.The young man nods. “Of course. I’ll talk to the front desk.” I don’t have any more meetings today and I’m not expecting any calls. So I tell the paralegal to close my office door behind him, and then I unplug my desk phone and power down my cell.Anna has only herself
Cecilia“Isn’t that enough?” he asked the last time we spoke, with disgust in his voice.He thought I wanted too much from him. And yet he took everything I had to give. My services as a personal assistant, personal chef, dry cleaner, caterer. My loyalty and devotion. My body.I even moved to be closer to him when I first started working at AtCap, and it’s expensive to live in this part of the city. It crossed my mind that I could move now to somewhere more affordable, but I’ve grown pretty attached to my modest but beautiful little apartment and the gorgeous downtown skyline view I’ve got from my bedroom window. Anna’s call started me thinking about all the things I’ve poured money into for Emeric’s sake. The laundry, the food, the gas I spend going to and from his place all the time. I have to admit, I’d be in much better financial shape if I hadn’t done all that. It’s almost funny that Serena thinks I’m a gold digger. She has no idea how much money I’ve spent on services for Emer