Chapter 327 The Family She Still Had

Chapter 327: Chapter 327 The Family She Still Had

Emilia’s POV

"You are not coming to the office, and that’s final."

Sebastian stood by the door, knotting his tie one-handed, jaw set in that stubborn line I’d learned to dread.

I folded my arms. "Watch me. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be dressed."

"Fynn’s already filing your leave. I called your Dr. Vogel in Zurich last night." He shrugged into his jacket like the matter was settled. "She was very clear. No stress. No pressure. That’s what gives us a fighting chance."

"So you’re conspiring with my doctor behind my back now."

"I’m your mate. It’s in the job description." He crossed the room and tipped my chin up with one finger. "You shut me out of your plans for months, Emilia. Now that I finally know everything, I’m in it. All of it. Whether you like it or not."

I opened my mouth, then shut it again. There was no winning this one, and the infuriating part was he knew it.

"Fine," I muttered. "I’ll rest. Happy?"

He kissed my forehead, smug as a cat. "Ecstatic."

Then he was gone, and the bedroom fell quiet around me.

I went to the study, pulled a book I’d been meaning to read off the shelf, and settled in to finally relax. I’d been reading a while on the bed when a soft knock came at the door.

"Come in," I said.

Mila slipped in, wringing her hands, something I’d never seen her do.

"Emilia. Do you have a moment?"

I sat up. "Of course."

She perched on the edge of the bed. "I came to apologize. For last night. For Titus losing his temper the way he did." Her voice wavered. "If you hadn’t stepped in when you did, if you hadn’t pulled Sebastian back from the edge, this whole pack would be in chaos right now. Do you understand that?"

I reached for her hand. "In a way, it was partly my—"

"Stop." She squeezed my fingers, firm. "You always do that. You always take the blame on yourself."

I didn’t know what to say to that.

"None of this is your fault," she went on. "Titus is stubborn, and I’m no better. I laid the whole weight of wanting grandpups on your shoulders the day you walked through our door. That wasn’t fair to you." She looked down at our joined hands. "Titus and I, we’ve spent years holding on too tight. To Sebastian. To Tiffany. We meant it as love, and it came out as control, and we made a mess of so many things because of it."

"Mila—" I tried.

"You’re a good girl, Emilia." Her eyes lifted, bright and wet. "If it weren’t for you, this family would have splintered a long time ago. You’ve given up more than anyone should have to. And you’ve taught that hard-headed man of mine things I never could. So we’re going to try. To loosen our grip. To let you two live." She managed a watery smile. "We’re family. That’s what family does."

I didn’t trust myself to speak. I just leaned in and wrapped my arms around her. She smelled like cinnamon and something floral, warm and steady, the way a mother should.

"Thank you," I whispered.

After she left, I sat in the quiet for a long time, and something in my chest that had been clenched for months finally eased.

Family. I still had family. I kept forgetting that.

Maybe that was my whole problem. Locking every worry inside my own head, making every decision alone, like I was still the girl nobody wanted. But I wasn’t that girl anymore. I had people. In this world, right now, I had people who loved me.

The thought pushed me toward my phone before I could second-guess it.

I dialed Uncle Chuck.

He picked up on the first ring, delighted. "Emilia! Everything all right?"

"Everything’s fine. I just realized it’s been ages since I’ve seen you and Aunt Mindy. I’d like to come by. Tomorrow, maybe? For lunch?"

"Of course. We’d love to have you."

We settled it, easy as that.

I texted Sebastian afterward. [Going to my uncle Chuck’s for lunch tomorrow. Come with me?]

His reply came almost instantly. [Big meeting. Can’t.]

[Guess I’m going solo then,] I wrote back.

A sad face popped up. Then, [I could cancel it.]

I typed fast. [Don’t you dare. Fynn will hunt me down and skin me for this.]

[Fynn absolutely would. He’s turned into a workaholic lately. I already signed off on his leave and he still won’t take it.]

[Then let’s be a good Alpha and Luna for our Beta’s sake,] I wrote.

[Fair. Bring Uncle Chuck a good gift from me, then.]

[I will.]

The next day I drove out to Chuck’s place myself, the back seat loaded with gifts.

Chuck yanked the door open before I’d finished knocking, grinning ear to ear.

I stepped inside, and the smell of garlic and onions hit me.

Aunt Mindy stood at the stove, stirring something that smelled like heaven.

"So Mindy pulled through. She actually beat it," I said, my voice catching.

"Discharged a month ago." Chuck rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. "I meant to tell you. Figured you were busy, so I let it be."

The truth was I hadn’t called them enough. Not in months. That was on me.

"I’m sorry, Uncle Chuck," I said. "I’ve been terrible about staying in touch. I should’ve checked on you both."

Chuck and Mindy traded a startled look.

Apologies and honesty, apparently, didn’t come around this house often.

Over lunch, Chuck piled food onto my plate faster than I could clear it. "So. How’ve you been, really?"

I set down my fork. No point dancing around it. "The doctors found something. I can’t have children."

Mindy’s spoon clattered against her bowl. "No. You? But you look so, so healthy."

"There’s still a chance. Thirty percent, they say." I made myself hold her gaze. "Sebastian and I are going to fight for it."

Mindy’s eyes went soft with pity. She reached across and covered my hand. "Chuck and I never had children, you know. We tried everything, back in the day. Every method under the sun, but—" She stopped, something sparking behind her eyes, and pushed up from the table. "Wait here."

She hurried upstairs and came back pressing a worn business card into my palm.

I turned it over and read the address, the phone number. "What’s this?"

Chuck glanced at it, and his face darkened. "You still kept that witch’s number?"