Chapter 238 No One Could Replace You
Emilia’s POV
I held her tight and let her cry. I knew better than anyone how much she’d been holding in. How long she’d loved Fynn. How much hope she’d carried in her heart all this time.
"Go on," I murmured, stroking her hair. "Cry it all out. But after tonight, no more tears, okay? You’re worth far more than this."
She cried harder, raw and unguarded, like she was trying to wring every last ounce of heartbreak out of her chest. Over her shoulder I saw Sebastian standing in the hallway, his face tight with grief. He didn’t come closer. He knew I could reach her right now in a way he couldn’t.
When she finally wore herself out, I walked her to the bed and sat beside her, holding her hand.
"Tiffany, I know exactly how you feel right now," I said softly. "A broken heart feels like the end of the world. But I promise you, it isn’t. The world keeps turning, and one day you’ll turn with it again."
She sniffled, listening.
"Listen to me. Fynn not choosing you doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means he wasn’t yours to keep. That’s all it means." I brushed the wet hair off her face. "You spent years making yourself smaller so you’d never make him uncomfortable. Years waiting for him to look up and finally see you. Aren’t you exhausted? You poured your whole heart into a man who was never going to pour it back."
Her lip trembled. "But I love him, Emilia. I’ve loved him since I was a kid."
"I know you do. And that love was real, so don’t ever let anyone tell you it was foolish." I squeezed her hand. "But love isn’t supposed to be something you survive. It’s supposed to hold you up, not hollow you out. And a man who lets you break yourself waiting on him was never going to be the one to put you back together."
She wiped her face, still listening.
"When someone can’t love you the way you deserve, you let him go. Not because you’re weak. Because you finally love yourself enough to stop begging for scraps." I tipped her chin up. "You are young, and you are kind, and you are so much more than the girl who cried over Fynn. Don’t let this be the thing that decides who you become."
The tears kept falling, but her face was steadier now.
"You think you’ve had it rough?" I gave her a small, tired smile. "Let me tell you about rough. My father never loved me. My stepmother and stepsister made my life a living hell. They killed my mother. I grew up an outsider in my own pack, treated like I was nothing at all. And the moment I thought I’d finally found something good, Abigail walked right back into Sebastian’s life." My own eyes stung. "But I’m still standing, Tiffany. I’m still fighting. So if I can do it, then so can you. You don’t get to give up before you’ve even seen who you’re going to become."
Her tears spilled over again, but this time she sat up and threw her arms around me. "Don’t cry, Emilia. We both stop now, okay? I promise I’ll be stronger. I’ll build a life I can be proud of."
"Good." I smiled through my tears and wiped her cheeks. "Now get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day."
She nodded, and within minutes her breathing evened out. I stayed a little longer, watching her sleep, thinking about the tumor hidden somewhere in that head of hers. How could fate be so cruel to someone this kind?
When I finally stood to leave, Sebastian was waiting outside the door, his green eyes full of something I couldn’t quite name.
"Is she asleep?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
I started toward our bedroom, and he followed. After a moment he said, "Thank you."
I glanced back at him. "For what?"
"For what you said to her. You’re a good person, Emilia. A good wife. A good friend to her. I’m lucky to have you."
"Doesn’t matter how good I am," I said, my voice flat. "Not if I can’t replace the person already in your heart."
I reached for the door, but Sebastian caught my wrist.
"You don’t need to replace anyone," he said firmly. "Because no one could ever replace you."
I stared at him, stunned into silence. For a moment neither of us moved. Then his phone rang and shattered it.
"Yeah, I’m back," he said into it. "Okay. I’ll be there soon."
He hung up and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I have to go to the office. Don’t overthink things."
Don’t overthink things. Right.
He left. I tried to keep myself busy, but my mind wouldn’t settle. Then, at four in the afternoon, my phone rang.
"Luna Emilia, you need to get to the office. Now." It was Beta Fynn, and he sounded tense.
"What’s wrong?"
"Sebastian’s cousin is here."
My stomach dropped. "Damien?"
"Yes. He’s in Sebastian’s office right now. There has been a heated argument going on between the two of them, so it is very likely that they will fight each other later. It’s not convenient for me to go in so could you please come over as soon as possible to stop them?"