Chosen as the Cursed Alpha's Seventh Bride

Emilia’s POV

The beach house was quiet. Sebastian had left for the office, so I’d rolled up my sleeves to make his favorite for dinner.

Then my phone buzzed. Lily.

"Hey, what’s—"

A sob cut me off. The deep, broken kind.

"Lily? What happened?"

"I got...fired...From Hanson Group."

"What? That’s impossible, you’re one of their best—"

"It’s over, Emilia."

"Where are you?"

"Home."

"Stay there. I’m coming."

I grabbed my keys and left the stove for later. On the way I stopped for the chocolate croissants she loved. If there were tears, there had to be carbs.

When she opened the door, my chest ached.

Lily looked wrecked. Swollen eyes, mascara streaked down her cheeks, hair sticking up like she’d been pulling at it, an oversized sweater and cat socks.

"Oh, Lily." I pulled her into a hug before she could speak, and she fell apart against me.

I steered her to the couch and pushed a croissant into her hands. She ate and cried at the same time, and the whole story came out in a wet rush.

"Scott tried to defend me," Lily whispered, wiping her eyes. "Told his mother she was being unreasonable. She fired me anyway."

"That’s completely out of line," I said. "You were doing your job."

"She’s the majority shareholder. She has every right." Lily laughed bitterly. "And now I’m unemployed. I’ll never find a job that good again."

"Yes, you will. Come work for Sebastian. Your salary won’t be a cent less than Hanson Group. I promise."

But her face crumpled. She looked down, twisting the hem of her sweater.

"Why do you look like I offered you a root canal?"

"It’s just... if I leave, it’s really over. I’ll never see him again."

Oh.

"You don’t want to leave Scott," I said quietly.

She nodded,tears falling.

Lily was the most self-assured person I knew. She could charm anyone, talk her way out of anything. But Scott Hanson turned her into someone hesitant. Someone scared.

"You really want to go back, don’t you?"

"What does it matter what I want?" Her voice broke.

"Okay," I said, pulling out my phone. "Then let’s fix this."

"Emilia, what are you doing?"

"Calling Claudine."

"Emilia, no—"

I was already scrolling to her number. I hit dial.

It rang twice.

"Emilia." Claudine sounded almost pleased. "I didn’t expect to hear from you."

"It’s been a while, Claudine."

"It has. You came to dinner once and then vanished. Did my foolish son do something to scare you off?"

"Not at all. Scott’s a good friend."

Before she could steer us back toward matchmaking, I got to the point. "Claudine, did you fire an employee at Hanson Group today? Lily Adams?"

A beat of silence. "Yes. How do you know that? Did Scott tell you?"

"Does it matter? Lily’s a friend of mine. A good one. And I think there’s been a misunderstanding."

Across from me, Lily was shaking her head frantically. I ignored her.

"I’ve worked as an executive assistant before. I know the job. She was only following protocol. She didn’t mean any disrespect."

"Protocol." Claudine laughed coldly. "You have far better manners than that girl, Emilia. She has no breeding at all."

Lily flinched.

My grip tightened on the phone. "Claudine, Lily is one of the most capable, professional people I know. If there was a miscommunication, it wasn’t intentional. I’m asking you, as a friend, to reconsider. She works hard. She’s loyal. She didn’t deserve this."

"You’re defending her."

"I’m telling you the truth."

The line went dead quiet.

"I’m asking you to forgive her. Claudine .Please. For my sake."

Claudine sighed. "You’re persistent, dear. I’ll give you that. I’ll think about it. On one condition. Have dinner with me tonight. Seven o’clock, the Enchanted Rose. Just the two of us."

"Fine," I said. "I’ll be there."

"Wonderful. See you then." She hung up.

I lowered the phone. But Lily was already up, and before I could say anything she bolted for her bedroom.

I followed.

"Lily, don’t take what Mrs. Tucker said to heart. She may have misjudged you, but Scott won’t. He isn’t like his mother."

She sat on the edge of the bed, wiping her face. "For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why Scott liked you so much. I’m not less pretty than you. I’m not less smart. So why you?" She let out a wet laugh. "Now I get it. It’s just fate. His mother is impossible, and even she likes you."

"It’s not like that. I only met her because I happened to pick up the wallet she dropped on the street once. You and Scott just met at the wrong time. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing there."

"Exactly. That’s what I mean. Fate put that wallet in your hands, so she’s grateful to you. I just did my job by the rules and somehow offended her anyway." Lily shrugged, her eyes wet. "It only proves it. Scott and I were never going to happen."

Her words sank into me. I sat down and took her hand. "Don’t be so quick to give up. It’s not as bad as you think. The real problem is you’re not brave enough. If you actually told Scott how you feel, everything could be different."

"You’re my best friend, you know that?" she said quietly. "The man I’ve been in love with likes you. His awful mother likes you. And I’m jealous. I am. But I can say that to your face, because you’re the one person I’d never resent for it."

Her voice cracked. "Thank you, Emilia. For fighting for me."

Something tightened in my throat.

I pulled her into a hug. "You never have to thank me for that. Ever."

Before I left for dinner, I decided to let Sebastian know about my appointment with Claudine.

I sent him a mind-link.

"Hey. Do you have anything on tonight?"

"No. Why?"

"I might be home a little late. Someone asked me out to dinner."

"Who? Lily?"

"No. It’s... Claudine."

"Scott Hanson’s mother?"

"Yes."

Neither of us said anything for a moment. Then, finally, Sebastian spoke.

"What does Scott’s mother want with you? She’s always asking you to dinner."

"Tonight’s a special case. I’ll explain when I get home, okay?"

"Okay." His voice had an edge to it.

I got to the restaurant right on time.

But when I walked in, it wasn’t Claudine waiting at the table. It was Scott.