Chapter 4

• Serelina's POV
• Tamsin’s face darkened. "Do you really think you can step into Luna’s shoes? Alpha has never acknowledged you!"
• I stared at her coldly. "But he’ll never acknowledge you, either. Don’t delude yourself into thinking that you can take my place. Don’t forget, you’re not just his secretary. You’re also his aunt."
• Tamsin’s older sister was Emeric’s stepmother. With that kind of relationship, Emeric could never openly be with Tamsin.
• I had hit a nerve. Tamsin looked furious and helpless, a ridiculous sight.
• Forcing a smile, she took a step back and pushed Emeric toward me. "Then, I’ll leave Alpha in your care."
• The mix of alcohol and heavy perfume on him made me nauseous.
• Barely resisting the urge to shove him onto the floor, I watched Tamsin leave.
• In the end, he was still a man I had once loved. My heart softened, and I helped him into the living room.
• But before I could turn on the light, Emeric suddenly spun around, pulled me hard, and pinned me against the wall.
• My back slammed into the cold, hard tiles. Just as I was about to speak, his alcohol-tinged lips crashed onto mine.
• Emeric’s kiss tasted bitterly of liquor, harsh and ungentle. His firm tongue pushed into my mouth, tangling aggressively with mine.
• My mind went blank. I tried to push him away on instinct, but he only held me tighter, his long fingers digging painfully into my wrist. His other hand grabbed my breast, roughly kneading it through the thin fabric of my clothes.
• My body trembled uncontrollably. Shame and fury washed over me, leaving me almost breathless.
• Emeric growled lowly. He was hard—his thick, rigid length pushed insistently against the seam of my trousers, grinding impatiently.
• As if annoyed by the layers of clothing, he yanked my pants down in a few rough motions. His fingers trailed along the inside of my thigh, stirring a tingling current, then slipped beneath the edge of my panties, probing toward that intimate place.
• But I felt no pleasure—only a cold, drenching shock.
• Just as Emeric was about to push his fingers inside, I clenched my teeth, shoved him away with all my strength, and said coldly, "I’m not Tamsin."
• Emeric went still abruptly. His breathing grew heavier.
• He lifted his head. Beneath his lashes, his eyes were dark and unreadable, as if he’d finally realized something.
• "Wrong person?" I asked, a hint of mockery in my voice.
• Emeric frowned, the drunken haze clearing from his eyes. He said nothing, only straightened up coldly, as if nothing had happened, and walked to the sofa to sit down.
• Watching his dismissive attitude, I felt humiliation surge through me like a tide, so sharp and bitter that I almost cried.
• I had thought that moment of intimacy was Emeric’s true, unguarded feelings after drinking, but reality had slapped me hard.
• The heat in his eyes had been burning for another woman.
• Suppressing the ache in my chest, I straightened my clothes and walked over to him. Steeling myself, I asked, "Was the Hawthorne Group ad contract your doing?"
• Emeric didn’t even glance up. He scoffed, "What? Came to beg me to renew the deal?"
• I replied calmly, "I’m only asking about business."
• He let out a cold laugh before finally lifting his eyes to mine.
• "Then, you should know that contract matters are part of corporate strategy adjustments. They’re internal decisions, not something I decide alone." His voice was icy. "Thinking you can get resources through connections is just wishful thinking."
• "But—"
• Before I could finish, Emeric stood and walked to the guest room.
• I closed my eyes, the sourness in my heart spreading to the tip of my nose. Still, I held back my tears.
• …..
• The next morning, just before dawn, loud knocking dragged me out of half-sleep.
• Then, the door was pushed open from the outside.
• I jolted upright and froze at the sight of the person in the doorway. "What are you doing here?"
• Tamsin flicked her blonde hair and walked in casually, as if this were her own home, pulling a suitcase behind her. "Alpha has a business trip. I’m here to pack some clothes for him."
• I sneered, bracing myself on the bed as I sat up. My tone was anything but polite. "Tamsin, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?"
• Tamsin gave a provoking smile. "What’s inappropriate? I’ve always taken care of Alpha’s affairs, both work and personal."
• I stared at her coldly, my gaze shifting from her face to her hands with its red nail polish. "Does that include satisfying a taken man’s physical needs, too?"
• A flicker of guilt passed through Tamsin’s eyes. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Emeric walked in.
• Dressed in a black shirt, he carried the lazy air of someone just awakened, yet his eyes were chillingly cold. "What’s going on?"
• I turned to Emeric, demanding, "We haven’t even ended our relationship, and you’re already bringing your lover into our private space? And she’s your aunt, what will people say about your family’s reputation?"
• Emeric’s expression turned glacial.
• "What? Now you care about your status as the rightful partner?" Emeric’s face was cold, his gaze piercing.
• With that, he stepped inside and walked straight to the wardrobe, pulling it open.
• My heart lurched.
• My medical report was still in there!
• "Wait!" I blurted out.
• Emeric halted, but the moment he pulled the wardrobe door open, the medical file slipped from the top shelf and fluttered to the floor at his feet.
• Silence swallowed the room.