Chapter 375 The Paternity Test

Chapter 375: Chapter 375 The Paternity Test

Sebastian’s POV

Emilia had been calmer lately. She came to the office with me, handled pack business, and smiled more than she had in months. Her charity gala had been a success, and the pack was still talking about it.

This was the life I wanted: Emilia beside me, with no more trouble from the past.

Only one person stood in the way.

Abigail Tanner.

After our meeting at the club, she’d disappeared. My men couldn’t find a trace of her, but I kept sending them out. Fynn complained that the search was costing a fortune. I didn’t care.

I needed to find her before she caused more trouble. Then, one morning, an email arrived.

"Sebastian, stop wasting your time looking for me. For my safety and the baby’s, I’ve gone somewhere you won’t find us. You can’t abandon me just to go back to Emilia. I won’t sacrifice myself to make your life easier. See you in two months."

I slammed my fist onto the desk. The monitor shook, and I caught it before it tipped over. She knew exactly how to provoke me.

"She’s playing you," Ryder growled. "And enjoying every second."

He didn’t need to tell me. I opened the mind-link to Fynn.

"Put every available warrior on the search. Check the neighboring territories. I don’t care where she’s hiding. Find her."

"On it."

Emilia had promised to wait, but that didn’t mean our marriage was safe. If Abigail returned with another demand or accusation, we could lose all the progress we’d made. I had to stop that from happening.

That evening, Emilia was waiting in our bedroom. I went to hug her, but she stepped back.

"Have you been looking for Abigail?" she asked.

"Yes." I stopped in front of her. "How did you know?"

She unlocked her phone and handed it to me. I frowned as I read the email on the screen.

"From the first time we met, I knew you weren’t an ordinary woman. I was right. It takes quite a woman to forgive a husband who got someone else pregnant. But I suggest you stop Sebastian from coming after me and my baby. If you’re really that confident, wait two months and see the results for yourself."

My grip tightened around the phone. Abigail wasn’t satisfied with taunting me. She had to hurt Emilia too.

"She has no right to send you this."

"If you found her, what would you do?"

I set the phone down. "Make her leave Silverlake City with the child. Make sure she never comes back."

"And if she refused?" Emilia held my gaze. "Would you kill her?"

"How could I do that?" I asked, my voice rough. "Whether the baby is mine or not, it’s innocent. Whatever people say about me, I’m not a monster."

She studied my face without answering. I was used to her seeing through me, but this time she seemed to be searching for something she couldn’t reach.

"Stop looking for her," Emilia said.

"What?"

"Call off the search. I’ve chosen to stand beside you. Whatever the results say in two months, I’ll find a way to deal with them."

She took a breath. "You don’t need to protect my feelings by threatening a pregnant woman, Sebastian. That isn’t the man I want you to be."

For a moment, I couldn’t speak.

"You’d do that?" I asked hoarsely. "After everything?"

"Don’t make me say it twice." She gave me a faint smile. "Apparently, I have a soft spot for lost causes. It’s a character flaw."

I let out a shaky laugh. Only Emilia could comfort me and insult me in the same breath.

I stepped closer, and this time she didn’t pull away. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tightly.

"Thank you," I murmured into her hair. "For staying. "

I couldn’t find a better way to say it, so I held her closer.

"Thank you, Emilia. More than you know."

Emilia’s POV

Two months passed before I knew it. As the last days approached, I began losing sleep. Whenever I closed my eyes, I dreamed of Abigail resting a hand on her belly and smiling at me. I would wake in a cold sweat, my heart racing.

"You’re grinding your teeth again," Eve said one night. "Keep that up, and you won’t have any left to bite people with."

"Very comforting. Thanks."

Each morning, I got up and carried on, trying to prepare myself for the results. I’d promised Sebastian we would face this together. I intended to keep that promise.

Then Abigail returned.

She stood in the living room with a hand on her growing belly. My gaze dropped to the slight curve, and I nearly touched my own stomach.

When would I get to carry a child?

I lowered my hand before she noticed. I wasn’t going to let her see how much this hurt.

Beside me, Sebastian stiffened, his jaw clenched. I caught his arm before he could move toward her.

"Trust me," I whispered. "Stop looking guilty. It’s exactly what she wants."

Through the bond, I could sense Ryder’s anger. I kept my hand on Sebastian’s arm as Mila stood to greet Abigail.

"Miss Tanner. You’re here for the paternity test?"

"Yes." Abigail lifted her chin.

"Then let’s be clear," Mila said. "If the baby is Sebastian’s, we won’t abandon it. If it isn’t, you’ll answer for everything you’ve put this family through."

"Fine." Abigail shrugged. "If it’s not a Simons child, do whatever you want with it."

She walked out without another word. Her confidence worried me, but her casual attitude toward her own baby was worse.

Titus looked from Sebastian to me. "Aren’t you coming?"

"No," Sebastian said.

His father sighed. "And how are we supposed to do a paternity test without you?"

Titus turned to me for help. I took a breath before speaking.

"Go, Sebastian. We always knew we’d have to face this."

He took my hand, his fingers cold against mine. "Come with me."

"No." I shook my head. "I can’t do that."

He didn’t argue. I’d agreed to wait for the truth, but I couldn’t stand beside him and Abigail while they tested her baby.

He kissed my knuckles, released my hand, and followed his father out.