Chapter 20 Wife Is Spending Mr. Graves’s Money
His eyes turned back toward the door, head snapping up at once.
Her hair framed her face softly, her eyes composed yet guarded as she moved with quiet confidence. She crossed the room. She slipped into a seat directly across from him, her hands smoothing over the folder in front of her.
Lucas’s breath caught, his fingers curling against the edge of the table.
However, the next moment his view was blocked by someone and Emily disappeared from his sight. That’s when Lucas noticed that she hadn’t come alone. Sebastian had come with her. Without a word, he took the chair next to Emily, his hand brushing briefly against hers as he sat down.
The air shifted instantly. A ripple of whispers spread across the room like fire to dry grass.
“Isn’t that Emily?” one voice murmured, hushed but sharp enough for ears nearby. “Wasn’t she with Lucas?”
Another leaned closer to their neighbor, whispering in disbelief. “That does look like her… but what’s she doing with someone like Sebastian Graves?”
And then, louder, more certain, a voice cut through the murmurs. “Oh, don’t you know? She’s married to Sebastian now.”
Lucas’s eyes shifted toward Emily and Sebastian, sitting side by side. Sebastian took her hand in his and leaned closer. She tilted her head toward him, listening as he whispered something to her. The longer Lucas stared at them, the more his eyes burned.
And then she smiled.
The curve of her lips shattered Lucas’s chest. His heart hammered against his ribs, his jaw tightening until the muscle jumped.
He tried to tear his gaze away, but his eyes betrayed him.
They clung to her, greedily, hungrily—feeding on every twitch of her lips, every spark in her eyes that used to be his and his alone.
The meeting droned on. Voices blurred, numbers flickered on the screen. Lucas heard nothing.
As the meeting started to come to an end, one of the men leaned across the table toward Sebastian. “Mr. Graves, if you have a moment, I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Sebastian rose with an easy nod, then leaned toward Emily, brushing her hand gently with his thumb. “Wait here, baby. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Emily gave a small, obedient nod. “Alright.”
Sebastian left with the man, heading toward the buffet tables at the far end of the room. The moment he was gone, the whispers around the table flared like wildfire.
“So is Emily Mr. Graves’s wife now?” one asked, leaning closer.
“Yes, it looks like that,” another replied.
A third voice scoffed. “Too early, don’t you think? For five years she was rumored to be with Lucas Cantrell, and now suddenly married to someone this rich?”
“Maybe she dumped Lucas for money. Cheated on him, who knows? Women like her… most are gold diggers anyway. Everyone remembers—Lucas never admitted she was his. She claimed to be his girlfriend, but he refused to acknowledge it.”
“And now she’s married into wealth. She’s married to someone so rich and isn’t even working for Lucas anymore. Her life must feel like a jackpot.”
“Maybe she was two-timing both men. First working with Lucas, seducing him, then at the same time seducing Sebastian. Who knows what was happening behind closed doors? Maybe she cheated on Lucas and married Sebastian for his rich family background.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. After all, who could refuse marrying a man like that?” another added with a smirk.
Each word sliced at Emily’s skin like a blade. Her throat tightened, her hands trembled under the table. Anger and humiliation churned in her chest until she couldn’t breathe.
She slammed her bag against the table, the sharp sound snapping through the whispers. Then she rose to her feet and stormed out, not sparing a single glance behind.
The second she moved, Lucas was on his feet too. His chair scraped harshly against the floor as he strode after her with long, determined steps. Sebastian’s sharp gaze tracked him instantly. His expression darkened, and he excused himself, moving quickly to follow.
Emily’s heels clicked furiously as she walked through the corridor, trying to get as far away from that room as possible. But before she could escape, Lucas quickly rushed past her, and then appeared right in front of her, blocking her path.
His breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling with restraint. “Emily, I want to talk to you,” he demanded, his voice rough.
She ignored him, brushing past as though he were invisible.
“I won’t do anything to you, I promise,” his voice cracked as he trailed after her. “I just want to talk.”
Her steps faltered. Slowly, Emily turned around, her face pale, her voice cold as ice. “What do you want?”
Lucas breathed a sigh in relief. But his lips twisted into a displeased, ironic smile. His eyes glimmered with pain. “You never used this kind of tone with me before. I’m not used to it.”
Emily’s chin lifted stubbornly. “This is the way I talk now. If you don’t like it, don’t talk to me.”
Lucas stepped closer. His tall frame cast a shadow over her, his gaze scorching.
“No matter how you change, there will never be a time when I don’t like you.
” His eyes flickered, pain and madness bleeding through.
“I made mistakes. I took your love for granted. I ruined everything you gave me. But I can’t forget you, Emily. I don’t want to forget you.”
Emily retreated a few steps, her hand gripping her bag like a shield.
“Stop walking into my space. Stand right there,” she warned, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound strong.
But Lucas didn’t stop. He closed the distance, his breathing harsh and uneven. His lips pressed into a thin line as rage and longing tangled inside him.
“Seeing you smile at another man…” His voice cracked into a furious growl.
“Seeing you let him hold you, whisper to you… it’s driving me insane .
” His chest heaved, his fists trembling at his sides.
“I’ve been trying so fucking hard to hold back, to stay calm, to not panic.
But it’s killing me. Every second you sit next to him, I feel like I’m dying.
His hands shook as he raked them through his hair, his composure crumbling. “I thought keeping my distance would stop me from scaring you away. But all it’s done is shove you straight into that fucking bastard’s arms!”
His hands shot out suddenly, seizing her shoulders with a force that made her gasp. He yanked her hard against his chest, his grip like iron, his whole body rigid—shaking with a mix of rage and desire.
Emily’s breath hitched, panic flashing across her face. Without thinking, she shoved at him desperately, her palm snapping up. The sharp crack of her slap echoed through the air as it landed across his cheek.
Lucas stumbled back a step, one cheek flushed, fingertips hovering near his jaw. For a brief moment, the fury vanished from his face, replaced by a strange, hollow calm as he turned toward her.
Before she could pull her hand away, he seized it, forcing it toward his face. “You can slap me here,” he said, voice harsh. “Hit me as hard as you want. Let out all your anger.”
Emily wrenched her hand free and shoved him roughly. “Stop following me!” she snapped, her voice trembling. “Stop pestering me! Just leave me alone, okay?”
Emily ripped her hand free and shoved him roughly. Stop following me,” she snapped, voice shaking. “Stop pestering me. Just leave me alone, okay?”
Lucas’s eyes darkened, sharp as knives, his jaw tightening.
“I can’t do that!” His eyes went hard. “Don’t you understand?
Stop pushing me away.” He grabbed both her shoulders and hauled her toward him.
Up close, his face was frantic, dangerous.
“You loved me so madly. How can you just give up because your mood changed? You walked away without letting me apologize. You left me behind. You can’t push me away like this! ”
His eyes were wild. He tightened his hold, drawing her in. “You know me better than anyone,” he whispered, every word vibrating with intensity. “You know I always get what I want, no matter the cost!”
Then, without warning, he pulled her into a possessive embrace, pressing her against him with an urgency that left her breathless.
His hot breath fanned her neck, his heart thundering against hers.
“Emily, give me a chance. I promise I’ll love you more than you’ve ever been loved.
I’ll give you back everything I ever took from you. ”
Emily struggled, twisting in his arms, her fingers clawing at his shoulders, trying to pull away. But Lucas held her like she was the air he needed to breathe, his grip firm yet trembling with the fear of losing her again.
His chest rose and fell in ragged gasps. He held on like he was choking on the idea of letting go.
Then Sebastian appeared behind them.
He took in the scene—the way Lucas had Emily trapped, the tension coiled tight in his shoulders, the dangerous heat in his eyes.
Immediately, Sebastian strode forward, grabbed Lucas by the collar, and yanked him backward before delivering a sharp, punishing punch. Lucas flew across the room, landing hard on the floor. Blood glistened at the corner of his mouth.
“Touch her again, and it won’t end with just a fucking punch,” Sebastian snarled, his voice low and lethal.
He swept Emily into his arms, pressing her tightly against his side, every inch of him radiating protection and controlled fury.
Lucas scrambled to his feet, fingers brushing blood from his split lip, his chest heaving.
In a heartbeat, he lunged toward Sebastian, fists raised to strike—but then his eyes landed on Emily’s face. Pale, trembling, clinging to Sebastian. Something in him shattered; the anger in his eyes flickered and softened into something raw, fragile, almost helpless.
“Can you stop already?” Emily’s voice cracked, small and strained.
Lucas froze, his expression faltering, hurt flashing across his features for the briefest moment.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened into a hard line. With a single shove and a glare that could freeze blood, he sent Lucas stumbling back. “Didn’t you hear her? Get away from her!”
Cradling Emily securely, Sebastian turned and strode out of the hotel.
Lucas remained behind, staring after them, lips split, knuckles white, chest heaving as he watched Sebastian take Emily away.
***
Harold and Emily wandered through a luxury shopping mall side by side. The lights inside the mall were bright and warm compared to the chill outside.
Emily’s eyes lit up at the rows of shops. She pointed at window displays one after another. “Today I'm buying you a present,” she announced, folding her arms with a proud smile. “You can get anything you want. It’s my way of saying thank you for taking care of me when I was unconscious.”
Harold’s grin spread wide. “Really?” He blinked, hopeful. “But, uh—do you have a budget? I don’t want to make you—”
Emily pulled a sleek metal card from her pocket and flashed it triumphantly. “I’m not rich,” she said, grinning, “but my husband is.” She handed him the card. “Sebastian gave it to me yesterday. Unlimited! So pick whatever you like.”
Harold’s face went bright. “My brother’s money?! Are you serious?” He practically jumped in happiness. “Then you don’t even need to ask—let’s go!” He charged off toward the nearest store like a kid let loose in a candy shop.
Within half an hour the card had been swiped several times. Harold emerged from stores with a stack of shirts, watches, and sneakers—grinning like he’d won the lottery. Emily also bought a few dresses for herself.
After walking out of the stores, they both collapsed on a bench in the corridor of the mall, bags at their feet.
Harold stared at Emily, eyes glistening. “I can’t even put into words how good it feels to blow my brother’s money,” he said, voice thick. “It’s like karma paying me back for every scolding he ever gave me!”
Emily laughed, her shoulders shaking as she giggled, shaking her head at Harold. “If he shouts at you in the future, just come to me. We’ll max out his card to please you and punish him.”
Harold’s eyes widened, shimmering as if tears were about to spill. He grabbed Emily’s hands with both of his, holding on tightly like she was the most precious person in the world. “Miss Emily, you’re so, so nice! You’re my fairy godmother now!” His whole face lit up with a boyish joy.
Emily burst out laughing again.
***
An hour later, Emily pushed open the heavy glass door of Sebastian’s office without knocking, a shopping bag dangling from her fingers. The air inside was cool, carrying a faint trace of leather and Sebastian’s cologne. Behind the massive oak desk, Sebastian leaned back in his chair.
His eyes were fixed on the wedding ring glinting on his finger, his expression unusually soft, almost boyish, while Leon scrolled casually through his iPad.
His thoughts were so deep that he didn’t immediately notice her presence.
Leon stood nearby, scrolling through his iPad. “No wonder you look so pleased, Mr. Graves,” he remarked slyly, glancing up. “I’ve never seen anyone so happy to see money leaving their bank account. Turns out Mrs. Graves went shopping with your money.”
Sebastian finally looked up, his lips tugging into a smile as he adjusted his crisp collar. “My wife is spending the money I earn for her. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
Leon suppressed a snicker, shaking his head quietly.
Emily, who had heard the entire exchange, pressed her lips together to hide her own smile. She walked in as if nothing had reached her ears. The sound of her heels clicking on the floor made both men instantly look up, and straighten.
The moment Sebastian’s gaze found her, his expression shifted, softening. His eyes brightened, and a rare smile broke across his face. He stood immediately, his tone warm. “Emily?”