"You have nothing else to offer. Your life is gone… The necklace… I want it,'' it announced. A sudden rush of cold covered her body. Emelia scrambled up from sleep. Her eyes were so red that her pupils could barely be seen. The sun had long risen as the early birds had sung and danced to its glory. The curtains were slightly pulled, giving the room some light. Emelia stretched on the bed, not understanding what was happening. Her pale hands went up to her cheeks as she gave herself a small pinch.
"Ouch," she cried in pain. The room looked too familiar for her liking; unpacked bags sat at the end of the room. "The park house," she carefully whispered as if scared someone would hurt her for saying it aloud. Looking around, it looked the same; nothing aside from time had changed. Thinking of time, Emelia grabbed her phone from the nightstand; it was indeed time. 17 April 2020.
"Three years ago…" she choked, her voice cracking. Her hands flew to her neck, but the necklace was gone. Of course, it wasn't a dream. It had taken it and given her something greater: a second chance. Emelia turned to the clock ticking carelessly on the wall, and it was only half past 9:00 AM.
"If only I had returned on the 16th, I would never have moved in with him. Looking at her unpacked luggage, her guts twisted; this was how desperate she had been to live with him. Moving in with him despite the marriage rights not being completed, not even the official engagement, which was only a day away.
Everyone knew, but now she felt nothing for this man. Staring at his self-made portrait, she couldn't hold back the hate from flowing within her veins. Every word he said, every pain he inflicted on her, came back. Her heart did not hurt for love but for vengeance. She wanted her pound of flesh back, and she will get it.
"Let's see just how much you love her. I will make you regret rejecting me, even if you do not remember. The most important aspect remains… I do." Emelia stood to her feet; she had to leave, and there was no better time for her to escape the clutches of this unrequited love than now, when he and his minions were out about their duties. The pack house has never been this quiet; the servants were never friendly towards her, for they knew she was nothing but a homewrecker.
His first love had been the one they all wished he would marry, but now she was ready to have them get that wish. Emelia pulled her suitcase; it contained so much of hers. Now she regrets ever packing too much. She dragged her luggage across the hallway, no one willing to help or see where she was up to with her luggage. She was the young alpha's fiancée, but that did not mean they liked her. Emelia did not care about the nasty sneers thrown at her or the rumors that would surface from her actions.
At this point, she craved nothing but freedom; she wanted nothing to do with a man who would never love her. Yes, fated mates they were, but that bond between them died the instant he pulled the trigger to her heart.
Finally seated in a cab, she instructed the driver to take her home. Three years of unrequited love, three years of playing the perfect wife and couple before everyone, while she sulked and cried herself to sleep daily. She had no friends; she dedicated every part of her life to him, and now, seeing the streets, which would flourish under her guidance and leadership, pained her heart.
She was indeed a good luna, who looked out for her people. Now, that role was not one she wanted; she felt pained knowing she would never be the Luna they all loved, but it gladdened her heart to know she would also be getting her freedom and bond of flesh. Emilia took deep breaths as the car drove to William's mansion gates. Finally, things were beginning to happen.
"Welcome, my lady," the butler greeted her gently. Emelia had no time to chit-chat; she walked past every curious head, straight to her room. She had so much to take care of with just very little time. She could hear their worried complaints as the door slammed shut behind her. But she was not going to be a third wheel in her tragedy.
Standing before the huge mirror that covered half her room, she looked the same; nothing had changed aside from the shine in her eyes. There was no love or butterflies, which she constantly felt were the movement at the thought of him or the mention of his name.
Glancing through her room, which was covered in a variety of posters of him, she tore every one off the wall. He was now only a nightmare she was willing to forget. The departure of his first love had been blamed on her, and now she was more than happy to make sure they reunited; she was not going to be the third wheel in this love, which would end her life. She picked up her phone and made a few calls before dropping onto the bed exhausted.
"A request so steep… Life is yours again. Time is in your favor until we meet again, Emelia Williams. Adieu. The words repeated in her head, like a broken record. She remembered the fall, the betrayal, and the kiss that sealed her doom. But she was no longer falling… she was rising like a phoenix.
Her phone rang, pulling her back to the present. She glanced at the screen. "MY ETERNAL." Her hands clenched. How foolish she had been. Now he was her NEMESIS.
Raising the phone to her ear, she waited patiently for her caller to air his mind.
"I want you back before nightfall. And whatever childish game you're playing… I am not buying it." Mark's voice was cold and commanding, as if she still belonged to him. Emelia drew in a deep breath, her voice steady and calm. It was now or never.
"I want the engagement called off."