Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 199

ADELE’S POV

“What are you talking about, Lucien? What happened?”

My voice came out shaky, the words tumbling over each other: I searched his face, desperate for some sign, some clue. His eyes—usually so steady, so full of that dark intensity-were red-rimmed, shining with tears he wouldn’t let fall. It scared me. Lucien didn’t do this. He didn’t break. He was the fearless beta.

He closed his eyes for a long moment, like he was gathering strength from somewhere deep inside. Then he stood up, slow and deliberate, and turned to the window.

His back to me, shoulders tense under his shirt, hands braced on the sill as he stared out at the palace grounds.

The room felt smaller suddenly. The air thicker. I could hear the distant birds outside, the faint murmur of servants starting their day, but in here, it was like time had stopped. Just us, and whatever storm was brewing in his head.

“Lucien,” I whispered, standing up but not moving closer. ” Please. Talk to me.”

He didn’t turn around. His voice came out low, rough, like each word hurt.

My mother died while giving birth to me.”

The confession hung there, heavy and raw. My heart ached for him instantly. “I’m sorry, Lucien. I’m so sorry tohear that.”

His shoulders tensed even more, like he was bracing against an invisible blow. For a long moment, he didn’t speak. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, pressing down on us both. I wanted to go to him, wrap my arms around him, but something held me back. He needed to say this. All of it.

“My father blamed me for her death,” he finally continued, voice barely above a whisper. “He hated me so much.

Starved me. Beat me. There wasn’t a harsh word he didn’t say to me. He told me I didn’t deserve happiness. Told me if lever found my mate, she’d face the same fate I made my mother face.”

Anger boiled inside my chest, hot and fierce. How could anyone do that to a child? To their own son? “How is your mom’s death your fault, Lucien? None of what happened was your fault.”

He let out a bitter laugh, still not turning. “I grew up believing it was my fault. I grew up believing I really didn’t deserve happiness. That’s why I told myself I wasn’t going to touch any woman. I told myself I wasn’t going to cause any woman pain.”

The pieces started clicking into place-slow, painful. The distance. The rejection. The walls he’d built so high I thought I’d never get over them.

He finally turned to me, eyes dark and tormented. “That’s why I avoided you for four months, Adele. I thought… Ithought that way, I could protect you.”

“Oh, Lucien.” I whispered it, my voice breaking. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And?” I prompted, my voice trembling. The tension was thick, suffocating. I could feel it building, like the air before a thunderstorm.

“She was with a little boy and.

He stopped, looking down, like the words were stuck.

“And what, Lucien?”

“She claims the child is mine.”

The words slammed against me like a punch to the chest as I stared at Lucien with wide eyes.

My heart stopped. Then slammed back to life, beating so hard my ribs hurt.

“What… what did you just say?”