Chosen By The Cursed Alpha King (Emilia) novel Chapter 259

x114 Don’t Need You

114. I Don’t Need You

DAMIEN’S POV

A week had passed since that nightmare in the forest bunker, and every single day felt like walking

on thin ice.

Rose was healing-physically, at least. But I knew the real damage was deeper. Nightmares still

woke her up in the middle of the night, heart racing, body slick with sweat. She’d curl into me,

trembling, and I’d hold her until the shaking stopped. I never asked what she saw in those dreams.

I didn’t need to. I just held her tighter and whispered that she was safe until she believed it again.

Today, I couldn’t leave her alone at home. Not yet. So I brought her with me to the office. She was

sitting on the long leather couch in the corner of my corner office, legs tucked under her, textbooks and notes spread out around her like a little nest. She was catching up on schoolwork she’d

missed, highlighter in one hand, pen in the other. Every few minutes, she’d bite her lip in

concentration, and something in my chest would loosen just a fraction.

I’d doubled her security. Tripled it, honestly. There were eyes on her twenty-four-seven now. One of

my best guys-quiet, sharp, trained-was even enrolled in the same classes she took, sitting two rows behind her, blending in like he belonged. I couldn’t risk anything. Not again. Never again.

I watched her from behind my desk, pretending to read emails, but really just staring. She looked

so beautiful like this-focused, calm, alive.

Yesterday she’d played in the basketball game at school. I’d been there, of course, front row, arms

crossed, eyes never leaving her. She moved like she owned the court, fast and fierce, ponytail

swinging, that determined look on her face. She scored nineteen points. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Those stupid girls-Katie and her friend-were there too. They didn’t play. Couldn’t. Their legs were

still in casts from the “accident” I’d ordered after they tried to hurt Rose at the last game. They sat

on the sidelines, faces pale, eyes darting toward me every few seconds like scared rabbits. They

knew better than to come anywhere near her now. Good. Fear was a great teacher.

“Are you okay?” I asked for probably the hundredth time today.

Rose groaned without looking up from her notebook. “Damien, I’m fine.”

I smirked. “You sure? Need anything? Water? Snack? Blanket?”

She finally lifted her head, eyes narrowing playfully. You’re going to ask me that a thousand times, aren’t you?”

“Probably more.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. “You’re ridiculous.”

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114 Don’t Need You

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. “You’re worth being ridiculous for.”

Cla

She shook her head, cheeks turning the faintest pink, then went back to her books. I couldn’t stop looking at her. The way the sunlight caught in her hair. The way she tucked a strand behind her ear. The way she was here, breathing, safe. Alive. Every time I thought about how close I’d come to losing her, my stomach twisted.

A knock on the door snapped me out of it.

Before I could say anything, the door swung open. Scarlett stormed in like she owned the place, heels clicking sharply on the hardwood. My assistant appeared right behind her, looking flustered.

“I tried to stop her, sir-”

I raised a hand. “It’s fine. Close the door on your way out.”

My assistant nodded quickly and disappeared, the door clicking shut behind him.

Silence settled over the room, thick and heavy.

Scarlett’s eyes flicked to Rose on the couch, then back to me. Her red lips pressed into a thin line. She marched straight to my desk and planted both hands on the edge, leaning in.

“How could you?” she hissed.

I raised a brow, calm. “How could I what?”

“You wanted to sell us that cursed land.”

I leaned back in my chair, resting my elbows on the armrests. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb, Damien. That place is f*****g haunted. You should have just said this is your way of bringing down Salvatore Company.”

I let out a low, humorless laugh. “Weren’t you the one who wanted the land? You told me you could get it without my help. Then I told you to go survey it first. How is that my fault?”

Her eyes flashed. “You could have warned us!”

“I did. I told you it wasn’t for sale. You insisted.”

She shivered, visibly, like the memory was crawling under her skin. “Imagine if we’d built a resort there. People start dying. Going missing. We would have been doomed. Lawsuits, Bad press.

Bankruptcy.”

I shrugged. “Sounds like a you problem.”

Her face twisted in anger. “We want nothing-absolutely nothing-to do with that cursed place.”

“Good. Because I want nothing to do with you or Salvatore’s Company. Our partnership is over.”

2.4

114 I Don’t Need You

Her jaw dropped. “You can’t do that.”

“I just did.”

“But we need each other!”

“I don’t need you.”

She stared at me, fury making her cheeks flush. “You’ll regret this.”

She spun on her heel, ready to storm out.

“Wait,” Rose’s voice cut through the room, soft but clear.

Scarlett froze mid-step, then turned sharply. “What?”

Clawn

Rose stood up from the couch, slow and deliberate. She set her books down carefully, then walked toward us. I watched her, confused but already feeling a spark of pride in my chest. Whatever she was about to do, I had a feeling it was going to be good.

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to give you, Scarlett,” Rose said, voice steady.

Scarlett smirked, folding her arms. “What?”

Before anyone could blink, Rose’s hand cracked across Scarlett’s cheek. The sound echoed like a

gunshot.

Scarlett’s head snapped to the side. Her hand flew to her face, eyes wide in shock.

“That,” Rose said calmly.

My lips twitched into a smirk.

Scarlett’s face turned scarlet with rage. She raised her hand to slap Rose back.

I was already standing, ready to step in, but Rose moved faster. She caught Scarlett’s wrist mid-air, twisted, then grabbed a fistful of her perfect blonde hair.

Scarlett yelped.

Rose dragged her toward the door-hair still in hand-opened it with her free hand, and shoved her out into the hallway. Scarlett stumbled, heels wobbling, barely catching herself against the wall.

Rose slammed the door shut, turned the lock with a loud click, and muttered under her breath,”

Bitch.”

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