Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 159

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 159: False Luck**

Lucien’s lips curled into a warm smile as he looked at her, the corners of his eyes crinkling with genuine delight.

“Every Celestara Gala on Central Planet features a raffle like this,” he explained, his tone light and teasing. “But I must say, the prizes from previous years were never quite as… extravagant.”

Emma’s curiosity was piqued, and she felt a thread of apprehension weaving through her thoughts. “What were the prizes before?” she inquired, her voice laced with skepticism.

Silas, standing nearby, glanced at the Gravicar parked nonchalantly in the corner, his mind racing to connect the dots. A knowing smile spread across his face as he turned his attention back to Emma.

“Emy, honestly, the past prizes don’t matter in the least. What’s significant this year is that every single prize at the Celestara Gala has been curated by Nexus Prime Tech.”

Emma’s heart sank as the implications of his words settled in. “Damian?” she asked, the name slipping from her lips like a whisper of dread.

Understanding dawned on her like a chilling breeze.

“So, that’s the truth of it. No wonder I’ve felt so fortunate—it was all meticulously arranged.”

Lucien, noticing the flicker of irritation in her eyes, softened his voice, attempting to soothe her frustration.

“Emma, if you truly like the Gravicar and the castle, we can purchase them for you,” he offered, his expression earnest, as if he genuinely wanted to make her happy.

“No, thanks,” she replied curtly, her voice firm. The thrill she had felt at the prospect of winning had evaporated, leaving behind a bitter taste. She had savored the thought of genuine luck, but now that illusion crumbled before her.

“Just return these to Damian,” she instructed Lucien, her tone resolute. “And please, tell him to quit with these foolish games in the future.”

With a resigned sigh, Lucien tossed the deed to the castle over to Silas, who caught it deftly.

“Alright then. I’ll have Silas handle it,” Lucien said, his voice carrying a hint of finality.

Silas froze, the weight of the task settling on his shoulders like a heavy cloak.

Great, first mate duties, huh? Just what I wanted—being the one to deal with all the dirty work.

“I think Marcus should go instead,” Silas suggested suddenly, a spark of inspiration igniting within him. “He’s been stuck at home all day, so this could be a good excuse to get him out for a while. I’ll arrange for a couple of people to accompany him.”

He met Lucien and Emma’s gaze, gauging their reactions.

With a sigh, Silas added, “It’s not that I’d rather avoid it—it’s just that I’m swamped with responsibilities. I really don’t have the time to spare.”

If that cunning fox dared to stir up trouble, then Marcus could certainly give him a taste of his own medicine.

“Can Marcus handle it?” Emma asked, her voice tinged with doubt. “If not, Corvin could go.”

She felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach at the thought of facing Damian, but Marcus didn’t exactly inspire confidence either.

“Emy, sure, Marcus might be a bit lazy, but he’s no fool. He’s a Rank 11 male—he can take care of himself just fine,” Silas assured her, his belief in Marcus unwavering.

In his mind, Silas was convinced that Marcus was the ideal candidate for this task.

Lucien, keenly aware of Silas’s thoughts as if they were written on his face, took Emma’s hand in his own and shot a smirk at Silas.

“Emma, Silas has a point. Marcus is a Rank 11 male,” he reiterated, his tone teasing. “If you’re still uneasy, Silas can accompany him. Right now.”

Silas fell silent, a hint of frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Sure, whatever floats your boat.”

As Damian nervously opened the door and stepped into the room, he greeted them with a polite smile, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he offered, his voice smooth and courteous, knowing that they were Emma’s representatives and he had to be on his best behavior.

Silas remained silent, a wall of tension between them.

Marcus, still seething with annoyance, straightened up and tossed the Gravicar capsule and castle deed onto the table with a flourish.

“Ms. Tibarn said she doesn’t want your things,” he declared, his gaze sweeping over Damian with a mix of disdain and challenge.

“You don’t need to dress up for me. I’m not fond of flashy males. Now that you’re no longer matched with Ms. Tibarn, act accordingly. Stop with these underhanded tricks. If you’re bored, find something else to occupy your time. Don’t waste everyone’s time.”

With that, he slowly stood up and staggered toward the door, his posture exuding a mixture of defiance and exhaustion.

He sounded sincere—how could anyone label that as harsh? Now, that wretched vine of a male? That was a different story altogether.

Damian’s face turned a ghostly shade of pale, panic rising in his chest.

“I… I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to…” he stammered, struggling to find the right words.

Silas stood, placing a reassuring hand on Damian’s shoulder, a gesture meant to convey solidarity.

“What you wanted doesn’t matter,” he said firmly. “What matters is that Emy doesn’t want to see you, and she certainly doesn’t want your gifts.”