Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 174: Claiming Your Past, Present, and Future

Chapter 174: Claiming Your Past, Present, and Future

With no other choice, Emma Hart turned to face Damien Sterling. "It was just a high school crush, nothing more. I can barely remember what he looked like," she admitted reluctantly.

Damien’s piercing gaze swept over Emma, his dark eyes probing as if a cold light had settled on her face. "So, you haven’t forgotten him then?" he challenged.

"What?" Emma was taken aback.

"Starting today, replace all your memories from the basketball court with me," Damien declared, his tone leaving no room for doubt as he looked steadfastly at Emma.

Holding a fallen leaf, Emma froze, her action halted by his words.

Staring at Damien in disbelief, she wondered if she had heard him correctly.

Can memories be replaced just like that? Was such a thing even possible? Damien’s request seemed outrageously excessive.

"Did you hear me?" he pressed.

"Yes, I heard... but..." Emma hesitated.

"There are no ’buts’!" Damien turned sharply away, his statement brooking no argument.

Emma, head lowered, suddenly sensed something off in front of her and instinctively looked up.

Sure enough, Damien had stopped, and she barely avoided bumping into him thanks to her quick reflexes.

"What now?" Emma suspected Damien had concocted another bizarre idea. Exchange memories? What’s next, swapping her liver, heart, or brain?

"I intend to claim your past, present, and future," Damien announced, standing in front of Emma.

His tall stature starkly contrasted with her petite frame, necessitating that he look down at her.

His imposing presence alone was enough to send chills down her spine, not to mention his predatory gaze, like an eagle eyeing its prey. Emma dared not voice any objections.

She was already troubled enough by his current demands, let alone his plans for her future. And now, he wanted to monopolize even the cherished memories of her past? Was there no escape left for her?

Emma had encountered such unilateral commands from him before. He would issue the orders, and how to execute them was her burden to bear.

Following him, Emma cast a bewildered glance back at the basketball court, then up at the man she had to look up to. Where did he get such outlandish ideas?

Was this his way of brainwashing her?

Halfway to their destination, the man suddenly decided to leave.

Emma Hart couldn’t help but wonder if Damien Sterling was about to show off again—would he erase all memories of her at the soccer field, the badminton court, replacing them with the suave image of his retreating figure?

Everything eventually returned to normal.

In the evening at the Sterling Group mansion, the streetlights outside cast a warm, yellow glow.

Emma had never stood at the window so peacefully, realizing for the first time the warmth carried by the light.

Behind her, the door opened; it was Damien Sterling making his entrance.

Dressed in a dark cyan loungewear, he seemed to have come up after spending the day watching the news downstairs.

Turning around, Emma set down the tonic she was holding, a ritual that had become part of her daily routine.

The careful attention she was starting to receive was new, but this life, as constricted as a canary’s, was beginning to wear on her.

"Tomorrow..." Tomorrow was Monday, and Emma entertained some not-so-mature thoughts.

It had been so long since she had lived a normal life, always running here and there, that she began to doubt whether she could even return to work at the company.

"What’s wrong?"

Damien Sterling asked calmly, casually flipping through emails on his computer.

He seemed only mildly interested in Emma’s words, but this was already the limit of his patience to speak calmly with her. In the past, he would have found her too talkative.

"Can I go to work tomorrow!" Emma blurted out, then closed her eyes as if awaiting judgment, not expecting her request to be granted but merely testing the waters.

"You may," the man said indifferently.

Emma’s eyes trembled slightly before she opened them, disbelievingly looking at the man. Had he just agreed? Could she have misheard?

Seeing Damien Sterling’s serious demeanor, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on the computer, she wondered if she should confirm again. "You mean, you’ve agreed."

"Ask again, and I might just regret it," he said, his gaze shifting to Emma, his tone impatient.

"Alright, alright, I got it. I’m going to sleep!" Emma hurried off, taking his words at face value.

He was known to change his mind easily; it was very possible he might retract his statement, so Emma wanted to leave before he had a chance to change his mind.

Emma Hart, with joy radiating from her face, spun around and threw her hands up in a "Yay" gesture, easily delighted by the agreement.

Lying in bed, she carefully covered herself with the blanket, a sign of her good mood.

Glancing at Damien Sterling not too far away, Emma inquired, "I’m going to sleep now, are you coming to bed?"

This caught Damien, who was at his desk, off guard, but the sight of her excitement brought a smile to his lips.

He found her simplicity endearing; while most would relish staying at home, she preferred to work at his company.

Noticing Damien’s lack of response, Emma rolled her eyes but didn’t mind much.

She had grown accustomed to his often indifferent demeanor, sometimes wondering if he genuinely didn’t hear her or chose not to.

Just as Emma closed her eyes, she felt the bed dip with added weight.

Before she could adjust to the darkness, the lights were off, and something tightly wrapped around her waist, accompanied by the comforting sound of Damien’s breathing behind her.

Wasn’t Damien just at his desk, handling his emails? Yet now, he had joined her in bed.

"You were ignoring me just now, weren’t you?" Emma seized the moment to air her grievances, even though he had just been showing his aloof side moments ago.

"Emma Hart, you’re asking for it," Damien teased.

"What?" Emma’s spirited defiance was palpable, even as she lay on the pillow.

Damien’s hand wandered over her, sending ticklish sensations through her body, finally settling under her arm.

"It tickles!"

"Still got a sharp tongue?" Damien teased.

Emma burst into giggles, pleading for mercy, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

Hearing her apologies, Damien released her but kept his hand on her, pulling her closer.

With a deep voice, he whispered in her ear, "Let’s sleep."