Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 234: Returning You a Sea of Flowers

Chapter 234: Returning You a Sea of Flowers

Muttering softly, she joked to herself, "I’ll see which cloud is the prettiest; that one will be me." These playful remarks, Emma felt, were not quite meant for moments shared between them, best kept to herself in a low whisper.

"The prettiest?" Damien Sterling couldn’t help but scoff.

Emma Hart, feeling slighted, glanced at Damien, annoyed that he had overheard her. Was she wrong in her assertion? She wasn’t that off the mark.

"Is what I said incorrect?" Having already spoken, Emma decided to embrace the shamelessness, pouting as she turned to face Damien. Her expression was haughty, with a trace of stubborn defiance. Damien was staring at her with a strange look in his eyes.

Just as she was thinking about his gaze, Damien’s lips had already pressed gently against hers, touching her only briefly before pulling away.

He looked at her with a lingering gaze, his tongue subtly licking his lips. "I better stop kissing or we might have an accident," he murmured, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he turned his head away.

What kind of smile was that? Such charm, such allure? Damien Sterling was undoubtedly a bewitching presence!

As the helicopter landed smoothly, Damien unfastened Emma’s safety belt and helmet, then took her hand and led her out of the helicopter.

What place was this? As soon as Emma disembarked, she was captivated by the sight before her.

A field of yellow sunflowers with a white windmill turning slowly in the breeze looked utterly tranquil. The distant sky merged seamlessly with the mountainous backdrop, and without the scattered lights, it would be hard to distinguish the deep blue sky from the navy-blue mountains. Emma walked towards the sunflower field, her favorite flowers, giving her a sense of boundless hope.

The lights nearby cast a warm glow, making the sunflowers appear even more inviting.

"How can such a place exist?" Emma exclaimed in surprise.

They hadn’t seemed to fly far, yet she had no idea that such a place was just outside the city. She had only seen such scenes on television and never imagined she was so close to one.

The field of flowers wasn’t as dazzling as during the day; the bright yellow was not emitting a blinding light but was instead much softer under the night sky.

"Do you like these flowers?" Damien Sterling observed Emma Hart’s shifting emotions. Just moments ago on the plane, she had looked sullen, but now, surrounded by blooms, she lit up with joy. It was clear as day on her expressive face, her happiness unguarded and evident in this tranquil setting. She was indeed easily pleased.

Emma nodded, overwhelmed by the beauty before her. Even at night, the sight seemed to wash away the fatigue of a whole day.

"Why do you like these flowers?" Damien had chosen this particular garden because it was closer, thinking Emma looked tired and hoping she could rest sooner.

"Because..." Emma began enthusiastically, ready to list all the reasons—sunflowers’ distinctive color, their cheerful appearance, the hopeful vibe they exuded. But then she saw Damien’s cold expression and suddenly felt it pointless to continue.

With a cool demeanor, she said nonchalantly, "Because I like eating sunflower seeds."

Damien, who had been smoking, paused mid-drag at her words, choking slightly, "Ahem..." He looked at her, bewildered.

"Stop coughing. It’s just seeds, what’s the big deal?" Emma challenged, raising her head defiantly. Couldn’t he see she wasn’t in the mood for a chat?

Seeing his usual icy facade break into a smile was a stark contrast. Someone liking sunflowers because they enjoyed the seeds was enough to keep him amused for a year.

Emma stepped closer to Damien, scrutinizing him. "Is it really that funny?"

Damien closed his mouth and nodded earnestly. "Yes, it’s a good joke."

"It’s not funny at all," Emma retorted, rolling her eyes at Damien.

Damien Sterling stepped behind Emma Hart, radiating a subtle warmth. His voice followed, teasing, "Is this sea of flowers enough to make up for that rotten bouquet?"

His tone was clearly provocative. That ’rotten bouquet’ was the one Oliver Westmore had given her, Emma remembered bitterly as she recalled Damien throwing it away.

"That was my property, you had no right to dispose of it." Emma’s anger flared as she began to argue her point with Damien.

"It was just a bunch of flowers. Isn’t a whole sea of them enough of a replacement?" he retorted.

"It’s not the same!" Emma insisted stubbornly. To her, throwing away someone else’s gift without her consent was a sign of disrespect; a sea of flowers couldn’t simply compensate for that—it wasn’t the same.

But understanding this didn’t mean Damien would.

Closing the gap, Damien turned her to face him. "What’s not the same?" His eyes, dark as obsidian and usually kinder than the stars, now flickered with a chilling hint of jealousy, frightening Emma a bit. Had she said something wrong again?

"It’s different in every way."

"Like?" Damien pressed her, his voice cold.

"Like... the order matters!" Emma blurted out, then pushed him away and stepped back.

Avoiding his gaze, she hurriedly explained, "The flowers from Oliver Westmore were given to me first. Whatever you give comes after." Emma meant to clarify, but the more she spoke, the more it seemed like falling into a trap set by Damien’s cunning questioning—making her feel that sometimes, explanations only made things worse.

"Emma Hart!" The man’s voice carried a menacing edge, making Emma’s heart leap to her throat. Yet, it seemed he was struggling to control his temper as he took a deep breath to suppress it. "Fine, from now on, I’ll claim every one of your firsts!"

"Haven’t you already claimed one?" Emma responded icily. As she finished speaking, she caught Damien Sterling’s intense gaze fixed on her once more.

Emma took a sharp breath. "Pretend I didn’t say anything!"

They say time heals all wounds, but Emma seemed to forget her pains the moment they ceased hurting. It was practically a miracle that she could survive around Damien Sterling.