Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 456: A Showdown

Chapter 456: A Showdown

Stepping out from the shadows, Matthew Taylor looked coldly at Damien Sterling and said, "Make sure you protect her. If you can’t, then don’t stand in the way of her finding happiness elsewhere. And your grandfather—he better not do anything to hurt her."

Damien Sterling frowned slightly at Matthew Taylor. He hadn’t even gone looking for him yet, but here he was, presenting himself. Given the situation today, he’d deal with him later.

Ignoring Matthew’s words, Damien cradled Emma Hart in his arms and started to walk away.

Matthew Taylor wasn’t going to let Damien Sterling off that easily. He stepped forward, pressing Damien to give him an answer. Damien laughed derisively, "What right do you have to make demands of me?"

Matthew was momentarily speechless, pointing a finger at Damien. "You..."

Damien’s face darkened. "I despise people pointing their fingers at me."

In Damien’s arms, Emma Hart began to calm down. She looked up and saw Matthew Taylor. A flash of surprise crossed her face, but she didn’t voice her confusion. The strange tension between Damien and Matthew made her hesitant to speak up.

Matthew noticed the look in Emma’s eyes and felt a pang of disappointment. Had she really not noticed him following her all this way? Was his presence that insignificant? For the first time, he felt a deep sense of defeat.

Damien’s gaze shifted between the two, his suspicion growing. Why was Matthew Taylor here?

Matthew spoke in a calm voice, "I just happened to be passing by. I heard someone shouting from the other side, so I came over."

The ambiguity of Matthew’s words made Damien question everything. Why was Matthew conveniently in this alley? If he hadn’t shown up just in time, would Matthew have revealed himself or staged this scene to deceive him? The more Damien thought about it, the more he felt betrayed. Emma’s innocent demeanor made it hard to associate her with any deceit, but the memory of those photos was like a thorn in his heart.

Matthew didn’t care what Damien was thinking. He spoke bluntly, "If you can’t protect her and only hurt her, then I don’t mind stepping in to keep her safe."

Damien let out a mocking laugh. "What right do you have to say that? This is between her and me. Or you could ask her yourself. If she’s willing to go with you, then by all means."

Matthew looked at Emma with hope, his eyes pleading as he softly asked, "Emma, would you come with me?"

Emma was stunned, unable to believe that those words came from Damien. She looked into his eyes and saw the anger suppressed within them. Turning back to Matthew’s hopeful gaze, she felt torn. She didn’t want to shatter Matthew’s expectations or hurt this man who was humbling himself before her. But when she saw the threatening look hidden in Damien’s eyes, she hesitated.

Emma opened her mouth, but all she could manage was a soft, "I’m sorry..."

Matthew’s once bright eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head, lost in thought. Emma couldn’t bear to see him like this, so she turned away, clinging to Damien’s body and burying her face in his chest as she whispered, "Let’s go, honey."

Only then did Damien nod in satisfaction. Without even glancing at Matthew, he said, "Mr. Taylor, did you hear my wife’s answer? In that case, I suggest you remember your place and keep a respectful distance from her."

Matthew stood where he was, watching as the two walked away, closely intertwined. His eyes, hidden in the shadows, held a complex emotion.

Matthew couldn’t understand why Emma Hart hadn’t chosen him. Damien had hurt her so much, and he had been nothing but good to her. It just didn’t seem fair. Was it because Damien had saved her just now? Had she really forgotten all the pain he had caused her over such a small favor?

Emma Hart forced herself not to look back. She was fully aware of Matthew Taylor’s feelings for her, which was precisely why she couldn’t drag him along. He deserved someone better.

As they reached the end of the alley, Emma loosened her grip on Damien Sterling’s hand, and they each walked their own way. Although Damien had just saved her, she hadn’t forgotten how he had treated her in the past.

Damien Sterling had initially felt a sense of relief when Emma rejected Matthew. He was glad that she had the good sense not to make things more difficult. However, his mood quickly soured when he noticed Emma’s distant behavior. Irritated, he taunted, "What’s wrong? Feeling sorry for your old lover? If you cared so much, why didn’t you go with him?"

Emma felt a pang in her heart at Damien’s words, and angrily replied, "Damien Sterling, will you ever stop? Do you think this is fun? We both know what your grandfather said in the hospital, so don’t come at me with your accusations."

Hearing her mention what Mr. Sterling Senior had said at the hospital, Damien immediately understood that Emma had been present and, by some unfortunate coincidence, had overheard every word.

Feigning indifference, Damien remarked, "So he said a few things—no need to overreact. Besides, didn’t you just run off to pour your heart out to your old flame?"

Emma couldn’t believe how unreasonable Damien was. How could he be so sure there was something between her and Matthew just because of a few photos? It was absurd.

She didn’t even want to bother explaining anymore. Instead, she chose to keep quiet, letting Damien say whatever he wanted. No matter how much she explained, he wouldn’t believe her, so why waste her breath?

Damien, noticing her silence, grew even more frustrated, interpreting it as tacit agreement.

Riley Turner’s cautious demeanor had always seemed suspicious to him, and he had his doubts about her. But they had grown up together, and Riley was never one to scheme. If it hadn’t been for his grandfather’s meddling, he and Riley wouldn’t have had anything going on, let alone a plot to harm Emma.

Damien wasn’t foolish, and Emma’s current agitation made it clear she wasn’t lying. He began to feel a twinge of doubt toward Riley Turner.

Emma, growing more irritated, started walking faster. As she approached another unlit alley, her pace slowed, the previous encounter leaving her shaken.

Damien, who had fallen behind, finally caught up to her. He could easily read her thoughts but chose not to call her out. They walked side by side in silence.

When Emma entered the alley, she unconsciously moved closer to Damien. The warmth of his body made her blush, but she felt much more at ease.