I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra) novel Chapter 128

My left hand had connected with his face. Three gasps sounded in unison—two from behind me, and one from the doorway, where Gordon stood frozen, having just opened the door.

“She even hit Mr. Lancaster!” Bess cried in disbelief. “She’s a total shrew!”

A shrew? I remained expressionless, my only regret that my left hand wasn’t stronger. If I’d thought ahead, I would have coated both hands in pepper sauce. A slap like that would have sent a neat freak like Steven into a full-blown meltdown.

Steven’s eyes narrowed. I looked up at him, my anger already subsiding. I had hit everyone who had opened their mouth, and a sense of satisfaction washed over me.

“The trash you brought back here doesn’t know how to speak properly, so I taught her,” I said coldly. “If you have a problem with it, you can suck it up. If you want to lecture me, you can get hit too. I don’t discriminate. I hit men and women.”

“And another thing, Steven. I didn’t want to come here. You hired me. I’m here to work. If you’re going to bring your little charity cases back with you, you’d better keep them in line. Don’t let them spew their venom in front of me. It’s disgusting.”

“Or,” I added, “I can compromise. Give me a raise, and I’ll move into the room next door.”

A dead silence filled the room. Even Bess had stopped crying, staring at me with Verna in stunned silence. Steven’s handsome face was a mask of cold fury. His dark eyes were locked on mine, his jaw tight.

“Verna said a few words. Was it necessary to get violent?”

I scoffed, my expression defiant. “It was necessary because I’m a bad person.”

Words only hurt the one they’re aimed at. Verna had an army of people to protect her, but I had no one. When people bullied me, I had to protect myself.

Steven stared down at me, his voice chilling. “That’s no excuse to hit Verna. Apologize to her.”

A cold wave washed over me, but I just laughed. “Not a chance.”

His grip on my arm tightened. “Apologize.”

I glanced at the clothes in his hands, then looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry, Gordon. I ruined the steak you ordered for me. Could you please order another? And the floor is a mess. Could you call housekeeping?”

“Oh, of course. It’s no trouble at all, Mrs. Lancaster.”

“Thank you,” I said with a smile. “Just have it sent to my room.”

With that, I turned and walked back to my room, not sparing anyone else a second glance. Just before the door closed, I heard Bess’s tearful voice. “Mr. Lancaster, are you just going to let it go? She slapped me four times for no reason!”

Steven’s voice was low and cold. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want her to apologize! Right now!”