No Longer Yours to Break novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Ever since that night, Lucian had been swamped.

Zoe knew he was cleaning up the mess from that setup.

A guy who could take over a powerhouse family in no time? Yeah, she wasn’t naive enough to think he was some sweet, softhearted prince.

Still, around her, Lucian kept things gentle–polite, careful. And she didn’t press.

His sharp edges were for enemies only. With his people–and his family–he was all responsibility.

Lately, during meetings with the lawyer, Zoe kept hesitating. Should she tell Lucian about the inheritance setup?

Pierre had spoiled her, sure. But he always pushed the idea that girls should marry well–not lead. Never taught her how to run a business.

Now she was in Khelmark City. Starting from zero.

She didn’t want to lean on the Lyttelton name. This was about building something of her own–her safety net.

After what went down with Connor, no matter how kind Lucian was, fully trusting him? Yeah… not yet.

Frustrated, she rubbed her temples.

Then her phone lit up.

Lucian.

“Zoe, what are you doing?”

His voice was calm. Too calm. And that set off alarm bells.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Lucian hesitated. “…There’s been a bit of a stir online. I’m heading home. Don’t check your phone.”

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Chapter

Uneasy, Zoe ended the call.

Seconds later, her phone blew up–DMs, tags, mentions, all hitting at once like boiling oil on skin.

Her screen filled with explicit photos.

She went ice cold. Just like that, she was back in that nightmare–the day she tried hardest to forget.

In her past life, Connor had done the unthinkable. To shut people up about Vicky, he’d thrown Zoe’s explicit photos on a giant screen for the world to see.

The hate flooded in overnight. Her name was trashed. The Herbert heiress turned into a joke a discarded, cheap headline.

Zoe might’ve survived it all…

If it hadn’t come from the one person she trusted most.

She’d given Connor everything. And that’s how he repaid her.

She’d nearly shattered. Hid herself away.

Even a phone ringing would leave her shaking.

Now, she stared at the screen, frozen.

Fingers clenched tight around her phone, knuckles white. Eyes blank.

The hate kept rolling in.

[Holy crap, this is wild. That’s the Herbert heiress?]

[Did her family go broke? Is she selling herself now? I’d take a turn–bet she’d love it.]

[Wait, isn’t she married to Lucian Lyttelton? Guess he can’t handle her if she’s acting like this behind closed doors. Hahaha…]

Zoe’s breathing turned shaky. Panic swirled into dizziness, her whole body trembling. Cold sweat soaked her palms and soles.

2/4

Chapter 21

It was all happening again–like some cruel rewind.

Why? She’d done things differently this time. She’d fought for a second chance. So why was she right back in hell?

What if they hacked her account? Posted more photos? Tracked her down? Waited outside her door?

Her lip bled from how hard she was biting it. She kept refreshing, over and over-

Then the screen went dark.

And in the next breath, she was wrapped in a familiar hold.

Lucian pulled her in, arms locked tight around her.

Seeing her like that wrecked him.

Lucian gently took her wrist, prying her hand away—

That’s when Zoe noticed.

She’d bitten her own fingers bloody.

And hadn’t even felt it.

He pulled her close, rubbing her back in slow, steady circles.

“It’s okay, Zoe. Don’t be scared. The photos are gone. My team’s tracing the IP address. We’ll get answers–soon.

She stayed curled in his arms, pale and shaking.

Something snapped inside him.

The fear in her eyes, the blood on her hand-

It all lit a cold, ruthless fire in his chest.

Whoever did this?

They were going to pay.