No Longer Yours to Break novel Chapter 23

Before Lucian could even move against the Camorra family, Yvette managed to ruin

herself.

News dropped–she’d been bar–hopping with random guys, faking grades, and stealing someone else’s university spot using her family’s pull.

She’d built this whole fake life online, flaunting luxury like some flawless heiress and soaking up the praise.

That ended real fast.

Her social media account? Wiped overnight.

Yvette? Arrested and dragged off to jail.

***

Ever since Zoe ditched all that emotional baggage, she’d started popping into Lucian’s office at Lyttelton Group a lot more.

They were supposed to plan their honeymoon for next month, but with everything blowing up lately, it kept getting pushed back.

Zoe wanted them to plan it together. Lucian was down.

Plus, he secretly liked how his employees always perked up a little when she walked in–like they couldn’t help being nosy.

One day, while they were going over trip ideas in the office, the receptionist buzzed -Connor was downstairs.

Zoe and Lucian shared a look. What now?

Connor walked in and saw them snuggled up in Lucian’s chair, Zoe practically in his lap, leaning in like she belonged there.

His face dropped, but he kept it together long enough to hand Zoe a gift box.

She didn’t even glance at him.

1/3

“What is it? I don’t want it.”

Connor inhaled sharply, flipped the box open, and held it out.

Inside was a gemstone bangle–almost a twin to the one her mom used to wear.

“I told you I’d find a match. The original’s gone, so I had this one made overseas a while ago.”

Connor looked at her, hoping the gift would mean something. She’d loved that bangle once–maybe this would crack her armor.

Even if she wasn’t ready to forgive him, he figured she’d at least take it.

But the glare she hit him with? Pure disgust.

Then she slowly lifted her wrist. The bangle caught the light–and his hope died on the spot.

It was the one from the auction.

His face drained. He reached for her wrist, but Lucian stepped in, blocking him.

“You… how do you have that?”

Zoe didn’t say a word. Just stared him down.

“Who gave it to you? Vicky? What were you two even…

Zoe let out a cold, mocking laugh. “In your head, I’m supposed to hate Vicky, right? See her as the thief who ruined everything, cut her off, stomp all over her.

“That way, you get to play the poor, clueless victim–drop a neat little ‘I didn’t know how I really felt.

“Connor, believing in you was the most pathetic mistake I ever made. Your ego makes me sick.”

Her tone didn’t waver, but to him, it was brutal.

His whole world cracked. None of this was going how he’d imagined, and he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

2/3

“This… This can’t be…”

In that wide office, Lucian and Zoe sat side by side, both staring at him with the same blank look–like he didn’t matter anymore.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify