The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 135

“You really should let a doctor look at that.”

Elio pressed the cotton to his wound, brushing off her concern. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch.” The cut was barely a couple of inches long.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “Nope. Don’t worry. Even if we had to spend our wedding night together, I’d still be up for it.”

Lucie shot him a look, her patience wearing thin. Seriously? Joking at a time like this? But if he could still joke, he was probably fine.

She turned her attention to Steven. Blood was already pooling at his feet, staining the crisp white of his shirt’s collar and cuffs. Lucie’s chest tightened. She’s about to say something when the butler and medics rushed over to help him, so she bit her tongue.

“Mr. Heath, your hand is bleeding badly. We need to treat it now.”

A police officer stepped forward, stern. “What happened here? Why were you fighting? Both of you need to come down to the station and give statements.”

Elio put on his best harmless smile. “It’s nothing, really. No fight. We were just messing around.”

The officer looked them up and down, clearly not buying it. “Messing around?”

“Really. Mr. Heath and I are ‘good friends,’” Elio added with a wink. He wasn’t worried about the police, but if news of this got out, his grandparents would freak and his hot-headed dad would probably send him abroad again. He just wanted this to go away, fast.

Steven stayed silent, his face dark, eyes locked on Lucie.

“Mr. Heath, your son was rescued thanks to Mr. Pitts’ quick thinking and bravery. The kidnappers are in the hospital now. We’ll follow up on the case. But right now, you both need to come to the station and make a statement.”

Steven’s voice was ice. “No. I’m going to the hospital.”

The officer looked at his hand and nodded. “Alright. Take care of your injury first.”

Steven turned to Lucie, his gaze sharp. “Come home with me.”

Lucie’s voice was cold. “Steven, go to the hospital. We shouldn’t see each other again until court.”

Steven’s jaw tensed. He swallowed hard, his eyes a storm. “Lucie, please. Just come home. I’ll explain everything.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation. And I don’t want to hear any more excuses.”

He took a shaky breath. “Come with me. Don’t make me say it again.”

“Not happening,” Lucie said, her voice flat.

Elio scoffed. “Did you not hear her? Lucie isn’t going anywhere with you.”

Steven snapped, “Stay out of it. This is between my wife and me.”

Elio shot back, “She won’t be your wife much longer.”

Steven’s lips curled into a cold smile. “That’s not up to you. She’s mine, and she always will be.” He reached for Lucie again. “Lucie, come home.”

“In the end, it never works out.”

She turned and walked toward her car. She’d tried love. She’d tried marriage. Both ended in disaster. Now, everything just felt hollow. No matter how passionate the beginning, the ending was always disappointment. Maybe it was time to stop chasing feelings and start chasing something that actually meant something.

Elio hesitated, then hurried after her. “Lucie, did I say something wrong? Let me drive you home, okay?”

Lucie was already behind the wheel. She rolled the window down. “Elio, thanks for today. Goodbye.”

Elio quickly jumped into the passenger seat. “Lucie, I didn’t drive. Can you take me back to Elmridge?”

She nodded, too tired to argue, then started the car and pulled onto the road.

“Lucie, honestly, I was really happy today…”

Lucie stared straight ahead. “Elio, just stop. Don’t waste your time.”

He fell quiet, confused.

“None of it matters,” Lucie said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t mean anything. I just want you to know, there’s nothing between us. Don’t waste your time on me. It won’t go anywhere.”