The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 149

Bria only glanced over once, but it was enough. She’d braced herself—she knew Steven’s wife would be beautiful. Still, seeing Lucie in person left her stunned. Lucie was even more gorgeous than she’d expected.

Today, Lucie wore no makeup, just a simple, beige business suit and her long hair swept back into a low bun. On someone else, the outfit might have seemed plain or even dowdy, but Lucie’s natural beauty made her look quietly elegant. Bria couldn’t help but think that if Lucie ever dressed up, she’d turn every head in the room.

Lucie, for her part, was just as shocked. She stared at Bria, a chill running down her spine for reasons she couldn’t explain. Bria sat tall and steady in her wheelchair, like some battle-hardened general who’d seen it all and wasn’t fazed by anything anymore. She had a slender scar tracing from her left eyebrow down to her neck, fading as it disappeared beneath her collar. Two fingers were missing from her left hand, and her legs didn’t seem to work quite right.

“Bria, I… um…” Steven stuttered, hurrying to her side with an anxious look.

Bria gave him a calm, almost indifferent smile. “Steven, I just wanted to stop by. Don’t worry about me, do whatever you need to do.”

Steven froze, mind blank. He hadn’t been ready for this moment. Honestly, he’d hoped she’d never come back to New Amberton at all.

“This is Ms. Anderson, right?” Bria asked, her gaze steady on Lucie.

“Uh… yeah, yes,” Steven managed.

Bria turned to Lucie, her tone polite but unmistakably strong. “Ms. Anderson, thank you for being with Steven the past four years. Thank you for looking after him and keeping him company.”

Lucie finally snapped out of it, but she felt completely lost. She’d spent years imagining the woman in Steven’s past, and now here she was, right in front of her. She wasn’t some delicate beauty—she was formidable, commanding, almost intimidating.

Steven took a shaky breath, then bent down to adjust the light blanket on Bria’s lap. “Bria, why didn’t you call me first? I could’ve picked you up.”

She smiled, just a little, like she was in on a private joke. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Steven forced a laugh, but he couldn’t hide his nerves. He shot a glance at Lucie, who just stood there, frozen.

“Are the divorce papers ready?” Bria asked.

Steven nodded, his voice heavy. “…Yeah, almost.”

“Bria, let me get you settled somewhere to stay.”

“Sure.”

“Andy, can you have the driver bring the car around?”

Andy nodded respectfully. “Right away, Mr. Heath.”

Lucie blinked, coming back to herself. She started down the steps, her mind blank, and missed a step. She stumbled and nearly fell, but Edgar and Jean caught her just in time.

“Ms. Anderson, are you alright? Should we take you to the hospital?” Jean asked, worried.

Lucie’s head spun for a few seconds before she managed to steady herself. “…I’m fine.”

“Where would you like to go?” Edgar asked gently.

“To the antiques market.”

Jean looked concerned. “Ms. Anderson, you seem really tired. Maybe you should go home and rest?”

“No. Just get the car.”

“Alright.”

Five minutes later, Jean pulled up with the car.