The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 159

Steven’s eyes were wild and red, but he didn’t even try to defend himself. He just tried to get closer to Lucie, desperate to explain. “Lucie, please, listen to me. It’s not what you think—”

“Stay away from Lucie.” Elio’s voice was ice.

“Sir, please step aside.”

Lucie, soaked in sweat, suddenly went limp and collapsed. She was completely unconscious.

The medics rushed over, strapping an oxygen mask to her face. “Get her to the hospital, now!”

“On it.”

“Lucie—!”

Elio shoved Steven back, hard, his glare murderous. “Steven, you and I aren’t done. Lucie’s under my protection now. If you even think about hurting her again, I’ll make you wish you’d never been born.”

With that, Elio climbed into the helicopter with the medical team.

Steven just stood there, numb, his heart feeling like it skipped a beat.

He’d been the one to give her that car.

Now she probably thought he’d tried to kill her.

Steven winced, his head pounding. He spun around and jumped into his own car.

The engine roared as he sped off toward the Rose Garden.

It had to be Bria. This was exactly her style—nothing had changed.

***

An hour later, he pulled up at the estate.

The moment the doorbell rang, a maid hurried over to open the door.

Steven stormed inside, radiating cold fury.

“Mr. Heath? It’s so late—what brings you here?”

He didn’t answer, just headed straight for Bria’s room.

With a thunderous crash, he kicked the door open.

Bria was inside, face mask on, blow drying her hair. When she saw him, her eyes widened in surprise—and maybe even a little happiness. “Steven, you’re back?”

Steven’s presence was suffocating. He strode across the room, grabbed her by the collar, and yanked her up, practically tossing her onto the bed.

Bria shrieked, terrified. “Steven, what are you doing?!”

He stormed over, hands tightening around her throat. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

Steven’s face twisted in disgust. “Enough! I have more money than I could ever spend, more than our son could use in a hundred lifetimes. I don’t want you touching her, and don’t you dare go after anything that’s hers.”

Bria gave a dry, humorless laugh. “Steven, you’ve changed. When did you get so soft? So sentimental?”

“Or is it that you’ve actually fallen for her?”

Steven took a shaky breath, trying to keep it together. “I haven’t. Things are different now. We can’t do things like we used to.”

“She lived with me for four years. I already owe her too much. I can’t hurt her anymore.”

Bria’s eyes filled with tears. “Right. You can’t bring yourself to hurt her. Then stay with her. I never forced you to divorce her.”

Her words hit him harder than any slap. All the anger drained out of him, replaced by guilt. He couldn’t help but glance at her scarred face, the hand with missing fingers.

“Bria, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. I’m sorry, I really am.”

He rushed over, hugging her tight, desperate to comfort her.

Bria just sobbed, tears rolling down her face. “Why did I even wake up? I should’ve just died, or stayed in that bed forever. Now I’m just in the way of your happiness.”

Steven felt like he was suffocating from guilt. “Don’t say that. Please. I don’t want to hear it.”

There was a time when nothing could come between them. He owed everything to her. When the Heath family was falling apart, it was Bria who suggested changing the casino rules, and profits shot up overnight. Even now, other casinos still copied her methods. She’d handled every dirty, dangerous job herself, all to protect him.