The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 160

When business was at its lowest, she was the one who rallied hundreds of loyal men and brought the Heath family back from the brink.

When he was being hunted, surrounded by enemies on all sides, she was the one who cleared every obstacle in his path. All the dirty work, the shady deals, the things that could never see the light of day—she handled it herself, never letting him get his hands dirty.

But what really haunted him was that night.

He’d been set up, lured onto a ship in international waters under the guise of a business meeting. The dozen bodyguards he brought were slaughtered. He barely survived, left bloodied and broken.

She threw herself in front of him, shielding him with her own body. She took thirty knife wounds all for him. He saw it with his own eyes: the blade slashed from her brow down to her chest, her fingers severed. She collapsed on top of him, her body torn apart.

In that moment, he swore to himself: If I make it out of this alive, I’ll never betray her. No matter what the world throws at me, I’ll never let her down.

“Bria, I’m sorry. I lost my temper just now,” he said quietly.

Bria’s tears finally broke free, raw and silent. “Steven, I don’t blame you. Even if you’ve stopped loving me, I can’t blame you for that.

“Look at me now. I’m a mess—I’m not worthy of you anymore. You deserve someone like Ms. Anderson. She’s beautiful and accomplished, everything I’m not.

“Just go. From now on, let’s pretend we never knew each other. Let’s cut all ties.”

Steven’s chest twisted with guilt and pain. “Bria, please, don’t say that. You know I could never betray you. I can’t love anyone else. You’re the only woman for me. I swear, even if it kills me, I’ll never let you down.”

Bria shook her head, sobbing harder into the sheets. “Just stop... please don’t say any more...”

She knew, deep down, that his love for her had changed.

Eight years. How many people could truly survive that kind of test? She was older now, her beauty faded. He was in his prime, at the height of his charm.

If she’d never woken up, maybe she would’ve always been his untouchable first love. But fate didn’t let her slip away quietly.

“Bria, I’m so sorry. Please, don’t cry. Seeing you like this hurts me even more.”

“I’ll divorce Lucie as soon as I can. The moment it’s over, I’ll marry you. I promise. But she’s innocent in all this. We’ll just pretend she doesn’t exist. There’s no need to hurt her.”

Bria just kept crying, silent and stubborn.

“Lucie, I’m not letting you go this time.”

Everything that happened tonight made him realize how much he loved her. When he thought she might die, it felt like the whole world was falling apart. He couldn’t lie to himself anymore—he was in too deep. He’d spent years trying to move on, dated so many women, but none of them could compare.

She was one of a kind. No one could replace her.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was his mom. Of course she knew what happened tonight. He declined the call; he didn’t have the energy for another lecture or argument about his love life.

He was twenty-seven now. His father had wanted him to stay abroad, embarrassed by his antics back home. But his grandparents were getting old, his mom was overwhelmed, and Pitts Enterprises needed someone to step up.

So they hauled him back, determined to find him a wife to keep him in check.

A message popped up.

[Elio, the meeting with the Swanson family is set for tomorrow. You have to be there. If you skip it, I’m cutting off all your cards.]

Elio rolled his eyes. His parents always pulled the financial threat. But whatever—his grandparents doted on him. All he had to do was sweet-talk them, and they’d spoil him all over again.