The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 226

Lucie still looked like she was torn. But with Elio giving her those puppy-dog eyes, she could only sigh and give in.

“Fine. As long as you don’t get bored,” she said.

Elio’s whole face brightened. “I promise, I won’t. You just go do your thing—I’ll keep myself busy.”

June jumped in right away. “Lucie, I’m staying too! Don’t worry about me, I’ll entertain myself.”

Before Lucie could even reply, Elio spun around, looking like he might combust. “June, have you lost your mind? Why would you stay?”

June rolled her eyes. “To buy antiques, obviously. Grandpa Pitts’s birthday is next month, and I need to get him something special.”

She turned back to Lucie, grinning. “Lucie, let me help your business! What do you think would make a good birthday gift? Can you give me some ideas?”

Lucie could feel a headache coming on. “Uh… are you for real?”

June nodded, totally serious. “Absolutely. And from now on, whenever anyone I know wants antiques, I’ll send them your way.”

Elio looked like he was about to blow a fuse. “June, seriously, what is wrong with you? Can you not cause trouble for once?”

That was it for June. “Elio, you’re the one with the problem! You do your thing and I’ll do mine. Why do you always have to pick on me? Westbrook isn’t yours. You get to be here, but I don’t? You buy your antiques, I’ll buy mine. Mind your own business.”

Elio’s jaw clenched. “You’re not really here to buy antiques. Don’t act like I can’t see right through you.”

June fired right back. “Oh, and you are? Like I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Just as they were about to start a full-on argument, Lucie stepped in, sounding tired. “Okay, enough. Can you both just stop?”

She looked at Elio. “Let her stay if she wants.” Then she turned to June. “If you’re serious about buying something, come with me to the antique market. I’ll have Mr. Lee show you around and give you some recommendations.”

June nodded fast. “Deal. No problem.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Before anyone could change their mind, June hopped into the passenger seat of Lucie’s car. Elio ground his teeth but couldn’t bring himself to leave Lucie’s side, so he squeezed into the back.

He muttered under his breath, “I cannot believe I’m stuck with this maniac…”

He was still mad, but being apart from Lucie wasn’t an option, so he just sucked it up and got in.

—

“…Alright, fine.”

They went into her office together. Lucie darted off to her inner room to get to work, while Elio stretched out on the sofa in the outer office. He hadn’t slept well the night before, and all the drama had left him wiped out. His head was spinning.

He flopped down, pulled his coat over himself, and drifted off almost immediately. The office was chilly, the heater not quite kicking in yet, but he was too exhausted to care.

—

A little after four, Steven finished helping Bria settle into her room and had lunch with her. As he was about to leave, his phone buzzed.

His chest tightened, but he couldn’t help checking. Sure enough, he saw a string of messages from Lucie’s alternate account.

[Sorry about this morning. Are you mad at me?]

[I really didn’t mean it. Can you please forgive me?]

[Please, I’m begging you. I only acted like that because I had no choice.]

Steven stared at the screen, anger simmering. What was she playing at? Sweet one minute, ice-cold the next. Was she giving him whiplash on purpose? Did she really think she hadn’t messed with him enough already?