The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 3

“Let go of me! I’m not in the mood…”

Lucie’s whole body trembled with fury. For the first time, the very thought of having sex with him filled her with revulsion.-

But resisting Steven was pointless.

By day, he was all polished charm and stoic composure. By night, he turned into something else—relentless, possessive, impossible to escape.

He stood six-foot-four, a mountain of muscle built from years of golf and MMA. Trying to fight him off was like striking granite with an egg.

And tonight, he was punishing her.

He was rough. Dominant.

Her angry breath was smothered by the heat of his kisses, every protest drowned in his thrusts.

…

An hour later, Lucie lay limp, drained and barely awake.

“Still mad?” Steven’s sharp, handsome features wore the smug grin of a man who’d conquered.

She lay there, skin slick with sweat, anger still smoldering in her chest. “Steven, I need to ask you something.”

He bent to brush a kiss across her forehead, his voice annoyingly gentle. “Later. After we’re done.”

Lucie couldn’t hold it in. “I went to the hospital today. I saw Cody’s test results—”

She didn’t get to finish.

The landline on the nightstand shrilled, sharp and urgent.

From the hallway, a maid’s frantic voice pierced the quiet.

The moment shattered.

No one would dare disturb them this late unless it was a true emergency.

Steven’s brow furrowed as he snatched the phone. “Hello?”

The housekeeper Marian’s voice tumbled out, frantic and scared. “Mr. Heath! Shannon’s heart’s acting up again. She’s in agony! I don’t know what to do, please, come quick!”

Steven threw back the covers, moving off Lucie in a heartbeat. “Calm down, Marian. I’m coming.”

“Oh, thank you!”

He hung up, barely pausing to grab his robe before rushing out.

A cold spike drove into Lucie’s chest. The anger she’d buried for months finally erupted.

“Steven, wait!”

She sat up, voice sharp. “Shannon’s still here? Didn’t you promise she wouldn’t stay overnight anymore?”

Steven shot her an impatient look. “She’s hardly been home. Marian and Douglas missed her. Cody begged her to stay. So she did.

“And now her heart’s acting up. I have to check on her…”

His words were gasoline on her fire.

Every time Shannon spent the night, her condition would flare up. And every time, Steven would rush her to the hospital in the middle of the night.

Every fight they’d had was always because of Shannon.

Lucie’s patience snapped.

“You’re not a doctor, Steven. What can you even do?

Lucie barely noticed. She’d grown used to it.

In the past year, whenever Shannon was involved, Steven transformed—reckless, fiercely protective, willing to take on the world for her.

If Shannon’s family name hadn’t been so humble, Lucie was sure the title of Mrs. Heath would have gone to her instead.

At eight a.m., Lucie woke early, printed out the divorce papers, and signed her name without hesitation.

They’d signed a prenup—assets separate, no shared property after marriage, nothing to divide but the simplest things.

Except for their son.

Cody never warmed to her, but he was still her child. She’d nearly died to bring him into the world.

She would never give him up.

Papers signed, Lucie grabbed her car keys and headed downstairs.

The housekeeper, Madison, met her at the foot of the stairs, worry etched across her face. “Ma’am, are you still going to the gallery today?”

“I am.”

“Oh, Lucie, you’re too trusting. I don’t mean to meddle, but… you need to watch your back.”

Madison had come with her from the Anderson estate.

With Lucie’s parents gone, Madison was the closest thing she had to a mother.

“What is it?” Lucie asked softly.

Madison wrung her hands, voice trembling. “My poor girl, you’re letting your husband get stolen right out from under your nose, and you still have the heart to go to work?”

Lucie’s eyes were calm, her tone steady. She didn’t bother to hide the truth. “Madison, I’ve made up my mind. I’m divorcing Steven.”