Chapter 188

Steven smirked, loosening his tie with a lazy flick of his wrist. “Honestly, I wasn’t planning on touching you. But after how you hit me yesterday? If I let that slide, people would laugh and say I’m not a real man p>

Lucie’s heart crashed in her chest as panic took over. She jerked away, fighting to get free. “Steven, you’re unbelievable! Don’t you dare! We’re divorced! If you lay a finger on me, I’ll call the cops and have you arrested for assault p>

He just snorted, cold and unbothered, and started undoing his belt. “And what if you’re the one who wants it p>

“You’re nuts. Get away from me.” Her voice was shaking.

His grin got mean. “Come on, Lucie. You always seem to enjoy it when I touch you. Why were you moaning my name p>

His words made her skin crawl. She trembled, her anger spiking. “Steven, you’re disgusting. Just stop. Leave me alone p>

“Go ahead, report me. If the judge asks if you got off, what are you gonna say? That you came five times?

“What woman enjoys being forced? You’re the one getting off on this, not me p>

He just laughed. “Exactly. I’m the one doing all the work. You’re the one enjoying it p>

Lucie almost choked on her fury. She couldn’t believe how low he’d sunk. When they first met, he’d seemed so refined, so gentle. All of that had been a lie.

“Be good, Lucie. I’ve missed you p>

He didn’t give her a chance to answer before he crushed his mouth to hers. “Mmmph-no, stop-” Her protests were muffled. She tried to push him away, but he was a wall of muscle. No matter how hard she fought, it was useless.

It only took a few minutes before she was pinned, overwhelmed, her last bit of fight draining away. Her voice trembled as she gave in, desperate. “Steven, please. I’m begging you. Don’t do this. I’m sorry. Just… please, don’t touch me.” He looked down at her with a smug glint in his eye. “Alright. Apologize p>

Lucie’s whole body shook as she started to cry. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you. Just let me go, please p>

Before she could finish, Steven thrusted in, harder than before, shutting down any hope she had of escape.

“Too late for apologies,” he said.

Lucie gasped, dizzy with anger and helplessness, tears running down her face. “Steven, you bastard p>

He just smirked, “Now you finally get it p>

Yeah, he was a bastard. If she’d known saying sorry wouldn’t change anything,

she would have fought back the whole way.

“Let me go! Don’t touch me p>

He was rough, and her pleas just seemed to feed his need for control. For him, her fear was its own reward.

Outside the room, Shannon kept watch, barely breathing as she listened for any sign of what was happening inside. She’d seen Lucie go in, then Steven, and now nearly an hour had passed without either of them coming out.

to

Anyone could guess what was going on in there.

“That bitch,” Shannon muttered under her breath. “They’re divorced, and she’s still trying to get into his bed p>

She pulled Bria’s business card from her purse, her fingers shaking with anger as she dialed the number.

The phone rang. Finally, Bria picked up. “Hello? Who is this p>

Shannon took a shaky breath. “Aunt Bria, it’s me, Shannon.” Bria paused a moment. “What is it p>

Shannon almost spilled everything, but then she reconsidered. If Bria got a warning, she’d be ready, and the shock wouldn’t be as bad. It would be so much better if she caught them in the act.

“Aunt Bria, something’s happened at the hospital! You need to come right now p>

“What happened? Is someone hurt p>

“My brother and Mrs. Heath… Things got out of hand. Steven’s not doing well p>

Bria’s tone changed instantly. “Steven? What happened to him p>

“Just hurry! If you’re not here soon, it’ll be too late p>

Bria didn’t ask any more questions. “Okay, I’m on my way p>

“I’ll wait for you downstairs p>

“Alright p>

“Hurry, Aunt Bria. Please. If you’re late, you’ll regret it p>

“I’m coming p>

As soon as she hung up, Shannon glared at the closed door, her eyes cold and

full of hate. “Lucie, just wait. You’ll get what’s coming to you p>

Once Bria say

say the scene inside,

there’d be no way she’d let it go. Back in the day, Bria was queen of New Amberton’s underground, running fourteen territories and controlling both sides of thedaw. She still had loyal people everywhere, and some of the city’s casino owners owed their whole careers to her.

Lucie had picked the wrong person to mess with. But the Anderson family was filthy rich. If Bria went after them, she wouldn’t come out unscathed either.

That’s exactly what Shannon wanted-she wanted them both to tear each other apart.