I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 283

A weight settled in my chest. “No,” I denied quickly.

It was just instinct. The thought that he loved someone else, had loved her for years, made my body recoil on its own.

But my heart still loved him. I knew that.

“Then why did you pull away?” He seemed displeased, though his tone was calm. “Zephyra, you’ve never pulled away from me before.”

My lips were dry. I licked them nervously, unable to meet his eyes. “I was just thinking about something. I didn’t mean to.”

Steven studied me for a moment, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

“Let’s go home.”

I followed him, but my legs were still numb from sitting with them bent for so long. My gait was awkward, and he noticed immediately, his brow furrowing.

“It’s one thing to run off in a huff without a word, but you can’t even speak up when you can’t walk?”

He moved to pick me up, but I caught his hand, trying to see through this sudden display of warmth. I forced a smile.

“I’ve put on some weight recently, and it’s a long walk to the main gate. I’ll be fine in a minute. We can just walk.”

His eyes sharpened, and he let out a short, derisive laugh. “You think I can’t carry my own wife?”

His wife? Yes, that’s what I was.

For years, it was a title without substance. Now, it was real, but he had another woman out there—the one he truly cherished.

My heart twisted again, but I didn’t have the courage to question him. I was afraid his newfound kindness was just pity, a concession for all the years I had loved him so wholeheartedly.

Before I could reply, he swept me into his arms with ease. His signature scent, a faint, clean note of sandalwood, filled my senses. I used to crave this, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. But somewhere along the way, the thrill had faded.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder. In the dim light of the cemetery, he couldn't see the look of despair on my face.

“Why didn’t you come home?” Steven’s cool voice asked. “Were you upset about what happened at the front desk? That woman was caught cheating. The company fired her. No one will bother you like that again.”

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