The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 283

Lucie went rigid, like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her. She shoved him away, terror and disgust twisting her features. “Steven, are you out of your mind?!”

“I mean it.”

Steven’s eyes had that wild, obsessed look as he stepped closer. “Only our baby can keep you with me forever. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of them. I’ll take care of you, too.”

“Get away from me!” Lucie snatched up a crystal figurine from the table and hurled it at him. “You think a baby will trap me here? Dream on, Steven!”

The figurine hit his shoulder with a heavy smack.

He didn’t even flinch. His eyes just got darker. “Don’t make me get rough, baby.”

Lucie let out a cold, broken laugh as she backed away. “What are you going to do, Steven? Lock me up? Drug me? Force me to have your kid? Does that make you feel like a big man?”

Steven’s throat bobbed as he stalked toward her. He grabbed her wrist so hard she thought he’d snap it. “I just want you to stay. Why is that so hard?”

Lucie fought him, pain shooting up her arm. “You never loved me, Steven. You came after me for a reason. You’ve been using me this whole time, hurting me over and over.”

“And now you won’t let me go. You want to lock me up and force me to do things I hate. That’s not love. That’s sick.”

“Sick?” Steven let out a low, shaky laugh, equal parts bitter and unhinged. “Maybe. But if it means you’ll stay, then so what?”

He yanked her into the bedroom and slammed the door. The lock clicked behind them.

Lucie landed hard on the bed.

She watched him close in, her heart pounding so loud it echoed in her ears. As he moved closer, she slid her hand under the pillow.

Underneath, she’d hidden a toothbrush she’d spent days sharpening on the bathroom floor. In a house with no knives, it was the deadliest thing she could make.

“Steven, don’t come any closer. I mean it.” Her voice shook, but she forced herself to sound firm.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s make a baby. Didn’t you say Cody doesn’t really belong to us? We’ll make one that’s just ours…”

He leaned over her, ripping at her shirt collar. The possessive hunger in his eyes made her skin crawl.

“Be good.” His voice was almost gentle, but the threat was unmistakable.

“Get off me!” Lucie’s voice cracked with fear. Under the pillow, her fingers closed tight around the toothbrush handle, the sharp plastic biting into her palm.

“Steven, take one more step and I’ll kill myself right here!” Desperation gave her courage she didn’t know she had. She turned the toothbrush on herself, pressing it to her throat.

If she couldn’t kill him, she could at least end her own suffering. Anything was better than being trapped here.

Steven froze, his eyes locked on the weapon. His face darkened, rage and something almost like fear flickering underneath. “…Lucie, put it down.”

“Let me go!” Her hand shook, but she held the toothbrush tight. “Or I’ll do it! I’d rather die than keep living like this!”

Lucie’s gaze was fierce and unyielding. All the fear and pain of the last few days exploded into raw, reckless courage.

Steven’s chest heaved, his eyes wild with anger and panic. He’d never seen her like this before. She’s like wild animal, cornered and ready to leap off a cliff rather than be caged.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he said, voice ragged. But he didn’t move.

“Try me.” Lucie pressed the toothbrush harder against her throat, glaring at him. “Steven, don’t push me.”

“From the start, I’ve never done anything but treat you right. I’ve never hurt you. Not once.”