The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 287

Steven halted, glancing back at his son on the hospital bed. His voice was rough. “She’s in the VIP suite on the top floor. Don’t disturb her. She just got out of surgery.”

Miranda’s expression changed instantly. “Surgery? What happened?”

Steven shut his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. “She… hurt her neck.”

Miranda’s face went white, and she staggered back a step. “Was it you? Did you hurt Lucie again?”

“No.” Steven turned his head away, not wanting to continue. “Mom, please. Don’t ask. My head’s a mess right now. I just need some space.”

“Cody’s fine now. You should go home and rest.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He just walked off, needing a moment to himself.

Inside the elevator, his tired face stared back at him from the mirrored walls. The bandage on his neck was already showing spots of blood, mixing with the red veins in his eyes. He looked completely wrecked.

He stepped outside for a smoke, letting the cold night air numb him for a while. After half an hour, when his nerves had finally settled, he headed back to Lucie’s room.

The door clicked softly as he pushed it open.

The monitor beeped steadily, the sound unusually loud in the quiet room.

Lucie lay there, motionless on the bed, barely a whisper of life in her.

“Did she wake up?” he asked quietly.

The nurse, keeping her voice down, said, “Mr. Heath, she woke up once and had a little water. She’s sleeping again.”

Steven nodded, moving softly to the bedside.

Moonlight spilled through the window, lighting up her face and the thin, pale line of her neck above the bandage.

He reached out, hoping to touch her cheek like he had before, but his hand froze in midair.

It felt like all he ever did was mess things up. Being close to her only seemed to bring her more pain.

He’d never wanted to hurt her.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

It was already three thirty in the morning. Another message from June: [Mr. Heath, I can’t sleep. I’m drunk again. I really want to hear your voice…]

Steven stared at the message, suddenly feeling nothing but annoyance.

He almost blocked her right then, but stopped. She might still come in handy someday.

“Enough,” he muttered, putting her on Do Not Disturb.

The room settled back into silence, just the beeping machines and Lucie’s soft breathing.

Steven dragged over a chair and sat beside her, just watching.

He remembered when they first got married, how Lucie always snuggled up in his arms to watch movies. When things got emotional, she’d wipe her tears and look up at him. “Will we always be this happy?” she’d ask.

He’d always pinch her cheek and smile, promising, “Of course.”

But now, he’d turned that “of course” into “never again.”

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