The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 330

The hospital room fell silent again. The only sounds were the wind rustling outside and the heavy, invisible wall between them.

A few minutes later, Steven couldn’t take it anymore. Worry gnawed at him, so he rushed out, chasing Bria all the way to the elevator.

“Bria.” He caught her by the wrist. Her arm was so thin that even through her sleeve, he could feel the sharpness of her bones. He eased his grip, but his voice was tight. “Where are you going?”

Bria tried to yank her hand free, but he didn’t let go. She turned her head away, refusing to look at him. “It’s none of your business.”

“How is it not my business?” Steven’s voice was low and strained.

“Steven, stop torturing yourself. I know you don’t love me anymore. I’m not going to stand in the way of your happiness.”

“Please, just let me go. I promise I won’t bother you again.”

Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. Steven swallowed hard, guilt twisting inside him.

“Bria, don’t say that. Please.” His voice was barely a whisper. “You know I can’t lose you. I don’t know how to live without you.”

He stepped forward and wrapped her in a desperate hug.

After all these years, what he felt for Bria had become something deeper than love. She was family to him now. He needed her.

Bria blinked back tears, staring out the window at the end of the hallway. Her voice was so soft it was almost a sigh. “I can’t compete with her, and I don’t want to anymore. If you love her, then be good to her. As for the baby… I don’t have any right to it. I’ll give it back to you both.”

“Bria, wait.” He quickly moved in front of her, blocking her path. “Cody can’t wait any longer. The cord blood— I’ll talk to Lucie. I’ll explain everything.”

Bria looked up at him, her eyes full of bitter sarcasm. “Explain everything? Steven, stop lying to yourself.”

“Bria, I’m only doing this to save Cody. That’s why I had to convince her to have the baby. You know how much she hates me. If I didn’t talk her into it, she never would have agreed to save him.”

Bria shook her head. She was done listening. “Say whatever you want. I just want to leave now. Please step aside and let me go.”

Her words cut deeper than anything. Steven saw the tears welling in her eyes and suddenly realized he owed her more than he could ever repay.

“I’m sorry.”

Bria turned away, wiping her tears before he could see. “Don’t apologize. I can’t take it.”

She walked around him and headed down the hall, slow but determined.

Steven stood there, frozen, watching her until she disappeared at the stairwell. His fists clenched tight.

The smell of disinfectant in the corridor suddenly felt suffocating. He took a shaky breath and turned back.

He knew there were some things he couldn’t run from anymore.

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