The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 336

She paused for a second, then slipped the note into a hidden pocket inside her handbag. No matter what, the information on it was too important to lose.

At the same time, she’d made up her mind—she was closing all three of the family’s private galleries in New Amberton. The collections would be sorted out: anything suitable for private keeping would go straight into the family’s vault, never to be shown to the public again. The rest would either be transferred to the New Amberton Museum or sent off to auction. The Anderson family already had more than enough—maybe it was time to let some things go.

Her phone rang just as she was gathering her things. June’s name flashed on the screen. Lucie hesitated, then picked up. “Hey, June.”

June sounded both fed up and worried. “Lucie, it’s me.”

“I know. What’s up?”

June paused, then sighed. “You really messed up Elio, you know that?”

Lucie’s heart skipped, her hand shaking a little as she held the phone.

“What did you say to him last time? He’s been a mess ever since.”

Lucie swallowed. “What happened? Is he alright?”

June’s voice sharpened. “You actually have the nerve to ask? He’s falling apart, Lucie. He’s barely hanging on. Do you even know that?”

Lucie felt like her mind went blank for a second. Her worry shot through the roof. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He came back from seeing you and just—shut down. He won’t cooperate with the doctors. He won’t talk to anyone. He just drinks, doesn’t eat—nothing. You know as well as I do he can’t drink in his condition.”

June took a breath, still frustrated. “Seriously, what did you say to him to make him like this?”

Lucie’s grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white. Her chest ached.

She knew. Of course she knew. He’d never be able to accept that she was pregnant with Steven’s child again. He’d confessed to her, so open and vulnerable in front of everyone. She hadn’t had the heart to reject him outright then—she didn’t want to embarrass him in public. She’d planned to talk to him quietly the next day. But that night, he was in an accident, and Steven forced her away before she got the chance.

“Lucie? Are you still there? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’m here,” she managed, voice barely above a whisper.

“So what now?” June pressed. “Are you really not going to see him?”

Lucie’s breath hitched. She didn’t know what to say.

Sometimes, dragging things out just made everything worse. If she wasn’t going to be with him, the kindest thing she could do was to end things completely. No false hope. No more mixed signals. He’d hurt now, sure, but that was better than hurting forever. If she went to see him, she’d just make things worse.

“Okay. I get it.”

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