Chapter 139

Steven's face went white with panic as he lunged for the phone, desperate to stop Lucie from saying anything.

"Steven, is everything sorted out? When are you bringing our son to Switzerland?" a girl's voice asked from the other end.

Lucie froze, her heart catching in her chest.

Steven managed to grab the phone from her hand and hurried toward the bathroom. "Hey, yeah, almost done. I'll bring him over as soon as I finish up here."

"Nothing big happened, right? I've been calling you, but you never pick up," the woman persisted.

"No, nothing's wrong. Really. I'm just in a meeting right now. I'll call you back as soon as I'm finished, okay?" Steven's voice was vague, rushed.

"Alright then," she said.

He hung up quickly, barely saying goodbye.

Lucie just stood there, numb, her mind spinning. she'd cling to the hope that it was all some horrible mix-up, that maybe she'd misunderstood. But now she'd heard the girl's voice, clear as day. There was no more denying it. Every last hope she'd held onto shattered in an instant.

Steven stared at her, frustration and regret written all over his face. "Is this what you wanted? For both of us to end up miserable?"

Lucie stood frozen, feeling like her heart was sinking into an icy abyss. Then, all of a sudden, everything went black and she collapsed.

Steven caught her just in time, wrapping his arms around her like he'd never let her go. "Babe, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He held her tightly, like he was afraid she'd vanish if he loosened his grip.

It was a few minutes before Lucie came to. She blinked up at him, dazed, tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking his shirt.

Steven's eyes were full of guilt and pain as he gently wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry. I lied to you. I'm the worst."

"Can't I make it up to you somehow?" he pleaded.

He wanted to offer her money, but she didn't need it. Anything he could give, she already had. She'd never cared about that, and he knew it. What she wanted was something real-a love she could trust.

"If you don't want to get divorced, I'll still be a good husband to you. I promise," he said quietly.

Lucie stared at him, hollow-eyed. "And what about her?"

Steven hesitated, looking like he wanted to disappear. "Lucie, eight years ago she got into an accident. She was in a coma. I really thought she'd never wake up."

Lucie's heart twisted. "So you married me because you thought she was gone?"

She'd always assumed Steven had cheated after they'd already tied the knot. She never expected she was the other woman at along. That was unbearable. She would rather be alone forever than be someone's mistake, or the reason for someone else's pain.

"Lucie, I was desperate. She was in that bed for four years. I waited for her, I really did," Steven said, voice thick with regret. "I honestly thought she'd never come back. But last month-she did. She woke up."

Lucie felt like she was freezing from the inside out. "So what now?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"I... I don't know," he admitted. "Just give me a little time. I promise I'll sort it out."

Lucie shoved him away and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the room. "I hate you, Steven. I hate you more than anything."

"Why did you lie to me? Why did you make me carry your mess? And you made me give birth to a child that should've been hers... How could you?"

done

Steven winced, eyes squeezed shut. "I'm sorry." If he'd known she would wake up, he never would've gone down this road. For eight years she'd been like a ghost, and the doctors said she'd probably never recover ad pay for the best care, e everything he could. He did love her once. But feelings locked away for so long just faded into dust. He was human, after all. He needed a real partner, a real life.

"Get out. I never want to see you again." Lucie's sobs wracked her body as she pounded his chest, drowning in pain. The more beautiful something seemed she thought the more poisonous it turned out to be. She'd been so grateful, so happy, believing she'd found the perfect man. Now she saw the truth; perfection was just a pretty mask for something ugly.

Steven's heart broke as he pulled her into his arms, crying openly. "Lucie, I love you. I really do. I can't lose you.

"She's staying in Switzerland. She won't come back to New Amberton. Please, can't you just pretend she doesn't exist?"

"Let go. Leave me alone!" Lucie's chest ached, nausea rising in her throat. She doubled over, coughing, her vision blurring.

"Don't get so worked up," Steven begged.

Lucie gagged, her world spinning. Then everything went black again and she slumped in his arms.

"Lucie! Lucie!" Steven shouted, panicked. He grabbed a coat, called for the car, and rushed her to the hospital.