Chapter 234

He'd actually taken those nudes and sent them over himself.

Elio looked at him with a mocking grin, not holding back for a second. "Really, Steven? You're kind of pathetic. Sending nudes around like some creep? Man, I almost feel embarrassed for you."

To rub it in, Elio pulled up Steven's photo and waved it in front of his face with a cocky little shake.

"Give that back. Seriously, quit messing around," Steven snapped.

June managed to snatch her phone away, but Steven's face had already gone from red to pale, then settled into an icy coldness.

Perfect. Just perfect.

So the three of them had teamed up to make a fool out of him.

Seeing Steven's face turn dark and dangerous, Elio just leaned in, his words sharp and cruel. "So, Steven, stop flattering yourself. Lucie never loved you. She's only ever loved me.

"Do you even know why she married you four years ago?"

Steven looked up, his eyes cold and stormy.

Elio's smirk only got bigger. "She was pissed at me. That's it. She married you to get back at me. Now that I'm back and ready to marry her, of course she chose me."

Steven felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His blood was boiling.

Lucie never loved him?

No way. He didn't believe it. She loved him-he was sure of it. There was no way their whole marriage was just to spite someone else.

But there was one thing he couldn't deny: Elio was her first love. She'd always have a spot in her heart for him.

That thought gnawed at him, making his chest ache like it was about to burst. "...Are you done?" Steven's voice was dangerously steady.

Elio laughed. "Not even close, man. Steven, Lucie got attacked on the street a while back. Someone tried to stick her with a syringe full of HIV-positive blood.

"That was you, right?"

Steven's already cold expression twisted with shock and disbelief. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on. Don't play dumb."

"I don't know what you're talking about. And I'd never hurt Lucie."

"Then it was someone you know," Elio shot back. "I'm already looking into it. Don't worry, I'll find out who did it. And you better keep your people in check. If anyone lays a finger on Lucie again, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Steven clenched his jaw so hard his teeth hurt.

Just then, the operating room doors swung open and a doctor came out.

For a moment, both men forgot everything else and rushed forward. "Doctor, how is she?"

"She's stable. Just a surface wound. She'll be all right," the doctor said.

"Is she awake?" Elio asked.

"Not yet," the doctor replied.

A nurse pushed Lucie out on a gurney.

"We're taking her to a room. Her injuries are pretty bad, so she'll need to stay here

for a few days," the nurse explained.

Elio finally let out a long breath. "Thank God. As long as she's okay."

"Please move aside so we can get her to her room."

"Yeah, of course."

As Lucie was wheeled past, Elio rushed to her side. "Lucie, I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered.

Steven watched, his throat tight and dry. The tension in his body eased only a little. He wanted to go to l too to see for himself that she okay. But when he saw Elio grab her hand, his heart froze over allover again.

She was safe, and that was enough. There was no reason for him to stay.

He watched as Lucie disappeared into her hospital room, then forced himself to

turn away, swallowing his anger and heading for the exit.

He'd barely taken a few steps before

June hurried after him, her voice small and apologetic. "Mr. Heath, I swear didn't mean any harm just

thought you were really hot and wanted to be friends. That's all..."

Steven shot her a frosty look that made her shrink back, then kept walking, not saying a word.

Even if he knew now that the messages weren't actually from Lucie, she was still involved. She was the one who gave June his number. Otherwise, he'd never have added a stranger.

What did she take him for? A plaything? Some kind of male model to pass around for her friends to ogle?

And the worst part? That girl had gotten a full show, seen him at his most vulnerable.

He wasn't about to let this go. He was going to make them pay.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.

Mick stepped out just as Steven was about to go in. They brushed past each

other.

"Mr. Heath, where are you going?"

Steven's face was stormy. He didn't answer, just stepped inside.

June scrambled

in after him. "Mr.

Heath, I'm really sorry. Can't you

1

forgive me? I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just thought you were amazing and wanted to be friends. Please don't block me, okay? I really didn't mean any harm."

Steven glanced over at her again, his face unreadable.