Chapter 256
Shannon's voice wavered with frustration. "Steven... I was just worried about your injury."
"Get out," Steven snapped, his patience gone.
She hesitated, shooting Bria a resentful glance before trudging out of the room. In that moment, it hit her. Bria now mattered more to Steven than Lucie ever did. Back when she'd gone after Lucie, Steven always took her side, always defended her. Now, with Bria around, Steven didn't care at all. His heart was already full- there was no room for her anymore.
Out in the hallway, Shannon stomped her foot in anger. "Unbelievable. As if Lucie wasn't enough, now I have to compete with Aunt Bria too," she muttered. "Seriously, couldn't she have just stayed in her coma?"
She grumbled to herself, heading for the elevator. But as she turned a corner, she almost walked straight into a wall of muscle.
"Hey, watch it!" she shouted, ready to lash out-until she looked up and saw Elio's cold, impossibly handsome face staring back at her.
Shannon took a step back, nerves kicking in. "What do you want?”
Elio's eyes were icy. "Lucie's grandfather. You're the one who upset him, aren't you?"
Shannon's eyes darted. She tried to play it cool. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Elio's mouth twisted into a humorless smile. "No? Let me jog your memory." He grabbed her arm, dragging her down the hallway toward Lucie's room. "Let go of me! What are you doing? Help! Steven! Auntie!" Shannon yelled. Steven's assistant rushed over. "What's going on?"
Before he could get close, a group of bodyguards appeared, blocking the way. "Stay back," one warned.
Outnumbered, the assistant hurried off to find Steven.
A moment later, Elio flung open Lucie's door and shoved Shannon inside.
"Ow, you're hurting me!" Shannon yelped, stumbling and landing hard on the floor next to the bed.
Elio stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "Lucie, here she is. Do whatever you want. If something happens to her, I'll take the blame."
Lucie sat up, her eyes cold and furious. "Shannon, did you go see my grandfather to mess with him on purpose?"
Shannon tried to act tough, but her
voice shook. "Don't blame me for your problems. I couldn't find
Steven, so asked your grandfather he'd seen him how was I
supposed to know he'd get so worked up over a few questions?"
Lucie's anger only grew. "So it was you," she said, getting out of bed Her grandfather was all she had left. She'd defend him with everything
she had .
Shannon started to panic as Lucie came closer. "What are you doing?" She remembered all too well the times Lucie had lost her temper before.
A sharp slap cracked through the room.
Shannon's lip split open. “You hit me? Steven and Aunt Bria will make you pay for this!"
Lucie's eyes burned. "I hit you, and I'll do it again." She grabbed Shannon's hair and slapped her again and again, her anger finally boiling over.
Shannon cried out, blood trickling from her mouth and nose. "Help! Steven, help me!"
Lucie was shaking with rage. "If anything happens to my grandfather, I'll make sure you pay for it with your life. Do you hear me? With your life!"
Elio stepped forward, offering Lucie a baton. "Don't use your hands, Lucie. No need to hurt yourself."
Lucie took it, her chest heaving as she fought to stay in control. As much as she wanted to go further, something inside told her to stop.
Shannon scrambled for the door, terrified. "Lucie, stop! If you kill me, that's illegal!" she wailed. "Steven, help me, please!"
Elio blocked the exit, stone-faced. He
didn't believe in hitting women, bat he wasn't about to let Shannon off the hook Lucie's enemies were his enemies.
Suddenly, someone banged on the door from outside.
"Don't let anyone in," the bodyguards said, holding the line.
Steven's angry voice rang out. "We're looking for someone."
Hearing him, Shannon broke down, sobbing. "Steven! I'm in here! Lucie's trying to kill me! Help!"
"Open the door! What are you doing to her?"
"Stay back."
"Steven! Help me! Please!"
Steven's voice was cold and hard. "Elio, come out here. Don't take it out on a girl.”