Chapter 279

At the top of the mountain, darkness swallowed the car, making it impossible to see anything. The back seat was laid flat, just big enough for two people to stretch out side by side.

Lucie's ankle throbbed, sharp pain snapping her from the haze. His hand gripped her so tightly it felt like he might break her bones, his touch rough and bruising. Her skin was covered in bite marks and kisses, angry reminders of his madness. When Steven lost control, he always bit her.

"Do you love me?" His voice was low, almost a growl, vibrating against her ear. "Hmm?"

"...I love you..." She choked out, her voice barely a whisper.

"Love who? Who am I?"

"I love you... love you..."

"Who am I?"

Lucie tried to answer through the fog in her mind, but she really didn't want to say his name. He was a demon in human form—cruel, wild, impossible to tame. If you didn't listen, he'd make you pay. He'd push you to the edge, break you down until you couldn't take it anymore. If you didn't give in, your only choice was to suffer through it. And she was never strong enough to resist.

"Answer me!"

"I love Steven... ugh..."

When she finally surrendered, he eased up—just a little. Most of the time, he didn't force her outright. He'd rather play with her, stirring up all the dark things she tried to hide, tempting her until she broke. It was like starving a cat for three days, then dangling a fish just out of reach. "Want it? Just say you want it and it's yours." Of course, no cat could resist for long.

Every time she lost control and said yes, he'd turn into a ruthless conqueror, taking everything, leaving nothing behind. Later, he'd pretend he was innocent-blame her, say it was all her idea.

“Steven, please, I can't take any more..." Lucie sobbed, tears running down her face. She didn't even have the energy to hit him.

Tonight, something in him had snapped. He was completely out of his mind, possessive and desperate. The thought of her with someone else, of another man touching her, was more than he could bear. He'd rather destroy her than let anyone else have her.

Down the mountain, Elio was frantic. He couldn't find Lucie anywhere. He called everyone in the Anderson family to search for her. At the same time, be fumbled with his phone, ready to call the chief of police and every friend he had in New Amberton.

“Lucie, where are you?" he muttered, hands shaking as he drove way too fast.

Just as he was about to dial, a black, unmarked car came out of nowhere, barreling straight toward him. Both cars were speeding-if they crashed, neither would survive.

"Shit—” Elio tried to slam on the brakes, but it was too late. He yanked the steering wheel, trying to swerve, but the road was narrow, with a sheer drop on one side.

Metal screamed as the two cars scraped past each other. The black car spun out, bounced twice, then crashed hard into the mountainside. Elio's car veered off the road, smashed through the guardrail, and tumbled toward the cliff's edge.

The car slammed into a tree, hanging there, creaking and ready to fall. The airbag exploded in his face nearly knocking him out. Dizzy and bleeding, he forced himself to move, unclipping his seatbelt, Ricking open the door, and crawling out. He grabbed at the rocks, putting himself away just as the car finally broke loose and crashed all the way down, bursting into flames below.

Elio hung on, barely conscious, and somehow dragged himself back up to the roadside. As soon as he reached the top, he collapsed.

A car passed by. The driver saw him, freaked out, and called the police and an ambulance right away. The other driver was already dead. Elio was badly hurt, bones broken, Blood everywhere but still alive. He was rushed d to the hospital fuck hadn't been on his side, he would've been dead too.

Morning came. The first sunlight crept into the car. Lucie opened her eyes slowly, her head pounding. She was lying on top of Steven, who was still asleep, totally worn out from the night before.

Every inch of her ached. As she shifted, humiliation and anger bubbled up inside her.

“Steven, you bastard...” she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks. She hated him. She hated herself even more. Her mind screamed that what he did was unforgivable, but her body was a traitor always surrendering, always responding.

She wiped her face. “You're awake?" Steven mumbled, half-asleep, his arm tightening around her waist.