Chapter 282

The mansion was huge, but it was just her and that crazy robot rattling around inside.

By the third day, Lucie was about to lose it. She felt like she was going stir-crazy, trapped within these four walls.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Mr. Heath, welcome home."

Finally, the front door swung open.

Steven walked in, arms loaded with shopping bags.

"Put these in the fridge," he said.

The robot answered, "Okay."

The second Lucie saw Steven, her whole chest tightened with anger. She glared at him, voice sharp as a blade. "Steven, you're finally back. Why are you keeping me here? What do you want from me?"

Steven shot her that infuriating, smug grin, shrugged off his suit jacket, and tossed it on the sofa.

"Babe, this isn't imprisonment. I'm protecting you."

Lucie lost it. She lunged at him, clawing and hitting. "You're crazy! Let me out! Let me out right now!"

"You jerk! Why are you doing this to me?"

Steven just stood there, letting her hit him, not even flinching. He didn't budge until her arms gave out and she was left panting, out of strength.

"Feel better now?" he asked.

Lucie's eyes burned with fury. "Steven, you're about to marry someone else, so why are you still keeping me here?"

Steven's eyes went dark, his expression turning cold. He took a step closer. "I'm marrying Bria because I promised her I'd never let her down."

"That's my promise. I have to marry her and take care of her for the rest of her life. I can't break my word. I can't fail her."

Lucie's heart twisted tighter. "Then go love her! Why won't you leave me alone?"

He let out a shaky breath, moving even closer, cupping her face gently in his hands. "Because I love you, Lucie. I want you."

There was something wild in his eyes. His breathing was getting heavy.

Lucie panicked, stumbling back. “Don't touch me. If you do, I swear I'll kill myself right in front of you."

"Let me out, Steven. Otherwise, all you'll get is my corpse."

Steven froze for a moment, then laughed. "No, you won't."

"If you're gone, who'll take care of your grandfather? He's still waiting for you, isn't he?"

"And what about the Anderson

family fortune? That's billions of

dollars. Who's going to inherit all that? If you really die, it just makes

things easier for me.

for me. So, you're better off living. At least you won't be giving me what I want, right?"

“Steven, you're disgusting! You're a shameless bastard!” Lucie snapped, lunging at him again.

Steven's handsome face twisted into something dark and obsessive. "As long as you listen, I'll love you like I always have. I won't hurt you. I just want you here with me."

"I love you. I can't stand the thought of you with someone else."

Lucie sucked in a shaky breath, still furious. "That doesn't mean you get to lock me up!"

"Lock you up?" Steven gave a low, almost mocking laugh, his fingers tracing over her flushed cheek, his eyes burning with possessiveness. "If I didn't, would you really stay?"

He leaned in, his breath hot at her ear, his voice twisted and almost pleading. "The second you see Elio, you forget about me. ff. didn't keep you here, you'd already be gone with him, wouldn't you?"

Lucie jerked her head away, heart pounding. "Who I choose is my business! Steven, you don't get to control my life!"

"I'm Steven. I'm your husband," he said, standing tall, looking down at her. "Every inch of you belongs to me. You promised you'd only ever love me.”

Lucie's eyes were red and shining with tears. "That was in the past! You destroyed everything between us. You betrayed me first!”

"I didn't betray you," Steven shot back, his tone suddenly freezing. “I'm marrying Bria out of duty. My love is reserved for you. Those two things have never conflicted."

"You don't get to decide that!" Lucie grabbed a pillow from the sofa and

threw it at him. "I don't want your

love refuse

to be your dirty littles

secret! Let me go, Steven. Let me go

right now!”

Steven caught the pillow and tossed it aside, his grin fading into a cold, dangerous look. "I told you. You're not leaving. Not unless I'm dead."

He closed the gap in one stride, yanking her into his arms so tightly she could hardly breathe. "Stay with me. Stop thinking about running away. Stop talking about Elio. Or "

He stopped, his eyes running over her pale face, his voice full of threat. “I can't promise I'll be this gentle next time."

Lucie's whole body ached, but she refused to back down. “What, you're just going to keep me locked up forever?"

"Shh, of course not."

"I know you hate me because of the baby," he continued, softer now. "I can make it right. We can have our own child—a baby that's just ours. When you have our baby, I'll let you go. I promise."

"Listen to me, I already talked to the doctors. Right now isn't the best time for you to get pregnant, but it's not impossible. I'll find the best specialists, the best care... just for you..."