Chapter 3

"Let go of me! I'm not in the mood..."

Lucie's whole body trembled with fury. For the first time, the very thought of having sex with him filled her with revulsion.-

But resisting Steven was pointless.

By day, he was all polished charm and stoic composure. By night, he turned into something else relentless, possessive, impossible to escape.

He stood six-foot-four, a mountain of muscle built from years of golf and MMA. Trying to fight him off was like striking granite with an egg.

And tonight, he was punishing her.

He was rough. Dominant.

Her angry breath was smothered by the heat of his kisses, every protest drowned in his thrusts.

An hour later, Lucie lay limp, drained and barely awake.

"Still mad?" Steven's sharp, handsome features wore the smug grin of a man who'd conquered.

She lay there, skin slick with sweat, anger still smoldering in her chest. "Steven, I need to ask you something."

He bent to brush a kiss across her forehead, his voice annoyingly gentle. “Later. After we're done."

Lucie couldn't hold it in. "I went to the hospital today. I saw Cody's test results-"

She didn't get to finish.

The landline on the nightstand shrilled, sharp and urgent.

From the hallway, a maid's frantic voice pierced the quiet.

The moment shattered.

No one would dare disturb them this late unless it was a true emergency. Steven's brow furrowed as he snatched the phone. "Hello?"

The housekeeper Marian's voice tumbled out, frantic and scared. "Mr. Heath! Shannon's heart's acting up again. She's in agony! I don't know what to do, please, come quick!"

Steven threw back the covers, moving off Lucie in a heartbeat. "Calm down, Marian. I'm coming."

"Oh, thank you!"

He hung up, barely pausing to grab his robe before rushing out.

A cold spike drove into Lucie's chest. The anger she'd buried for months finally erupted.

"Steven, wait!"

She sat up, voice sharp. "Shannon's still here? Didn't you promise she wouldn't stay overnight anymore?"

Steven shot her an impatient look. "She's hardly been home. Marian and Douglas missed her. Cody begged her to stay. So she did.

"And now her heart's acting up. I have to check on her..."

His words were gasoline on her fire.

Every time Shannon spent the night, her condition would flare up. And every time,

Steven would rush her to the hospital in the middle of the night.

Every fight they'd had was always because of Shannon.

Lucie's patience snapped.

"You're not a doctor, Steven. What can you even do?

"Call an ambulance, or have the staff drive her!"

"I can't just sit here," Steven snapped, already halfway out the door.

He didn't look back. He just left.

Lucie's breath caught. Pain bloomed in her chest. Divorce was no longer a maybe. It was inevitable.

She finally saw it. Steven and Shannon weren't just like siblings. Shannon was the girl he couldn't let go of.

Four years ago, she and Steven had been set up by their families.

He's the son of the New Amberton's most powerful family. She's the only daughter

of an old, respected line of antique dealers.

A perfect match on paper. Two families, joined by marriage.

Under their parents' pressure, they'd married after just three months. She'd known nothing about his past-not until now.

Downstairs, Steven cradled Shannon in his arms as he hurried toward the garage. "Get the car!" he barked at the driver. "We're taking Shannon to the hospital. Now!"

Shannon's face was deathly pale,

her arms clinging to Steven's neck. Her head lolled on his shoulder silent tears slipping down her cheeks.

From the upstairs window, Lucie watched it all-the pain, the tenderness—and bitterness flooded her throat.

If she'd known, before the wedding, that he still loved another girl, she would have chosen to stay single for the rest of her life.

She'd never been one to settle, never one to beg for love.

And in that moment, she knew with perfect clarity: her marriage to Steven was

over.

Steven didn't come home that night.

Lucie barely noticed. She'd grown used to it.

In the past year, whenever Shannon was involved, Steven transformed-reckless, fiercely protective, willing to take on the world for her.

If Shannon's family name hadn't been so humble, Lucie was sure the title of Mrs. Heath would have gone to her instead.

At eight a.m., Lucie woke early, printed out the divorce papers, and signed her name without hesitation.

They'd signed a prenup-assets separate, no shared property after marriage, nothing to divide but the simplest things.

Except for their son.

Cody never warmed to her, but he was still her child. She'd nearly died to bring him into the world.

She would never give him up.

Papers signed, Lucie grabbed her car keys and headed downstairs.

The housekeeper, Madison, met her at the foot of the stairs, worry

etched across her face. "Maan

are

you still going to the gallery today? sŵnovels

"I am."

"Oh, Lucie, you're too trusting. I don't mean to meddle, but... you need to watch your back."

Madison had come with her from the Anderson estate.

With Lucie's parents gone, Madison was the closest thing she had to a mother.

"What is it?" Lucie asked softly.

Madison wrung her hands, voice trembling. "My poor girl, you're letting your husband get stolen right out from under your nose

Still have the heart to go to?"

Lucie's eyes were calm, her tone steady. She didn't bother to hide the truth.

"Madison, I've made up my mind. I'm divorcing Steven."