Chapter 328

Elio looked absolutely sure of himself. "Steven, Lucie and I are going to end up together. Don't bother scheming, I'm not giving you another shot."

Steven let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Oh really?"

"Of course."

"Well then, I guess I should wish you two the best of luck." He paused, his tone turning sly. "But now's not the right time."

"You don't get to decide that," Elio snapped.

"I don't," Steven agreed, "But Lucie does. And right now, she's pregnant. You might want to wait until after she has the baby before chasing after her again."

The words hit Elio like a bomb. His face went pale and he just stood there, stunned.

"...What did you just say?"

Lucie's heart clenched. She glared at Steven, her voice shaking with anger. "Shut up. Don't say another word."

Steven pretended not to hear her, his eyes locked on Elio's frozen face. He spoke slowly, twisting the knife deeper. "She's almost four weeks along. And the baby's mine."

"No way!" Elio spun to face Lucie, his eyes full of disbelief and pain. “Lucie, is he telling the truth?"

Lucie turned away, trembling, unable to speak.

She could feel Elio's stare burning holes in her back.

"See? She's not denying it," Steven said, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. He reached for Lucie's waist, but she shoved him off hard.

"Steven! That's enough!" Lucie's eyes were red with fury, and a sharp pain in her stomach made her knees almost buckle. "Do you have to drive everyone crazy just to feel good about yourself?"

Elio looked like he'd seen a ghost. He stumbled backward, his cast knocking against the doorframe with a heavy thud.

He stared at Lucie's stomach, his voice raw and scratchy. "Why... Why didn't you tell me?"

"I... I only found out yesterday," Lucie whispered. She didn't know how to explain any of it.

How could she say she'd been forced?

Or that the baby was meant to save another child?

Telling the truth now would just rip apart whatever was left between them.

Steven watched Elio fall apart, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes, but it disappeared the moment he saw Lucie's face-so pale it made him uneasy.

He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, rough but protective. "Lucie's exhausted. She needs to rest. Elio, you're not welcome here. Please leave.”

"...Let her go!" Elio snapped back to life, charging forward like a trapped animal. Steven was ready. He dodged easily and signaled to the bodyguards. "Escort Mr. Pitts out. And don't hurt his leg. He'll need it to walk out of here."

The guards grabbed Elio's arms.

"Lucie! Say something! Tell me this isn't true!" Elio struggled, eyes locked on Lucie. "Look at me!"

Lucie squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look. She knew that if she met his gaze, she'd lose whatever strength she had left.

She knew Elio really loved her.

But the two of them were like parallel lines-always side by side, never touching. Better to cut things off now than to drag it out and hurte him more.

"Take him out," Steven said, his voice cold as ice.

Elio's shouts echoed through the hallway as he was dragged away. "Steven! You

bastard! I won't let you get away with this! Lucie—”

The door slammed shut, shutting out everything and everyone else.

Lucie felt all the energy drain out of her. Tears slid down her cheeks, silent and unstoppable.

"Happy now?” she whispered, her voice trembling with heartbreak. "Are you proud of yourself for kicking him out like that?"

Steven's arms tightened around her.

He pressed his

e into her nec

his breath hot hot and uneven just

Seeing him around you

anymore."

"And what about you?" Lucie pushed him away, exhausted and fed up. "How long are you planning to keep me trapped here?"

Steven saw the misery in her eyes and felt a pang of guilt. He tried to speak, but Lucie suddenly gritted her teeth in pain.

"Ugh..." She clutched her stomach, her face turning ghostly pale, sweat beading on her forehead.

“Lucie!” Steven panicked and reached out to steady her. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

He started to call for a doctor, but Lucie grabbed his hand.

"Don't..." she whispered, her voice barely there. “Just let me be alone..."

Watching her suffer tore Steven up inside.

He knew he'd hurt her again.

But he just couldn't control himself. Every time he pictured her leaving or-worse-standing with Elio, be lost his mind Logic and reasonjust didn't matter anymore.

He carefully helped her back into bed, tucking the blanket around her, his hands

clumsy and unsteady. "I'll get the doctor..."

Lucie didn't answer. She just turned away from him, her shoulders shaking.

That's when Steven realized someone else was in the room.

Bria was standing right behind him.

He'd been so caught up in the storm between Lucie and Elio that he hadn't even

noticed her watching it all unfold.