Chapter 91

Lucie's frown only deepened as she cut him off. "Elio, that's over. There's no point talking about it now. I really need to go. Please move."

She tried to brush past him to get to her car, but he stayed glued to the door, blocking her way. He looked like he had a million things to say, but couldn't get any of them out.

"Lucie, can't you at least let me explain?"

She was already losing patience, not in the mood for any of this. Four years had passed. What was the point of digging it all up again? Even if what he'd said back then was just impulsive talk, he'd still kissed that girl in front of everyone. Was that just a slip of the tongue, too? Guys like him probably had girls lined up behind his back.

The only reason she'd agreed to date him all those years ago was because he once told her, "People who seem unreliable are usually the ones who love the most. Maybe I'm that exception. What's the harm in giving it a shot?"

Well, she had given it a shot. There were no exceptions. If someone seemed unreliable, they were usually even worse than they looked.

Elio had been a brat from the start-fighting, dating too young, skipping class, always in trouble. At eleven, he'd stolen his dad's sports car to go racing with some shady kids. At twelve, he'd driven a bunch of classmates over a thousand kilometers away before his family finally tracked him down. His dad beat him up, but it never changed anything. He just kept pushing back, daring anyone to stop him.

Eventually, his dad gave up and sent him overseas, hoping at least he wouldn't embarrass the family any further. But it's was like cutting a wild horse loose. He only got worse.

Elio let out a rough sigh. "Lucie, I don't even know where to start. But I want you to know, I never forgot you. Not even for a second."

"Thanks, but I really have to go," she said, reaching for the car.

"I just want to talk. Is it really that hard to see me?" He grabbed her arm, desperate to keep her from leaving.

"Let go, Elio. I have things to do."

"What things? Your husband cheats on you and you're still going to play along? You've only been married four years and he's already got a mistress. If you'd ended up with me, maybe I would've lasted a few more years before cheating on you."

She shot him a sharp look. "A few more years before you cheat? You're ridiculous."

They were still tangled up in their argument when a group of men in black suits started walking toward them from across the parking lot.

Steven was in the lead.

The second he saw Elio holding onto Lucie, his face turned icy. "What the hell do you two think you're doing?"

Both Lucie and Elio froze at the sound of his voice.

"Move," Lucie snapped, shoving Elio aside and trying to get in her car.

Steven

long strides and grabbed her arm "Lucie tye called you so many

ti ad the distance in a few

times. Why havent you answered?

“Steven, there's nothing left for us to say.”

His jaw tightened, and his voice dropped. "We're going home. We'll talk there."

Lucie tried to shake him off, her voice hard. "Let go. I don't want to see you."

"Babe, listen to me," he pleaded, his

tone suddenly soft. "It's nonet

you think. The media is just

stuff up. None of it's real.

That only set her off more. "Don't explain. I'm not interested. Let me go."

Steven's grip on her wrist tightened

as he tried to pull her away. "Come on, let's just go home. Well talk everything out there, okay?"