Chapter 95

"Let go..." Lucie's voice was barely a whisper as she struggled against him.

Steven's kiss was wild and punishing, every touch laced with anger.

How could she ignore his calls for days, then cozy up to her ex right in front of him? Did she even realize who he used to be? He'd always been careful with her in bed, never once letting things get out of hand. But tonight wasn't like before.

"Steven... please " Her words broke off as he pressed harder, cutting off her breath. She couldn't fight him, but she managed to bite his lip, tasting the sharp tang of blood between them. The pain only seemed to fuel him. He gripped her tighter, his lips finding her neck, marking her skin with a deep, angry bruise.

"No!" Lucie gasped, vision blurring. She was so dizzy she nearly passed out, her body too weak to resist.

He was out of control, like nothing she'd ever seen before. For the first time since they got married, Lucie was actually afraid of him.

They'd been together for four years. He'd always been rough around the edges, but never cruel, never truly harsh. He always cared about how she felt-always tried to make her feel good, even if he might be a little possessive. Even that time in her studio, he hadn't lost it like this.

...

When Lucie finally came to, she was back in bed, not even sure how she'd gotten there.

She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her body, and she fell back against the pillows. She could hear the shower running in the bathroom. Steven was in there.

Lucie took a shaky breath and forced herself up. She needed to get out-needed to call her grandfather, get help, anything. Wobbling to her feet, she grabbed the nearest robe and slipped it on, fingers trembling as she tied it around her waist.

The bathroom door opened with a loud click.

Steven stepped out, water still clinging to his skin, a towel slung low on his hips. His expression was cold, unreadable, drops of water tracing down his chest and along the ridges of his abs.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice was icy.

Lucie's legs nearly gave out. He was so tall, so imposing, closing the distance between them in seconds. For the first time, she was truly scared.

"Don't come any closer-please, just stay away from me..."

Steven smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "I'm your husband. Why are you so afraid of me?"

He was on her in a second, pushing her down onto the bed again, pinning her in place. She tried to scramble away, but for every inch she gained, he took two, until her back hit the headboard and there was nowhere left to go.

“Steven, I hate you! Don't do this to me!"

"Still not going to listen?" His voice was low and dangerous. "Guess I haven't punished you enough. Do you still want that divorce? Say y can't live without me. Say you'd die if I left you. You wanted kids, right? We can have another one.."

Day blurred into night, then back into day again. Lucie finally broke. She lost track

of everything, her sense of time, her hope, even her will to fight. It felt like there was no way out.

By the second day, she was burning up with fever. Steven called for the family doctor, who started her on an IV and left her with medicine. Luciè barely noticed. She hadn't eaten in two days, her lips cracked and bleeding, angry bruises rising on her neck where he'd bitten her.

Steven watched her, a flicker of regret crossing his face. Most of his anger had

faded, and for the first time, a sliver of guilt crept in as he realized what he'd done.