I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 272

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Steven’s lips. “So you’re still trying to get a divorce, just to become my mistress instead?”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m just offering a helpful suggestion.”

Being a mistress was demeaning, but at least a divorce would mean freedom. It would mean I could run.

I knew I was being unfair to the Steven of this life, but I couldn’t bring myself to be with him. I wasn’t even sure I could survive tonight. I was afraid I would lose control, that I would attack him. The body remembers what the mind tries to forget, and I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, that if he touched me, all the pain and betrayal of my past life would come rushing back. I would remember how he had shattered my heart, and I would hate him all over again.

I would hate him for his infidelity, for taking my devotion and throwing it away. But most of all, I would hate myself for betting everything on a love that was never real and losing it all.

If he tried to sleep with me, I was afraid I would have a violent, visceral reaction.

Steven continued to play with his phone, a cold smile on his lips. “You may be willing to debase yourself, but I am not. I have no interest in keeping a mistress. The Lancaster family has strict rules, and I would never be allowed to have one. So get that idea out of your head.”

Liar.

If he didn’t keep mistresses, then what was Verna in our past life?

I seethed with resentment but quickly suppressed it. Who was I to compare myself to her?

I didn’t say another word, just endured the throbbing pain in my leg as I made my way upstairs to my old room.

My clothes were soaked through, and I was shivering uncontrollably. The room was mostly as I remembered it, except for a few men’s jackets hanging in the closet.

It seemed Steven had moved into my room after I left.

What a strange man. When I had begged him to sleep with me, he had refused. Now that I was gone, he had taken over my space. But then, it was his villa. He could sleep wherever he wanted. I opened the closet to see if there was anything I could wear and was surprised to find it full of women’s clothing, most of it mine.

It was the stuff Steven had forced me to ship back.

A strange expression crossed my face. “So he finally found the packages.”

And he had hung everything up, right next to his own clothes. How unlucky.

When I didn’t answer, his expression hardened again. He looked down, his voice flat. “I’m hungry. Make dinner.”

A wave of relief washed over me. At least he wasn’t planning to make a move on me right now. But then my brow furrowed. “Can’t we just call Nora?”

I could barely move in all these clothes.

Steven let out a dry, humorless laugh and picked up his phone. “You know, on second thought, maybe Horace isn’t worth saving after all.”

I rushed forward. “No, wait! I’ll cook for you. I’ll make you a wonderful meal!”

The smile on his lips vanished. He stood up and walked towards me, his tall frame casting a long, intimidating shadow. I stood my ground, my heart pounding. He stopped in front of me, reached out, and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his dark, unreadable gaze.

“From now on, whatever I want, you will provide. No more bargaining. Do you understand?”

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