I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 398

Steven's expression soured, a shadow of displeasure crossing his eyes.

"How was I supposed to know you have so many men in your life to protect? First one, now another. Ryan made a mistake, yet you actually came for him. Zephyra, are you just charitable to everyone?"

Gordon, not daring to listen any further, discreetly excused himself and gently closed the door behind him.

"That's my business," I retorted. "Are you going to negotiate or not? If not, I'm leaving."

He went to all this trouble to force me here; he definitely had something to say.

Steven leaned back against the headboard, his refined features cool and unreadable.

"If you walk out that door, I'm sending him to jail."

I stared at him, at the face I had once loved more than anything, and realized it was possible to grow to hate it.

"You haven't shown me any proof. What if you're bluffing?"

He remained perfectly still. "You can take that chance."

"..."

Fine. Seeing Steven beaten up like this, I decided not to risk it.

I stood my ground, looking down at him, unable to fathom what he was thinking.

"What do you really want? Just say it. I have to meet someone this afternoon and I don't have time to waste with you."

Steven's gaze locked onto mine, his thin lips pressed into a firm line. "Come here."

"Can't you say it from there? Or do you need me to do something for you? If you're planning on blackmailing me into taking care of you, forget it. I don't like looking after people."

"Come here," he repeated, his tone firm.

I took a deep breath and walked toward him.

"Probably because you deserve to be hated," I replied without hesitation.

Why did I hate him? Did he really not have a clue?

Steven's face paled, as if he'd been struck. He lowered his eyes, a bitter smile on his lips.

"Talking to you always makes me angry. There's only one way to negotiate—dump Horace and remarry me."

"You'll issue a marriage announcement just like you did with the divorce announcement. It has to go viral. We'll have a wedding, a huge one—multiple ceremonies. And since Horace loves to sing so much, we can invite him to perform. I'll make sure he has the best wheelchair and the finest microphone. I wouldn't want to treat him poorly."

My face changed, and just as I was about to curse him out, Steven's voice turned cold. "I suggest you think before you refuse me. Do you want to save Ryan or not? And don't think I can't do it. The head of Aether Studio, beaten and hospitalized for no reason by the irresponsible young master of the Lopez family—the public outcry alone would be enough to cripple them."

"Not to mention, I have the footage. I can make sure he gets the maximum sentence. I guarantee he'll spend the best years of his life in a prison cell."

"Steven, you bastard!" A wave of fury washed over me. I wanted to grab the ashtray next to his bed and smash it over his head. A man who would hurt me for another woman, a man who constantly threatened me—what was the point of him even being alive? He should just die!