The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 293

The bowl of soup flew through the air, landing with a loud crash.

“Watch out!” Steven jumped in front of Bria, his big frame blocking her completely. The steaming broth splattered over his head and shoulders, leaving a sticky mess on his clothes.

“Get out!” Lucie was wild, grabbing whatever she could reach and hurling it at them without a second thought. The outburst tore her healing throat, and blood started to soak through the gauze at her neck.

“What are you doing?” Miranda and Marian shrieked, their faces pale as they scrambled out of the hospital room. Steven hurried to wheel Bria out too, terrified she’d get hurt.

Suddenly, everything went quiet. Lucie stood alone, shaking like a trapped animal. Then Cody started sobbing, his little body trembling. “Mommy… Mommy, please…”

Lucie’s heart broke as she looked at him. “I’m sorry, Cody. I didn’t mean to…” Her voice was rough, thick with tears. “Mommy, I’m scared!” Cody whimpered.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.” She hugged him tight, her tears soaking his hair. But after a moment, she steeled herself, kissed his cheek, and carried him outside.

Steven was in the hallway, checking Bria. “Are you hurt? Did you get splashed?”

Bria shook her head, worry etched on her face. “I’m fine, but you got burned, didn’t you?”

Before anyone could say more, Lucie yanked the door open and set Cody down, her voice cold and final. “Steven, take your son and stay away from me. Don’t come back.”

She turned away, slammed the door, and disappeared inside.

Cody wailed, his cries echoing down the hall. “Mommy! Mommy—cough, cough—mommy!” Miranda rushed to scoop him up. “Come here, Cody, Grandma’s got you.”

He fought her, little fists beating the door. “Mommy, open up! I want Mommy!” His crying and coughing blended into one heartbreaking sound.

Steven stood there, soup still dripping from his hair, staring at the closed door. Finally, he knelt by Cody and tried to pull him close. “Cody, Mommy needs to rest. Let her be, okay?”

“No! I want Mommy!” Cody pushed him away, throwing himself at the door again and again. “Mommy, please come out! I promise I’ll be good…”

Bria watched from her wheelchair, the scene twisting something deep inside her. “Cody, stop it. I’m your mom. Come here, let me teach you how to behave.”

Miranda scowled at her, hugging Cody tighter. “And what gives you the right to teach my grandson anything?”

Back in the hospital room, the noise in the hallway finally faded. Lucie pressed her back against the door and slid down to the floor, hugging her knees. Hearing Cody cry like that had nearly broken her, but she had to stay strong. She couldn’t let herself get sucked back into the Heath family’s mess.

Her throat throbbed, every swallow a fresh sting. Her whole body felt weak and achy, but she forced herself to stand. “I have to leave. I can’t stay here…”

She slipped on her shoes, opened the door quietly, and crept into the empty hallway. After all the chaos, nobody was there to stop her.

Leaning against the wall, she made her way quickly to the stairwell. She was scared Steven would find her, so she didn’t dare take the elevator—she pushed herself to go down the stairs instead.

Fifteen minutes later, Steven finally got Bria into her car. He couldn’t shake the worry gnawing at him, so he rushed back to Lucie’s room.

But she was gone.

The room was empty. Panic shot through him. “Where is she?”

A nurse stared, just as surprised. “She was here a minute ago. How did she disappear so fast?”