The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 333

Lucie snapped her head around, eyes blazing with disgust, like she was staring at something foul. “Steven, don’t push it.”

She shrank back instinctively, hands protectively covering her belly, as if he were some kind of threat.

Whatever warmth was on Steven’s face vanished, a dark shadow flickering in his eyes.

He tried to look hurt, forcing a smile. “I just wanted… to say a real goodbye. Once the baby’s here, we won’t get another chance.”

“No need.” Lucie turned away, her voice sharp and icy. “I can’t handle your goodbyes. Leave. Now. Please.”

There was no room for argument. She wouldn’t even look at him.

Steven stood rooted to the spot, staring at her tense profile, his fists clenching by his sides.

“Lucie, you can’t even give me one last hug?”

She lost it. “Get out. Now.”

“Fine. I’m leaving. Just… take care of yourself.”

He turned and stomped toward the door.

Lucie didn’t watch him go. She just wanted to get back to her hospital bed.

But as she turned away, Steven suddenly grabbed her from behind, pulling her into his arms.

“Hey! Let go! What are you doing?”

Steven held her tight, burying his face in her neck. “Babe, let me hug you one last time. I swear, it’s the last.”

He only hugged her tighter, like he wanted to fuse her into himself.

Lucie’s heart raced in panic and she struggled to break free. “Let go of me!”

“Don’t fight me. Seriously, I just want to hold you one last time. Just a hug. Please, be good.”

He pressed his jaw behind her ear, his hot breath making her skin tingle and her nerves spark.

Lucie panicked even more, clawing at his hands to try and make him let go.

“Steven, let go. Let go…”

If it was just a hug, maybe she could have handled it.

But “just a hug” always turned into kisses, and kisses always turned into more. He was insatiable, relentless. Once he got his hands on her, he never stopped.

What terrified her wasn’t even Steven—it was how little control she had over herself when he touched her. She could never resist him. He always made her lose control so fast, she’d melt in his arms, powerless to stop him. In the end, she was always at his mercy, again and again…

Bang! She couldn’t break free, so she used her old trick—slamming her foot down on his.

But she was in flats, not heels, so it barely made a difference.

She missed. The glass hit the floor, water splashing all over his pants.

“Lucie, don’t get so worked up. I’m going, okay? I’m going!”

“Leave!” she screamed, tears spilling over. “Do you think I’m that easy to push around? That you can do whatever you want just because you feel like it?”

Her voice was raw with despair, like a cornered animal shouting to hide its fear.

Steven saw her like this and felt like something was crushing his chest. He wanted to say he didn’t mean it, that he just couldn’t let her go. But the words stuck in his throat.

He knew whatever he said now would only make it worse.

“Okay, okay. I’m leaving.”

He gave her one last long look, then turned and walked out.

The door slammed shut behind him.

The room finally fell silent.

Lucie slid down the side of the bed, hugging her knees tight, her sobs finally breaking free.

It wasn’t his embrace she was afraid of.

It was her own body and mind, which she couldn’t control. She hated that he could so easily break her down, and that she was helpless to stop him.