The Heiress Revived from the Ashes (Lauren Bennett) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Don’t Touch Me, Stay Away We’re Done Forever

Lucas noticed the wound on her forehead, his gaze filled with concern. “You’re hurt.”

Lauren stared coldly at the ground, silent.

“Who did this to you? Tell me, I’ll make them pay.” Lucas’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them.

But to Lauren, his concern was laughable,

He was the one who said he’d protect her.

And he was the one who sent her to prison.

Five years ago, she had desperately hoped he would stand in court as her defense attorney.

But when the trial came, he sat across from her–defending Willow. Expressionless, he laid out every damning piece of evidence against her, each word like a blade slicing into her, pinning her to the pillar of shame. Because of him, she lost her freedom, her dignity, her education, her future…

She had trusted him once. And he had stabbed her in the back.

That betrayal had nearly cost her her life. How could she ever trust him again?

If Kenneth was the person she feared most, then Laicas was the one she despised the most

They had spent more than a decade together, relying on each other. How could he throw all of that away so easily!!

She envied Willow. Willow had also known the Bennett family for over a decade, yet they had been willing to sacrifice their own blood–related daughter for her. They wouldn’t let Willow suffer even the slightest bit of harm.

Lucas’s face was heavy with guilt as he watched her remain distant and indifferent…

“Lauren, you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?”

“Thad no choice back then. Can’t you forgive me? I swear. I’ll never let you suffer again.”

Lauren had no interest in his excuses.

She had already suffered for things that were never hers to bear

No explanation could undo the damage.

Her leg would never heal. Her left car was permanently deaf. The kidney they took from her was never coming back.

These weren’t just scars–they were facts, etched in blood.

How could she ever forgive the one who did this to her?

Lauren tried to pull her hand away, but Lucas held on too tightly.

Finally, she lifted her gaze to him. Her eyes were cold, frozen over with an unshakable haired,

The look in her eyes nearly knocked the air from his lungs, like an invisible hand squeezing his chest. For a moment, he felt like he was drowning in the sheer loathing and detachment in her stare.

“Let go,” she said, her voice ice–cold.

Lucas’s grip instinctively tightened, his gaze locked onto her. “Lauren, let me take you to get your wound treated, okay?”

His voice was soft, almost pleading.

To Lauren, it only made her disgust grow.

“Did you not hear me? I said, let go. There was no warmth in her voice, only raw repulsion.

Chapter 21 Don’t Touch Me. Stay Away We’re Done Forever

It felt like thousands of needles stabbing into Lucas’s heart. His lips trembled, struggling to form words “Lauren..”

Finished

Her name carmed all the regret and desperation he couldn’t put into words. He was begging her, pleading for even a shred of

mercy

But all it did was make her loathing deepen.

Lauren had reached her limit. A flicker of madness flashed in her eyes.

Suddenly, she yanked her head back–then slammed it hard against the wall.

The wound on her forehead burst open, blood gushing out streaming down her face in a horrifying red mess.

She turned to Lucas her bloodied face eerty calm, her voice unwavering “Are you letting go or not?”

Lucas stood frozen completely stunned by her self–destructive act

“No” Lauren lifted her head again and smashed it against the wall.

Bang Bang Bang

The sickening sound of her skull himing the wall echoed down the hallway, each impact like a sledgehammer against Lucas’s heart

His face went deathly pale. His legs nearly gave out beneath him.

“You’re insane.” he choked out, his voice shaking. You’d rather hurt yourself than stay near me?

Lauren seemed possessed. As long as he didn’t let go, she would keep going

Blood splattered onto the floor pooling at her feet. Her face turned ghostly white from the blood loss

Lucas was in agony, his soul writhing under the sight of her self–intacted tomment

Why do you hate yourself so much? Why would you rather destroy yourself past to push me away His voice was hoarse, trembling

He pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to merge her into himself

Hate herself!

What a joke. If loving her own body had ever done her any good would she be duld she be pled

crippledt

“Either let me go, or I’ll die right in front of you”

She thrashed in his grip, trying to throw herself at the wall again.

Her strength was fading fast, but her determination was unshakable. Every struggle reopened her wounds. Blood streamed down her forehead, dripping onto Lucas’s arm–hot and scalding, like molten lava burning into his skin.

Lucas stared at her in horror. “Lauren stop–fine. I let go. I let go?”

His hands slowly loosened. But the pain of releasing her was unbearable. like his heart was being devoured from the inside.

Lauren swayed without his support.

For a split second, Lucas instinctively reached out-

But before he could touch her, she forced herself to stand, refusing to rely on him.

“Don’t touch me. Stay away from me. We’re done. Forever”

Her voice was firm, final. Each word was a chasm between them one he would never cross again.

Then, without another glance, she turned and limped away

Finished