Chapter 3
“Divorce, you say?”
Lucien let out a cold, mirthless chuckle that sliced through the thick tension like a dagger. His eyes sparkled–not with humor, but with malice thinly veiled as amusement.§
“You think you can just walk away from me?” he said, stepping closer. The shadow he cast loomed over my crumpled body. “No, Mara. You don’t get to make that choice.“}
I swallowed the fear crawling up my throat, forcing myself to sit upright even though my limbs shook beneath me. Deep down, I had known he wouldn’t agree to a divorce. But hearing the words from his mouth, seeing the way he loomed like a predator–sent a fresh wave of dread through my veins.
“Get up,” he barked, voice sharp with irritation. “You still owe Vanessa an apology.“}
Apologize? My entire body went still. The audacity of it struck me like a blow. He wanted me to apologize–to her?
I barely found the strength to whisper, “I didn’t do anything… She threw herself. It was a setup.“>
Lucien’s eyes turned to slits. “Are you accusing Vanessa of lying?“}
My body trembled, but I couldn’t be silent anymore. “Yes,” I said, louder now. “She’s been deceiving you since the beginning.“)
He glared, his face hardening as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.}
“She wasn’t the one who saved your life,” I went on, my voice cracking under the weight of years I had kept this truth buried. “That cliff accident? That day when your parachute failed–I was the one who climbed down after you. Not Vanessa.”}
Lucien’s expression twisted in disbelief. “What kind of story is that?“}]
“It’s not a story–it’s the truth!” I cried out, voice hoarse from desperation. “You were unconscious when I got to you. I held onto you, pulled you up with everything I had. I passed out from fear right after… and while I was unconscious, she claimed the credit.“}
There was a flicker–just a flicker–of confusion in his eyes. But it vanished behind a cruel scoff.
“You’re delusional,” he said. “Vanessa doesn’t lie.”
“She left you, Lucien!” I shouted, every word laced with disbelief. “She walked out of your life for someone else, and now you act like she’s a saint?”
His reaction was immediate. His face darkened, jaw tight with fury.
“You ungrateful bitch.”
The venom in his tone froze my blood. Before I could react, he lunged forward and gripped my arm hard enough to bruise. I cried out in pain as he yanked me to my feet, my legs buckling beneath me.§
“You think you can say things like that about Vanessa and get away with it?” he seethed, dragging me across the floor. “She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. You were just… convenient.“}
Each word stabbed deeper than the last.
My breath caught. I looked into his eyes and saw no trace of the man I once loved.
He wasn’t finished.
“Looks like being cooped up in the penthouse hasn’t taught you anything,” he muttered. “Let’s see if this changes your attitude.“}]
“No,” I gasped, trying to twist out of his hold. “Please, I’m begging you-”
But he was deaf to my pleas.
He dragged me through the corridors, down the stairs. The staff stood aside, heads bowed, eyes averted. No one dared to intervene. Not the bodyguards, not the butler–no one.”
I pleaded again as he shoved me into the backseat of the car. “Please… don’t do this,” I whispered, tears pouring down my cheeks.
Lucien didn’t speak. His face remained expressionless, staring blankly out the window as the car sped away.
When we finally arrived, my stomach turned.”
It was that place–his amusement park. The one he used to take me to, back when we were happy… or when I still thought we were.} He dragged me across the grounds toward the bungee tower. The towering platform loomed ahead, a cruel monument to the nightmare he was about to unleash.\
“No. No, please…” My knees buckled. I tried to resist. “I can’t–Lucien, please. Don’t make me do this.”
He didn’t flinch. His grip was iron.
The butler hesitated behind him, speaking up timidly. “Sir… she’s terrified of heights. Maybe this-“}
“Exactly,” Lucien said with a smirk. “That’s the point.“}
Then he addressed the staff coldly. “Tie her up. Don’t stop the jumps unless I give the order. If anyone disobeys, everyone here pays.”}]
The butler hesitated–just for a heartbeat–but did as he was told. I fought back with everything I had, tears streaming, sobs wracking my chest, but resistance was useless.”
They strapped me in.§
Tightly.”
Every part of me trembled, every nerve screamed. I choked on my sobs as I looked down from the edge. My greatest fear stared back at me from the void below.
“Please,” I begged. “I’m telling the truth… don’t do this.“>
Lucien walked toward me with slow, calculated steps. His expression was blank, voice eerily calm.
“Admit you tried to kill Vanessa. That’s all it takes.”}
I shook my head desperately, tears blinding me. “I can’t admit what I didn’t do.“}
Lucien exhaled heavily.
And then… without hesitation, he shoved me.”
The world vanished.§
I fell.
The air tore past me in a furious roar. My screams shattered against the sky. There was no floor beneath me, no control, no escape–just the sickening plummet of a woman betrayed, broken, and thrown to the wind like nothing.”
And as I descended, one truth rang louder than anything else:
He never loved me.”
Not once.
