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.