Chapter 84

Susan Thompson was violently yanked into the room, her back slamming against the wall with a painful thud. She gasped sharply from the pain, lifting her eyes to meet Andrew Lucas's dark, furious gaze.

"I've brought what you asked for, Mr. Lucas," she said through gritted teeth, holding out the shopping bag despite the throbbing ache.

Andrew ignored the bag. Instead, he seized her wrist in a bruising grip. "In such a hurry to leave?" His lips curled into a sneer. "Is Ethan Sullivan waiting for you in bed?"

Susan tried to pull free but failed. Her fever had spiked to 39 degrees, leaving her weak and lightheaded.

"You're mistaken, Mr. Lucas," she whispered hoarsely. "I just didn’t want to interrupt you and Miss Capra."

"Interrupt?" Andrew suddenly closed the distance between them, his hot breath fanning her face. "Susan, stop pretending to be virtuous."

The wounds on her back began to bleed again. She bit her lip, afraid to move.

"Ethan and I are just friends," she attempted to explain.

Andrew flung her onto the bed. The impact sent a wave of dizziness through her, nearly knocking her unconscious.

"Friends?" He ripped off his tie. "A woman like you doesn’t deserve friends."

Susan tried to push herself up, but her limbs felt like lead. She spotted the bloodstain spreading on the sheets and knew she couldn’t hold on much longer.

"Mr. Lucas..." Her voice was barely audible. "I really can’t today..."

Andrew leaned down, gripping her chin. "What, saving yourself for Ethan?"

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she shook her head. She wanted to explain, but she lacked even the strength to speak.

"Stop faking tears!" He tore open her coat with brutal force.

The fabric, stuck to her wounds, was ripped away. Susan arched in agony, her vision flickering.

"Andrew..." She finally broke. "I just had surgery!"

He froze.

Seizing the moment, Susan shoved him away and curled into the corner of the bed. The back of her nightgown was soaked with blood, revealing the gruesome wound beneath.

Andrew’s pupils contracted sharply. "Who did this?"

"It doesn’t matter." She wiped her tears. "In your eyes, I’ll always be the dirtiest one."

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Andrew stared at her pale face, an inexplicable tightness gripping his chest. He reached for her, but she flinched away.

"Don’t touch me." Her voice trembled. "You disgust me."

The words ignited his fury. He pinned her down again, but at the sight of her pained expression, his grip loosened against his will.

Susan scrambled off the bed, crawling toward the door on unsteady limbs.

"Stop!" Andrew barked.

She didn’t listen. Staying here any longer would kill her.

Her fingers brushed the doorknob when a heavy thud sounded behind her. She turned to see Andrew on his knees, his face even paler than hers.

"You—" Susan froze in shock.

Andrew lifted his head, his gaze both fierce and fragile. "Susan, take one more step and see what happens."

Darkness swallowed her vision. Her body gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.