The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 156

The wind whipped past her ears, mixing with the roar of the engine. The speedometer kept ticking higher and higher, every number a hammer blow against her chest. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might break free.

The brakes were gone. Someone had tampered with them. She knew it in her bones.

Steven had delivered this car to her himself.

He wanted her dead.

“Steven… how could you?” she whispered, voice shaking.

The mountain road twisted ahead, sharp turns piling up, and a tight curve loomed just up the way. Lucie’s jaw clenched as she tried to downshift and slow the car, but the engine just screamed louder, speed holding steady. Sweat ran cold down her spine.

She glanced at the clock. 7:30 PM. Rush hour was about to start.

She didn’t even want to imagine the disaster she could cause if she crashed now. The thought hollowed her out, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

Even after everything, she’d never once wished Steven harm.

But he’d rather see her dead.

They weren’t even divorced yet. If she died, Steven and Cody would inherit everything. Of course he’d thought it through.

She checked the gas—full tank. He’d planned for that too. At this rate, she’d have to drive eight hours before the car would run out of fuel.

A sharp ache stabbed her chest.

She wanted to call her grandpa, say goodbye, leave some last words. But picturing his hopeful face waiting for her at home, she just couldn’t do it. She couldn’t break his heart like that.

“I can’t drag anyone else into this…”

She looked out at the highway. She was on the ring road, Millstone Bridge up ahead.

Better to take herself out than hurt innocent people. She blinked away tears, ready to jerk the wheel into the barrier and end it herself.

Then her phone rang.

A number flashed up—familiar, but distant.

Elio.

She almost let it ring out. Instead, on autopilot, she hit the Bluetooth.

“Hello?” Elio’s voice was bright, almost teasing.

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