The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 233

Steven stood there, stunned, unable to even defend himself. His mind was racing, panic pounding in his chest. If Lucie really died... He couldn’t take it. He just couldn’t.

June rushed over, grabbing Elio’s arm in a panic. “Elio, what are you doing? It wasn’t even his fault!”

“That’s enough. Stop it!” she pleaded.

A sharp slap cut through the tension. Elio, shaking with anger, backhanded June across the face.

She let out a yelp and crashed to the floor.

“And you—are you completely brainless?” Elio snapped, his voice raw with fury. “Go get goddamn help. Don’t drag everyone else into your mess.”

He started to lift his foot, ready to kick her, but Mick jumped in, blocking him. “Enough. Seriously, just stop. This isn’t helping. Let’s wait for the doctors, alright?” He shoved Elio toward a chair. “Sit down. Calm down. Getting worked up won’t solve anything.”

Elio let out a rough breath and dropped into the chair, still fuming.

Mick crouched next to June, helping her up. “Ms. Swanson, you need to take a breath too.”

June pressed her hand to her burning cheek, glaring at Elio, but she didn’t dare say a word or make another scene.

Mick turned to Steven. “Mr. Heath, you should try to calm down as well.”

Steven wiped blood from his nose with his sleeve, the pain snapping him back to reality. He had no energy left for a fight with Elio. All he cared about was Lucie making it through.

Thirty minutes crawled by. Then the doors to the emergency room swung open.

Two nurses came out, faces serious.

Steven’s heart nearly stopped. He rushed over. “How’s my wife?”

One nurse held up a stack of forms. “Who’s the patient’s family?”

“I am. I’m her husband,” Steven said immediately.

Elio shot up. “You’re the ex. I’m her boyfriend.”

The nurse looked between them, confused. “So who’s the family? We need someone to sign the consent forms for surgery.”

“I’ll do it,” Steven said.

“No, I will,” Elio insisted.

Mick stepped in, frowning. “Enough, both of you. What matters is Lucie’s surgery.” He turned to the nurse. “I’ll sign. I’m her colleague—her close friend.”

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