Chapter 51
Upon hearing Lucien’s words, Calista couldn’t help but chuckle.
What made Lucien think that she’d forever grovel like some obedient lapdog, forever waiting in place, pathetically begging for his affection?
The heat of his body pressed against hers.
“Speak.”
Calista let out a cold laugh and said in a taunting voice, “Fine. I’ll say it. I love you with all my heart and soul. I’ve been in love with you for years and have always longed for a future with you.”
A few months ago, she probably could’ve said those words wholeheartedly.
But now, she knew better.
She had expected too much from a man like Lucien. How could a man like him possibly know how to love someone?
To him, she was nothing more than an accessory. A plaything he could summon at will and discard just as easily.
Lucien’s gaze softened, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. However, the emotion only lasted for a split second. Calista’s hollow declaration of love hurt him far more than her harsh words.
“Liar!”
Lucien didn’t know how to describe what he was feeling at that moment. It felt as if he had just been punched in the gut, leaving nothing but an empty feeling in his chest.
“Liar? Isn’t that what you wanted to hear? My sweet words and undying devotion? I can put on a show for you if that’s what you like,”
Calista shot back.
“Put on a show for me?” Lucien turned toward her with a dark expression. “So everything you did before was all for show?”
“Yup. After all, I’m just a shallow and materialistic woman. To please you, I had to think of something.”
Calista could feel waves of pain radiating through her body. However, she had no intention of backing down, unwilling to leave any room for regret.
The two of them locked gazes.
After what seemed like forever, Lucien closed his eyes.
Just as Calista thought she had gotten away with it this time, Lucien’s eyes suddenly snapped open. But this time, they were filled with
nothing but burning rage.
“Fine. I didn’t know you were this good at putting on a show. If that’s the case, then continue pleasing me. Who knows? If I’m impressed, maybe I’ll help cover up what you did. I’m sure you wouldn’t want Rebecca and Anthony finding out, would you?”
Lucien trapped Calista in his arms again.
“Let me go.”
“Let you go? What’s wrong? Is my offer not tempting enough for you? Fine. Name your price. I’ll pay for it right now.”
Lucien seemed to have completely lost it. He grabbed his checkbook and tossed it at her.
“Fill in whatever amount you want. But right now, kiss me.”
He grabbed Calista with brute force, causing her to thrash in his hold, struggling to break free.
Noticing her resistance, something in him seemed to snap, and he lost all sense of control.
The night stretched on endlessly. It was, without a shadow of a doubt, a sleepless night for both of them.
The next morning, Calista found herself lying in the master bedroom. Even the things she had previously moved to the guest room had all been brought back.
The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.
Calista stood up with an emotionless expression on her face. But the pain tearing through her body quickly reminded her of the
Broward By
madness from last night.
The scene replayed in her mind once again. It was just as she thought. To Lucien, she really was nothing more than a plaything.
Tears streamed down her pale face. While Lucien was still in the bathroom, she quickly took the chance to slip into the guest room to freshen up. Forcing herself to keep it together, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen soon after.
Without thinking, Calista grabbed some vegetables from the fridge. But then, as if she suddenly thought of something, she shoved them back in and grabbed a fresh loaf of bread from the side shelf instead.
That’s right. She and Lucien were from different worlds.
Just as she was mindlessly preparing breakfast, Wendy suddenly stormed through the front door.
She knew the passcode to the house, so she didn’t even bother knocking and simply strode to the kitchen, where Calista was busy making breakfast.
“You jinx!”
Wendy started ranting the moment she walked through the door. She then dragged Calista out of the kitchen.
“I knew you were nothing but trouble! Serena must’ve lost her mind to think you were fit to be our daughter–in–law. What on earth did Lucien do to end up marrying someone like you?”
No matter how hard she tried, Wendy just couldn’t seem to understand. There wasn’t a single thing about Calista that she found remotely redeeming.
“What do you want now?” Calista couldn’t be bothered to argue with her and quickly rushed back to the kitchen to turn off the stove.
But by the time she checked, the eggs were already burnt, and the toast had completely dried out.
Her breakfast was officially ruined.
“How dare you speak to me like that? I’m your mother–in–law!” Faced with Calista’s indifferent demeanor, Wendy grew even angrier.
Trying to keep her composure, Calista gritted out, “I’m just asking you what you want. Besides, since you’ve never acknowledged me as your daughter–in–law, I don’t see why I should treat you like my mother–in–law. I wouldn’t want to upset you more than I already
have.”
“You little wench! Just because Lucien isn’t around, you can’t even be bothered to pretend anymore? Tell me! What kind of spell did you cast on Lucien? What did you do to make him ruin the Finnegan family’s business?”
Mrs. Finnegan, Isabel Jenkins, was one of Wendy’s bridge partners.
Isabel had shown up at Wendy’s doorstep this morning, sobbing uncontrollably about what Lucien had done.
Wendy had been left completely speechless, so she was now taking all her frustrations out on Calista.
“The Finnegan family? Finnegan…”
Calista tried to recall anyone she knew by that last name, until finally, Eamon’s despicable face flashed through her mind.
Lucien had done all that for her?
The thought completely threw Calista off balance. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope and longing grow within her chest.
Just then, a cold voice rang out from behind her.
