Page 43 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"Blaise put you up to this, didn't he?" Stella asked while Tassy opened a pack of antiseptic wipes.

"I think what you mean to say is that we'regratefulwe have someone like Blaise who's looking after you—-"

Stella winced as her friend started cleaning her wound.

"—-when you're obviously unwilling to look after yourself."

Tassy stepped back to observe her handiwork after applying a dab of antibiotic cream on the thin but ugly-looking gash marring her friend's face. It should heal soon, but what about the wounds that no one could see?

"You can't let your mother keep hurting you like this, Stel."

"I know, Tas." A sad smile curved over her friend's lips. "I just keep wishing and hoping she'd change. I guess you're not the only one who's been blind all these years."

Chapter Thirteen

LUCIUS REALIZED HISworkaholic days had come to an end as soon as he got to his office. It was only his first day of marriage, and already he found himself missing his wife. He thought of sending her a text but decided against it. His wife being clingy was cute as fuck, butnotwhen it was the other way around.

He glanced at his watch.

2:05 PM.

Two, no, fuck,threemore hours to go.

Surely he could find a way to occupy himself until he could pick his wife up from work?

So think, Young!

An idea came to him then, and he started making calls. The callsstillhadnothingto do with work andeverythingto do with his marriage, but at least he wasn't making a fucking nuisance of himself.

By 4:30 PM, Lucius had arranged everything he needed: a catered four-course dinner at his parents' ranch in Evergreen, a bouquet of his Tassina's favorite flowers that he wanted to surprise his wife with, and finally, the presence of his siblings and closest friends, which—-if he were being honest-—was the least thing Lucius looked forward to, knowing how they would likely give him a hard time once they realized his feelings for his wife.

Thirty minutes to go, Lucius thought.

He drummed his fingers against his desk, the empty inbox on his screen mocking him, and his impatience reached its peak.

He missed his wife. Plain and simple.

Fuck waiting.

Fuck not being clingy.

Lucius grabbed his jacket and strode out of his office, ignoring his assistant's startled expression. The elevator ride to the basement parking felt fucking endless, each second stretching his already frayed patience.

Jacob, his chauffeur of twelve years, already had the passenger door open when Lucius stepped out of the elevator, and having been informed of the billionaire's desire to leave immediately, the older man switched to full speed as soon as they were out on the street.

"Where to, Mr. Young?"

"Did my Tassina give you any instructions about when and where to pick her up from work?"

"Indeed, sir," Jacob answered while hiding his smile. In all the years he had been working for Lucius Young, this was the first time the billionaire had expressed any emotion towards any woman outside his family.

"Mrs. Young asked me to drop her off about two blocks away from her workplace. She asked me to pick her up at the same place at five in the afternoon."

"I think I'd like to surprise my wife, Jacob," Lucius drawled. Let's wait for her at the main entrance, shall we?"

"Understood, sir."

Lucius adjusted his tie as he idly watched Jacob negotiate rush-hour traffic with the expertise of a war tactician.

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