Page 51 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

His gaze turned to her then, and it was then she saw the coldness in his eyes – colder than the winter air outside.

"Stop the car."

The terse command had Jacob's startled gaze swerving to the rearview mirror.

"Now, dammit."

The chauffeur slammed his foot on the brakes, and Tassy's side slammed painfully against the door as the tires underneath them screeched to a stop.

She turned to her husband in confusion. "What's wrong?"

Lucius' fist clenched.Damn her. How long did she plan on keeping up with this whole fucking charade?

"L-Lucius?" His handsome features seemed encased in stone, and it terrified her.

"My lawyer will call you—"

Why?

"Now, get out."

The door her back was pressed against suddenly unlatched, and Tassy would've tumbled out onto the gravel if she had not grabbed hold of the armrest in time. She pushed herself up, thinking he would help her any moment...but he didn't.

And that scared her even more.

She turned to him again, and her heart started to break at the impassive expression on his gorgeous face.

"I d-don't understand." Was this some kind of sick joke? Why was he looking at her like the very sight of her filled him with contempt? It would only make sense if he already knew...

Oh God, he knew.

Xylan.

He knew about Xylan.

The night air hit Tassy like a physical blow as she stood half-in, half-out of the car. Her dress offered little protection against the unusual chill, and goosebumps immediately rose on her exposed skin.

"I'm s-sorry." She couldn't say it fast enough, knowing instinctively that Lucius was not the type to give second chances. "I wanted to tell you earlier—"

"Of course you have." His voice was as brittle as the ice crystals forming on the roadside grass.

"I'm not lying," she insisted shakily. "I swear—"

"Stop wasting my time," Lucius snapped.

"P-Please don't do this," she begged. "I love you—"

"Enough," Lucius snarled. It pissed him that she was still trying to make a fool out of him, but what pissed him even more was how the tremor of her voice still had his chest clenching in pain. "Did you really think you could keep me by your side like a fucking idiot forever—"

"No!"

"Maybe even planning to turn me into your fucking lapdog—"

She could only shake her head as her heart continued to break in pieces. "P-Please, it's n-not—"

Tassy ended up crying out as his fist slammed into the car door with enough force to make the entire vehicle shudder.

"I know everything about you now, damn you. I know you've been with Xylan for years—"

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