Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 18
The moment Lucian stepped into the private room, he slammed the door shut behind them.
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by their breathing.
Roxanne scanned the space, her instincts telling her that she was in danger. Her pulse quickened, and she immediately began to struggle, trying to break free of his grip.
“What are you trying to do? Let me go!” she demanded, her voice sharp.
Lucian, without any effort, pressed her back against the wall. His body was so close to hers that she could feel his warmth radiating through her clothes. Her breath hitched as she realized just how tightly they were pressed together.
For a moment, she stopped struggling, her chest rising and falling erratically. The proximity, the intensity of the situation, made it almost impossible to breathe normally. She stiffened against the wall, every part of her body tense.
The silence was suffocating.
Roxanne gritted her teeth, her mind racing. The oppressive feeling that Lucian exuded hadn’t changed, even after all these years. Despite everything, she still couldn’t seem to shake it.
But then, her thoughts sharpened, and she forced herself to breathe steadily. We’re divorced. He and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. We’re strangers now.
Clenching her fists at her sides, she lifted her chin slightly, determined not to let her emotions take over.
Taking a slow breath, she said, her voice calm, “Lucian, let me go. If you want to talk, we can do it calmly.”
Lucian was caught off guard by her composed tone. For a moment, he just stared at her, unsure of how to respond.
After a beat, he stepped back—just enough to give her some space—but he didn’t let go.
Roxanne let out a small sigh of relief, though it was brief. Her expression remained neutral, though her heart still raced.
“Don’t you have anything to say?” Lucian’s voice broke the silence, tinged with an edge of frustration.
Roxanne’s eyes flickered, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Why would I say anything to him?
Her response was measured, distant. “Mr. Farwell, it’s been six years. There’s nothing left to discuss between us.”
Her words hung in the air, as sharp and final as the closing of a door.
The words seemed to hit Lucian harder than she’d anticipated. His jaw tightened as his eyes darkened.
“Mr. Farwell?” he repeated, his voice low with irritation. “You think it’s that easy to distance yourself from me, Roxanne?”
Before she could respond, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. The pressure of his fingers was almost painful, but she didn’t flinch.
“What did you just call me?” His eyes were like burning embers, angry and intense.
Roxanne clenched her teeth, refusing to be intimidated. She didn’t speak.
Lucian’s fury only grew as he noticed her silence. Mr. Farwell? The formality of her words was like a slap in the face, and it only reminded him of the distance between them. The coldness, the way she’d pushed him out of her life so easily.
“Roxanne,” he seethed, his grip tightening on her chin. “Why are you acting like a stranger to me? Like we’ve never been close? Haven’t you forgotten everything we shared? Or are you pretending to?”
Roxanne’s heart skipped a beat. She had known this moment would come, but hearing him bring up the past still felt like a punch to the gut.
She met his eyes, her own gaze unwavering. He’s not going to let it go. Not yet.
Lucian’s words hit her like a sudden rush of cold air. She recalled that night six years ago—the night she’d approached him, willing to sacrifice everything for just a fleeting moment of intimacy.
But the memory of it, once painful, was now a cold, distant thing. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she forced the anger down.
“I remember it,” she said flatly, her voice icy. “What’s your point? Do you feel like you’ve been wronged? Is your dignity that important to you? Tell me, Mr. Farwell, how should I compensate you?”
The words stung him, the intensity of her calmness making him even more furious. His hands trembled with rage, but he didn’t let go of her.
The room seemed to close in on them, the tension so thick it felt suffocating.
Roxanne continued, her voice steady but full of venom. “To be honest, you were unconscious that night. I didn’t feel anything. Looking back, it was… so-so. But yes, I drugged you. So if you want compensation, just say it.”
Lucian’s entire body stiffened. Every word Roxanne had just spoken was like a needle to his chest, twisting deeper with every second. His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
This woman, after all this time, still knew exactly how to get under his skin.
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words, before Lucian slowly lifted her chin, his voice a low, dangerous growl. “So-so? Is that how you really feel? Fine, then. Since I’ve caused all this misunderstanding, I’ll gladly offer you the same ‘service’ again. If that’s what you want.”
Panic flashed in Roxanne’s eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively took a small step back, but there was nowhere for her to run.
Lucian was closing in on her, the dangerous gleam in his eyes unmistakable. The last remnants of her composure began to crack, the walls she’d built to protect herself shaking.
She had nowhere to hide.
