CHAPTER 159: I DON’T LOVE AND I WON’T

"Beauty, have you lost your damn mind or gone deaf?

Why the hell aren’t you answering any of my calls?"

Lucas’s thunderous voice blasted through the phone, making Beauty’s delicate brows furrow.

"I just left my phone in my bag and didn’t hear it.

Besides, what could possibly be so important that you’d need me?"

What the—?

Since when did this brat dare to talk back?

And what did she mean, "what could be so important"?

Clearly, she’d gotten too comfortable these past few days without a proper scolding.

Spoiled rotten—that’s what she was.

"Beauty, listen up.

From now on, anything I say to you is important more important than the sky itself.

I *am* your sky now, got it?"

Lucas was so furious he nearly hurled his phone across the room.

Here she was, still recovering from an injury, not resting at home like she should, but instead running around God knows where—ignoring his calls like some reckless idiot.

Did she even realize how worried she made people?

"Oh."

Beauty let out a flat, indifferent response—and then silence.

That single, careless syllable sent Lucas into a rage.

If she were standing in front of him right now, he wouldn’t hesitate to "teach her a lesson" so thoroughly that she’d be begging for mercy in tears.

"Where the hell are you?

I’m outside Sarah mother’s hospital room, and the nurse said you’re not there.

Where did you go?"

Oh God.

Lucas had actually come *in person*.

A chill ran down her spine, and her grip on the phone trembled slightly.

She bit her lip hard, saying nothing—until Lucas’s impatient voice crackled through the phone again: "Speak!

Did you suddenly turn mute?"

"I... I’m in the park behind the patient building, with Sarah."

The moment the words left her lips, the call was abruptly disconnected.

She could already picture the terrifying expression on Lucas’s face.

Would he unleash a torrent of scolding the second he saw her?

Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted Lucas striding down the cobblestone path, dressed in a crisp blue shirt.

Sarah gave her shoulder a reassuring pat before walking over to Lucas with a casual shrug.

"I won’t disturb your newlywed bliss.

I’m heading back to catch up on sleep—didn’t get a wink last night, so I’m completely out of it today."

She shot Beauty a meaningful glance.

"Talk things out properly.

Don’t scare her off."

Only after Sarah had left did Beauty reluctantly step forward, head bowed like a guilty child awaiting reprimand.

All her earlier bravado from the phone call had evaporated.

"What’s wrong?

Cat got your tongue?"

His voice was unexpectedly gentle, catching her off guard.

"Does your forehead still hurt?"

The sudden tenderness nearly made her bite her own tongue.

She blinked up at him in surprise, her anger dissipating instantly.

*Beauty, oh Beauty, look at you—so easily swayed!*

Just moments ago, she’d been so defiant.

Now, with just a hint of warmth from him, she was already melting.

Handsome men really are dangerous—especially the older, devastatingly handsome ones.

"Who’s tongue-tied?" she shot back, unable to mask the sharp edge in her voice.

"Shouldn’t you be busy entertaining that playboy Drake?

What are you doing here?"

The words dripped with unmistakable jealousy.

Lucas crossed his arms, his cool gaze sweeping over her.

"You’re my wife.

He’s not.

Of course I’d be with my wife—why would I waste time on him?"

"Then why don’t you just marry Drake instead?

You two seem perfect for each other."

The instant the words escaped, she regretted them.

Lucas’s eyes darkened, his gaze narrowing dangerously—a clear warning that a storm was brewing.

She stumbled backward abruptly, her foot catching on a pebble and nearly sending her toppling over.

A pair of strong hands steadied her waist, and her head came to rest against someone’s solid arm.

"Did a teapot knock the sense out of you?

What if you’d fallen?

You—"

Lucas’s voice was a furious roar, heedless of the stares around them.

He was so incensed he could have scolded her right then and there, just to teach her what it meant to be a proper wife.

Beauty’s pent-up frustration from the past two days erupted in that instant.

Her eyes reddened as she shoved him away before he could react, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Biting her lip, she glared at him.

"That’s right, I’m stupid!

If you think some other woman is so much smarter, then go find her!

Why bother coming to me?

I’m dumb, I’m not gentle, I don’t listen—so why do you even care?"

Her voice trembled as tears welled up, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to let them fall—refusing to give this man the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

She wouldn’t give him the chance to mock her.

Lucas froze at her sudden outburst, the words on his tongue dying before he could speak.

After a beat of silence, he stepped closer again.

"I was just worried about you.

I spoke out of anger—don’t take it to heart.

And what’s this about another girl?

I thought we were talking about Drake."

Her inexplicable fury had doused the irritation he’d carried all the way here.

This woman really was his Achilles’ heel.

In all of New York, what woman wouldn’t throw herself at him?

Who else would dare shout at him like this?

Had he spoiled her too much?

Was that why she had the nerve to act so brazenly now?

"You know exactly which girl I’m talking about," she snapped.

"But it doesn’t matter.

Our marriage is just a contract—there’s no real feeling between us.

I just needed shelter, and you were convenient.

That’s all!"

Beauty remained stubbornly defiant, refusing to yield an inch or offer him the slightest way out.

Lucas was so furious that veins bulged on his forehead, his hands clenched into tight fists.

No woman had ever dared to provoke him like this!

"I’ll give you one more chance.

Say it again."

The air itself seemed to freeze.

Beauty shivered involuntarily as Lucas’s voice pierced through her like icicles.

Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself, straightened her back, and met his gaze.

"I couldn’t care less about your personal life or the women around you.

Bring home whoever you want—it makes no difference to me.

I have no feelings for you whatsoever."

The words struck him like a thunderbolt.

For a moment, he stood frozen before snapping back to reality.

In an instant, he seized her arm, his grip tightening painfully.

His dark eyes burned with intensity as he spoke through gritted teeth, "Is that really how you feel?

You wouldn’t care no matter who I brought home?

You have no feelings for me at all?

Then explain this—" His fingers brushed against the wound on her forehead.

"What’s this for?"

Beauty felt her legs weaken, her entire body numb as if trapped in an icy abyss.

She wasn’t even sure what nonsense she was spouting anymore.

"Bring home whoever you like—I don’t care.

As for blocking that cup for you... I just wanted you to treat me better."

Suddenly, his grip loosened.

The force with which Lucas shoved her away sent her stumbling to the ground, her palm scraping against sharp gravel.

Watching his retreating figure disappear without a backward glance, hot tears streamed silently down her cheeks.