Page 16 of King of Rage

He took the phone from her hand, lifted it, and pulled her closer to his side. Then he took a picture of them together.

“Make this your cover photo this year,” he said, glancing at the screen. “I look so much better in this one.”

Stella looked down at the picture and began setting it as her phone’s cover photo.

Inside the car, Lucius’s jaw tightened.

The sight of them standing so close together, completely at ease with one another, made something inside him twist violently. Shane pulled Stella against him as though he had every right to touch her, and there wasn’t even a hint of hesitation between them.

Lucius’s hands curled into fists.

His jealousy continued to build until he could no longer contain it.

“So you like someone younger now,” he muttered bitterly, his face tightening with anger. “Someone who isn’t as serious and cold as me.”

He looked furious, frustrated, and completely consumed by his own thoughts.

His body remained rooted to the seat as his eyes stayed fixed on her. A part of him wanted to storm over and drag her away from Shane, while another part of him knew he had no right to do so.

He remained there, silently watching her, until Nial’s phone call interrupted him.

Lucius pulled out his phone and answered.

“Mr. Frost,” Nial said from the other end of the line, “please don’t forget that you have a dinner date with Miss Catherine Winters tonight.”

Lucius’s brows drew together.

“What the fuck is Catherine Winters?”

“A-A woman…?” Nial hesitated at the sharpness of his tone before reminding him, “Mr. Frost, did you forget? She’s with Winters Corporation. You’re supposed to meet her today to sign the deal.”

Lucius snapped at Nial, irritation sharpening every word. “If you can’t handle such a small thing yourself, what the hell have I hired you for?”

Nial let out a weary sigh over the phone.

“Mr. Frost, I’m only asking because your families have always been close. Otherwise, I wouldn’t trouble you with this. Please, just treat it as a business matter and get it over with. It won’t take much of your time. Meet her, hear what she has to offer, and if you find the deal worthwhile, finalize it. You’ll be done before you know it. I promise.”

Lucius’s face darkened.

He inhaled deeply, struggling to contain his temper, then flicked his cigarette onto the ground.

Outside, Stella and Shane had already climbed into their car and driven away. Lucius kept his eyes on the vehicle until it vanished down the road, the sight doing nothing to ease the anger simmering inside him.

He remained behind the wheel for a while, waiting for his temper to subside. His hands tightened around the steering wheel as his gaze settled on Licius.

He had spent countless hours there with Stella when they were together.

The memories returned with startling clarity, each one as vivid as if it had happened only yesterday. He remembered how much he had enjoyed watching Stella prepare drinks for him. He used to come and go as he pleased, and she had always welcomed him without question.

Back then, being part of her life had been enough.

Now, those memories stirred a painful nostalgia and made him crave her even more.

He wanted to go back to her. He wanted to take her away with him and shut out everything else.

But he knew he couldn’t.

Once he had finally regained control of himself, Lucius started the car and drove away.