She Died With My Name on Her Lips novel Chapter 23

“Stephen, after all these years of teaching you about honor and decency, did you just throw it all away?” Michael’s voice shook with anger. “In your last life, sure, the Thompson family made a terrible mistake with that drunk driving, but we have laws for a reason. You could’ve let the courts handle it. Even if there was a price to pay, it wasn’t your place to dish out that kind of punishment!”

“And Louisa—she never did anything wrong. She ended up hurt for nothing, yet you still treated her so badly. How could you do that to her?”

“You promised you’d love her forever when you said you’d marry her. After everything you’ve done, how could she ever forgive you?”

Michael was so furious he slammed his cane against Stephen’s side, putting all his strength behind it.

Stephen gritted his teeth, stifling the pain even as dark bruises spread across his back. He didn’t utter a word.

Andrew and Marian just shook their heads, sighing. Marian’s voice was soft, thick with worry. “Now there’s a rift between our families, and Louisa might never want to come back. Whether she does or not, Stephen, you can’t force her. And don’t even think about using another woman to make her jealous. That’ll only push her further away.”

“Our family has no patience for men who can’t stay true. You already hurt Louisa enough in your past life. If you hurt her again, you’ll lose her for good.”

“If Louisa finds someone better for her, you need to let her go. Set her free. It might be the best thing for both of you.”

Even with his parents pleading with him, Stephen was stubborn as ever.

He couldn’t let Louisa go. Not now, not ever.

He couldn’t imagine being with anyone else, or watching her with someone else.

Michael knew how hardheaded his grandson could be. He felt helpless and frustrated all at once.

He called in the guards and ordered them to take Stephen to the ancestral hall for family punishment.

For all the things he’d done in his last life, it was time Stephen faced the consequences.

Stephen didn’t fight back. He knelt in front of the ancestral tablets, back straight as a pine, eyes cold and distant.

A sharp crack split the air as a barbed whip lashed across his back.

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