Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1105

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. Bella threw one last contemptuous glare at Brandon.

She was about to deliver another parting shot when her phone suddenly buzzed.

Seeing an unknown number, she quickly stepped out, waiting until she was securely in her car before answering.

"Who is this?" she demanded, her voice tight with suspicion.

While she didn't block every unknown number, she was hyper-vigilant.

She was terrified it might be the loan sharks tracking her down.

"Miss Ward, it's me. Lucas," a voice replied cautiously.

The tension draining from her shoulders, Bella exhaled sharply.

Lucas?

The escort?

Her tone instantly shifted to sneering condescension. "Oh, it's you. If you're looking for your sugar mama, don't bother calling me. I have no idea where she is."

She knew Lucas was tied up with the casino crowd—though she didn't care about the specifics.

The casino was hunting for Debbie, and right now, Debbie was her ultimate leverage. She wasn't about to hand the old hag over.

So, she had to keep Lucas at arm's length.

Hearing her brush him off, Lucas panicked. "No, wait! I'm not calling about Ms. Harris. I just... I missed you."

Bella froze. If any other man—especially Sebastian—had said those words, her heart would have soared.

But coming from Lucas, it just irritated her.

"You really need to remember your place," she sneered.

"Miss me? Let me spell it out for you: I'm dealing with my own mess right now. I don't have a single dollar to waste on you.

The intoxicating thrill of dominance flashed through her mind. On a whim, she answered, putting it on speaker as she pulled out of the parking garage.

"Miss Ward, please don't hang up..."

She leaned back in the leather seat, a cruel smirk playing on her lips, savoring the desperation in his voice.

"I know I'm beneath you," Lucas pleaded.

"But if you still like the way I look, I'm willing to offer my services. Completely free of charge.

I really mean it."

Bella ignored the rest of his pathetic rambling. The only word that registered was 'free.'

"Free?" she chuckled darkly. "Changing your business model? Or did you hook another whale who's paying your bills, so you don't need my cash?"

Desperate to keep her on the line, Lucas rushed to reassure her. "For you, Miss Ward, the money doesn't matter!"