Chapter 10

There was another long silence on the other end of the line before Luke finally spoke. "Earlier today was an accident. I didn't mean—"

"Save it." Vespera cut him off. Just hearing his voice made her stomach churn. "Intentional or not, it doesn't change the fact that you laid your hands on me."

"Fine, fine, it's my fault. It's all my fault. Just tell me where you are. I need to know right now!"

"I already told you—I'll come back."

"You better be home tonight. If you're not, I'll tear through all of Halewick to find you!" His patience was slipping, his voice laced with barely contained fury.

Vespera finally relented, saying she would be home in an hour.

She knew he would do it. If he went mad with rage, he would find a way to track her down, and she wasn't about to expose her new place.

On the way back, Rebecca drove her. "This bastard has done so many awful things to you, yet he still acts like a king. His temper, his insane need for control... Vera, if he finds out you tricked him into signing the divorce agreement, I'm genuinely afraid he'll choke you to death."

Vespera gazed at the sea of city lights in the distance, her tone light and teasing. "Looks like I should keep some arsenic on hand. If he tries, I'll make sure I get him first."

When she stepped into the villa, Luke was already there, striding toward her with quick, forceful steps. His face was tight with worry, but beneath it, a simmering frustration was unmistakable.

She barely spared him a glance as she changed into her slippers and walked further inside. The moment she bent slightly, a sharp pain flared in her waist, making her brows knit together.

Luke reached out instinctively to support her.

"Don't touch me!" Vespera recoiled in disgust as if his touch was something filthy. She would rather aggravate her injury than let him lay a hand on her.

Luke's expression darkened.

He withdrew his hand, silently following her inside. As they walked, he pulled out his phone and held it out to her. "I installed surveillance cameras in my office. You can check them anytime. What happened today won't happen again."

Vespera blinked. That was unexpected. She had assumed he would brush things off like always.

Her gaze flickered to the screen before she gave a slow, knowing smirk. "Afraid I'll catch you off guard again? Or just worried your sugar baby might embarrass herself next time?"

Luke stiffened. "There's nothing between me and Tina...

"Fine, I admit it. I do think she's fun and cute, but that's it. I see her as a sister. She's here because my father asked me to teach her a few things.

family made a simple request, and I had no reason to

What a well-crafted excuse.

company-so it was only natural to indulge her, give her whatever she wanted, even

wondered when he had become

in Vespera's eyes as she stared at him, unmoving. After a brief pause, she played along, feigning sudden

say you spent plenty of nights together? A brother sharing a bed with

jaw tightened. "She's just a

what you like about her? How fun and cute

"Anyway, there's nothing

start trying for a baby. From now on, you can focus on being Mrs. Munoz. I

lips slowly curling into a

She understood now.

to his wandering heart. As long as she played the perfect

obligated to

on vacations, sleeping together, and

heart, piece by piece. And now, he expected her to pick up the fragments, bear his children, and stay

was incredibly cruel and

"Darling, I love you."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight as if he was truly afraid of losing

embrace was warm, but her heart had already

revelation about his true nature, her

Lionel Page, to check on her injury. It wasn't serious-there was no

bathroom, and Luke followed.

"No need."

he dared touch her with the same hands he had used on another woman, she would make sure

was still resisting his touch. It annoyed him, but he didn't dare push her

be outside. If you need anything, just

nodded and

pain, she would never call

nightgown, Luke was still waiting by the door. The faint scent of her

collarbones gleamed under the light, and the way her

eyes burned

look in his eyes, she said, "My waist hurts. If

from behind, pressing a kiss to her shoulder, leaving her

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