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. "We're signing with Vortex Group next week. The Sowle family made a simple request, and I had no reason to refuse." What a well-crafted excuse. So, she was just a sister. All for the sake of the company—so it was only natural to indulge her, give her whatever she wanted, even if it meant hurting his own wife. Vespera wondered when he had become so hypocritical. Disgust flickered in Vespera's eyes as she stared at him, unmoving. After a brief pause, she played along, feigning sudden realization. "Oh, so that's how it is? Just a sister? But didn't she say you spent plenty of nights together? A brother sharing a bed with his sister—that's incest." Luke's jaw tightened. "She's just a spoiled woman who talks nonsense." "But isn't that what you like about her? How fun and cute she is?" Luke could hear the sarcasm in her voice, but he only sighed. "Anyway, there's nothing between me and her. Take a trip for a while, clear your mind. "When you come back, we'll start trying for a baby. From now on, you can focus on being Mrs. Munoz. I promise that title will always belong to you." Vespera gazed at him, her lips slowly curling into a smile. She understood now. The title of Mrs. Munoz would always be hers—as long as she kept turning a blind eye to his wandering heart. As long as she played the perfect wife, he could do as he pleased, and indulge his reckless desires, and she was expected to simply accept it. But she wasn't obligated to do that. He chased thrills, sneaking around with Tina, going on vacations, sleeping together, and watching the sunrise like lovers. He shattered her heart, piece by piece. And now, he expected her to pick up the fragments, bear his children, and stay by his side for the rest of her life. He was incredibly cruel and selfish. "Darling, I love you." Seeing the faint smile on her face, Luke thought the storm had passed. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight as if he was truly afraid of losing her. His embrace was warm, but her heart had already turned cold. With every new revelation about his true nature, her resolve to leave only grew stronger. … Luke helped her upstairs and called the family doctor, Lionel Page, to check on her injury. It wasn't serious—there was no damage to the bone—and only then did he finally relax. Vespera stepped into the bathroom, and Luke followed. "I'll help you." "No need." If he dared touch her with the same hands he had used on another woman, she would make sure his morning coffee had arsenic in it. Luke could tell she was still resisting his touch. It annoyed him, but he didn't dare push her any further tonight. "I'll be outside. If you need anything, just call me." "Mm." She nodded and smiled. Even if she was in unbearable pain, she would never call for him. When Vespera stepped out in her silk nightgown, Luke was still waiting by the door. The faint scent of her shampoo filled the air as she passed him, her skin flushed and warm from the hot water. Her bare shoulders and delicate collarbones gleamed under the light, and the way her waist curved as she moved made his breath hitch. His eyes burned with desire. Vespera walked to the bed, ready to sleep. Noticing the look in his eyes, she said, "My waist hurts. If you're thinking of doing anything tonight, I'm afraid I won't be able to satisfy you." Luke wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing a kiss to her shoulder, leaving her no space to escape. "I'll be gentle…" "I'm exhausted, and I'm in pain. So I'm really not in the mood." Luke felt frustrated seeing her completely uninterested in him, but forcing her wasn't an option. He let go of her. "Get some rest." His face remained unreadable as he turned and walked out. Vespera had told him she wouldn't be going to work the next day, and she meant it. Instead, she privately reached out to the project team and invited them to dinner, where she officially announced her resignation. Everyone was disappointed and reluctant to see her go. The entire Eclipse Group knew she was the president's girlfriend. At first, people speculated she had climbed the ladder through connections. But after countless successful deals, it became clear—she wasn't just competent, she was exceptional. She understood both management and technical aspects, and over the years, she had been even more dedicated to the company than Luke himself. Every closed deal had made her happier than anyone. Behind closed doors, employees often joked that she was determined to secure her place as the rightful Mrs. Munoz. And now, she was leaving just like that… "I'm sorry, everyone. But for personal reasons, I can't stay at Eclipse Group anymore. Keep working hard, and if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. Also, feel free to hang out with me anytime," she said, raising her glass in a toast. Christine Ramsey, the leader of Project Team Three, teared up. She had worked with Vespera the longest and was the closest to her. With her departure, the entire project department had lost its backbone. But they all understood. Luke had brought that temptress from the Sowle family into the company. Just days ago, Vespera caught the two of them getting intimate in the office. Tina wasn't even fully dressed, so Vespera undoubtedly felt completely betrayed. The dinner carried a heavy sense of farewell. Toward the end, someone asked about Vespera's future plans. She admitted she hadn't decided yet. A colleague suggested, "Maybe you should look into Tavian Group. Their president just returned from Westhaven and is building his team. I heard they still haven't found a chief secretary who meets their standards."