Vespera Gildon stood outside the president’s office, her body rigid. Her black stilettos seemed to blend with the dark marble floor. After a pause, she knocked. A deep voice responded, “Come in.” Vespera tightened her grip on the documents and entered, forcing a faint smile. Approaching Luke, she said, “Are you busy? These documents need your signature.” She laid the papers before him, open to the relevant pages.
Luke, recently returned from a Shawford business trip, sat amidst a cluttered desk, exhaustion etched on his handsome face. Without looking, he quickly signed. “Thanks for your hard work,” he said. Vespera gathered the papers. “Will you be home for dinner?” she asked.
“I have plans. You don’t need to wait,” he replied, not looking up.
“Okay. I’ll go then.”
As Vespera left, her smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression. A faint sound—like a small animal—reached her from the restroom area. Near the couch, snack wrappers and a half-finished milk tea sat on the coffee table. A pastel pink high heel lay on the floor. The truth was instantly clear. Her heart sank.
Returning to her office, exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She pulled a document from the stack—a divorce agreement. Tracing his signature, she recalled his marriage vow. Her mother-in-law’s warning echoed in her mind: no man stays loyal forever. Vespera had believed they were different. But Luke had cheated, bringing his young lover to Shawford, and now, to the office.
Vespera photographed the signed agreement and sent it to Fiona Reeds with the message, “He signed it.” A week prior, she’d struck a deal: initiate the divorce, keep the marriage secret, and receive a billion-dollar settlement. In a month, Luke would be gone.
A knock interrupted her. “Please enter,” she said, keeping the agreement. Luke’s assistant, Osbert Madron, entered. “Ms. Gildon, Mr. Munoz asked me to give you this,” he said, presenting a dark green velvet box.
Inside was an expensive diamond jewelry set. But Vespera immediately pictured a dazed, short-haired girl in a bathrobe, a diamond necklace around her neck, a rumpled bed, dim lighting, and love bites. Nausea rose in her throat.
“Thank you, Mr. Madron,” she said.
Osbert, sensing her chilling gaze, added, “Mr. Munoz personally selected this. It’s one of a kind.” Vespera smiled faintly. “Really? How touching that he found time.” Osbert felt a cold sweat break out. Did she know about Luke and Tina Sowle? He mumbled an excuse and left.
Vespera regarded the jewelry with disdain. She photographed it and sent the image to a luxury resale shop, instructing them to sell it and donate the proceeds to the Foundation for Children with Intellectual Disabilities. The shop owner was speechless.
At 5:00 pm, Vespera was about to enter her car when she saw a car idling diagonally across. Luke was in the backseat with a short-haired woman. Osbert gasped, slamming on the brakes. Across the space, Vespera’s eyes met Luke’s.