Luke’s eyes were dark and inscrutable, while Vespera’s were lifeless, devoid of feeling. The garage air crackled with tension. Ignoring Vespera, the woman brazenly wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, whispering in his ear. Disgusted, Vespera looked away, entered her car, and drove home without a backward glance.
Shortly after arriving, she heard another car pull up. As she unclasped her necklace before the glass cabinet in her walk-in closet, a looming figure appeared behind her. His imposing presence filled the small space, completely enveloping her. His hands pressed against the cabinet as he studied her profile. “Are you angry?”
Vespera avoided his gaze, slowly putting away her necklace before replying indifferently, “Angry enough to kill. You’d better watch your back.”
Luke fell silent before saying, “The Sowle family wants to collaborate on the Polaris project. I’ve been talking with Austin Sowle, their eldest son. That woman is his sister, Tina Sowle.”
“So if you don’t entertain his sister, he won’t work with you?”
“Vespera, I’m trying to explain. Don’t be sarcastic.”
“I don’t think an explanation is necessary.” Vespera finally turned, her gaze piercing his soul. “Luke, if you’re tired of me and want to replace me as the lady of this house, I can step aside.”
Luke’s expression darkened. “What did you say?”
She sighed. “We can get a divorce.”
As Vespera tried to leave, Luke yanked her back, gripping her face. “Don’t even think about it.”
Vespera remained silent. She had already begun the process; she no longer wanted to be with him. Luke stayed home late that night until an unexpected phone call summoned him away. Vespera heard a faint, tearful voice on the other end.
The next morning, Rebecca Snyder, Vespera’s lawyer and close friend handling her divorce, sent a screenshot. It was a new post from Luke’s girlfriend—a photo of two hands, one significantly larger than the other, forming a heart against a sunrise. The caption read, “When love greets the day.” Vespera instantly recognized Luke’s hand. She sat frozen, fingers curled around a glass of water, unsure how long she’d been gripping it. The sharp sound of the glass hitting the counter triggered a profound sense of loss; something inside her had broken.
Days passed, and Luke never returned home. Their only interactions were at company meetings—him at the head of the table, her among the executives. They avoided each other’s gaze, and Vespera never sought him out. Instead, she searched for apartments and systematically discarded his gifts—anniversary presents, birthday gifts, Valentine’s Day tokens, wedding mementos. She even sold her wedding ring. Why keep reminders of a love she no longer desired?
That evening, Elena Hortwall, the head of Westfield Group, invited Vespera to a club. Vespera hesitated—it was nearly eleven—but decided to go. Now divorced and leaving Eclipse Group, she needed connections. She spotted Elena upon arrival.
“I could have gone up myself. You didn’t have to come down,” Vespera said.
Elena affectionately linked arms as they entered the elevator. “I was worried you’d get lost. You’ve never been here before, have you?”
Vespera hadn’t. Upstairs, Elena led her to a private room. A large screen divided the space. Vespera saw people on the other side, but Elena took her to a quieter section with only one other woman, who looked vaguely familiar—possibly a friend’s girlfriend. The woman seemed to recognize Vespera and offered a polite, slightly uneasy smile. After Vespera removed her coat and sat, Elena left. Vespera sipped her drink. Cheerful conversation drifted from beyond the screen—until her name was mentioned.
“Luke doesn’t bring Vespera to our gatherings anymore.”
“Of course not. Ms. Sowle is young and adorable. He takes her everywhere, like she’s the center of his universe.”
“Guess Luke finally changed his taste after all these years.”
“No matter how beautiful Vespera is, eight years with the same woman? He must be bored out of his mind.”
“She’s such a fool. After all that time with Luke, she was just a placeholder. Hey, if he doesn’t want her anymore, maybe I should take a shot. I’ve had my eye on that waist of hers for years.”
Vespera’s gaze turned glacial. She recognized two of the voices; they were Luke’s friends, men who had always addressed her with excessive sweetness as Mrs. Munoz. The woman beside her looked mortified, avoiding Vespera’s eyes. Vespera rose, not to flee, but to clear her throat, pick up her drink, and stroll leisurely to the other side of the screen. Leaning against it, she tilted her head and addressed the group in an easy tone.
“Just so we’re all clear—when Luke and I first got together, he was an inexperienced virgin. So really, wasn’t I the one who got to use him for eight years for free?”
Silence fell. Every face stiffened in disbelief. Before anyone could react, two tall figures entered the room. The group froze, eyes darting between Vespera and the men behind her, dread palpable in the air.