Chapter 30

Dominic turned to Vespera. “I heard someone questioning your innocence and couldn’t help but speak up. I didn’t ask for your consent beforehand, so I hope this doesn’t cause you any trouble,” he said in a gentle and humble tone.

“Mr. Reid, I’m the one causing you trouble,” Vespera replied, suppressing the mix of shock and gratitude rising within her.

“Then do you need my help to clarify things?”

“Yes, please.”

She barely held back a deep breath. It would be ungrateful to refuse his help, especially when he had already stepped forward. The socialites in the room gazed at him with starry eyes. He was already impossibly attractive, but his poised, chivalrous demeanor as he spoke made him even more captivating.

After a moment, Dominic turned to face the crowd. “I was the one who saved Ms. Gildan yesterday. I happened to be discussing some matters with a client that day. As I was leaving, I came across a disoriented Ms. Gildan. The person assisting her seemed suspicious, so I asked the hotel staff to investigate. Later, I went with them to rescue her. Fortunately, she was unharmed when we…”

He kept his explanation clear and concise, omitting any details that could lead to further misunderstandings. This way, he became her witness and prevented anyone with ulterior motives from spreading groundless rumors.

Vespera was grateful he had thought everything through. But for a man so meticulous, it seemed unlikely that his presence was a coincidence. There had to be a reason he willingly involved himself in such a messy situation. If it was out of compassion, then she must have looked truly pitiful in his eyes.

Her gaze lingered on him as she tried to make sense of it. As she looked up at Dominic, lost in thought, Luke took in every detail of her expression. He clenched his fists in anger. The Munoz and Sowle families remained silent. Tina attempted to make a scene again, but Laurel shut her up before she could say anything.

Meanwhile, the guests nodded along with Dominic’s words, accepting them without question. The presence of the Reid family heir alone was enough to cement Vespera’s innocence. Even if undeniable evidence proved that she had been assaulted by eight men, no one would dare acknowledge it. They would have had to turn a blind eye, pretend they had heard nothing, and keep their mouths shut. Saying otherwise would have been a direct insult to the heir of the Reid family.

Dominic’s firm yet concerned stance made it clear that nothing had happened to Vespera. If it had, no amount of pity or beauty could have compelled him to step forward after witnessing the scene himself.

“Thank you for saving my wife!”

Loke strode toward Vespera and pulled her close, his grip firm on her shoulder as if trying to assert dominance.

Before Dominic could respond, Vespera brushed Luke’s hands away with a cold expression. “Mr. Munoz, you have no right to speak on my behalf. And just so you know, I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted a divorce. Don’t you remember? You signed the papers. We’re scheduled to be in court tomorrow afternoon.”

“You were serious about the divorce?” Luke’s voice was dry, almost fearful. His mind and heart felt like they had been shattered by an explosion. He refused to believe it. He had been sure she loved him, certain she would never leave him. All this time, he thought she was just lashing out and venting her emotions. But her eyes were cold and unwavering.

She glanced at the time before announcing, “The police will be here any minute. Instead of worrying about our divorce, why don’t you focus on your mistress and your mother? But of course, you’re not going anywhere either. Your mistress admitted it herself yesterday—you were part of this too.”

“How could you believe I would do this to you? I would never hurt you!” Luke protested. His eyes widened in disbelief, almost bulging.

Vespera stared at him in silence, then laughed. “You would never hurt me? How shameless can you be? Did you think I just found out about your little affair with Tina?”

“I’ve known for a long time. Every date, every hotel visit, every trip you took—I knew about them all.”

“Have you ever felt like a knife was lodged in your heart, sinking deeper with each passing day? Unable to die but never truly living? Not even the depths of hell would be this agonizing.”

“What did I ever do to deserve this? When have I ever wronged you?” Her voice was calm and deliberate, but every word was laced with the weight of her suffering.

Luke felt suffocated. Every word she said pierced his heart, and regret crashed over him. He was blinded by his obsession. He refused to go through with the divorce because he realized that he couldn’t live without her.

As the confrontation unfolded between them, Dominic turned toward Vespera.