Her skin was delicate and fair, bruising easily with even the slightest impact. This one would take days to heal.

Beside her, Dominic slouched in his seat, his hand resting on his forehead, eyes closed. His expression was calm and undisturbed, as though he were already deep in sleep.

When they arrived at the hotel, Vespera called his name several times, but he didn’t respond. It was clear now—he was completely out of it.

With no other choice, Gerard and a hotel staff member had to team up to get him upstairs. At six foot three inches, Dominic was no easy weight to carry. By the time they managed to get him onto the bed, both men were sweating with exhaustion.

“Is your knee okay? Do you need some ice?” Gerard asked as he stepped out of the bedroom, finally noticing the bruise on her knee.

At this point, he half-expected Vespera to quit. It had been difficult enough finding a secretary that Dominic was truly satisfied with—one who wasn’t just capable, but perfect at her job.

“You handle it in my room,” Vespera directed.

“Alright,” Gerard replied. “Stay and keep an eye on him.”

Vespera nodded. “Okay.”

As she reached the door, something occurred to her, and she turned back around.

“You accompany Mr. Reid to the summit tomorrow. I won’t be coming in the morning—I need to head to the factory west of Jethara Island. It’s quite a drive, so I’d rather leave early and return sooner!”

“Got it. Call me if anything comes up,” Gerard added.

“Will do,” Vespera said before stepping out.

Back in her room, she took a short rest and then settled into the lounge chair, placing an ice pack on her knee. The cold hit her skin, and the sharp pain made her wince. Despite the discomfort, a soft laugh slipped from her lips.

Chapter 29

Vespera felt a mix of frustration and amusement. Though this new job was meant to be a distraction after her divorce, it had unexpectedly become quite an exciting adventure. In many ways, it was no different than a solo trip to Eldoria—seeking freedom, solitude, and a fresh start. Surrounded by constant activity, she had little time to think about Halewick anymore. Yet, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder how things were there now.

Meanwhile, Rebecca had scheduled a meeting with Luke at her law firm in Halewick.

Outside, the night was pitch black. The rain had poured nonstop all day, and the temperature had plummeted. Thick clouds smothered the sky, casting a heavy, oppressive gray over the entire city.

Luke sat on the couch, wearing a deep gray suit. His hair was neatly styled, his face clean-shaven, and his striking features still as handsome as ever. With his legs crossed, he radiated a tense, somber energy. He was the same as Luke Munoz—untouchable and composed.

Looking at him now, it was nearly impossible to reconcile this version of him with the man from yesterday—the one whose calm exterior had shattered completely.

“I thought you’d at least try to maintain the facade a little longer,” Rebecca said, her smile laced with mockery. “But this works too. The sooner you compose yourself, the sooner we can finish this.”

She pushed the divorce agreement toward him across the desk.

Luke picked it up casually, flipping to the last page. His signature was there. The date was from the day he had returned from his business trip to Shawford a month ago. His mind flashed back to that day. Vespera had walked into his office, a stack of documents in hand, asking him to sign. She had been so calm, observing him with a quiet smile as he signed without a second thought.

“The mandatory waiting period is over. Once Vera returns, the two of you can go to the family court to finalize the divorce, and that will officially end your marriage,” Rebecca continued.

Sensing his silence, she pressed further, “As for the compensation that Vera and your mother negotiated—she made it clear that if you try to back out, she’ll go all the way. Your…mistress left more than enough evidence. I assume you wouldn’t want this to turn into a full-scale scandal, would you?”

Luke’s fingers clenched around the document, the paper crumpling in his hand.

“When?” His voice was hoarse, as though laced with poison. “When did she find out?”

“So now you’re feeling guilty, huh? Please, don’t kid yourself. What right do you even have to feel guilty?”

“Did you feel guilty when you slept with Tina? When you took her to Shawford for a romantic getaway? When you stood by her, watching the sunrise, making those ridiculous heart gestures?”

“How long has it been since you last went home? Since you last sat down for a proper meal with Vera?”

“You promised to take her to Eldoria to see the northern lights after the wedding. But when the time finally came, you lied about a business trip and took your mistress instead. Vera knew. She knew everything.”

“When she first found out, she couldn’t sleep. She had to rely on pills just to make it through the sleepless nights. But she never cried, never caused a scene—she still showed up to work every day like nothing had changed.”