Vespera sat in the treatment room, her wound being tended. The door burst open, and a tall, imposing man stormed in, causing the doctor to flinch. Vespera glanced over her shoulder. "It's fine," she said. "He's my boss." She'd almost said "husband." Luke's throat tightened. He stepped closer and asked the doctor, "How bad is the injury?" "Just a superficial wound. Nothing serious," the doctor replied, seemingly uninterested in their dynamic. The doctor finished treating Vespera and prescribed medication. Vespera thanked him and left, Luke close behind, insisting on paying and collecting her medication, playing the dutiful husband. Vespera didn't argue.

Outside the hospital, she reached for her phone to call a ride. Luke snatched it, put an arm around her, and steered her toward the parking lot. He shoved her into the passenger seat, then got in himself. The door slammed shut, creating a tense silence. "You blocked my number and punished me by risking your life?" he accused, his expression a mix of exhaustion and anger. Vespera blinked, surprised. Then she laughed; his absurd accusation amused her. He had let her down, and she was risking her life to punish him? "You won't have to worry about that. Now give me back my phone," she said, reaching for it. Luke dodged her hand. "I lied to you today, but you overreacted and made Tina cry. Don't you think you're partly to blame? She's just a spoiled woman who speaks without thinking."

Vespera listened to his excuses, his fondness for Tina painfully obvious. After a long silence, she said wearily, "I won't bother Tina. I don't care what you do with her. But keep her away from me." "I treat her like a sister," Luke insisted, his brow furrowed. "Right, a sister," Vespera replied, biting back her anger and the urge to reveal her evidence. "Fine, I overreacted. Congratulations on your new sister." "Let's just drive," Vespera said, a chill seeping into her. She tightened her jacket, inhaling the scent of sandalwood. Luke noticed the high-quality, gray men's jacket. "Whose jacket is that?"

Vespera looked out the window. "It's my new brother's," she said, a mocking echo of his "sister" comment. Luke's expression turned icy. He yanked the jacket off her and threw it out the window. Vespera was furious. Seeing her try to retrieve it, Luke pulled her back, leaned over, and kissed her forcefully. Vespera resisted, but he pried her mouth open, his kiss domineering and relentless. Pulling away, he breathed, "Don't provoke me. Think about other people's lives." Vespera was exasperated. The jacket remained on the ground. She had promised to return it.

After a chaotic weekend, Vespera came down with the flu and a fever. Luke stayed home, making her porridge, caring for her in a way that almost made her believe he still loved her. By midnight, her fever persisted. Luke's phone vibrated on the nightstand. They both looked. It was 12:35 am. The name "Sugar Baby" flashed on the screen. The phone's vibration pierced the silence, rattling their nerves.