Chapter 77

Vespera frowned at the incoming call; it had only been three hours. She had expected him to wait at least two days before harassing her again. Without hesitation, she blocked and deleted the number.

At the hospital, Take handed his phone to Bet.

“How’s everything with the apartment?”

“I’ve secured it. Mrs. Muner is strong on the truth floor. A unit on the 20th floor was up for sale, and the deed of conveyance has already been processed. You can move in anytime.”

“Good. Very good.”

Loke patted him on the shoulder. Before leaving for Seloria, he had ordered him to secure the apartment. He would never let Vespera live in the same building as Dominik. Getting her back wouldn’t be easy, but this was a step in the right direction. Winning her heart again would be a long and difficult battle. He had to be patient, even though her hostility toward him made it unbearable at times.

In the hospital, faint sobs echoed from a room. Luke stepped inside and saw Tina’s pitiful state. Her swollen cheeks and the bruise at the corner of her mouth, along with tears in her eyes, made her look particularly vulnerable.

“Luke,” she reached out to him, her voice soft and pleading.

“The doctor said you’re fine. Get some more rest, and you’ll be discharged soon,” Luke said coldly, keeping his distance from her bed.

It was still an improvement from before. At least now, he no longer wanted to kill her or looked at her like she was a monster. She silently celebrated and stretched her hand out.

“Luke, can I hold you? I don’t mean anything by it. It just hurts to think that we’re going back to being just friends,” she said timidly.

Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. She knew most men would fall for this trick. As expected, after a moment of hesitation, Luke moved toward her. She sprang up the moment he came closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him like a vine twisting around a sturdy tree.

Luke snapped, trying to pull her away. As the situation escalated, she held on tighter.

“Don’t push me away,” she whispered breathlessly, her tone laced with seduction. Her lips trailed along his neck, and her hands roamed over his broad back. “D—Don’t do this,” Luke warned, but his breathing grew uneven. The hands that should have been pushing her away lost their strength.

Sensing his hesitation, she tightened her grip, pressing close as she whispered seductively, “Stop!”

A sharp memory flashed through Luke’s mind—the day Vespera burned their marriage certificate and the deep sorrow in her eyes. The vision struck him like a cold blade. His chest tightened, and his body suddenly felt as if it had been doused in ice water.

In that instant, he shoved Tina away with all his strength and stormed out without looking back. To be precise, he ran from her.

Tiba slammed her fists against the bed, seething with frustration. She had been so close. If only he had given in and spent the night with her, he would never have left her again.

Rebecca had just returned from grocery shopping when a call came from home. Her mom had injured her waist. She had no choice but to let Vespera know she needed to leave. “I’ll be fine on my own; just order takeout for dinner. You should go take care of your mom,” Vespera reassured her.

“Call me if you need anything.”

Even though Rebecca didn’t feel good about leaving her alone, she had no choice. As she reached the lobby, she spotted Gerard stepping out of the elevator. An idea sparked in her mind, and she quickly approached him.

“Hey Gerard, I was thinking—Vera’s situation could be considered a workplace injury, right? She has no one to take care of her tonight. Since you guys live just one floor apart, could you check on her?”

“Sure. No problem,” he replied without hesitation.