Chapter 1

Luke Munoz cheated.

Vespera Gildon stood outside the president's office, her body stiff as if encased in ice. Her black stilettos seemed to merge with the dark marble floor beneath her.

After a long pause, she finally raised her hand and knocked on the door.

A deep, familiar voice responded from inside. "Come in."

Vespera tightened her grip on the documents in her hand and pushed the door open with the other. As she stepped inside, she forced a faint smile onto her face and approached Luke.

"Are you busy? There are a few urgent documents that need your signature." Even as Vespera asked, she had already placed the papers before him, flipping them open to the pages that required his signature.

Luke had just returned from a business trip to Shawford earlier that morning. He had come straight to the office to tackle the mountain of work waiting for him. His desk was cluttered with files, and his handsome, well-defined face bore traces of exhaustion.

Without even glancing at the documents, he signed them quickly. "Thanks for your hard work."

Vespera gathered the signed papers and asked, "Will you be home for dinner tonight?"

"I have plans tonight. You don't need to wait for me," he replied without looking up.

"Okay. I'll head out then." Vespera turned and walked away, clutching the documents. As she did, her smile faded into a cold, mocking expression.

As Vespera passed the restroom in the office, a faint sound reached her ears. It seemed like a small animal jumping off the bed and landing on the floor.

Her gaze swept over the couch area, where a few snack wrappers and a half-finished milk tea lay on the coffee table. On the floor, a pastel pink high heel lay tipped over.

Everything became clear instantly. Her heart turned cold, crumbling into ash.

Vespera returned to her office. The short walk back drained all her energy. When she finally sat down, she let out a long, weary sigh.

She pulled one document from the stack in her hands. It was a divorce agreement.

Flipping to the last page, Vespera traced the lines of his signature with a mocking expression, her mind flashing back to memories.

Luke vowed to marry Vespera back then. However, Vespera's mother-in-law warned her not to get too comfortable, as no man could stay loyal to one woman forever.

Vespera was naive enough to believe they were different. But what difference was there?

Luke had cheated on her with a young woman. He was convinced he was hiding it well, indulging in the thrill of his affair. He had even brought her along on his business trip to Shawford. And now, he had brought her back to the office.

Vespera withdrew her finger and snapped a photo of the signed divorce agreement. She then sent it to her mother-in-law, Fiona Reeds, with a simple message. "He signed it."

A week ago, Vespera had struck a deal with Fiona. She demanded that Vespera initiate the divorce and keep their secret marriage hidden from the public. In return, Vespera had asked for a billion-dollar settlement.

In a month, Luke would be completely out of her life.

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

After keeping the divorce agreement, Vespera said, "Please enter."

The door opened, and Luke's assistant, Osbert Madron, stepped inside.

"Ms. Gildon, Mr. Munoz asked me to pass this to you," Osbert said, placing a dark green velvet box in front of her.

Vespera casually opened the box and found an expensive diamond jewelry set. But the first thing that flashed through her mind was a dazed, short-haired girl in a bathrobe, carelessly holding up a diamond necklace. The room bathed in dim, suggestive lighting, the bed rumpled, and the girl's chest marked with unmistakable love bites.

A wave of nausea churned in her stomach.

"Thank you, Mr. Madron."

Osbert felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Verspera's threatening gaze. He couldn't help but add, "Mr. Munoz personally selected this. It's one of a kind in the world."

It's too bad that Luke's heart wasn't one of a kind; she no longer wanted it.

Vespera smiled faintly. "Really? How touching that he found time in his busy schedule to buy me a gift."

Something in her voice didn't quite align. Osbert's unease deepened as he broke into a cold sweat. Did she know about Luke and Tina Sowle? He mumbled an excuse and fled from the office.

Vespera looked at the jewelry on the desk with disdain, as if it were filthy. She took out her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to the owner of a luxury resale shop.

Then, she instructed, "Sell this for me and donate the proceeds to the Foundation for Children with Intellectual Disabilities."

The resale shop owner was speechless.

…

At 5:00 pm, Vespera had just reached her car and was about to open the door when her gaze casually swept across the parking garage. She noticed a car idling diagonally across from her.

Through the window, she saw Luke in the backseat, a short-haired woman nestled close to him. The woman had a round, cute face and radiated youthful energy.

"Mr. Munoz!" Osbert gasped, slamming on the brakes.

Separated by glass and a stretch of space, Vespera's eyes found Luke's.

Chapter 2

Luke's eyes were dark and unreadable, while Vespera's were lifeless, devoid of emotion.

The atmosphere in the garage was tense.

Despite noticing Verspera, the woman didn't bother to distance herself from Luke. Instead, she grew even bolder, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering something into his ear.

Vespera felt disgusted by the scene. She looked away, got into her car, and drove off without glancing back.

…

Shortly after arriving home, Vespera heard the sound of another car pulling up outside.

As she reached up to unfasten the clasp of her necklace before the glass cabinet in the walk-in closet, a towering presence loomed behind her. The man's commanding presence filled the small space, completely enveloping her.

His hands pressed against the glass cabinet, angling himself to study her face from the side. "Are you angry?"

Vespera avoided his gaze. She took her time putting the necklace away before replying indifferently, "I'm angry enough to kill. You'd better watch your back."

Luke fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "The Sowle family is interested in collaborating with us on the Polaris project. I've been in talks 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 it's necessary to explain." Vespera finally turned to look at Luke. Her gaze seemed to pierce 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 instantly. "What did you say?"

She sighed and replied, "We can get a divorce."

As Vespera tried to push him away and leave, Luke yanked her back forcefully. Then, he gripped her face and warned, "Don't even think about it."

Vespera didn't respond. Not only had she thought about it—she had already taken action. She didn't want to be with him anymore.

Luke stayed home until late that night—until an unexpected phone call summoned him away. Vespera caught the faint sound of a tearful voice on the other end of the line.

…

The next morning, Vespera's lawyer and close friend, Rebecca Snyder, who was handling her divorce, sent her a screenshot. It was a new post from Luke's girlfriend—a photo of two hands, one noticeably larger than the other, forming a heart against a scenic sunrise. The caption read, "When love greets the day".

Vespera recognized the larger hand instantly—it was Luke's. She sat frozen, her fingers curled around a glass of water. She wasn't sure how long she had been gripping it.

The sharp, clear sound of the cup hitting the surface triggered a feeling of loss in Vespera. It was as if something within her had broken too.

Days passed, and Luke never returned home. Their only encounters were in company meetings—him at the head of the table, her among the executives. They didn't look at each other, and Vespera never once went to find him at his office either.

Instead, she filled her time searching for apartments and methodically discarding every gift he had ever given her—anniversary presents, birthday gifts, Valentine's Day tokens, wedding mementos. She even sold her wedding ring.

Why hold onto reminders of a love she no longer wanted?

…

That evening, Elena Hortwall, the lady boss of Westfield Group, invited Vespera to join her at a club.

At first, Vespera hesitated—it was already close to eleven—but after some thought, she decided to go.

Now that she was divorced and would be leaving Eclipse Group, she would need connections for her business ventures.

As soon as she stepped into the club, she spotted Elena.

"I could have gone up by myself. You didn't have to come down," Vespera said.

Elena linked arms with her affectionately as they stepped into the elevator. "I was worried you'd get lost. You've never been here before, have you?"

That was true. She hadn't.

The two headed upstairs, and Elena led Vespera into a spacious private room. A large screen stood in the center, dividing the space.

As they entered, Vespera noticed a few people on the other side of the screen, but Elena didn't take her there. Instead, she led her to a quieter section with only one other person. That person looked vaguely familiar, possibly the girlfriend of one of Luke's friends.

The woman seemed to recognize Vespera too. Though she looked slightly uneasy, she still managed a polite smile.

After Vespera removed her coat and sat down, Elena left.

Vespera lifted the drink given to her, taking a slow sip. From beyond the screen, the cheerful sounds of conversations drifted over—until suddenly, 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 now, 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 in bed 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 ice-cold. She recognized two of the voices; they were friends of Luke, men who had always addressed her as Mrs. Munoz with excessive sweetness.

The woman beside her looked mortified, unwilling to meet her gaze. When Vespera rose from her seat, she assumed she was about to flee in embarrassment.

But Vespera did no such thing. Instead, she cleared her throat, picked up her drink, and strolled leisurely to the other side of the screen.

She leaned against it, tilting her head as she addressed the group in an easy, conversational tone. "Just so we're all on the same page—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?"

The room fell silent. Every face on the couch stiffened in utter disbelief.

And before anyone could recover, two tall figures stepped into the room.

The group stiffened further, eyes darting between Vespera and the men standing behind her, dread settling deep in their bones.

Chapter 3

Luke stood behind Vespera, his presence exuding an icy chill.

Sensing the shift in the room, Vespera glanced over her shoulder. So, he had been here all along.

She quickly turned back, her gaze landing on the short-haired woman sitting in the corner of the couch. Earlier, Tina had been lounging smugly, one leg crossed over the other, absentmindedly twirling her hair around her finger.

But now, her expression had completely soured. Her smile was gone, replaced by a murderous glare.

It was clear Luke and Tina had been meeting up with the rest. Judging by their friends' casual tone, this wasn't just a one-time occurrence—it had happened enough times that they no longer bothered to hide it.

Luke took a step forward. The group, as if suddenly released from paralysis, sprang into action.

"We're sorry! We were just talking nonsense."

"Mrs. Munoz, nothing is going on between Luke and Ms. Sowle!"

"Mrs. Munoz, please don't take it seriously."

Luke grabbed Vespera's wrist, intent on dragging her away. But before he could, she turned and threw her drink straight into his face.

The room fell into a dead silence. Everyone watched, their scalps tingling. Did she really just do that?

Then, Vespera flashed a wide smile and said, "Enjoy your time with your sweetheart. I wouldn't want to spoil the fun."

She lowered her head, attempting to pry his fingers off her wrist.

Luke's expression darkened. Without a word, he scooped her up, slung her over his shoulder, and strode out.

The room fell silent.

Out in the hallway, Vespera struggled fiercely against his hold. Just then, the elevator doors slid open.

As Luke stepped inside and turned around, her eyes were drawn to the sleek black leather shoes, the straight legs clad in tailored black suit pants, and the pale, slender hands resting at his sides. His fingers were long and elegant.

The atmosphere was thick with silence and unease.

As they exited the elevator, Vespera couldn't resist looking up. She saw a pair of deep, piercing eyes staring down at her.

Vespera was speechless as she lowered her head, covering her face.

Outside the club, Luke tossed her into the car's back seat before getting in himself.

Dizzy and disoriented, Vespera sat up. After being upside down for so long and then thrown into the car, she felt like she might have a concussion.

Luke pulled a wet wipe from the car's compartment and began wiping his face.

Out of the corner of her eye, Vespera caught a glimpse of something behind the tissue box—it looked like a condom.

Before she could say anything, Luke demanded, "Why did you come here? To catch me cheating?"

Disgusted, she reached for the door handle, ready to get out. The car was filthy.

"Vespera!" Luke yanked her back inside, his voice filled with irritation. "Where do you think you're going? Are you done yet?"

Her breathing was unsteady. She pressed her fingertips and murmured, "I want to go home."

Luke called Osbert, who was waiting outside the club, and told him to drive.

The ride was silent. Vespera sat as far from Luke as possible, her complexion pale as if she might throw up at any moment.

When they finally arrived home, she wasted no time getting out of the car.

Vespera hurried to the kitchen and gulped a full glass of ice-cold water. Finally, she felt slightly better.

When she returned to the living room, Luke was already seated. She walked over and sat down as well. Another suffocating silence stretched between them.

Finally, Luke spoke. "I was there to discuss a project. You stormed into the club and made a scene. I'm so humiliated. Do you have any idea how foolish, how repulsive you looked? You behaved like a shrew."

"Okay. Anything else?" Vespera asked calmly.

"If you still want this relationship to last, stop these unnecessary suspicions. I don't have time to cater to your emotions."

"Alright. Anything else?"

Luke frowned and replied, "Do you have any idea how annoying you are right now?"

Vespera smiled faintly as she stood up. Soon, he won't have to be annoyed anymore. With that, she turned and headed upstairs.

Luke's irritation grew at her smile. After sitting in the living room for a while, he went upstairs to their bedroom, only to find that she had already gone to bed. He showered and lay down beside her.

In the darkness, Vespera turned away from him, shifting toward the edge of the bed to avoid any contact.

Luke turned and embraced her, forcefully pulling her from the edge into his arms. His movements tinged with anger.

His tall, strong frame easily overpowered her, holding her so tightly she couldn't move. So, she spent the night rigid in his embrace.

The next morning, Vespera only prepared breakfast for herself. When Luke went downstairs, he found her eating bread alone. As he was about to leave, he changed directions and approached the dining area.

Leaning close to her ear, he said gently, "Let's go out to the sea this weekend, just the two of us."

Vespera hummed in response while drinking her milk. Unsurprisingly, the day before the weekend, he canceled on her again, saying he needed to fly to Holsword.

Vespera felt nothing. Perhaps Luke hadn't even realized how long it had been since they last shared a meal or truly spent time together. He warned her against entertaining thoughts of divorce, yet in reality, he treated her like she was invisible, as if it made no difference whether she was there or not.

That weekend, Vespera packed the books from her shelf and moved them to her new home. As she was arranging them, her phone rang. It was her mother-in-law, Felicia Jensen.

Vespera answered and politely said, "Hello, Mrs. Munoz."

Felicia's voice carried its usual condescension. "Come over. We need to finalize the document we discussed earlier."

"Is that really necessary?"

"It is if I say so."

"Okay. I'll come by this afternoon."

"No, come at noon."

"Fine."

Vespera agreed, as she had no other plans.

Meanwhile, Felicia stood by the window, watching with satisfaction as Luke and Tina strolled in the garden. She wanted Vespera to see what a truly perfect couple looked like.

Chapter 4

Vespera arrived at the Munoz residence at 11:40 am.

The butler, Walter Osland, was visibly startled to see her. He knew another guest was expected today but hadn't realized it would be Vespera. His forehead broke into a cold sweat at the thought of Luke and Tina in the living room.

Very few people knew about Vespera and Luke's marriage. Aside from their parents, only a handful of close aides, including Osbert and Walter, were aware of the truth.

"This way." Walter had no choice but to follow Felicia's instructions. He braced himself as he led Vespera inside.

Before they reached the living room, a sweet, affectionate voice rang out. "I won again. Luke, were you letting me win on purpose?"

Vespera stopped in her tracks. Her mind suddenly went blank. Then, everything became crystal clear.

She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh before entering the living room.

Vespera had been shifting her books earlier, so she hadn't bothered with makeup today. She was dressed casually in a loose white shirt and jeans. Her long hair was gathered into a loose ponytail with a simple ribbon.

Yet, even in such an understated look, her skin remained fair, and her dark eyes were striking against the natural redness of her lips. A few stray strands of hair fell against her cheek, adding an unintentional touch of allure to her beauty.

Luke was taken aback to see Vespera. "Why are you—"

"Your mom called me over," Vespera interrupted coolly. She glared at Luke and continued, "Weren't you supposed to be in Holsword? When did you learn to teleport?"

Luke was at a loss for words as a flicker of guilt flashed across his eyes.

Tina rose from the couch and walked up to Vespera, extending a hand with a provocative smile.

"Hello, I'm Tina Sowle."

Vespera didn't spare her a glance, treating her as if she were nothing more than air.

Just then, Felicia entered the living room. She cast a brief look at Vespera before affectionately holding Tina's hand. "Did you have fun today? Make yourself at home."

Then, she introduced Vespera. "This is Ms. Vespera Gildon. She works at Eclipse Group. I asked her to come over for a discussion."

Everyone knew Vespera was Luke's wife. Yet Felicia deliberately reduced her to nothing more than a company employee, making it clear she had no intention of acknowledging her as family. This also told Tina that Vespera was insignificant and didn't threaten Luke and Tina's impending marriage.

Tina lifted her chin proudly. "Oh? She's just a company employee?"

Vespera didn't react to either of them. Instead, she turned her gaze to Luke and watched him in silence. She wanted to see how he would respond.

However, Luke merely sat there, his face as cold and indifferent as ever, making no effort to correct the insult.

Did he not understand what was happening? No. He understood perfectly. He just didn't care if she was humiliated.

Vespera turned to Felicia and said, "Mrs. Munoz, didn't you call me here for a discussion? Let's just speak here."

"We can discuss another day. Since you're already here, stay for lunch."

"I won't be staying for lunch. I have other matters to attend to."

With that, Vespera turned to leave.

Felicia bellowed, "How can you show such disrespect when an elder invites you to a meal? Where are your manners?"

Vespera turned and looked at her. After a short pause, she said, "Okay. I'll stay for lunch. Just don't regret it."

Then, she walked over and chose a single-seat chair for herself.

Tina sat beside Luke and wrapped her arm around his. "Let's continue our game."

Luke pulled his arm away and looked at Vespera. "Do you know how to play checkers, Ms. Gildon?"

Vespera glanced at the exquisite set on the table and quickly noticed the game strategy. It was such a simple setup, and yet Luke lost.

So, he did know how to humor someone. Just not her.

Vespera lifted her gaze and smirked at Luke. "I do. Would you like to play, Ms. Sowle?"

Luke's expression darkened slightly, his gaze flashing with warning.

Tina confidently reset the board. "White or black, Ms. Gildon?"

Vespera picked up a black piece and said, "Black. Seems fitting for me."

Luke was speechless, while Felicia and Tina were about to laugh at her self-deprecation—plenty of people got shaded, but few shaded themselves.

Yet, after a few seconds, they realized she wasn't mocking herself. She was mocking them.

Tina clenched her teeth and made the first move. Piece by piece, the game unfolded.

Felicia noticed how strategically Tina had placed her pieces while Vespera's moves seemed scattered and aimless. She was biased toward Tina, so she didn't analyze the game carefully.

Then, Felicia shot Luke a look. That was the difference between a well-bred lady from a prestigious family and a nobody. However, Luke showed no reaction.

The game continued, and each time Tina thought she was about to win, Vespera blocked her path. Her emotions fluctuated with each turn, and she grew increasingly impatient. Still, she reassured herself that the match would end in a draw even if she couldn't win. It was disgraceful to tie with Vespera, after all.

"Your move," Vespera said.

Tina had already placed three pieces in a hidden corner. If she could just add one more, victory was hers.

She feigned composure and made her move. Then, she anxiously watched and prayed that Vespera didn't notice.

When Vespera placed her next piece elsewhere, Tina declared triumphantly, "I win!"

Felicia immediately applauded in delight. However, they soon watched in stunned silence as Vespera began calmly collecting the pieces. They noticed that she had already won the game.

Felicia and Tina went pale.

Chapter 5

Vespera collected the remaining two pieces.

The checkers game was supposed to be winner-takes-all, but Tina was unwilling to accept defeat. So, she decided to act shamelessly.

"Even though you won first, I also have five in a row now. So I win too." She defiantly placed another piece on her row of four, claiming victory.

Vespera stared at Tina briefly as if she were a fool. "Well, if that's the case, I guess I can keep going too."

With that, she placed another piece on the board, easily completing another row of five.

Over the next minute, Vespera nearly cleared the board, blocking Tina at every turn until the latter couldn't make any move.

Tina's face turned red, then pale, and she demanded a rematch.

Second game, third game, fourth game...

Vespera either toyed with Tina, slowly crushing her spirit, or ended the game swiftly with precise, ruthless moves. Having been treated like a fool, Tina burst into tears.

"Enough!" Luke snatched the game box from Vespera's hands with an icy expression.

Seeing Luke take her side, Tina threw herself into his arms, sobbing as if Vespera had bullied her.

Luke and Felicia comforted Tina. Then, the latter scolded Vespera, "It's just a game of checkers. Why take it so seriously? You're so petty and competitive. It's clear you come from a poor family!"

The voices around Vespera blurred into a meaningless hum.

Luke's face, once so bright and radiant in her eyes, now seemed like a faded, distorted film reel, unrecognizable and dull.

Whatever. 20 more days. She'd let him do as he pleased.

Vespera tossed the remaining pieces onto the board, her expression bored and indifferent. She then stood up and walked away.

A few drops of blood fell onto the board as she scattered the pieces. It wasn't until she stepped outside and felt the coolness on her fingers that she realized she had been clenching her fists so tightly that her nails had dug into her palms, drawing blood.

"Vespera!" Luke called after her, his voice finally tinged with a hint of panic.

He tried to chase after Vespera, but Tina clung to his waist, crying even harder.

Vespera left the Munoz residence. Her phone rang incessantly on the drive as Luke was calling her repeatedly. She blocked his number without hesitation.

Then, Vespera sent a message to Felicia. "15 million dollars! If you short me even a single cent, I'll make sure you pay dearly for it!"

Felicia nearly had a heart attack when she read the message.

Vespera drove on, the world outside her window shifting as the sky darkened and rain began to fall. Her thoughts scattered like the raindrops, unfocused and drifting.

Suddenly, a flash of yellow zipped past her—a motorcycle swerved recklessly in front of her car. Her heart lurched, and she slammed on the brakes.

The next second, a loud crash jolted Vespera from behind. Her head snapped forward, hitting the steering wheel.

A sharp pain spread from her temple. When she looked up, the rain-soaked world outside was tinged with red. She grabbed a tissue and wiped the blood from her eyes.

Vespera had been rear-ended, and the yellow motorcycle that had cut her off was now nowhere to be seen.

Just then, someone tapped on her car window. Vespera rolled it down to find herself eye-to-eye with a man who appeared to be in his late 40s or early 50s. He was wearing glasses and carrying a sleek black umbrella.

Raymond Chandler's demeanor was calm and polite, his expression apologetic. "Miss, I'm terribly sorry. I'm the one who collided with you. We'll take full responsibility. My boss is in a bit of a hurry right now, so could we exchange contact information? You can send us a list of damages later, and we'll make sure to cover everything."

"Let's just wait for the police to handle it," Vespera replied flatly.

Vespera was already in a foul mood, and after being startled twice in quick succession, her frustration had reached its breaking point.

She got out of the car and walked to the rear, where she saw the back of her car dented from the collision with the Bentley behind her. Frowning, she took photos for evidence and called the police.

Seeing her insistence, Raymond didn't try to stop her. He returned to his car to report the situation. "The lady isn't willing to settle privately. What should we do?"

The rain grew heavier. The windshield wipers pushed the rainwater aside, only for the glass to be quickly covered again by a fresh layer of mist.

Inside the car, a man lounged casually, his gaze fixed on Vespera, who was holding her forehead with one hand while talking on the phone.

She radiated intense frustration, her white shirt soaked through by the rain. Droplets clung to her long lashes before falling onto her red lips.

Raymond called out once again. "Mr. Reid?"

Dominic Reid glanced at his watch before replying, "Gerard is on his way. I'll leave first. You stay and handle this."

"Understood."

Vespera returned to her car. A short while later, the police arrived, followed by a silver Maybach.

The two cars stopped almost simultaneously.

She got out of her car. The occupants of the other car also stepped out.

Aside from Raymond, a tall, elegant figure emerged. His skin was pale, his deep eyes sharp and commanding. When he noticed her gaze, he glanced her way with a piercing look.

The man seemed familiar.

"Give this to her."

Dominic handed Raymond the suit jacket, which was casually draped over his arm. He then got into the Maybach without a glance.

Raymond hurried over to Vespera with the jacket. "Miss, your clothes are soaked. Please put this on."

Vespera looked down and realized her white shirt was clinging to her body, almost revealing her undergarments.

Embarrassed, she accepted the jacket and slipped it on. "Thank you."

Raymond spoke quietly with the police officer while the Maybach slowly pulled away, cutting through the rain and disappearing into the mist. Vespera caught only a fleeting glimpse of the man's striking profile.

The jacket still carried its owner's warmth, and a faint, soothing sandalwood scent dispelled the chill of the rain.

The police concluded the matter, and both parties agreed to exchange contact information.

Raymond offered to accompany Vespera to the hospital to have her forehead injury checked, but she politely declined. By now, her mood had settled, and she apologized for her earlier overreaction, admitting it was due to her foul mood rather than their fault.

"I'll have the jacket cleaned and return it to you."

Raymond didn't argue. He was familiar with Dominic's temperament; even if the jacket were returned, he likely wouldn't want it back. Still, he nodded politely.

Vespera went to the hospital alone.

…

Meanwhile, Luke, unable to reach her and with the rain pouring down, was plagued by terrifying thoughts.

Just then, he received news of her accident.