Chapter 3
By the time night had fallen, Luther’s desire had faded into silence.
He stepped out of the bathroom and settled onto the couch before lighting a cigarette nonchalantly.
His sharp features emerged through the swirling smoke. He held my gaze for a moment until his voice broke the silence.
“Divorce him.”
“…What?”
I thought I had misheard Luther. When he saw the disbelief in my eyes, he stubbed out his cigarette and stared at me with the confidence of a man in control.
“You’re going to leave him eventually. Why drag it out?”
Who was Luther to decide that? To him, I was nothing more than a fleeting distraction, a temporary escape.
I had built a life with Ryan. A future I believed in. Did Luther really think whatever that was happening between us now could replace that?
Luther understood my silence and sneered. “Don’t read too much into it. I’m not marrying you. It’s just… inconvenient.”
Inconvenient?
What exactly was inconvenient?
What we had was nothing but a temporary fling. It was meant to end when the excitement faded. So why was Luther acting like he controlled my life?
“Mr. Stone, my time as your assistant won’t last much longer anyway. You don’t need to trouble yourself with those details,” I said.
With his sharp mind, Luther clearly understood the unspoken meaning behind my words. No matter his position, he had no claim over my personal life.
A smile played at the corners of his lips as he said, “You’re right. I do care about the details.”
He lifted the glass of red wine to his mouth and took a sip. His neck tensed as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving distinctly.
“I never said I wanted a divorce,” I murmured.
His eyes locked onto mine, calin and commanding. With a slight curl of his finger, he silently summoned me closer.
Though reluctant, I wrapped the robe tighter around me and stepped forward.
Luther slid his hand into mine and drew me onto his lap. Without hesitation, he parted the collar of my robe.
Feeling vulnerable under his intense stare, I instinctively raised my hands to shield myself.
“Do you really believe your husband’s devotion has no limits? That your marriage is truly built on faithfulness?” he asked.
His words left me silent. His fingertips lingered on my ear, drawing teasing strokes along my flushed earlobe. I had no strength to resist.
“Don’t be so naive. At your age, naivety isn’t innocence. It’s just foolishness. If he truly loved you, would he send you into another man’s bed?”
My lips moved, searching for a reply, but no words came.
Fueled by stubbornness, I said coldly, “You have no right to meddle in my personal life.”
“Is that so?” Luther scoffed softly through his nose, the sound tightening around my chest like a vise. At that moment, I was nothing more than a gilded canary trapped in his grasp+his plaything, to be controlled at his whim.
He raised the glass of red wine to my lips, and I tilted my head back, swallowing without resistance.
As he pressed the glass into my hand, his words cut deeper.
“The life you have now exists because of me. When I give you the script, you follow it. But once I close the book, your role is complete.”
Luther was right. With Ryan’s promotion and my family’s debts hanging over us, I had no choice.
He looked at me calmly and asked, “Are you truly certain he’s someone you can count on for a lifetime?”
His words stunned me.
After all, Ryan’s promotion was tied to Luther’s support. And since Ryan depended on him, how could I ever fully trust that Ryan would have my back indefinitely?
With firm resolve, I met Luther’s gaze and said, “Honestly, I can’t rely on you forever either. But as long as I don’t give up on Ryan, he won’t give up on me.”
Luther shook his head slowly as if ridiculing my faith in Ryan.
Gathering the last ounce of courage, I stood my ground. I was determined to prove Ryan’s love and
my commitment.
I looked Luther squarely in the eyes and said, “Mr. Stone, I know exactly where I stand with you. I came here by my own choice. Ryan didn’t pressure me. I hope you won’t misunderstand.”
But by the time the words left my mouth, a flicker of doubt had already settled inside me.
Chapter 3
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22
All of a sudden, Luther let out a soft, amused chuckle. Quiet as it was, his laugh crashed over me like a thunderclap.
Luther was infuriating. He didn’t have to say a word. His silence alone was enough to make me feel ashamed.
He lifted his hand and lightly traced my cheek. His gaze seemed distant as if he were a spectator watching a scene unfold.
“We never really learn from others,” he said. “It’s only when we crash headfirst into an obstacle that we truly learn.”
I blinked, puzzled by his words, a ripple of unease washing over me.
Was something about to happen to Ryan?
“You promised to get Ryan promoted to regional manager,” I said, my voice strained with unease.
Luther’s hand slid to my neck, his fingers tightening under my chin.
“And I will,” he said. “But understand this. When you’re with me, there’s no room for anyone else in your thoughts.”
I felt the weight of his warning beneath his words.
“Noted,” I answered.
He glanced at the clock. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day. There’s a client meeting in the evening, and afterward, you’ll be coming with me to a dinner party.”
“Alright.”
What I didn’t realize then was that the dinner was only part of the night. By the end of it, I had become nothing more than another course laid out on the table.
Early the next morning, Adeline was already waiting downstairs.
As Luther and I appeared, she smiled, but the disdain in her eyes was unmistakable–like daggers piercing straight through me.
She quickly sized me up from head to toe. “If you’re not feeling well, Ms. Miller, perhaps you should stay in your room. This is serious business. I’m more than capable of handling things with Mr. Stone,” she said with an air of arrogance.
When it came to the work, I was indeed only marginally involved. In fact, I didn’t have any active projects. My role was mostly to keep Luther company. Still, being called out so bluntly stung more than I expected.
“Thanks for your concern, Ms. Larkin, but I’m perfectly fine.”
With that, I slid into the car ahead of Adeline, deliberately claiming the seat she clearly wanted.
She leaned down beside me, but with Luther there, she held her tongue. Instead, she shot me a resentful glare before settling behind him.
“Mr. Stone,” she said, resting her hand on the back of the front seat. “Mr. Bennett Calder from Infinia Tech has arranged to meet at the Blue Ember Private Club tonight. He’s bringing his wife as well.
“I only just received the update. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing a small gift on your behalf. It’s in my car.”
Luther didn’t look up from his phone. “Send me the receipt. The finance department will reimburse you.”
I was well aware of corporate hospitality customs. When a guest brought his wife, a luxury gift fitting her status was standard.
“There’s no need to reimburse me. Mrs. Calder and I were classmates, though we hadn’t seen each other recently. She’s quite reserved and would only accept a gift if it came from me,” Adeline explained.
The implication was unmistakable. Her attendance at the dinner was a given.
Luther gave a slight nod, silently approving.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the satisfied glint in Adeline’s expression. She was already convinced I wouldn’t be joining them tonight.
Once the day’s work was done, Luther had a sleek black gown and a pair of leather heels sent to me.
The smooth black leather and bold red soles carried a wild, provocative elegance with every step I took.
Standing in front of the mirror, I wiped off my bold lipstick and replaced it with a softer, more inviting shade.
Just as I finished changing, the door opened. Luther had a key to my room.
Before long, we arrived at the Blue Ember Private Club.
When Luther and I entered the private room, Adeline was already there, draped in sparkling jewels and exuding the confidence of a seasoned hostess.
She took Luther’s coat and handed me the teapot. Her silent gesture made it clear I was to serve them.
She settled beside Luther, casually discussing Bennett’s dinner plans for the evening. Meanwhile, I stood quietly to the side, feeling like nothing more than a glorified server.
