Chapter 11
Before dinner, Luther called Lucy to inform her that he was picking someone up from the airport. He wouldn’t be home for dinner.
I looked at the calendar. Tonight was the day Adeline was arriving in Jaloria from Oakspire. Most likely, he would not come back tonight.
I was alone in this big house, but I actually felt quite at ease.
My family was still unaware of my divorce from Ryan. I had no intention of telling them yet. They were too far away to do anything except worry. I thought it would be better to wait until everything settled down before I told them.
I had promised Luther I would handle the Hilstone terminal matter. It was just after dinner, so I figured it was a good time to make the call.
I dialed Zachary’s number. He answered quickly, but I could hear noise in the background.
“Good evening, Zachary. Sorry to bother you,” I said politely.
He laughed. “Come on. Don’t be so formal. We are old classmates. What’s up?”
“I’m sorry to bring up work after hours. Are you free to talk now?” I asked carefully.
“No problem at all. Give me a moment.”
The background noise gradually faded. Then, I heard a door close, leaving everything silent.
“Alright. Go ahead,” he said. That small gesture said a lot about Zachary’s work ethic. I had always admired that about him.
“You mentioned the Hilstone terminal in your last call. Today, the company assigned me to handle the exhibition coordination.
“I wanted to ask how much space is still available and where the booths are located. Our company is bringing quite a few aircraft models this year, so we need a bit more space than usual. If there are any prime locations, we would really like to secure one,” I explained.
“Got it,” Zachary replied. “I’ll send you our internal booth map. It is something we only give to people we know, so no confidential information is involved.
“It shows the booth sizes and locations. The red–marked ones are already taken. The rest are still available, and you can let me know which one you want.
That kind of internal information was not something you could easily buy or request.
“Thank you so much, Zachary,” I said sincerely.
“You are welcome,” he replied. “There’s not much else I can do, but I do have some say when it comes to internal matters. Take a look as soon as you can, and let me know which exhibition hall you decide on.”
“Got it. I’ll discuss it with management and get back to you as soon as we decide,” I replied.
After the call, I opened the brochure immediately. As expected, several of the best locations were already taken.
Two prime booths were still available, probably because of their size. The Hilstone terminal always filled up fast. I needed to act quickly.
I did not call Luther. Instead, I sent him a message on WhatsApp.
“I got the booth layout for the Hilstone terminal. Please take a look when you have time. Once you decide on the booth, I’ll handle the negotiations.”
An hour passed, but there was still no response. With Adeline by his side, he probably did not have time for work messages.
Ever since I moved in, Luther had always spent his nights here. But now, knowing he was with another woman, the thought alone made me sick to my stomach.
If Luther dared touch me again when he came back, I would kick him right off the bed.
I went to take a shower. Just as I stepped into the bathroom, I heard the front door open.
The sound of running water masked everything. I did not notice Luther until a pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around me. Startled, I instinctively screamed and struggled.
He quickly covered my mouth and whispered, “It’s me.”
However, all I could think about was Luther and Adeline tangled up together. My stomach churned with nausea. I tore his hand away and said sharply, ” What are you doing? You nearly scared me to death.”
He reached for me again, but I stepped back in disgust, crossing my arms over my chest. “I am done showering. You can shower now.”
Luther caught on quickly. His expression turned cold. He grabbed me, pinned me against the wall, and narrowed his eyes. “You look seriously disgusted right now.”
I met his gaze and lied. “I’m not.”
He turned off the water before pressing his hands firmly on either side of my head, holding me in place.
“Can I ask what exactly you’re upset about?” he said.
“I’m not upset,” I said, turning my face away.
Chapter T
2.2
I couldn’t see his expression, but I felt his sharp gaze on me. It was as if he wanted to tear me apart.
After a pause, Luther suddenly let out a meaningful, drawn–out “I see.”
He asked, “Are you jealous?”
I froze. “Who’s jealous?”
If I weren’t jealous, I should’ve just asked, “Jealous of what?”
Luther chuckled. “You thought I went to see Adeline, didn’t you? You’re really stubborn, aren’t you? I wasn’t there–I was tied up at an important business dinner. That’s why I didn’t answer.”
My eyes flickered. I wasn’t naive enough to fully believe his few words, but the fact that he bothered to explain meant he still cared. Maybe he was trying to get his money back, and a little jealousy act wasn’t out of the question.
If Luther was in a good mood, my life would be easier.
“Really?” I asked, glancing up at him.
That actually made him laugh. Looking pleased, he turned the water back on, letting the warm spray cascade over both of us.
“Help me take this off,” he said.
I started unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his taut chest.
We returned to the bedroom, and I lay in his arms, heavy with sleep. Just as I was about to drift off, he suddenly asked, “Does your family know about the divorce?”
That one question snapped me fully awake. My sleepiness vanished.
“I haven’t told them yet,” I murmured.
He frowned. “Why not?”
“I want to wait until things settle down,” I said.
“What exactly do you mean by ‘settle down?“” he asked.
Clearly, Luther was worried I would cling to him.
“Don’t worry, I won’t cling to you. Once I pay you back and sort out my own life, I’ll tell them.”
The silence in the dark room felt even heavier.
Luther didn’t say anything for a long while. I thought he might’ve fallen asleep. Just as I was about to drift off, he said, “Are you planning to move out?”
I said nothing. I was just a temporary fling to him. I couldn’t stay here forever.
I let out a sigh. “This arrangement won’t last forever. Sooner or later, you’ll get tired of me. I need to have my own life ready for when that day comes.” “You can stay here as long as you want. This place is yours whenever you need it,” he said.
I didn’t answer. I knew he was just trying to make me feel better. I wasn’t naive enough to take it seriously, and I certainly wouldn’t overstay my welcome.
“Won’t Ryan say anything about the divorce?” Luther asked next.
I hesitated. “I don’t know. I don’t think he will. He’s someone who really cares about his image. After all…”
I stopped mid–sentence, suddenly realizing I couldn’t say what I was about to.
Ryan’s infertility was a secret Luther could never know. If he found out, he would probably piece together the real reason we got involved with him in the first place.
Knowing Luther’s temper, neither Ryan nor I would come out of it unscathed if he found out he had been used.
“What about it?” he pressed.
