<b>Chapter </b><b>3 </b>


    The speaker volume seemed deliberately cranked up, each word echoing in my ears.


    Luke watched me while bringing the phone to his lips, his voicezy. “Wrong number, sweetheart.”


    I studied his cold expression, trying to remember what he looked like when he used to love me.


    At first, Luke would still apologize and try to make things right.


    The gift he’d had sent to Ruby Grant was ridiculously expensive and identally bumped me from a reservation I’d made.


    The rich crowd is tiny, and word travels fast about everything.


    Luke raced home and handed over everything–his phone, bank cards, passwords to eighteen different ounts.


    “She did me a small favor. Alex picked out the gift, and I’m gonna chew him out for it.”


    Just a simple exnation<b>, </b>and I believed him. No reason not to.


    But somehow, word got out about Luke and me having a huge fight.


    Then Ruby showed up on a rainy day, kneeling at our front door.


    “Mrs. Harper, Luke and I–there’s really nothing between us. You have to believe me.”


    The cover–up just made it more suspicious.


    Anger clouds your judgment, so I missed the flicker of pain in Luke’s eyes when he stood at that window<b>, </b>looking down at her.


    When a man feels protective of a woman, that’s romance between two people. Add a third person, and it bes dangerous.


    But that wasn’t even the worst part. The hardest days were already behind us.


    If I remembered right, today was November 27th. Just a few days left until my three–year agreement with his grandpa expired.


    I looked toward Luke, about to speak.


    Then his phone rang, and I caught fragments of the voice on the other end.


    I recognized Ruby’s voice.


    “The power’s out at my ce. Everything’s pitch ck. I’m scared.”


    “Stay put. I’ming over.<b>” </b>


    Luke stood up, nced at me once<b>, </b>and I swallowed whatever I’d been about to say. Without another word, he walked out.


    After Luke <b>left</b>, I drove to the Harper family estate.


    The Harper mansion was a century–old Victorian, decorated with an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western antiques.


    Inside, Luke’s mother sat on the sofa while <b>a </b>maid massaged her shoulders.


    <b>13:20 </b>


    Hell Yeah. <b>Forget </b>the Other Woman. My Smart House Was <b>Cheating </b>On Me<b>! </b>


    <b>15.4</b><b>% </b>


    Chapter <b>3 </b>


    She nced up when she heard mee in, then closed her eyes again.


    I didn’t want to annoy her, so I went straight upstairs to the study.


    “Grandpa,” I said carefully, “the three years are up. I want to leave the Harper family.”


    Years ago, I’d figured out that Luke only pretended to send Ruby away–he’d actually sent her abroad to study.


    When I was in the hospital and his flight records showed he was still traveling between New York and Australia, so Ipletely gave up hope.


    That’s when I went to grandpa. The Harper family was dealing with internal and external troubles at the time.


    He asked me to stay three more years. If Luke didn’t change his ways in that time, he’d let me leave the family.


    The old leather chair creaked as Grandpa opened his eyes to look at me. “I thought three years would be enough time for you to get used to this life. Why do you still want to leave?”


    When I didn’t answer, he sighed.


    “You knew what you were getting into when you married into this family. Look at Melody. She was even more hot–headed than you back in the day, but she never let go of being a Harper. All those bastard kids couldn’t touch her, and Luke is still our only legitimate


    heir.”


    Melody was Luke’s mother, the woman who now spent her days meditating and chanting prayers. In her youth<i>, </i>she’d been extraordinarily ruthless.


    “You know what she relied on?” he asked.


    “What?”


    “My backing. As long as I support you, no one can take your position as Mrs. Harper. With me behind you, those other women can’t touch you.”