<b>Chapter </b><b>10 </b>
Who knew Luke would lose his mind like this, haunting me with his persistence.
Every few days he’d fly to New York, suddenly forgetting about his girlfriends and mistresses.
Like without me around, he’d lost all passion for his affairs–even cheating had lost its thrill.
I ignored him and went ahead with my nned trip to Montana during my break.
I was sick of the noise and chaos, tired of information overload. Sometimes you need nature to cleanse your soul.
So I picked a cabin with wind and light<b>, </b>mountains andkes, and slow, peaceful time.
Surprisingly, I ran into Sophia on this trip.
She clearly hadn’t expected it either. After two days of awkward encounters, she finally couldn’t help but approach me.
Though her opening line was pretty obnoxious. “You look way better now that you’ve divorced my brother.”
I pulled my hat down over my face, my voice muffled. “Not chasing after your friend June anymore?”
She plopped down next to me,ining but excited. “Did you know June doesn’t even like men? She had a girlfriend this whole time and never told me.”
“I made myself look like an idiot for years thinking she liked Luke. How was <b>I </b>supposed to know I waspletely delusional?”
Once she started talking, news just poured out of her nonstop.
For the next two days, Sophia stuck to me like glue. I figured she was there to advocate for Luke.
When I mentioned it, she waved me off.
“You’re giving me way too much credit. If he can’t win you back, that’s on him. I’m not getting involved.”
But a few dayster, Luke showed up in Montana like some persistent ghost.
Right in front of Sophia, I didn’t hold back–I tore into him and walked away.
Sophia patted his shoulder. “Luke,”
Luke looked away, forcing patience. “What?<b>” </b>
“When you’re sick, you go see a doctor,” she said pitifully. “You don’t fly to Montana to gawk at cows.”
I had no intention of swearing off men for the rest of my life, and when work stress got too intense, I liked finding some pretty young guys to date.
Jason was a neer at the entertainmentpany I invested in. He was sweet and gorgeous, so I made an exception and kept him
around.
When Luke heard I was dating someone<b>, </b>he flew to New York overnight.
He stayedpletely calm<b>, </b>offering his verdict. “Pretty boy, all talk.” Then he flew back to Manhattan.
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Hell <b>Yeah</b>, Forget <b>the </b>Other Woman, My Smart House Was Cheating On Me<b>! </b>
20.1<b>% </b>
Jason wasn’t fazed. <b>He </b>leaned against my shoulder, ying innocent. “He called me pretty and said I was smooth. But Leah, you like me exactly how I am, right?”
Luke thought everyone else was clueless and only he saw clearly.
“Don’t be naive. That twenty–year–old just wants your money and connections. You seriously think he gives a shit about you<b>?</b>”
How could I tell him that was actually perfect?
I had so little genuine feeling left, love had vanishedpletely, and money was all I had to offer.
These days, <b>I </b>was thrilled when men talked money and resources with me instead of love and romance.
When he flew to New York again, he saw who was standing beside me now.
This time he frowned slightly. “New guy?<b>” </b>
Jason was great except for his dishonesty.
At first I thought he came from nothing, a clean te entering the entertainment world with no backing–so pitiful that it made sense for me to support him.
Butter I identally found out his family were New York royalty. This rich boy was slumming it in entertainment for fun while treating me like a sugar mama. How could I stand for that?
The day I cut him off, he was still ying victim, soaked like a drowned rat.
“If I’d told you I was rich, you wouldn’t have looked at me twice.”
That wasn’t the point. Whatever the reason, people shouldn’t start rtionships with lies.
Compared to his drama and heartbreak, I was as calm as if I’d missed some insignificant investment opportunity.
There were plenty of pretty, obedient men out there. Lose one, and thousands more would take his ce.
I nodded at Luke, very generous. “Thest one wasn’t well–behaved. This one’s more obedient.”
We could actually discuss this so peacefully, like the divorce and destruction were from another lifetime.
Luke’s expression rxed slightly, still making his calm assessment. “Looks pretty but useless.”
He had this confident look, like he was saying–Leah, y around all you want. You don’t mean it. After what you went through with <b>me</b>, you can’t seriously care about these losers.
This rtionshipsted quite a while.
Long enough that Luke kept asking, “Why haven’t you broken up yet?”
Still with that same sinug, know it all attitude, like my dating life was just me acting out and I’d get over it soon.
I’d had enough. “Are you insane?<b>” </b>
He waspletely shameless and guilt–free. “Yeah, lovesick.”
I didn’t pay attention to his feelings. A divorced man stalking his ex–wife like this was just embarrassing.
her Women My Smart House Was Cheating <b>On </b>Mel
20.4<b>% </b>
Chapter <b>10 </b>
Sometimes he’d call in the middle of <b>the </b>night, ruining my sleep just to ask when I wasing back to Manhattan.
Maybe midnight makes people more honest–his nighttime apologies seemed more genuine.
Not like his fake daytime act. A few times his voice trembled as he said, word by word, “Leah, I regret it.”
Then the next day he’d act like nothing happened.
asionally I’d get calls from his mother.
Her tone was always t. “Luke’s hurt. Are youing to Manhattan to see him?<b>” </b>
Before I could answer, she’d continue talking to herself. “It’s fine if you don’te. He won’t die.”
I didn’t care what happened in his life.
My life was back on track–mypany was growing, I had close friends and charming lovers. I wasn’t losing sleep over anything
anymore.
For a long time after that, Luke and I maintained this weird bnce.
He could fly to New York or go back to Manhattan whenever he wanted. I wouldn’t interfere at all.
I knew what he was waiting for.
He was waiting for the day I’d e to my senses” and return to his trap.
But Luke–people don’t make the same mistake twice.