Luke’s expression turned grim.
He spun around, got into his car, and vanished into the traffic moments later.
Seeing his car leave, Vesper let out a sigh of relief.
After dinner, Vesper stood up. "Mr. Hawthorne, thank you again for your help tonight."
’If Luke had gotten his way, I’d probably feel disgusted for the rest of my life.’
Jared replied, "It was nothing."
...
The next day, she took the dry-cleaned jacket to the room next door.
But she was told that Jared had already checked out.
When she handed the man’s suit jacket to the waiter for dry-cleaning last night, she could tell it was a custom-made piece and quite expensive.
’That Mr. Hawthorne must be someone of no ordinary status.’
’Oh well. If fate allows, I’ll return it to him then.’
Back in her room, she made a call to check on the situation.
"Miss, Zenith has replied. They’re willing to take it all."
"Go handle it today."
"Understood."
After hanging up, Vesper left the hotel, bought a pile of supplies, and took a taxi to the orphanage.
She and Luke had sponsored this orphanage for three years.
Twelve thousand a year. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give the orphans here a few square meals.
When she wasn’t busy, she and Luke would occasionally buy snacks and toiletries for the children here.
But Luke had become exceptionally busy these past two years, so most of the time, she came here alone.
As soon as she walked into the orphanage, a chorus of cheerful shouts rose and fell.
"It’s Sister Vesper."
"Sister Vesper is here!"
The children, like a flock of chattering little sparrows, scrambled to surround her, their young faces filled with pure joy. Vesper’s heart warmed. She bent down and patted the head of the little boy closest to her, asking gently, "Where’s Cornell?"
The director, Joanna Cornell, heard the commotion and walked out of the house. A gentle smile spread across her face when she saw Vesper.
"Vesper, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see the children and brought some toiletries and school supplies."
She handed over the shopping bags in her hands, which were stuffed with new toothbrushes, towels, notebooks, and pencils.
Joanna Cornell quickly took them, her face full of gratitude. "You bring so much every time you come. On behalf of the children, thank you."
It was rare to see a young person like Vesper, who not only donated money but also personally visited every so often. Besides, it had only been a month since her last visit.
She told the children to take the items to the storage room, then pulled Vesper to a bench in the yard and sat down with her, speaking tentatively.
"Vesper, did something happen?"
Vesper pursed her lips. "Joan, I came to say goodbye this time."
"Are you and Luke leaving Ashmore?"
’If I remember correctly, Luke’s company just went public not long ago. Why would they choose to leave at a time like this? Did something unexpected happen?’
"We broke up, so I’ve decided to leave."
Three years ago, she had come to Ashmore all by herself. Now, she was leaving alone once again.
"How could... Weren’t you two about to get married?"
Joanna Cornell remembered her last visit, when she had brought a wedding invitation. When she spoke of her wedding with Luke, her face was beaming with a happy smile, her eyes sparkling like a galaxy of stars.
"He’s been cheating on me for two years. I only found out recently." Vesper lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes hiding the bitterness in her eyes. Even though she was determined to move on, mentioning it in front of Joanna Cornell, who had witnessed their relationship, still made her heart ache with a dull pain.
"Could there be some misunderstanding?"
She had seen for herself how much Luke cared for and cherished her. That tenderness and affection couldn’t have been fake.
It would be such a shame if a three-year relationship ended because of a misunderstanding.
"There’s no misunderstanding. I saw it with my own eyes." Vesper’s eyes were filled with a clear, dead stillness.
Joanna Cornell’s expression became incredibly complicated, unsure how to comfort her. She squeezed Vesper’s hand sympathetically.
"Vesper, you’re beautiful and kind-hearted. You deserve better."
Just as she finished speaking, Luke’s figure appeared at the orphanage gate.
The moment Joanna Cornell saw him, she instinctively tugged on Vesper’s hand. Vesper followed her gaze, her own eyes turning cold.
"Joan, I brought some daily necessities and food for the children."
Luke’s voice was gentle as he instructed his assistant to bring in several boxes of supplies, his dark eyes fixed on Vesper the entire time.
Joanna Cornell glanced at her, a little worried.
"It’s alright, Joan. You can go back to your work."
Joanna Cornell hesitated for a moment but eventually turned and left, leaving the two to face each other.
Luke slowly walked up to her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her, bringing with it an oppressive presence that couldn’t be ignored.
"Vesper, I was wrong last night. I shouldn’t have forced you."
"Since it already happened, what’s the point of saying this now?" Vesper’s tone was calm, without a single ripple of emotion.
"I know you were just saying those things out of anger."
Luke suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. His grip was quite strong. Vesper instinctively tried to pull away, but he only held on tighter. "We both care about each other, and we can’t live without one another. I’ll handle things with Ivy Joyce. I hope tomorrow’s wedding can proceed as scheduled."
His handsome face wore a trace of deliberate tenderness, as if last night’s coercion and his past betrayals were nothing more than an insignificant dream.
Seeing his hypocritical act, Vesper suddenly let out a low laugh, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Luke, aren’t you afraid that marrying an ’old woman’ like me will have you beating your chest and stamping your feet in regret every day?"
"The wedding is not going to happen, and I will not forgive you."
Luke’s eyes darkened, and his grip tightened. "I told you, those were just jokes. I’ve never really thought that way. The fact that you care so much about it just proves you care about me."
"A piece of trash who cheated for two years is worthy of my concern?"
Vesper yanked her hand back with all her might, the disgust in her eyes unconcealed.
In the past, Vesper had looked at him with eyes full of gentle love, but now, apart from indifference, there was only disgust.
Luke hated this feeling of losing control and would never allow her to escape his grasp.
"Vesper, I know you love me, and I know you care about the children at Sunshine Orphanage. What do you think would happen to the children and Joan if this place were gone?"
Vesper’s gaze turned frigid. "What are you trying to do?"
Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in close to her ear.
"I just don’t want to lose you, and I certainly don’t want any changes to the wedding."
’He was the one who didn’t want to get married, the one who wanted to teach me a lesson. Now he’s gotten what he wanted, but he’s changed his mind again!’
’Does everything have to go his way?’
A chill shot up from the soles of her feet and instantly spread through her entire body. Vesper felt a cold she had never known before, as if her very blood was about to freeze.
"Luke, Joan and the children are innocent. You have no right to decide their fate."
"Vesper, you’re wrong."
Luke’s voice carried a near-cruel coldness. "This world has always been about the survival of the fittest. The lives of those at the bottom are the most worthless. And their fate can be decided with a single word from me."
He stared at her, his eyes full of coercion. "You wouldn’t want to see them become homeless because of you, would you?"