She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 12

Harrell had business to attend to and had to leave. Before parting ways, he asked for Hilda's contact information.

He was Luther's cousin, technically making them family on paper. It was a completely understandable gesture, so Hilda didn't think twice about it.

Once her number was saved, Harrell looked up, his gaze holding a profound depth that she couldn't quite decipher.

The room fell silent.

Hilda stared blankly at the bustling city traffic outside the window. After a long while, as if having made a final resolution, she hailed a cab.

...

Half an hour later.

Hilda walked into the gleaming lobby of Aegis Group. She approached the front desk.

The receptionist was busy touching up her lipstick. She spared Hilda a dismissive glance and let out a mocking laugh. "You want to see Mr. Sanford? Honey, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you honestly think someone like you can just waltz in and demand to see our CEO?"

Hilda remained stoic. "I am his wife."

The receptionist giggled loudly, purposefully raising her voice. "Did I hear that right? You're Mrs. Sanford? Then who the hell is our manager, Jolie Lovell? Let me spell it out for you—around here, we only recognize Ms. Lovell. We don't care about some 'Mrs. Sanford,' especially a pathetic fake like you."

Hilda didn't waste another breath on her. She dialed Luther's private number directly.

"I'm in the lobby. Luther, we need to talk."

...

A few minutes later, Lori personally came downstairs. Upon seeing Hilda, her expression immediately shifted to profound respect. "Hello, Mrs. Sanford."

The receptionist's face completely drained of color. The woman… really was Mrs. Sanford?

Lori gestured toward the private elevator. "Mr. Sanford is waiting for you."

But Hilda didn't move right away. Instead, she turned her gaze to the arrogant receptionist, then looked back at Lori, asking in a very soft voice, "Lori, do you have the authority to terminate front desk staff?"

Lori instantly grasped the situation, her professional demeanor locking into place. "Of course."

Hilda's voice dropped to a near whisper. "Then fire her."

She turned and walked toward the elevator, her posture perfectly straight.

The path that led her here had been agonizing, but now that she had made her choice, she refused to be a victim ever again. She was going to wield the power she had been given. Stripped of her love for Luther, she no longer had any vulnerabilities.

Lori handled the termination in seconds. She then escorted Hilda to the top floor, knocking softly on the CEO's office door. "Mr. Sanford, your wife is here."

Luther had been waiting. He sat on a dark, curved leather sofa. Dressed in a dark gray dress shirt and tailored trousers that perfectly hugged his athletic frame, he looked imposing and dangerously attractive even while seated.

While Hilda analyzed him, Luther was doing the exact same.

After a few seconds, he gave a subtle lift of his chin. "Leave us, Lori."

Once the secretary closed the door, Luther looked at his wife, a careless, mocking smirk playing on his lips. "Caught in the rain? Living out of a suitcase with that kid... feeling pathetic yet? Any regrets?"

Hilda slowly walked closer. "Nothing to regret."

On the table sat a framed photograph of him and Jolie standing intimately side-by-side, displayed without the slightest hint of discretion. Hanging on the wall was an oil painting. It was *The Isle*, the very piece she had painted for Colin Sutton, now hanging prominently in Luther's office.

Luther tossed the contract at her, his voice deceptively casual. "Change a clause. Make the initial payment fifty million. Do it immediately. Have Attorney Crane come in as soon as it's printed."

Lori didn't dare ask questions. The contract was revised in ten minutes flat.

Crane from the legal department was summoned to the office. Dealing with a post-nuptial agreement of this magnitude terrified him. But Luther held absolute controlling shares in Aegis Group. Even with stakes this high, Crane knew better than to utter a single word, especially anything that could leak back to the Sanford elders.

The office was dead silent.

Luther signed his name with aggressive strokes. He slid the document across the desk to her, his eyes burning into her face.

Hilda stared at his bold signature. A wave of dizziness hit her.

She suddenly thought of everything they had been through, of the young girl who had once loved him so unconditionally. It all felt like a fever dream. Now, at twenty-six, she was done dreaming. She acutely understood the brutal power of money and influence. That was why she demanded the full fifty million—she refused to ever be at someone else's mercy again.

She quickly signed her name.

Luther flipped to the signature page, confirmed it was done, and handed it to the attorney to finalize.

Lori and Crane exited the room.

Hilda thought the ordeal was over for the day. She moved to leave.

But Luther quietly locked the office door. He stared at her, his face an unreadable mask. Sliding his index and middle fingers into the knot of his silk tie, he slowly yanked it loose.

When he spoke, his voice was raw, dripping with dark, commanding tension.

"Take off your shoes. Go to the bed in the private lounge and lie on your stomach."