She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 135

Luther fell ill.

He had recently developed a concerning habit.

Ever since that night, he had started following her.

When she drove home from work, he trailed far behind her.

When she went inside, he parked outside her building and sat in his car until dawn.

When she was at the gallery, he watched from a distance.

He watched her manage her career, care for Annie, grab lunch with Naomi, and laugh effortlessly with Harrell. She looked so relaxed, her smile radiating pure serenity... He watched for hours on end, waiting to see a flicker of heartbreak or regret.

He saw none.

Gradually, Luther started to feel physically unwell.

He couldn't even describe the sensation.

Friday arrived. The opening day of her exhibition.

He had fully intended to go.

But in the middle of the night, a brutal fever spiked.

It hit him hard.

Zane Ziegler spent nearly the entire day looking after him.

By Friday evening, as the sky turned the color of bruised peach, a sleek black sedan pulled into the driveway of the Century Villa.

The door opened, and Eleanor Judson stepped out, looking worried.

The staff immediately rushed out to brief her—

"He's still burning up. Hasn't eaten a thing all day. Wakes up occasionally, but he's completely drained, and in a terrible mood."

"Dr. Ziegler is still here."

Eleanor hurried up the steps, muttering, "He's a grown man, yet he can't even take care of himself. I told you he's lost without his wife. When Hilda was around, he was perfectly fine. They've only been apart a few days, and look at the state of him."

The staff kept their mouths shut, too afraid to respond.

Eleanor's heart was a tangled mess.

The soothing chill brought him a moment of relief.

Delirious, he thought Hilda had returned. He suddenly grabbed the woman's hand, turned his handsome face toward her, and rasped out, "Hilda, are you back? You've been gone so long... The house is so empty. Annie's room is empty. Are you finally back? Do you still love me more than Harrell and Naomi? I'll learn. I'll learn how to be a good husband. I don't... I don't love Jolie the way I thought I did. Can you just give me a little more time to figure out my feelings? I cared about her for so long, I'm just confused. I don't know who I really love anymore. But I know I can't let you go. I can't stand that you left. Since you've been gone, I've been so miserable."

Eleanor's heart broke listening to him.

You foolish boy. If you knew it would hurt this much, why did you do it?

You are my own flesh and blood, but Harrell and Hilda are family too. I can't bear to see any of you get hurt.

While she sat there in inner turmoil.

Over on the sofa, Zane took a sharp breath.

What an absolute bombshell.

Luther was usually so guarded, refusing to admit his true feelings to anyone. It took a blazing fever for the truth to spill out. Just as he suspected—it was Hilda occupying his heart all along.

Men and women were no different.

Whoever you desperately wanted in your bed was usually the one you truly loved.