She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 172

Havenworth City.

Late at night.

In the penthouse suite of a six-star hotel.

Luther stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the neon skyline. He was in a daze, his mind endlessly looping the image of Hilda and Harrell's intimacy.

If they were like that in the hospital room... what were they like at home? What were they like when they were completely alone in their bedroom? Even though Hilda was heavily pregnant, if she really wanted to be intimate, there were ways around it. Luther was a man; he knew exactly how that worked.

The bitter thought consumed him.

He tipped his head back and downed his glass of hard liquor in one go.

His phone started ringing again.

It was another desperate plea from Jolie.

He ignored every single one.

Instead, he opened his photo gallery and scrolled down to a picture hidden away in the corner. It was a photo of Hilda holding little Annie. Her profile looked so gentle and moving. When she looked up, there was a brilliant light in her eyes. Back then, when she looked at him, there had still been warmth. Not like now, where he was nothing but a stranger.

Luther stared at it, over and over again.

There were mountains of corporate matters waiting for him.

Jolie's divorce proceedings still needed his authorization.

But he just wanted to stay in Havenworth.

He wanted to see Hilda alone, just once.

He wanted to wait until the baby was safely born.

He had heard from his mother that the baby was going to be named Landon. Landon Judson.

He should have been Landon Sanford.

Luther eventually found his window of opportunity.

Harrell had to step out to handle a quick emergency at his office.

That evening, a nurse was accompanying Hilda for a walk downstairs.

The sun was setting.

The weather in Havenworth was clear and pleasantly cool.

Hilda was wearing a floral maxi dress with a light cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her hair wasn't cut short; it had been beautifully styled. Even though she was about to give birth any day, she still looked incredibly radiant.

The man stood smoking in the twilight.

Seeing her come downstairs, he called out softly, "Hilda."

The woman turned and saw him. She froze for a second, then exchanged a few words with the nurse.

The young nurse stepped back to give them space.

Luther slowly closed the distance until he was standing right in front of her. His gaze was tender and deeply affectionate—the very thing Hilda had never been able to get from him in the past.

But it was painfully obvious she didn't care anymore.

She looked at him with quiet observation, likely guessing exactly what was on his mind. She spoke softly, "My due date is in a few days. The baby is doing great. Luther, you should go back. It's not really appropriate for you to be here. I have a family now, and we've both moved on to new lives. I don't want to live in the shadow of that toxic past anymore. I don't hate you."

Luther's eyes darkened.

She said she didn't hate him anymore.

She told him to leave.

To stop interfering with her new life.

A sharp pain pierced the man's chest, but he forced a relaxed facade. He said softly, "I just wanted to make sure you were doing well. And... I came because I needed to say something to you in person. I'm sorry."

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