She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 6

Deep into the night, on the thirty-sixth floor of a luxury hotel.

Luther stood before a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Behind him lay a dark, king-sized bed where his wife in-name-only rested.

After a long while, he walked over to her.

Her clothes were still damp from the rain. The doctor had instructed him to change her immediately to bring the fever down.

They were legally married. There was no moral boundary to cross. Even if he didn't love her.

Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he quickly unbuttoned her soaked blouse. Trying to ignore her stunning, curvy figure, his gaze landed abruptly on a faint, thin scar across her lower abdomen.

Was that... from having a child?

The thought of childbirth immediately summoned the image of that cocky young man, Soren Sutton.

The name sounded incredibly familiar. But Luther couldn't quite place it in the moment.

His mind drifted back to their wedding night, to the way their bodies had tangled together in desperate friction. Had his sanity not returned at the very last second, he genuinely would have taken her, completely losing control and claiming her as his own.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. He openly admitted that the first time he saw her, he had been stunned. But eventually, his devotion had returned to Jolie.

Hilda was just too painfully average. Jolie, on the other hand, was an Ivy League graduate, spoke four languages fluently, and had been his indispensable right hand at Aegis Group. He fully intended to funnel more corporate resources her way so she could build a flawless resume.

Tossing restlessly, Hilda rolled over, exposing the elegant sweep of her bare back, her long hair spilling across her shoulders. It was a wildly seductive sight, enough to ignite base desires in any man.

They were alone. They were still husband and wife. Luther’s Adam's apple bobbed.

Burying her face in the pillows, she began to murmur in a delirious sleep.

"Mom, it's not that I don't want a divorce."

"I want to go back to Jadeport."

"I just want to buy a ticket..."

"Mom... how can I just let this go? I'm so scared of disappointing you. Why did it have to be her? Why her of all people?"

Luther couldn't quite catch what she was saying.

A knock at the door broke the silence.

It was Lori, his secretary, bringing Zane Ziegler.

Zane was a childhood friend and a brilliant doctor from a prestigious medical family. Had it not been for Luther's request, a simple fever wouldn't have warranted a house call.

He recognized Hilda. Seeing her lying in bed in a bathrobe, he shot his friend a look. "You two patched things up?"

Luther didn't bother hiding it.

"We're negotiating a divorce. She passed out in my car."

After a brief checkup, Zane confirmed it wasn't serious. As he administered a fever-reducing injection, he said, "It's just a nasty chill. But she looks malnourished. She needs proper rest."

Nathan was waiting in the grand hall. Seeing his son walk in with the medication, he stood up. "Your grandmother has a year left, tops. I know you're infatuated with Jolie, but don't let the old lady die with regrets. Find some time to bring Hilda back to see her. I don't care how much you dislike your wife. Just play along to make your grandmother happy. Once she passes, your mother and I won't interfere in your private life anymore."

Luther's handsome face turned solemn. He slowly unfastened a button on his collar.

After a long pause, he said quietly, "I understand."

He walked up to Matilda's second-floor bedroom.

She had been bedridden for a long time. But tonight, she seemed unusually energetic.

He sat by her side, keeping her company and chatting to lift her spirits.

After talking for a while, she gently stroked his cheek, sighing heavily. "Do you think I'm a fool? I know you were lying when you said Hilda went abroad to study. You've been married for four years, and I haven't seen her once. Where did you hide her? I know you don't like her, but you have to give the poor girl a chance. How can you know if you're incompatible if you never even try? I've met a lot of young women, and Hilda has the best temperament of them all. She's stunning, too. She's perfect for you. If you let her slip away, it would be a true tragedy."

Finishing her sentence, she slowly closed her eyes. Her face looked incredibly withered. A stark reminder that her days were numbered.

Luther loved his grandmother fiercely. He grasped her fragile, bony hand, leaning in close and murmuring as if comforting a child. "I hear you, Nana. Don't worry, I'll bring her back to see you. I've never let you down before... have I?"

Matilda fell asleep with a peaceful smile on her lips.

Luther sat by her bed for a long time.

Afterward, he stood by the window, remaining awake through the entire night. The cold wind howled outside, rustling the leaves like restless spirits wandering the earth.

It wasn't until the first pale streaks of dawn lit the horizon that he finally stepped out of the bedroom.