She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 77

She hadn't seen her in a while.

Jolie had lost weight. She looked fragile and pitiful, a far cry from her usual fierce, career-driven persona.

Luther looked at Hilda.

—It was an agonizing three-way standoff.

After a long moment, Hilda just carried Annie into the car. As she moved to close the door, Luther caught the handle, his dark eyes intense. "I'm going to the office. It's strictly business."

Hilda didn't try to argue with him.

When a man didn't want to drag you into his mess, he made sure no other woman even got close.

She just offered a faint smile. "I know. I'll take Annie home first."

The car door slid shut right in front of Luther.

And slowly pulled away.

Luther stood there, staring after the car until it vanished from sight.

Jolie bit her lip nervously. "Luther..."

Luther finally tore his gaze away and looked at her. She really had lost a lot of weight and looked utterly exhausted. He studied her quietly for a few seconds before saying flatly, "Get in the car."

In the past, Jolie would usually sit in the passenger seat.

But today, Luther allowed her to join him in the back.

It was just the two of them in the spacious rear cabin of the luxury van.

There was plenty of room, but the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.

Her eyes remained red, and she didn't dare speak. Luther, on the other hand, had something to say. He carefully measured his words before beginning—

"Jolie, this is where it ends for us."

"From now on, we're strictly boss and subordinate."

"Coming to pick me up at the airport like this today was completely inappropriate. You crossed a line."

Jolie's voice shook uncontrollably. "Is this about Hilda? Are you falling for her?"

Luther gave her the bluntest answer possible.

—"She is my legal wife."

The tears spilled down Jolie's cheeks.

She had always been so confident. She had been absolutely certain that Luther would eventually marry her. She never imagined he would cut ties with her for Hilda's sake, entirely severing even their private interactions. He didn't even want to maintain that underlying tension of longing and restraint anymore.

Was he trying to be a good husband?

Jolie's lips trembled. "You said you would never fall in love with her."

Luther's face remained impassive. "I never said I loved her."

As soon as the vehicle stopped, Lori pulled open the rear door.

Luther stepped out first. Jolie followed close behind, her eyes bloodshot, making it painfully obvious she had been crying. Luther walked up the steps, then turned back to look at her, his tone strictly professional. "Ms. Lovell, take a few days off to collect yourself. You can come back to work after the holidays."

Jolie stood there, stunned.

—Luther was sending her on leave?

She wanted to argue, to try to fight for something, but Luther had clearly made up his mind.

He strode right into the lobby and stepped into his private elevator.

He had a crucial meeting to attend.

That half-hour in the car

was the final trace of warmth he would ever offer Jolie.

In a way, he viewed Jolie as a business partner, holding her to incredibly high standards. It was entirely different from how he treated Hilda. All Hilda had to do was manage the household, raise their child, keep herself looking beautiful, and satisfy him in bed. As for any deep spiritual connection, he never expected that from his wife.

Suddenly, Luther thought of someone.

The Bibliophile, and that one line she wrote.

"Your eyes hold the sea, the blue in the haze."

—He really liked that.