LOGINLuka's POV The office building loomed ahead of me, its glass exterior reflecting the darkening sky. It was about to rain, and the stormy weather reflected the state of my mind. I'd parked some time ago, but my hands were still gripping the steering wheel too tight, knuckles white against the leather. Every nerve in my body was on edge. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I prepared for what I was about to do.I had to know the truth. Too many times, I've thought about it and dwelled on it too much, and let it poison my sleep. Every time I looked at her, that question of if she was really Isis haunted my thoughts. But no more waiting or second-guessing while Valeria was jailed for a crime that she didn't commit.I finally stepped out of the car and slammed the door closed. As I walked through the entrance, everyone stilled or gave me a small nod of respect as I passed, but I barely acknowledged them. I reached the elevator meant for me only and pressed the button for the first floor
Luka's POV "The person this is going to affect most is Elliot," my mother continued, her voice softening. "That poor child. His mother was just arrested for murder, Luka. This is going to be all over the news soon. No kid deserves to see their parent painted as a killer and plastered across every television screen and newspaper in the city."Guilt twisted in my stomach. Elliot. God, I hadn't even thought about Elliot. "I'll handle the media," I said quickly. "I'll make some calls, try to keep this as quiet as possible.""No, leave the media to me," My mom maintained firmly. "I know how to deal with those opportunistic vultures. You focus on Elliot's well-being. Go to the Daelmont mansion, spend time with him. He's going to need support right now, someone to help him process this.""I doubt they'll even let me in," I admitted. "I went to see Valeria and Eren just kicked me out of the station. He swore to ruin me, Mom, to destroy everything I've built. I could see he meant every word.
Luka's POV The steering wheel felt cold under my hands even though the heater was on full blast. Try as I might, I couldn't stop seeing her face. I shook my head left and right but I could still see it. Her face twisted in anger and hurt, the way she looked at me with tears in her eyes, like I betrayed her…It tugged something deep in my chest that I couldn't understand. I'd heard Valeria angry before. God knows I'd given her plenty of reasons to be furious during our three year marriage but this was different. I'd wished her nothing but evil all this time, stuck in a bitter abyss of my own making because I wanted to believe she was responsible for the state I was in. She'd always seemed so strong, much stronger than me, honestly. On the day of our divorce, she'd stood with her head held high and signed the papers without a fight.I really thought she would cry and beg for a second chance, I was really hoping for it so I could humiliate her and make her feel even more worthless but
Luka's POV"What? No, I didn't—""Don't lie to me!" Her voice cracked, she gripped the bars of her cell so tight her knuckles turned white. "You've been calling me a murderer for ten years, making my life hell, and now you finally found a way to make it stick. You fabricated evidence to send me to prison so you'd get full custody by default.""Valeria, I swear I had nothing to do with this," I protested, stepping closer to the bars. "The police called me today, I didn't even know they'd reopened the case until—""Liar!" She screamed. Tears were streaming down her face now, mixing with the already smudged makeup. "You're a monster, you hear me? I trusted you, I let you back into my life, into my son's life and this is what you do? You stab me in the back when I least expect it. Loving you was the biggest mistake I ever made in my entire life. I should have run the moment you proposed that sham of a marriage, I should have known you'd destroy me eventually."Each word was a knife twisti
Luka's POV "Mr. Thorne? Are you still there?"The officer's voice snapped me back to reality, pulling me out of the spiral my thoughts had descended into. I tried to compose myself but my voice shook when I spoke."I'm coming to the station," I managed to get out. "I need to see her.""Of course, sir. We're located at—""I know where you are," I cut him off, already standing and grabbing my car keys from the desk. My hands were trembling so badly I nearly dropped them.I hung up without another word, rushing toward my office door. My mind was blank except for one thought repeating over and over: I need to see her, I need to see her, I need to understand how this happened.The moment I stepped into the hallway, I collided with someone. Cassandra stumbled back, her eyes wide with concern as she steadied herself."Mr. Thorne! Where are you going in such a hurry?""Something urgent came up," I replied, already moving past her. "I have to leave.""Wait!" She grabbed my arm, stopping me. "
Luka's POV I couldn't concentrate at all today, my mind kept drifting to other things and it seemed like the presentation materials in front of me were written in hieroglyphics, for all the sense they made. My eyes kept scanning the same paragraph over and over without absorbing a single word.I couldn't concentrate because of what happened last night in the hotel, my mind kept replaying Cassandra pulling me into that bathroom. How close and intimate her body was pressed on mine, the deep, passionate kiss we shared. For some reason, I couldn't dispel it from my memory. I'd really dodged a bullet back there; saving not just our professional relationship but my career.This morning when she'd woken up, it was clear she didn't remember a thing. I'd watched her carefully for any sign that she remembered what happened but there was nothing. No embarrassment or awkwardness or acknowledgment that she'd tried to seduce her boss in a hotel bathroom. She just woke up, hummed her way into the







