Luke grabbed the medication and quickly made his way to the Evers’ residence.
Reuben took the box, shook out two pills, then picked up a glass of water and moved to feed Melissa himself.
Unaccustomed to this sudden show of affection, she instinctively turned her head toward Luke.
The moment she caught sight of his expressionless face, Melissa realized how strange her reaction must have looked. She quickly looked away and took the medicine.
Once she swallowed the pills, Reuben set down the glass and tucked a pillow behind her neck. Then he turned to Luke.
“I thought Melissa was always in good health. How did she suddenly develop stomach problems?”
Luke glanced at Melissa. Seeing that she kept her head lowered, he finally explained what had happened, his tone utterly calm.
“After you went abroad, Ms. Dawn developed a drinking problem. She gets drunk four or five times a month and, over time, it took a toll on her stomach. She refuses to go to the hospital, though, so she just lets it get worse and worse until…”
Before he could finish, Melissa, who had been silent until then, suddenly looked up and shot him a sharp glare. She seemed genuinely stunned that he would actually help her make her case to Reuben.
“Must you run your mouth about everything? Don’t you know when to keep quiet? You’ve delivered the medicine, so why are you still here? Leave!”
Luke had no idea which part of what he said had upset her this time.
However, he no longer cared to dwell on it. He gave a slight nod, turned around, and left the villa.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he heard hushed voices coming from the garage. He slowed his steps and took a look, only to discover that the Dawn family’s driver and the Evers family’s chauffeur were chatting.
“Ms. Dawn’s been spending every day with Mr. Evers lately. Think wedding bells might be in their future?”
“No way. Mr. Evers only just broke up with his girlfriend not long ago. I even saw him with red eyes a couple of days ago. Can he really move on that quickly?”
“You don’t understand. People get over heartbreak eventually. And with a woman as wonderful as Ms. Dawn, who’s so devoted to him, it’s only a matter of time before she wins him over.”
Listening to their casual conversation, Luke found himself smiling with a sense of relief for reasons he could not quite explain.
They were right. Melissa had waited twelve years for Reuben. Someone as devoted as her would surely get the happy ending she had been waiting for someday.
Still, it had nothing to do with him anymore. He was about to begin a new chapter of his own life.
…
The day before he was due to leave, Melissa still had not returned.
Luke went with Giselle’s secretary to a bridal boutique, where he picked out a wedding dress he particularly liked. It would suit Giselle perfectly.
When he got home, he gathered everything that reminded him of Melissa. He burned whatever he could and threw away the rest.
As he stood in the room he lived in for ten years, now stripped bare, he switched off the lights and quietly went to sleep.
On the day of his departure, his eight o’clock alarm woke him right on time.
He rubbed his eyes, got up to wash and get ready, then headed to the office to complete his resignation paperwork.
When he returned home, he packed the last of his belongings into a box and closed the door behind him.
The butler told him Melissa was back. Thinking he should at least say goodbye, Luke dragged his suitcase to her bedroom and knocked softly.
A minute later, the door opened.
Melissa leaned halfway out the doorway and coldly asked what he wanted.
Before Luke could say a word, her gaze drifted to the suitcase behind him. She immediately put on a mocking smile.
“Don’t tell me you’re about to claim that you’re getting married tomorrow and moving into your new home, so you have to leave?”
Luke could easily hear the contempt in her voice. This time, however, he answered her with complete seriousness.
“Yes. I’m getting married tomorrow and I’ll be moving out. I just wanted to let you know.”
“If you have time, I’d like to invite you and Mr. Evers to the wedding. I’ll even save the bridal bouquet for Mr. Evers.”
He delivered the lines so convincingly that Melissa almost wanted to compliment his acting skills herself.
Just as she was about to respond, her phone chimed several times. Reuben had sent her a message.
Reading it as she grabbed her coat and headed out, she turned back toward Luke just before leaving. Her tone was as arrogant as ever.
“Luke, my patience is limited. I’m telling you one last time. Stop putting on this act.”
As Luke watched her walk away without looking back, he put on a calm smile.
“Melissa, I’m not acting. I really am getting married tomorrow, and I really am leaving.”
Then, he took one last look around the house that held so many of his memories.
It had been ten years. He and Melissa had been entangled in each other’s lives for an entire decade.
‘Melissa, one day you’ll realize that the man you considered cheap and worthless can be someone’s most treasured person.’
After taking in his surroundings one final time, he picked up his phone and sent Giselle a message.
[Ms. Rose, the wedding is tomorrow. Have you returned home yet?]
His phone chimed almost immediately with her reply.
[I just landed at the airport. I’ll be there in time for the wedding. Mr. Taylor, I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.]
The moment he read her words, he felt as though his heart had finally found a place to call home. He put on a gentle smile, picked up his suitcase, and turned away.
Step by step, he walked away from Melissa, and away from the Dawn family.
He left without hesitation, never once looking back.
Masuk
