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Chapter 17 - Defiance

I stared at him as he approached with a furious expression. It was unfathomable that the man I had been in a relationship with for years could possess such a despicable side. I could still feel the betrayal of everything I thought I knew about him.

"What brings you here?" he sneered, his voice booming with mockery. Last time I checked, Lyon Enterprise had no job openings." His words echoed loudly, dripping with sarcasm.

I could feel the weight of everyone's gaze as heads turned in our direction. It was clear that Luke was itching to make a spectacle, ready to stir up a scene.

My blood boiled with fury, but I couldn't let him see it. I had a plan, and I was determined to make him regret every single thing he had done to me.

"Who said anything about me looking for a job?" I retorted, raising an eyebrow defiantly.

"Why are you here if not for employment?, or are you searching for customers to sustain yourself?" Luke laughed, his voice even louder than before.

I couldn't help but perceive his shallowness and sheer stupidity. Revenge consumed my thoughts, overpowering any other inclination. With a deliberate intensity, I assessed him from head to toe, scrutinizing his wretched existence. And with that disdainful evaluation complete, I turned and embarked towards the cafe, not wanting to say another word to him.

As I prepared to take another step forward, his words pierced the air. "I know you're here to beg me," he taunted, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Quit pretending to be tough and just do it already. Maybe, just maybe, I might consider accepting you. After all, I know you can't survive without me." His words echoed in my ears, fueling a fire within me.

As I glanced around, I noticed the onlookers freezing in their tracks, their murmurs filling the air. Yet, amidst the whispers, I remained deaf to their words.

Luke walked slowly from behind, gracefully positioning himself before me. His lips curled into a mischievous smile, his eyes fixed on mine. The urge to unleash my fury and strike him across the face surged within me, yet against all odds, I maintained a calm facade. This display of self-control was undeniably surprising, especially considering my inherently short-tempered nature.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I mustered a calm tone. "Please move out of my way, I'm about to go luch!"

With a hearty chuckle, he retorted, "You think you can fool me? I know you're here to plead for a favor. Besides, you couldn't possibly afford the lunch at my workplace. You're too destitute for that, last I heard."

My voice trembled with a hint of anger as I snapped back, "And just so you know, my husband has the authority to terminate your employment." The words slipped from my lips, a desperate attempt to assert my power in the face of mounting frustration.

I didn't want to boast about being married to Benjamin, but Luke's actions left me no choice. As I spoke up, his face contorted with confusion. It was the reaction I had hoped for, setting the stage for my triumphant stride past him.

I continued my stride towards the cafe, the anticipation building within me. Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed behind me. I knew without a doubt that it was Luke. In an instant, his grip tightened around my hand, forcibly pulling me to face him. How dare him!

"Don't you dare lay those filthy hands on me again," I declared with unwavering conviction, forcefully wrenching my hand free from his grasp.

"You really think you're special, don't you? Sleeping with my boss, believing he'll marry you? Well, newsflash, sweetheart, you're nothing but one of his mindless playthings," he sneered, his face contorted with disdain.

"Why do you even care so much?" I retorted, my voice laced with a mix of frustration and defiance. "Last time I checked, your sister was no saint either. She lived her life just as she wanted and she died with her own choices. So if you want to throw around names, let's go all in." I shot him a piercing gaze, a silent reminder of a shared history we both knew too well.

As I witnessed the transformation in his visage, it became apparent that anger had consumed him. A peculiar sense of joy stirred within me, knowing that Luke harbored a deep sense of shame regarding his sister's tragic fate as a prostitute. Her name was a forbidden utterance, capable of unleashing his wrath, causing him to withdraw from any conversation for days on end. The mystery surrounding her demise remained unsolved, for Luke adamantly refused to share any details.

"You... how dare you speak of my sister?" he growled, his gaze brimming with anger and resentment.

"You labeled me a slut, so I thought it only fair to jog your memory about someone we both remember," I replied, a mischievous smile playing on my lips, radiating an innocent facade.

His hands rose ominously, transforming him into a ugly creature before my very eyes. Could it be true? The man I had devoted five years of my life to, concealed this hidden darkness all along? In that fleeting moment, a surge of self-pity engulfed me, the weight of regret settling heavily upon my shoulders. How could I have wasted such precious years on a man who proved himself unworthy? Disgust twisted within me, tainting my soul with a bitter residue.

I was overcome with such disgust that, before his hands could make contact, I unleashed an act of rebellion. With a forceful spit, it landed on his face, causing him to recoil in both shock and anger. He hastily took a step back, frantically wiping his face with his hands.

"I'll beat the hell out of you" he roar loudly, his menacing words echoing through the air as he closed in on me.

I was prepared for whatever he had in store, for I too possessed some hidden talents.

Before he could lay his hands on me, a figure swiftly interposed, shielding me from harm. I raised my gaze and I recognized the silhouette.

"Benjamin?" I called out, my voice filled with a mix of astonishment.