Chapter 36 Luther Meets Rionessi
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The villa was wrapped in a golden hush as the late afternoon sun slipped through its glass walls, painting the marble floors with soft amber light. Waves crashed faintly in the distance, rhythmic and calming across the private villa... while deborah is seating perfectly. Across from her sat Luther, calm, composed, and maddeningly unreadable as always. His suit jacket hung lazily over the chair, his sleeves rolled up, the faint salt air tousling his dark hair. He watched her with a small, knowing smile.
“You did well,” Luther said quietly, the kind of praise that came not from flattery, but deep sincerity. “You handled everything like a Valmere should. I’m proud of you, my sweetheart.”
Deborah let out a soft laugh, resting her chin on her hand. “Proud? You mean of the part where I almost threw my shoe at a reporter because he asked if I really sabotaged the wedding?”
Luther’s deep chuckle filled the air. “Yes, that part too. I was half-expecting you to actually hit him.”
“Trust me, I considered it,” she said, smirking. “But then I remembered the cameras.” He leaned back in his chair, eyes glinting with amusement. “And yet, you kept your composure. Even when everything was collapsing around you.”
Deborah’s smile faltered slightly, her voice softening. “It didn’t feel like composure at that time. It felt like surviving.”
There was silence, comfortable, but heavy with unspoken understanding. The memories of the church came rushing back.... Selene’s trembling face, the gasps of the crowd, the cold weight of betrayal in the air.
“You know,” Deborah said after a pause, her gaze distant, “watching her get handcuffed… I thought I’d feel satisfied. But I didn’t. I just felt… tired.”
Luther’s expression softened. “You’ve been fighting alone for too long.” She shook her head with a dry laugh. “Not exactly alone.....You were there, remember?”
“I was,” he replied, smiling faintly. “And I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
Deborah leaned back, looking out toward the horizon. “The moment the police walked in, I swear the world went silent. She froze, like she already knew it was over. But when they cuffed her wrists—” she hesitated, shaking her head, “I almost pitied her.”
Luther tilted his head. “Almost?”
“Almost,” she repeated, smirking. “She had it coming.”
That drew a low laugh from him. “You should’ve seen your face when they led her out. You looked like you were trying so hard not to smile.”
“Hey,” Deborah protested, laughing, “I was being polite! You can’t exactly grin when your brother’s fiancée is being dragged away by the police.”
Luther raised a brow. “I seem to recall you muttering ‘serves her right’ under your breath.” She gasped dramatically. “You heard that?”
“I hear everything when it comes to you,” he said smoothly, a teasing glint in his eyes. Her cheeks warmed slightly, but she brushed it off with a scoff. “Well, she deserved it. Especially after what they found out.”
Luther’s playful expression faded, replaced by something darker, more serious. “Samuel Cortez and Elias Renard. They were part of it too.”
Deborah’s laughter faded. “I still can’t believe that. Samuel was always hanging around Aston when they were kids, pretending to be his loyal friend.”
“He was more loyal to Selene’s wallet,” Luther said grimly. “He handled her offshore transactions, funneled stolen funds through fake charities and foundations. And Elias Renard? He orchestrated the media narrative. All those stories about you being jealous or vindictive, that was him.”
Deborah clenched her fists slightly. “So every headline… every whisper about me being the unstable sister… it was him.”
“Yes,” Luther said quietly. “They were all paid to destroy your credibility. To isolate you. But it didn’t work.”
Deborah took a deep breath, forcing a small smile. “Because you helped me.”
His gaze softened. “Because you deserved to be protected.”
The words hung between them, heavy, gentle, and far too intimate. Deborah tried to play it off with a nervous laugh. “I’m not used to you being this sweet, Cain.”
He smirked. “Don’t get used to it, Valmere.”
They both laughed, their voices blending with the soft crash of waves below. For a moment, the world felt simple again.
“Thank you,” Deborah said after a pause, her tone sincere. “For standing by me when it could’ve ruined your own reputation. For believing me when no one else did.”
Luther’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You don’t need to thank me. I’d do it again, no matter the risk, and don't worry they don't know I am helping you.... remember? We're rivals.”
Deborah looked at him for a long moment, heart tightening. She didn’t respond, she didn’t have to.
And then....A deep, familiar voice broke the quiet.
“Well, well… what do we have here?”
Both Deborah and Luther turned toward the open doorway.
Standing there, hands in his pockets, was Rionessi Valmere, the patriarch of the Valmere family, radiating authority even in the casual tilt of his stance. His sharp gaze moved from Luther to his daughter, then back again, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement.
“My little princess,” he said with mock sternness, “is having a secret meeting with the heir of the Cain family, huh?”
Deborah froze. “Dad—”
Luther stood immediately, visibly nervous for perhaps the first time. “Mr. Valmere....sir...this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Oh, I think it’s exactly what it looks like,” Rionessi replied smoothly, stepping onto the terrace. The sound of his polished shoes against the marble made Luther visibly tense.
For a moment, silence filled the air. Then, to Deborah’s surprise, her father chuckled, low and genuine. “Relax, both of you. I’m not here to interrogate anyone.”
Deborah blinked, uncertain. “You’re… not mad?”
Rionessi shook his head, his expression softening as he looked at her. “Mad? No. Why would I? Actually I'm proud of you?”
She stared, stunned. “proud?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “You handled everything with courage, Deborah. You exposed the truth, protected our name, and still stood with grace. You are really a great daughter deborah just like your mom. Abd also, I'm proud of you because your brother's still didn't know this.” He laugh at the last part on what he said.
Her throat tightened, eyes glistening.
Then Rionessi turned to Luther. “And as for you, young Cain… I see what you’re doing. Protecting her. Standing beside her. Keep doing that, and you’ll earn my respect faster than any business alliance ever could, I know Valmere and Cain are rivals now.... but I trust you, don't hurt my daughter.”
Luther nodded slowly, his usual confidence tempered with gratitude. “You have my word, sir.”
Rionessi smiled faintly, placing a hand on Deborah’s shoulder. “Good. Because she’s not just the Valmere heiress anymore.”
Deborah blinked, confused. “Then what am I, Dad?”
He smiled warmly. “A woman the world finally sees for who she truly is.”
The sun dipped lower, bathing the terrace in amber light. Deborah’s lips parted, the weight of everything, the pain, the chaos, the redemption, all catching up to her. And when her voice finally broke the silence, it carried all the emotion she’d been holding back.
Then suddenly..... her phone rang.
\[Ylmaz Calling......\]