Chapter 57 Fifty Seven

Chapter 57 Fifty Seven
LUCAS

There were moments you could fix. And then there were moments that cost you everything.

And this was one of them.

I didn’t know how long I had stood there.

Seconds. Minutes. It blurred.

I hadn’t moved.

Vanessa’s arms were still wrapped tightly around my neck, her perfume suffocating.

I glanced down at them, at the manicured fingers gripping my suit. And the only thing I felt was repulsion.

The realization startled me.

Because once, I had loved these hands.

Once, I had waited for them at the altar.

Once, I had broken because they weren’t there.

I had expected nostalgia. Anger. Closure. Instead, my body rejected her—like I had already erased her.

The hallway buzzed with stunned silence. My staff stared openly now, confusion written across their faces.

But only one face mattered.

Valerie.

She stood a few steps away.

Still.

There wasn’t an ounce of emotion on her face.

Not anger. Not jealousy.

Nothing.

Her eyes were fixed on Vanessa’s arms around my neck.

And that terrified me.

Vanessa let go and smiled before I could look away from Valerie.

She fixed my collar and jacket like she still owned the right.

Then she scanned the hallway and turned to the staff with a soft laugh.

“I apologize, everyone,” she said sweetly. “I know you must be wondering who I am. I’ve been away for quite some time—but I’m back.”

My brows knitted.

Nothing about this was cute.

If anything, it sharpened my anger.

She tilted her head, gaze flicking briefly toward me.

“And you can’t blame a happy wife for reuniting with her husband after being away for work for so long… right?”

Wife.

The word echoed down the hallway.

My employees looked between her and Valerie.

The resemblance was identical.

But the difference was character.

I glanced at Valerie.

Her gaze was on the floor.

Her expression unreadable.

That scared me more than tears would have.

Vanessa was provoking.

And Valerie was absorbing.

I wanted nothing more than to pull her aside and confront the conversation she’d been avoiding.

But this needed to be handled first.

I turned to Vanessa.

She was still smiling at everyone like they knew her.

Like she belonged.

Before she could say another word, I gripped her wrist.

Hard.

She gasped lightly but recovered fast.

“We’ll be right back, everyone,” she laughed. “He’s just overwhelmed. He gets like this when he’s excited.”

Shut the fuck up, woman.

I didn’t care how this looked.

I didn’t care what anyone thought.

If she believed she could walk back into my life and resume it—

She was delusional.

I dragged her down the hall and shoved her into my office, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the glass and ignoring her stumble from the force.

The office felt cramped. I pinched my nose, struggling to contain my anger. Vanessa rubbed her wrist, looking delicate, as if I’d hurt her.

“Lucas—”

“What are you doing here, Vanessa?”

She flinched.

Just slightly.

But she recovered quickly. She always did.

“I—”

“Don’t come any closer.” My voice was flat. “I’m sure you’re loud enough to talk from a distance.”

She paused. Studied my face. Then slowly took a step back.

A quiet sigh left her lips.

“Lucas… look. I know you’re upset. You have every right to be—”

A low chuckle escaped me.

“Upset?” I repeated. “You think that one word is enough to describe what you did to me?”

Her throat moved.

“The nerve of you,” I continued, voice sharpening, “to walk into my company, announce yourself as my wife, and expect what? A reunion? Applause?”

“Please,” she said softly, stepping forward again. “Don’t make this worse for me. Don’t make me feel more guilt than I already do.”

Something in me snapped.

“Get the fuck away from me!”

The volume of my voice startled even me.

Her eyes widened.

I had never yelled at her before.

I had promised I wouldn’t.

“Lucas… you promised you would never raise your voice at me.”

I laughed.

Bitter.

“Oh, well. Promises are meant to be broken, right?” I tilted my head. “Or is that only when you’re the one breaking them?”

She parted her lips. No words came.

“You promised not to hurt me,” I went on. “You promised not to shatter me. For someone who claims to cherish vows, you were very efficient at destroying them.”

Her composure wavered.

“I was scared,” she whispered.

“Of what?” I shot back. “You’re never scared of anything.”

“You’re a Castillo,” she cut in quickly.

“The expectations, the reputation, the pressure—I thought I was ready. I thought I could carry it. But when it became real… when the wedding was hours away—”

“You panicked?” My laugh was hollow.

“That’s your defense?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I just didn’t know if I was good enough. If your family truly accepted me.”

“They loved you.”

“They tolerated me,” she corrected softly. “Because of the contract.”

I scoffed.

“You’re saying everything and nothing at the same time.”

She looked at me then—really looked at me.

“And why do you think I’m back now?”

A small smile curved her lips.

“To make everything right, Lucas.”

The audacity.

“You really must be delusional,” I said quietly, “walking in here and announcing to everyone that you’re my wife.”

“I am your wife.”

“No,” I corrected sharply. “You were my fiancée. And you ran.”

Her eyes hardened.

“So your next option was my sister?”

My jaw tightened.

“I had no choice.”

“That bitch manipulated you.”

I pointed at her immediately.

“Don’t speak about her like that.”

“Why not?” Vanessa shot back. “She took my place. What kind of sister gets entangled with her sister’s husband the moment she disappears?”

“You caused this!” I roared. “Deal with it. And before you accuse her—blame yourself. And your parents.”

“My parents would never. Have you ever asked why she did what she did?” she cut in coldly. “She’s always been like this,” Vanessa spat. “That’s why I never introduced her to you! She’s nothing but a sl—”

I lifted my hand.

Not to strike.

But the intent was there.

Her breath caught.

For a split second, I saw fear.

“Say one more word about my wife,” I said slowly, deadly calm, “and you will regret it. I promised not to hurt you. That doesn’t mean I won’t.”

Silence swallowed the room.

I grabbed my keys.

My phone.

And walked toward the door.

“Lucas,” she called softly.

I stopped.

“Are you in love with Valerie?”

The question hit harder than it should have.

My jaw ticked.

I didn’t give her what she wanted.

“This conversation ends one of two ways,” I said without turning. “You walk out quietly. Or I make it very clear to everyone outside exactly who you truly are.”

“You wouldn’t embarrass me,” she whispered. “You love me.”

I turned then.

Held her gaze.

“Try me, Vanessa. You already embarrassed yourself.”

I opened the door.

“Get the fuck out of my company. I don’t want to see you when I get back.”

And I slammed it shut behind me.