Chapter 7: The Truth Luke Didn't Want Me to Know

Luke arrived at seven that evening.

He didn't come alone.

His older brother, Ethan, was with him.

I knew immediately why.

Luke wanted a witness.

Or perhaps he wanted someone who could pressure me into giving him what he wanted.

I opened the door but stayed behind the chain.

“What do you want?”

Luke looked irritated.

“I told you we need to talk.”

“Then talk.”

His eyes flicked toward the hallway.

“Can we come inside?”

“No.”

Ethan looked uncomfortable.

“Elena, we're not here to fight.”

“Good. Then you won't need to come inside.”

Luke exhaled sharply.

“Fine.”

He pulled out his phone.

“You found those charges, didn't you?”

I didn't answer.

His expression changed.

“I know you did.”

“So explain them.”

Luke glanced at Ethan before lowering his voice.

“Maya needed help.”

I almost laughed.

“A wedding boutique needed help?”

His face went pale.

Ethan looked at him.

“What wedding boutique?”

Luke's jaw tightened.

For the first time, he seemed to realize that Ethan hadn't known everything.

I opened the door a little wider.

“Come in.”

Luke stepped inside.

Ethan followed.

I led them into the living room and placed the printed bank statements on the coffee table.

“There are charges from restaurants, hotels, jewelry stores, and a wedding boutique.”

I looked directly at Luke.

“Tell your brother what they were for.”

Luke didn't speak.

Ethan picked up one of the statements.

His eyes widened.

“Luke.”

“It wasn't like that.”

“Then what was it like?”

Luke rubbed the back of his neck.

“Maya was dealing with a complicated situation.”

I folded my arms.

“The situation where she became your wife?”

Silence.

Ethan slowly looked from Luke to me.

“You actually married Maya?”

Luke finally nodded.

Ethan sat back.

“And Elena didn't know?”

“It was complicated.”

I interrupted him.

“No. It was simple.”

I pointed toward the papers.

“You married her. You hid it from me. Then you used my money to build the life you wanted with her.”

Luke's expression hardened.

“You don't understand why we did it.”

“Then explain it.”

He hesitated.

Finally, he said, “Maya's insurance was going to expire.”

I stared at him.

“So you married her.”

“Yes.”

“Without telling your fiancée.”

“I knew you'd react like this.”

That sentence hurt more than any excuse could have.

He hadn't been afraid of losing me.

He had simply calculated my reaction and decided I could be managed afterward.

“What about the wedding?” I asked.

Luke looked away.

“We were still going to have one.”

I felt a strange calm settle over me.

“With me?”

He didn't answer.

Ethan stared at him.

“Luke, what are you saying?”

Luke finally looked at me.

“We could have fixed the paperwork later.”

I blinked.

“You were going to marry me while already being married to Maya?”

“It wasn't supposed to matter.”

A bitter smile crossed my face.

“It mattered enough for you to hide it.”

Luke stepped closer.

“Elena, I love you.”

I shook my head.

“You love what I provide.”

His face tightened.

“That's not fair.”

I picked up another statement and handed it to Ethan.

“This charge is from six weeks ago. Two thousand dollars at a wedding venue.”

Ethan stared at Luke.

“You booked a wedding?”

Luke said nothing.

I looked at him.

“Who was the wedding for?”

His silence answered me.

Ethan slowly stood.

“Luke.”

Luke finally whispered, “Maya.”

The room went completely silent.

I had thought I was prepared for the truth.

I wasn't.

They hadn't just gotten married secretly.

They had been planning a future together while I was saving money for a house I thought we would share.

Luke had been letting me believe I was his future while spending my money preparing to make someone else his wife.

I looked at him one last time.

“Leave.”

He stared at me.

“Elena—”

“You got what you wanted from me for years.”

I opened the door.

“You're not getting anything else.”

Luke's phone suddenly rang.

He looked at the screen.

Maya.

He declined the call.

A second later, another message appeared.

His face changed when he read it.

I noticed.

“What did she say?”

Luke quickly locked his phone.

But Ethan had already seen the notification.

His expression turned serious.

“Luke… why is Maya asking if Elena found out about the second house?”

My heart stopped.

“Second house?” I whispered.

Luke looked at me.

And this time, he had absolutely no explanation.