Chapter 3 The speaker volume seemed deliberately cranked up , each word echoing in my ears . Luke watched me while bringing the phone to his lips , his voice lazy . " Wrong number , sweetheart . " I studied his cold expression , trying to remember what he looked like when he used to love me . At first , Luke would still apologize and try to make things right . The gift he'd had sent to Ruby Grant was ridiculously expensive and accidentally bumped me from a reservation I'd made . The rich crowd is tiny , and word travels fast about everything . Luke raced home and handed over everything - his phone , bank cards , passwords to eighteen different accounts . " She did me a small favor . Alex picked out the gift , and I'm gonna chew him out for it . " Just a simple explanation , and I believed him . No reason not to . But somehow , word got out about Luke and me having a huge fight . Then Ruby showed up on a rainy day , kneeling at our front door . " Mrs. Harper , Luke and I - there's really nothing between us . You have to believe me . " The cover - up just made it more suspicious . Anger clouds your judgment , so I missed the flicker of pain in Luke's eyes when he stood at that window , looking down at her . When a man feels protective of a woman , that's romance between two people . Add a third person , and it becomes dangerous . But that wasn't even the worst part . The hardest days were already behind us . If I remembered right , today was November 27th . Just a few days left until my three - year agreement with his grandpa expired . I looked toward Luke , about to speak . Then his phone rang , and I caught fragments of the voice on the other end . I recognized Ruby's voice . " The power's out at my place . Everything's pitch black . I'm scared . " " Stay put . I'm coming over . " Luke stood up , glanced at me once , and I swallowed whatever I'd been about to say . Without another word , he walked out . After Luke left , I drove to the Harper family estate . The Harper mansion was a century - old Victorian , decorated with an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western antiques . Inside , Luke's mother sat on the sofa while a maid massaged her shoulders . 13:20 Hell Yeah . Forget the Other Woman . My Smart House Was Cheating On Me ! 15.4 % Chapter 3 She glanced up when she heard me come in , then closed her eyes again . I didn't want to annoy her , so I went straight upstairs to the study . " Grandpa , " I said carefully , " the three years are up . I want to leave the Harper family . " Years ago , I'd figured out that Luke only pretended to send Ruby away - he'd actually sent her abroad to study . When I was in the hospital and his flight records showed he was still traveling between New York and Australia , so I completely gave up hope . That's when I went to grandpa . The Harper family was dealing with internal and external troubles at the time . He asked me to stay three more years . If Luke didn't change his ways in that time , he'd let me leave the family . The old leather chair creaked as Grandpa opened his eyes to look at me . " I thought three years would be enough time for you to get used to this life . Why do you still want to leave ? " When I didn't answer , he sighed . " You knew what you were getting into when you married into this family. Look at Melody . She was even more hot - headed than you back in the day , but she never let go of being a Harper . All those bastard kids couldn't touch her , and Luke is still our only legitimate heir . " Melody was Luke's mother , the woman who now spent her days meditating and chanting prayers . In her youth , she'd been extraordinarily ruthless . " You know what she relied on ? " he asked . " What ? " " My backing . As long as I support you , no one can take your position as Mrs. Harper . With me behind you , those other women can't touch you . " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!