His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 112

Luckily, Lumina was quick—she caught Winona’s wrist and flung her aside with a hard jerk. “Ms. Tatum, weren’t you supposed to be suspended for reflection? Did you think barging in here would get you an extra zero on your three-thousand-word apology?”

As Winona was shoved away, she caught a glimpse of Lumina’s neck and noticed the faint traces of a love bite, clumsily masked with foundation.

Winona stared at the mark, unable to imagine just how wild Lumina had been the night before.

It felt as if she could hear her own heart shattering. Eyes reddening, Winona glared at her. “Lumina, no one stays lucky forever. Don’t get too full of yourself—I’ll expose you. I’ll let everyone, including Cedric, know what a shameless mess you really are!”

“Do whatever you want,” Lumina replied, utterly unfazed.

Watching Winona slam the door on her way out, Lumina could only shake her head at the absurdity, then turned back to the mirror to finish fixing her makeup.

When Lumina finally left the ballroom, Soren’s car was just pulling up.

He stood by the hood, his back to her, talking on the phone. The setting sun stretched his tall figure into an even longer silhouette.

Lumina walked over, rose up on tiptoe, and covered his eyes with her hands.

Soren turned and, seeing it was her, looked her up and down, a smile warming his eyes. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

But as his gaze landed on the pale skin of her neck, he paused for a moment, then joked lightly, “Why aren’t you wearing the necklace I gave you?”

Lumina shrugged playfully. “I looked it up—that necklace was a charity auction piece from Mrs. Jones. Six hundred thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds—way too flashy for me to just parade around my neck.”

“I gave it to you so you could show it off,” Soren replied with a helpless smile, but he let it go and got down to business. “The agency I found for you said your visa was approved three days ago. Did you check? Got all your documents ready?”

“All set, everything’s in order,” Lumina nodded, grateful. If not for Soren’s help, she’d never have managed all the paperwork so quickly.

“When’s your flight? I can drive you to the airport.”

“Half past eleven tonight,” Lumina answered, shaking her head with a smile. “Thank you, really, but I already booked a driver for tonight. No need for the extra trouble.”

“Alright.” Soren could hear the distance in her voice and didn’t press.

After a moment, he grinned. “Well, since you’re so grateful, can I at least get your number?”

Soren told himself not to push. She was smiling, but her whole demeanor was tinged with the melancholy of farewell.

She’d told him, after all, that she’d lived in this city more than twenty years, and this was her first time leaving for so long. It was only natural to feel a little heartache.

Soren promised himself—one day, he’d be the one who could comfort her when she was hurting.

Lumina lingered by the hotel’s side entrance, letting the cool breeze brush against her face, eyes narrowed as she watched the elegantly dressed guests come and go.

Suddenly, she felt the urge to smoke.

She used to play the good girl in front of Cedric, pretending she didn’t know how, but the truth was, she’d never been the obedient type.

Lumina borrowed a cigarette and a lighter from a waiter. But the moment she lit up, she caught herself and smiled ruefully, resting a hand on her belly. “Sorry, little ones. Mom’s having a rough day. I almost forgot about you.”

She let the cigarette burn away on the curb, never bringing it to her lips, just watching as the flame slowly consumed it in the cold night air.

After a long moment, Lumina pulled out her phone and called Yadiel Sterling. “I’m leaving tonight. My flight’s at eleven thirty.”