Chapter 28
647words
"We've been together for so many years, and you can't forgive me just once?"
"Fine, I forgive you," she replied.
Luther froze, not expecting her to say that. A glimmer of hope lit up his face instantly.
"As long as you can accept me finding other men. While I'm with you, I'll text him, like his posts, and leave comments on all his pictures.
"I'll sneak out in the middle of the night to spend time with him.
"I might even have his child and ask you to help raise it."
With every word she spoke, Luther's face grew paler. Just hearing her say it made him feel like his world was collapsing.
"Can you accept that?"
Luther instinctively shook his head. "Callista, I can't... I just can't..."
"Exactly," Callista said coldly. "So why should I forgive you?
"If you want my love, you have to give me the same loyalty in return. Otherwise, you don't deserve it."
Her icy gaze pierced through him as his choked sobs broke the silence.
"Luther, you failed as a husband, and you failed as a father. The only thing you can salvage now is to try being a good son. Otherwise, I'll look down on you.
"We're divorced, and I took the half I was entitled to. If you're unhappy about it, feel free to sue me. But if you have any dignity left, don't come looking for me again."
With that, Callista stood and walked away. Luther's anguished cries echoed behind her, but she never turned back.
After blocking Jane's number, Callista finally cut all ties with the Spencer family. The once-envied "college sweetheart couple" was now forgotten and replaced by the next viral scandal.
After that, Callista bought a fully furnished home, moved in, and settled into her new life.
…
A month later, an unexpected guest knocked on her door. It was Jude's sister, Harriet Jones.
Feeling uneasy, Callista invited her in and poured her a cup of tea.
"Ms. Jones, I think you might be mistaken. Jude and I haven't spoken for over a month," she said.
Nonetheless, Harriet let out a sigh before she said, "Could you come with me somewhere?"
Feeling somewhat stunned, Callista still nodded. Harriet led her to Jude's villa and up to the attic, where the door had a keypad lock.
"It's your birthday," Harriet said softly.
Callista hesitated before keying in her birthdate. The door immediately clicked open.
Inside, the walls were covered with photos of her. Pictures from college, from her recent travels, and even candid shots from media coverage when she accompanied Luther to events—carefully cropped to show only her.
Harriet handed her a notebook from the table. Callista opened it and froze.
It was her old college journal, one she thought had been lost long ago. She then slowly flipped through the pages.
There it was—her handwritten travel bucket list.
"If I get the chance, my first stop would be Andela, to feel the evening sea breeze and wait for the sunrise...
"Second stop: I must see jacaranda trees. That place...
"...I've heard the fruit wine there is the best, but I don't know where to find it..."
The pages were yellowed with age. It was clear that they were flipped through countless times.
It was no wonder Jude always seemed to know where she wanted to go next. He had memorized her dreams, even walking those paths alone before she did.
When she turned to the final page, she found two lines written in Jude's handwriting.
"You mustn't meet someone too dazzling when you're young. Otherwise, everyone else will feel like settling.
"And I refuse to settle."
Callista felt her heart pound violently.
"And this one," Harriet said, handing her another notebook. The title on the cover left Callista utterly stunned.
"Operation: Win Her Back."
