Chapter 2: Leaving

“Leave,” Luke said coldly.

Mike and Weldon exchanged a glance before quickly leaving the office.

The moment the door clicked shut, Luke’s expression darkened.

Dexie had signed the divorce papers.

The same woman who, just yesterday, had refused to even discuss divorce.

It made no sense.

A bitter sneer curled his lips as he shoved the papers aside. He grabbed a stack of official documents and forced himself to focus on work.

But after reading the same line three times, Luke realized he hadn’t understood a single word.

No matter how hard he tried, his mind kept returning to Dexie’s signature.

She wanted nothing from him.

And worse, she wanted the divorce finalized as soon as possible.

---

At the Huxley Dawson mansion, Dexie descended the stairs with her luggage in hand.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson, are you... going somewhere?” the maid, Wilma, asked carefully.

The household staff already knew Luke and Dexie’s marriage had never been built on love. They had married because of the late Old Mr. Huxley Dawson’s wishes.

After his death, no one was truly surprised that the marriage was ending.

What surprised them was Dexie.

She had spent the past year caring about Luke more than anything else. Yet now, she was leaving without making a scene.

“No,” Dexie replied with a small smile. “I’m moving out.”

She handed Wilma an envelope.

“Thank you for looking after me this past year.”

Wilma stared at her sadly.

Dexie had never been a difficult mistress. She rarely caused trouble and treated the household staff well.

More than anything, she had devoted herself to Luke.

“Are you really divorcing Mr. Huxley Dawson?” Wilma asked.

Dexie felt a familiar ache in her chest, but she didn't let it change her decision.

“Yes.”

She picked up her luggage and headed toward the door.

After a few steps, however, she stopped.

“Oh, one more thing.”

Wilma looked at her.

“Please have someone remove the Malus trees from the garden.”

Wilma’s eyes widened.

“But Mrs. Huxley Dawson, you planted those yourself.”

“I know.”

Dexie looked toward the garden.

She had planted those trees and cared for them herself.

But Luke didn't like them.

“Take them out,” she said quietly. “Luke doesn’t like them.”

Since she was leaving, there was no reason to leave something behind that he had never wanted.

With that, Dexie walked out of the mansion.

She didn't look back.

---

Later that evening, Luke returned home.

The moment his car entered the property, his eyes narrowed.

There was a bulldozer in the garden.

Several workers were digging up the Malus trees.

Luke stepped out of the car.

“What’s going on?”

Wilma hurried toward him.

“Mr. Huxley Dawson.”

Luke looked toward the half-dug trees.

“Who told them to do this?”

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson.”

His expression hardened.

“What did she say?”

Wilma hesitated before answering.

“She said she wanted the trees removed.”

Luke looked at the garden again.

Those trees had been there for nearly a year.

Dexie had planted them herself.

“She left,” Wilma added quietly.

Luke turned sharply toward her.

“Left?”

“She moved out today.”

For a moment, Luke said nothing.

He had known Dexie signed the divorce papers.

He had known she wanted the process finished quickly.

But hearing that she had actually packed her things and left the mansion made everything suddenly feel real.

His face remained unreadable.

“Tell them to stop.”

Wilma blinked. “Sir?”

“Put everything back the way it was.”

Wilma stared at him in confusion.

Luke had never liked the Malus trees.

Yet now that Dexie was gone, he wanted to keep them?

She wisely kept the question to herself.

“Yes, sir.”

Luke walked into the mansion without another word.

Wilma watched him disappear inside before turning toward the workers.

Since the marriage began, Luke rarely came home early. Most nights, if he returned at all, it was already very late.

Tonight was different.

Dexie had left.

And Luke had come home early.

---

Luke entered the bedroom and stopped.

Silence greeted him.

The room had always been quiet, but tonight it felt different.

Empty.

Whenever Luke came home late, Dexie would usually be waiting for him. Even if she fell asleep, the sound of him entering often woke her.

She would look at him with sleepy eyes and ask about his day.

Luke had never thought much about it.

Until she wasn't there.

He loosened his tie and tossed it aside.

At first glance, the bedroom looked almost unchanged.

Then he noticed the bookshelf.

Half the books were gone.

Luke walked to the closet and opened it.

His suits were still hanging neatly inside.

Dexie’s clothes were gone.

Every single one.

His jaw tightened.

She had really moved out.

“Is she playing hard to get?” he muttered.

That had to be it.

Dexie had spent so long refusing to divorce him. She couldn't have changed completely overnight.

But as Luke stared at the empty half of the closet, the explanation didn't satisfy him.

Something had changed.

He just didn't know what.

---

Dexie had already settled into an apartment in the city.

Technically, the apartment belonged to Luke, but she had never lived there before.

She placed her luggage down and took out her phone.

Then she made a call.

After several rings, a sleepy male voice answered.

“Dexie... I just dreamed about you, and now you’re calling me. Coincidence?”

Dexie ignored his teasing.

“I need you to investigate something.”

The man's tone became more alert.

Dexie calmly explained what she needed.

“When you have the evidence, send it to me.”

“All right.”

The call ended.

Dexie lowered the phone.

She had been given another chance at life.

This time, she wasn't going to ignore what had happened around her.

She needed answers.

---

The next morning, Dexie woke early, prepared her documents, and drove to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

It had just opened.

Couples were already lining up. Some were there to begin their marriages.

Others were there to end them.

Dexie stood near the entrance and waited.

An hour passed.

Luke didn't appear.

She called him.

No answer.

She tried Weldon next.

Still nothing.

Dexie checked the time.

If Luke didn't come soon, they wouldn't be able to finish the process today.

Her irritation grew.

Yesterday, Luke had been the one desperate for a divorce.

Now that she had agreed, he couldn't even bother to show up?

Dexie wasn't going to let him drag this out.

She returned to her car and drove straight to Huxley Dawson Corporation.

After parking, she gathered her documents and entered the building.

But before she could go farther, someone stepped directly into her path.

Dexie stopped.

A woman stood before her, dressed in an expensive, figure-hugging outfit. Long maroon hair fell over one shoulder, framing a carefully made-up face.

Dexie recognized her immediately.

She had caused trouble more than once whenever Dexie came to the company to bring Luke lunch.

And there was one thing Dexie remembered about her better than anything else.

She was Luke’s ex-girlfriend.