Chapter 4: Price of Underestimating Her

A few employees nearby couldn't hold back their laughter.

They tried to hide it, but Lindy heard them.

Her face darkened.

When Dexie entered the company, Lindy had deliberately raised her voice, hoping to embarrass her in front of everyone.

Instead, the plan had completely backfired.

Lindy was the one being laughed at.

What made it worse was that Dexie's words had struck a nerve.

Lindy wasn't trusted with the company's most important matters. Luke occasionally brought her to business events, but never the ones that truly mattered.

She had always taken pride in being the beautiful secretary chosen to accompany the president.

Now Dexie had made it sound pathetic.

Lindy looked around and caught several employees quickly turning away.

Her anger burned hotter.

Dexie, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm.

She had no interest in wasting any more time on Lindy.

She turned to leave.

“M-Mr. Huxley Dawson!”

Lindy's sudden change in voice made Dexie stop.

So that was who had been standing behind her.

Lindy's eyes immediately filled with tears as she looked past Dexie.

“Mr. Huxley Dawson, Mrs. Huxley Dawson misunderstood our relationship...”

Her voice was soft and pitiful.

She had chosen her words carefully.

If Luke defended her and scolded Dexie in front of everyone, Dexie would be humiliated.

And if Luke said anything that suggested Lindy was special to him, her position in the company would change overnight.

But Luke did neither.

He didn't even look at Lindy.

His cold gaze was fixed entirely on Dexie.

Dexie slowly turned around.

Their eyes met.

Unlike before, there was no nervousness or longing in Dexie's expression.

Only impatience.

“I've signed the divorce papers,” she said. “Didn't we agree to finish the process today?”

Luke said nothing.

“I waited for you at the Civil Affairs Bureau for an hour. You never showed up.”

Her expression cooled.

“You're wasting my time.”

Luke's eyes narrowed.

Since their marriage began, Dexie had never spoken to him like this.

She used to watch his expression carefully. She worried about upsetting him and seemed satisfied with even the smallest amount of attention from him.

Now she was standing in the middle of his company, accusing him of wasting her time.

Something uncomfortable twisted in Luke's chest.

He stepped closer.

Dexie instinctively moved back half a step before stopping herself.

Luke noticed.

A cold smile touched his lips.

“You call that a waste of time?” he asked. “I thought you loved spending every minute with me.”

There was mockery in his voice, but something darker sat beneath it.

Dexie looked at him for a moment.

Then she shrugged.

“You're right.”

Luke's expression shifted slightly.

“I was blind enough to waste a lot of time on you,” she continued calmly. “But I've learned my lesson.”

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

“From now on, I'll spend my time much more wisely.”

Weldon, standing nearby, stared at her.

Was this really the same Dexie Hansley?

Until yesterday, she had treated Luke as though he were the center of her world.

Now she was openly calling her devotion to him a waste of time.

The surrounding employees were just as shocked.

“Are they really getting divorced?” someone whispered.

“And Mrs. Huxley Dawson actually agreed?”

“I thought she was the one who didn't want to let him go.”

“Then why is she the one rushing him now?”

The whispers spread quickly.

Lindy stood forgotten at the side, her face growing uglier by the second.

She had expected Luke to defend her.

Instead, he had barely acknowledged her existence.

Luke's expression had turned cold.

But Dexie no longer cared enough to wonder what was going through his mind.

She checked her watch.

There was still time before the Civil Affairs Bureau closed.

“Good. We can still make it.”

She looked at Luke.

“Let's go.”

Then she turned and walked toward the exit without waiting for his answer.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor.

Several employees watched her pass in stunned silence.

At the entrance, Dexie realized Luke wasn't following.

She stopped and turned.

Luke remained where he was, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

Once, a look like that would have made Dexie's heart pound.

She would have wondered what she had done wrong.

She would have worried that he was angry.

She would have tried to please him.

Not anymore.

Luke had only been able to hurt her because she had loved him enough to give him that power.

That woman had died in the accident.

Dexie lifted her chin.

“Aren't you coming?”

Luke's eyes darkened.

Dexie's smile grew.

“Don't tell me you're backing out of the divorce now.”

The surrounding employees went completely silent.

Dexie crossed her arms.

“You were the one who wanted me to sign. You were even willing to give me half your fortune just to end this marriage.”

She tilted her head, openly challenging him.

“But now I've signed the papers, given up the settlement, and returned the shares.”

Her eyes locked onto his.

“And suddenly, you're the one delaying everything.”

Luke's jaw tightened.

Dexie's smile remained perfectly calm.

“So what exactly are you after now, Mr. Huxley Dawson?”