Chapter 5: Too Late to Hold On

“Now that you’ve figured out I’m not twisted, do you still want a divorce?” Dexie challenged him.

She knew Luke wasn’t the type to get riled up easily. But he was arrogant, and nothing bruised his ego more than being embarrassed, especially in front of his employees.

She was pushing his buttons. Hard.

And a man like him? He wouldn’t take it lying down.

Sure enough, Luke’s face darkened. He strode toward her. Dexie didn’t wait—she spun around and walked straight to the parking lot.

But just as she opened the door, he stopped her.

She looked up, meeting the sharp, icy stare she knew too well.

“Anything else?” she asked, frowning.

“What game are you playing?” His voice was low, steady… annoyingly calm for a man who looked ready to explode.

That voice. Deep, smooth, laced with quiet authority—the kind that had always drawn her in, even when his words didn’t.

But Luke was never much of a talker. Only brief, sharp words when necessary. No wasted effort.

“I’ll buy the five percent stake your grandfather gave you,” Luke said, eyes locked on hers. “Market price. You don’t have to transfer it to me.”

Dexie held his stare, her expression unreadable. Was he trying to see if she was serious about walking away—or just playing him? Whatever he saw, her face didn’t give it away.

“I won’t cheat you,” he added. “What’s yours stays yours. You don’t have to pretend to be generous.”

Dexie almost laughed. His arrogance could really be something else.

“Pretend? Luke, I signed the divorce papers and waited at the Civil Affairs Office. If you’d shown up, we’d be divorced by now.” Her voice sharpened, laced with quiet mockery. “Who exactly do you think I’m pretending for? You?”

She smiled coldly, her eyes locked on his.

“I’ve been by your side for a year. If I couldn’t change you then, what makes you think I’d try now by playing ‘generous’? Or do you not have that much confidence in yourself?”

Luke had no comeback. Not immediately.

If he truly wanted to divorce her, he would’ve—whether she kept her money or not.

But… did he want it?

Maybe more than her?

Had he gone to the Civil Affairs Office first thing?

And even when he didn’t show up, she’d still come to the company.

Why?

“So… do you really want to divorce me? Walk away with nothing?”

Luke didn’t notice his usually sharp voice cracking.

From the moment they met, he never believed Dexie married him for money. And now, here she was—returning everything that should’ve been his.

For the first time, it hit him.

Maybe he’d been wrong all along.

“Yes. I want nothing. I want a divorce.”

In her previous life, those cold words of his—spoken before his death—had haunted her. Every time she remembered them, it shattered her heart all over again.

But this time, she wouldn’t wait for regret to catch up to her.

Some breakups were messy. Bloody. But at least they healed eventually.

Better that than clinging to pain that never faded.

Dexie’s voice was calm, detached—as if this divorce had nothing to do with her.

Luke fought the tight panic building in his chest. It had started yesterday, the moment she signed those papers.

Her face stayed blank, her tone unreadable. Like a storm brewing, quiet but dangerous.

“Grandpa gave me those shares as protection. In case you hurt me.”

She paused, watching him.

“Even though you don’t love me, you’ve been… generous. But now? I want to end everything clean. No ties. No favors.”

That 5% stake was worth billions. But Dexie couldn’t care less.

To Luke, it felt like she wasn’t just cutting business ties.

She was cutting him off entirely.

“As for your divorce agreement… keep it. We’re done. No need to stay in touch. Right, Mr. Huxley Dawson?”

The name change sliced through him. Cold. Formal. Final.

Luke’s panic tightened. The more he tried to swallow it down, the worse it got.

Why? Why couldn’t he breathe?

Dexie checked her watch and frowned. “It’s been less than an hour. Let’s go. No more wasting time.”

She turned, got in the car, and shut the door with a sharp finality.

Around them, whispers buzzed like wildfire.

“Is Mr. Huxley Dawson getting divorced?”

“She said so herself. It must be true.”

“Look—he followed her…”

But Luke barely heard them. His chest tightened as Dexie’s car pulled away.

And for the first time, he wondered—

“Is this really the end?”