“Leave,” Luke said coldly, his voice sharp with hidden doubt.

Mike and Weldon exchanged a glance, then quickly left the office.

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

He leaned back in his leather chair, sharp eyes clouded with suspicion.

Dexie… signed the divorce papers?

The same woman who, just yesterday, refused to even speak about divorce?

Impossible.

A bitter sneer curled his lips as he shoved the papers aside.

The frustration in his chest burned, but he forced it down.

He grabbed a stack of official documents, trying to focus.

The words blurred together.

No matter how hard he tried, his mind refused to settle.

Downstairs at the Huxley Dawson mansion, Dexie descended the staircase with her luggage in hand.

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

Everyone in the household knew the truth.

Dexie and Luke’s marriage was never built on love — just an agreement, forced by the late Old Mr. Huxley Dawson.

Now that the old man had passed… the divorce wasn’t a surprise.

But Dexie agreeing to it — quietly — left everyone whispering.

Some said she was nothing more than a substitute for Luke’s ex-girlfriend.

And looking at her now, heartbroken, yet composed, it almost seemed true.

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

She handed Wilma a small envelope.

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

Wilma’s eyes filled with sadness.

Dexie had never been difficult. She caused no trouble.

All she cared about… was Luke.

“Are you really divorcing Mr. Huxley Dawson?” Wilma asked, unable to hide the concern.

Dexie’s smile remained, but her eyes betrayed the sharp ache in her heart.

She picked up her luggage and walked toward the door.

But after a few steps, she paused.

Turning back, her voice soft but steady, she added,

“Oh… one more thing.”

Wilma looked up.

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

Wilma’s eyes widened. “But… Mrs. Huxley Dawson… you planted them…”

“Take them out,” Dexie replied quietly.

“Luke doesn’t like them.”

Since they were divorcing, Dexie wouldn’t leave behind anything that might remind him of her…

Or make him unhappy.

Without waiting for a reply, she left the mansion.

Never once looking back.

Later that evening, Luke returned home.

His eyes darkened the moment he saw a bulldozer in the garden.

Workers were digging up the Malus trees.

“What’s going on here?” he demanded.

Wilma hurried over, sensing the storm brewing in his voice.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson… she ordered this.”

Luke’s eyes narrowed.

“What did she say?”

Wilma chose her words carefully.

“She said… she didn’t like the trees.”

Luke’s expression shifted.

The anger faltered, replaced by something else.

“She left,” Wilma added quietly.

“Left?”

The word slammed into Luke harder than expected.

That unfamiliar panic… the one he’d been fighting all day…

It clawed at his chest.

But his face remained blank.

Unreadable.

Without another word, Luke turned and headed inside.

“Tell them to stop,” he ordered. “Put everything back the way it was.”

Wilma froze, puzzled.

If Mr. Huxley Dawson didn’t love Dexie… if he truly wanted a divorce…

Why keep the flowers she planted?

Everyone knew the truth.

Since they got married, Luke hardly ever came home.

And when he did… it was always in the early hours of the morning.

But tonight was different.

The first time he returned home early.

Why the sudden change?

Wilma stayed silent. She didn’t dare ask questions.

She quickly ordered the staff to stop removing the Malus trees, just as Luke had instructed.

Upstairs, Luke entered the bedroom, his expression dark.

The moment he opened the door… silence.

Cold. Empty.

It wasn’t like this before.

Even when he came home late, Dexie always waited for him.

If she fell asleep, she’d still wake up with a sleepy smile… asking about his day.

But now…

Silence.

Luke loosened his tie and tossed it aside.

His sharp eyes scanned the room.

At first glance, everything looked the same.

But something was off.

His gaze landed on the bookshelf.

Half the books were gone.

He opened the closet.

His suits still hung neatly… but not a single trace of Dexie’s clothes remained.

His jaw tightened.

She wouldn’t really move out.

Not after signing the divorce papers.

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

But no matter how he tried to convince himself…

The uneasy feeling in his chest only grew.

Meanwhile, Dexie had already left the house she shared with Luke.

She was now at an apartment in the city.

Technically, it belonged to Luke.

But she’d never lived there.

Still, she made sure it stayed clean.

Almost as if… she always knew this day would come.

Dexie set her luggage down, pulled out her phone, and made a call.

A man’s sleepy voice answered.

“Dexie… I just dreamt about you. Now you’re calling. Coincidence?”

She ignored his playful tone.

“I need you to investigate something. When you have the evidence… send it to me.”

She explained the details calmly.

The call ended.

Dexie set the phone down.

For a moment… a chill ran down her spine.

****

The next morning, Dexie woke early.

After freshening up, she gathered her documents and drove to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

It had just opened.

Couples lined up — some to get married, others to get divorced.

Dexie stood quietly at the entrance.

She waited.

An hour passed.

Luke never showed.

Frustration crept in.

She called him. No answer.

She tried Weldon. Nothing.

Dexie checked her watch.

In another hour… the Bureau would close.

With no choice, she got in her car and drove to Huxley Dawson Corporation.

After parking, Dexie walked in.

But the moment she stepped inside…

A familiar woman blocked her path.

The woman’s curvy figure and influencer-perfect face were hard to miss.

Long maroon hair fell over one shoulder.

Her sharp chin, full lips, and flawless features gave her an unnatural beauty.

Her tailored outfit left little to the imagination.

Every detail emphasized her “assets.”

Dexie recognized her instantly.

This woman had caused trouble more than once…

Especially when Dexie used to deliver lunch to Luke.

His ex-girlfriend.

The woman blocking Dexie’s path was Lindy Wilson, Luke’s secretary.

From time to time, Luke took her to business events.

It didn’t take long for Lindy’s arrogance to grow.

She walked around like she already belonged to the Huxley Dawson family.

As if it was only a matter of time… before she replaced Dexie.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson… here again?” Lindy greeted, raising her chin slightly.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, the word again laced with meaning.

Dexie smiled politely. “Ms. Wilson.”

Lindy’s eyes swept over Dexie’s empty hands with disdain.

“No lunch for Mr. Huxley Dawson today?” she mocked.

“I heard he threw away the food you made last time.”

Her smugness was obvious like she had already won.

In the past, Dexie ignored Lindy’s childish provocations.

Out of respect for Luke.

But now?

She didn’t even like Luke anymore.

No reason to hold back.

As Lindy kept talking, she secretly studied Dexie.

The simple, tailored dress.

Long, neat hair cascading over her shoulders.

That delicate, flawless face…

Despite her jealousy, Lindy had to admit  Dexie was stunning.

But there was something different today.

A cold, sharp aura that made Lindy feel… small.

She’s just a pretty face who cooks for her husband, Lindy reminded herself.

I’m a top graduate. I work at a major company.

She can’t compete with me.

Still, the jealousy gnawed at her.

She needed to crush Dexie with her words.

But before Lindy could open her mouth again, Dexie moved.

In one swift motion, Dexie grabbed Lindy’s chin, lifting it slightly.

Lindy froze.

Her eyes widened in shock at the strength of Dexie’s grip.

Dexie leaned in, her smile calm, icy, and dangerous.

“Have I not been kind enough to you?” she asked softly.

Lindy tried to pull back, but Dexie’s hand was like iron.

For someone so slim… her grip was shockingly strong.

“L-Let me go…” Lindy stammered, her voice muffled under Dexie’s hand.

Dexie’s eyes gleamed, sharp as glass.

“I have a bad temper, Ms. Wilson,” she whispered.

“If you keep struggling… I might accidentally dislocate your chin.”

Lindy’s mouth snapped shut.

Her heart pounded with fear.

Dexie smiled faintly, her gaze cutting through Lindy like a blade.

“So this is why Luke never comes home,” she said quietly.

“He’s been keeping a little fox like you around the office.”

Lindy flushed, a mix of anger, humiliation, and fear.

But before she could retaliate…

Her expression changed.

She spotted someone approaching behind Dexie.

Her eyes lit up with fake innocence.

Her voice turned soft, pitiful.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson, you’ve misunderstood,” Lindy said sweetly.

“Nothing is going on between Mr. Huxley Dawson and me.

I’m just his secretary… I only accompany him to a few business dinners…

You’ve really misunderstood.”

Lindy’s eyes turned red and watery partly from Dexie’s grip on her chin… mostly from embarrassment.

Her fake acting was awful.

Dexie smiled, then finally let go.

“What are you saying? I was just joking,” she said lightly.

She pulled a wet tissue from her bag and carefully wiped her hand…

As if she’d touched something filthy.

Lindy’s hands trembled with anger.

What was that supposed to mean?

Was Dexie calling her… dirty?

Lindy wanted nothing more than to claw Dexie’s face apart.

But she held back.

Because of the person standing behind Dexie.

“Just wait, bitch,” Lindy seethed silently.

“Let’s see how you clean up this mess.”

Dexie looked completely unbothered.

“I’m sorry,” she added casually.

“I have mysophobia. I can’t stand… dirty, flirtatious smells.”

She tossed the used tissue into the nearby trash can.

Lindy’s face burned with rage, but she forced a sweet, innocent smile.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson, you’ve misunderstood.

There’s nothing between Mr. Huxley Dawson and me.”

Dexie tilted her head, eyes wide with mock innocence.

“Didn’t I say I was joking?

So narrow-minded… Can’t even take a joke?”

Lindy clenched her teeth.

“Dexie… you bitch…”

But she didn’t dare say it out loud.

Dexie wasn’t finished.

“Luke must be blind to fall for someone like you.”

Lindy gasped, fury flashing in her eyes.

But the smug feeling returned as she thought of the person behind Dexie.

“Dexie… you’ve walked right into your own trap.”

Lindy smiled sweetly.

“How can you say Mr. Huxley Dawson is blind?

He’s not blind… though… well… sometimes, there’s really no difference between being nearsighted and blind.”

She let the words hang for a beat.

“After all, he brings someone like you to business parties.

Who exactly is he trying to insult?”

Dexie’s lips pressed together, a flicker of annoyance.

But then… her expression changed.

“Oh, but I heard…

He only takes you to the small, boring parties.”

Lindy’s heart sank.

She knew what was coming… and it wouldn’t be pleasant.

“That makes sense, though,” Dexie continued sweetly.

“Luke may be blind… but he’s not stupid.”

She smiled.

“He knows you’re dumb and terrible with words.

If he brings you to important banquets…

You’ll offend the big clients and embarrass him.”

Lindy’s face darkened.

“You—”

Dexie cut her off, her voice flat and cool.

“He brings you to small dinners because they don’t matter.

It’s like keeping trash nearby, it makes no difference.

That’s probably your only value to the company, right?”

Her tone was calm. Sweet.

But her words were knives.

Dexie smiled gracefully, elegantly, and poised…

Completely unaffected, even as the woman in front of her openly flirted with her husband.

Lindy’s smug smile widens.

Some of the people nearby couldn’t help but chuckle softly at Dexie’s words.

Even though they tried to hide it, Lindy heard them, and her face darkened with anger.

When Dexie walked in earlier, Lindy had deliberately raised her voice to embarrass her.

But now… the plan had completely backfired.

Instead of Dexie, Lindy was the one humiliated in front of everyone.

It was true.

Lindy wasn’t trusted with important tasks.

The only reason she got to attend business events with Luke…

Was because sometimes, he wanted a pretty woman by his side.

And Lindy?

She had the best looks and figure in the office.

But what Lindy thought was her advantage…

Had turned her into a joke.

A flirtatious secretary…

A woman, the president only took to unimportant events.

The more Lindy thought about it, the angrier she became.

Dexie’s calm, gentle smile made it worse.

“Instead of messing with me… go look in the mirror,” Dexie thought coldly.

“Maybe then you’ll understand how ugly things cause trouble.”

Dexie turned to leave.

But Lindy’s panicked voice stopped her.

“M-Mr. Huxley Dawson!”

Lindy’s eyes instantly filled with tears as she forced herself to look pitiful.

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

Lindy carefully chose her words.

If Luke denied everything and scolded Dexie, she’d be humiliated.

But if Luke admitted to anything…

Her status would rise overnight.

No one in the company would dare touch her.

But to Lindy’s shock…

Luke completely ignored her.

His cold eyes locked straight onto Dexie.

Dexie met his gaze, her own eyes calm… slightly mocking.

“I’ve signed the divorce papers,” Dexie said, her voice cool and steady.

“Didn’t we agree to finish the process today?

I waited an hour at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

"You never showed.

You’re wasting my time.”

The anger in her voice…

The coldness in her eyes…

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

Luke was stunned.

The woman he thought he knew…

The one who always cared about him…

Now looked at him like a stranger.

Something twisted in Luke’s chest.

Frustration. Confusion.

A sharp, burning anger he couldn’t explain.

He stepped closer to Dexie.

His presence darkened the air around them, overwhelming.

Dexie’s eyes widened slightly at the pressure he gave off.

Before she could stop herself… she stepped back.

“You call that a waste of time? I thought you’d love spending every minute with me.”

Luke’s cold laugh echoed through the room, but behind it, a storm brewed in his chest. His fists clenched at his sides as he thought about this morning—how Dexie had been ready to finalize their divorce without a second thought. The bitterness crept into his voice before he could stop it.

But Dexie didn’t flinch. She didn’t argue. Instead, she shrugged lightly, her expression calm.

“You’re right,” she agreed coolly. “I was blind to waste so much time on you. But don’t worry… I’ve finally learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll be spending my time much more wisely.”

A quiet gasp slipped from Weldon, who stood frozen nearby.

How could a woman’s heart change so fast?

Just yesterday, this same woman looked at the president like he was her whole world… and now, she called herself blind?

The employees of Huxley Dawson Corporation, secretly watching from the sidelines, were equally stunned.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson is… divorcing him?”

“And she’s the one asking for it?”

“Why? Mr. Huxley Dawson has money, power… a family background women would kill for.”

“Did she misunderstand his relationship with Mrs. Wilson, the secretary?”

“But doesn’t she know… the president can’t stand women like Mrs. Wilson?”

The whispers circled, thick with confusion and disbelief. To them, walking away from a man like Luke was madness. What woman in her right mind would give that up?

But no one dared say it to Dexie’s face.

Luke stood silent, his face dark as thunder. But this time, Dexie didn’t waste a second wondering what he was thinking.

She checked her watch. An hour left before the Civil Affairs Bureau closed.

“Still enough time,” she said simply. “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked toward the exit, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

At the front doors, she paused, realizing Luke wasn’t following. Turning around, she met his cold, unreadable stare.

Before that look would’ve made her heart race with fear.

Before she would’ve tiptoed around him, terrified of upsetting him.

But not anymore.

The only reason Luke could ever hurt her… was because she’d handed him her heart.

Now? That heart was locked away, safe. And with it, her fear was gone.

Dexie lifted her chin, eyes steady.

“Aren’t you coming?” she asked, her tone light but cutting.

“Don’t tell me… you’re backing out of the divorce again?”

She crossed her arms, a cool smile curving her lips.

“You practically begged me to take half your fortune and sign those papers. But now that I’ve finally agreed… you’re the one stalling?”

Her head tilted slightly as her eyes sparkled with quiet mockery.

“So… what are you really after, Mr. Huxley Dawson?”