The Heiress He Abandoned

Leah

It was already past midnight, and Lucas still wasn’t home.

The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the quiet living room, each second making the silence feel heavier. I sat on the edge of the sofa with my phone clutched tightly in my hand, staring at Lucas’s contact on the screen.

I pressed call again.

The phone rang once… then the call failed.

My stomach tightened.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

A small sigh escaped my lips as I lowered the phone slowly. Lucas was always busy, always working late, but tonight something about the silence made my chest feel uneasy.

I stood up and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to calm the strange worry rising inside me.

Maybe his phone battery died, I told myself.

But the thought didn’t comfort me.

Unable to sit still anymore, I walked toward the balcony and pushed the glass door open. Cool night air brushed against my face as I stepped outside.

From here, I could see the long driveway stretching from the iron gates to the mansion entrance. The streetlights cast a soft glow over the empty road.

I leaned slightly on the balcony railing, squinting into the distance.

Maybe Lucas would drive in any moment.

Maybe I was worrying for nothing.

Just then, the sharp sound of heels clicking against the floor broke the quiet.

“Well… look at you.”

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

Rebecca Miller.

Lucas’s younger sister stepped onto the balcony, her arms crossed as she looked at me like I was something unpleasant she had stepped on.

“Standing here like a desperate wife waiting for her husband?” she mocked.

I swallowed and turned to face her.

“It’s late,” I said quietly.

Rebecca let out a laugh.

“Please. Don’t act like you care about him.”

Her eyes slowly traveled over me, full of clear contempt.

“You’re only here because of his money.”

The words stung, but I forced myself to stay calm.

Over the past three years, I had learned that arguing with Rebecca only made things worse.

She walked past me and leaned lazily against the balcony railing.

“If you’re done pretending to be a loving wife,” she said casually, “go to the kitchen and make the chocolate dessert I like.”

I blinked.

“It’s already midnight,” I said gently.

Rebecca turned her head slowly and raised an eyebrow.

“And?”

Her tone hardened.

“You live in my brother’s house. The least you can do is something useful.”

My fingers curled slightly at my sides.

For a moment, I wanted to say something. Anything.

But the words never left my mouth.

Instead, I simply nodded.

“Okay.”

Rebecca smirked like she had just won something.

I turned and quietly walked back inside.

The bright lights of the kitchen made my eyes sting slightly after the darkness outside. I tied an apron around my waist and began preparing the dessert Rebecca liked.

Melted chocolate.

Cream.

Strawberries.

My hands moved automatically as I worked, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Lucas.

Was he really that busy tonight?

Or had he simply forgotten about coming home?

Just as I finished arranging the dessert neatly on a plate, I heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.

My heart jumped.

Lucas.

I quickly removed the apron and walked toward the living room.

The front door opened a moment later.

Lucas Miller stepped inside, tall and composed as always, his dark suit still perfectly neat. His sharp eyes briefly swept across the room before landing on me.

For a second, relief flooded through me.

“You’re home,” I said softly.

Lucas loosened his tie slightly and handed his coat to the house staff.

“Yes.”

I hesitated before stepping closer.

“Why are you so late?” I asked carefully. “I tried calling you, but your phone wasn’t going through.”

Lucas didn’t seem bothered by the question.

“I had meetings,” he replied simply.

I nodded quickly.

“Oh… I see.”

Of course he had meetings.

Lucas always had meetings.

Just then Rebecca walked in behind me.

“Oh, perfect timing,” she said brightly as she walked toward Lucas.

“You’re finally back.”

Lucas glanced at her.

Rebecca then pointed casually toward the kitchen.

“Your wife just finished making dessert for me.”

Lucas didn’t react.

Instead, he simply nodded.

“That’s fine.”

Something about that response made my chest tighten.

“Lucas…” I said softly. “Rebecca asked me to make it very late tonight.”

Lucas frowned slightly.

“So?”

The single word made me freeze.

“She only asked you to cook,” he continued coldly. “Why are you complaining about something so small?”

Rebecca’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.

I lowered my gaze.

“I’m not complaining,” I said quietly.

Lucas walked toward the sofa and sat down, his expression suddenly serious.

Then he opened his briefcase.

My heart began beating faster as he pulled out a thin stack of papers.

“Leah.”

Something about the way he said my name made my stomach twist.

He placed the papers on the table and pushed them toward me.

“Sign this.”

Confused, I picked them up.

The bold words at the top made my hands tremble.

Divorce Agreement.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Lucas… what is this?”

His expression remained calm.

“Samantha is back.”

The name felt like a heavy stone dropping into my chest.

“She returned from Italy yesterday,” he continued. “I’m ending this marriage.”

The room suddenly felt too small.

“You’re divorcing me… because of her?” I asked quietly.

“Yes.”

My fingers tightened around the papers.

“But our marriage was arranged by your father,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “We’ve been married for three years.”

Lucas looked completely unmoved.

“So?”

My heart ached.

“Lucas…” My voice softened. “I’ve always loved you.”

He didn’t respond.

“Do those three years mean nothing to you?”

Rebecca suddenly laughed.

“Of course they don’t.”

I flinched.

Rebecca crossed her arms and looked at me with obvious mockery.

“Stop pretending, Leah. Everyone knows you married my brother for money.”

My chest tightened painfully.

I looked at Lucas, hoping he would deny it.

But he stayed silent.

The silence hurt more than Rebecca’s words.

If he wanted this divorce… then I had no choice.

“If you want me to sign,” I said quietly, “then compensate me.”

Rebecca burst into laughter.

“I knew it!”

She pointed at me dramatically.

“See, Lucas? She’s exactly what I said she was. A gold digger.”

Lucas’s eyes grew colder.

“So that’s what this is about.”

My face burned with embarrassment.

“I didn’t marry you for money,” I said softly.

Rebecca scoffed.

“Then why are you asking for compensation?”

My throat tightened.

The humiliation was unbearable.

Without another word, I walked away with the papers.

Rebecca’s laughter followed me down the hallway.

By the time I reached the bedroom, my vision was blurred with tears.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, pressing my hand against my chest as if it could stop the pain inside.

Three years.

Three years of loving Lucas Miller.

And in the end…

I was nothing more than a gold digger in