09
Three days later, my lawyer delivered some welcome news.
Lucian had agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, there was still the matter of Marina owing me two million. They proposed paying in installments. I had no objections and quickly agreed.
I just needed Lucian to finalize the divorce, and I could finally cut ties with him and Marina, moving on with my life.
The lawyer then asked, “They’ve moved out of your house. What should we do with it?”
“Sell it,” I said without hesitation.
That house had once been my dream, picked out with the hope of building a life with Lucian. But now,
With the divorce in my lawyer’s hands, I could focus on my work.
A few weeks later, an old colleague reached out to me with some news.
“Selene, I’ve got a bombshell for you. Lucian is marrying Marina.”
I smiled, unfazed. “Well, good for them.”
was just a painful reminder of the past.
My colleague sounded more concerned than I was. “You don’t know the half of it. Marina’s got something on him, some evidence of bribery, and she’s using it to force him into marriage. It’s the talk of the office. Not only that, but she’s demanding the best of everything for the wedding and the most expensive venue in the city, no expense spared. She’s draining him dry.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. It made sense now. I’d always wondered why Marina’s ex–husband went bankrupt so quickly after marrying her. She was a master at bleeding people dry.
But the gossip didn’t stop there. “And get this. Lucian has to dip into company funds to cover the costs. The company’s financial situation was already shaky, and now it’s even worse. Everyone’s waiting for the day it all comes crashing down. No one knows what will happen when it does.”
I gave her a reassuring smile. “If it all falls apart, you can always come to me.”
After all, we’d been through a lot together.
11:28 AM
A month later, Lucian and Marina’s wedding became the headline of every media outlet. The lavishness of the event was jaw–dropping.
It was obvious to me that Lucian had drained his entire savings account to fund this spectacle. But honestly, this was the future he had chosen and the one he deserved.
Meanwhile, my new business was growing steadily. Lance was a big help. The young guy was flourishing, both in his work and his personality. His dedication and friendly demeanor had earned him praise from everyone in the company.
He wasn’t just supporting me professionally but also attentive to the little things in my daily life.
Of course, the office was buzzing about it. “Ms. Westbrook, I think Lance might have a thing for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re five or six years apart.”
But even as I said that, I found myself noticing the little things he did.
One evening, after a dinner meeting, we were waiting for the driver in the hotel lobby. Out of nowhere, Lance handed me a bouquet of flowers.
I was surprised, about to politely refuse, when someone suddenly appeared behind me, snatched the flowers out of Lance’s hands, and tossed them to the ground.
Before I could even react, the person swung a fist at Lance.
With one quick step back, Lance dodged the punch effortlessly. Then, with a swift move, he landed a blow, knocking the person to the floor.
Only then did I realize it was Lucian.
He was drunk, disheveled, and slurring his words as he shouted at Lance, “Who the hell are you? Who told you to give flowers to my wife?”
I stared at him, disgusted.
It was only a few months since I’d last seen him, but he looked a decade older, his former confidence completely gone.
