Chapter 3

Lucas POV

That same day, I went straight to the front desk to check out.

I threw the carefully prepared anniversary gift into the lobby trash can.

I was pulling my suitcase at the hotel entrance, about to hail a cab, when Mara chased after me.

She blocked the taxi door, her face iron-gray. "Lucas, where are you going?"

"Back to New York." I opened the car door and shoved my suitcase into the back seat.

"What are you throwing a fit about?" Mara lowered her voice, annoyance in her tone. "You just walk away like this-where does that leave my reputation?"

I paused, then turned to look at her.

"That's your banquet, not mine."

Mara grabbed my sleeve, her nails digging into my flesh. "Lucas! When will you stop? I already told you this is just an act! I didn't hold it against you earlier, and now you're pushing your luck?"

She took a deep breath, seemingly trying to suppress her anger.

"I know you're upset, but you need to understand my difficulties. Xavier is a public figure. The studio has relied on him as our public face these past few years. If things go wrong today, millions in prior investment will go down the drain. As a member of the company, can't you be more mature?"

Over these four years, whenever I tried to claim my rightful due, she would use "the bigger picture" to suppress me.

As if my unwillingness to sacrifice made me immature and childish.

I didn't even have the desire to argue.

"Mara," my tone was calm, "I'll have my lawyer draft divorce papers. For the specific property division, my lawyer will contact you."

Mara clearly hadn't expected that.

Her pupils contracted slightly, a flash of shock crossing her face.

"Divorce?" She crossed her arms and laughed coldly. "Without me, you can't even pay rent in New York. Your mother is still lying in a nursing home. Who's been paying her medical bills every month? You?"

One major reason I'd agreed to stay in the background was that my mother had suddenly fallen ill and urgently needed a large sum for surgery. Mara had provided that money.

That was also why, no matter how much she exploited me these four years, I'd silently endured it.

I felt I owed her.

But she seemed to have forgotten that over these four years, the drawings I'd produced, the projects that won bids, the value I'd created had long surpassed those medical fees.

"That's none of your concern." I opened the car door and got in. "This divorce is final."

Seeing I was serious, Mara's expression finally changed.

Her eyes turned vicious. "Lucas, don't regret this! According to the prenup, you won't get a single cent of the studio's shares! Since you want to make a scene, fine-make one! When you calm down and can't afford medicine, don't come crawling back to me!"

She pulled a document folder from her bag and slammed it onto the passenger seat.

"I was going to let you rest on the island for a couple days, but since you want to leave, go back and work! The Brooklyn library project-final draft is due next week."

"Xavier will be entertaining clients these next few days and won't have time to draw. Go back and finish the proposal. If you don't do it right, don't blame me when your mother's medication gets cut off next month!"

I looked at the folder on the passenger seat.

This was a key city project-also critical to whether Mara's studio could go public this year.

At a time like this, she could still take for granted dumping work on me and threatening me with my mother's life.

I picked up the document folder.

Outside the car, Mara looked at me with contempt, probably thinking I'd compromised for the money. "After you finish this project, I'll transfer fifty thousand dollars as your closing fee. Driver, go!"

She slammed the car door for me, then turned and walked away without looking back.

The car started. I opened the folder and pulled out the materials inside.

This was a project costing over a hundred million dollars. The design requirements were extremely high. Xavier had struggled with it for two months without getting approval. The client had already issued an ultimatum.

If I walked away now, I could vent my anger temporarily, but I'd lose all claim to the four years of work I'd put in and the benefits I deserved.

Besides, a simple divorce agreement wouldn't be enough to completely bring them down.

I needed evidence.

That evidence was all on the company's internal network, in Mara's safe.

I had to go back.

Not only that. I had to make this project absolutely flawless.

Because only if they thought I was still under their control would they reveal their weaknesses.

"Sir, to the airport, right?" the driver asked carefully. "That earlier... was that a fight?"

I resealed the folder and leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes.

"No fight."

I said calmly, "To the airport."