<h1 id="8305752" ss="title" data-v-496ffb1c="">Chapter 5</h1>


    What did he take her for?


    Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, making it difficult for her to breathe.


    Seeing the tears in her eyes, Lucas’ gaze deepened, but his expression grew even colder. “I have my reasons. Not telling you was to protect you.”


    “Hah!”


    Aveline scoffed, holding back her tears, her tone turning icy. “Let me tell you, I won’t divorce you. Don’t even think about it!”


    She turned and walked away.


    “You wouldn’t want to lose this job, would you?”


    Behind her, his cold voice rang out. “You’re an orphan who struggled to establish yourself in this city. This job must mean a lot to you.”


    Aveline red at him. “What are you trying to do?”


    Lucas replied, “Sign the divorce papers. My previous offer still stands.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    He was threatening her!


    Aveline’s hands trembled with anger. If he weren’t so far away, she might have pped him across the face!


    “Lucas, you’re despicable!”


    How could he change so much in such a short time? Or was he always this cold, and the past year had been an act?


    Lucas casually pulled out a tissue, walked over to her, and gently wiped away her tears.


    Aveline pped his hand away, her eyes filled with stubbornness. “Go ahead and fire me if you dare!”


    Divorce? Not a chance!


    She turned and walked out of the office, feeling her emotions gradually bing calmer.


    Lucas’s hand froze in mid-air, his handsome face growing tense.


    He reached for the inte on his desk. “Notify the HR department—”


    However, before he could finish, memories of Aveline patiently teaching him signnguage and helping him learn to read shed through his mind.


    He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.


    “Mr. Tudor, what would you like us to do?” came the cautious voice of his secretary over the inte.


    “Nothing.”


    Lucas hung up the phone, his expression more irritated than before.


    …


    When colleagues asked Aveline what Lucas had said to her, she just smiled and brushed it off.


    She sat at her desk, carefully thinking about what to do next.


    If Lucas really tried to force her into a divorce, she could go public with their rtionship, make a big scene, and let everyone know he was her husband. Wouldn’t that stop him from divorcing her?


    Realizing what she was thinking, Aveline suddenly froze, then smiled bitterly.


    However, he had a change of heart.


    He didn’t love her anymore. Was there any point in doing this?


    In the end, she was just unwilling to ept it. Why did he get to change his mind so easily? Would staying loyal to one woman for a lifetime kill him?


    “Aveline,e here for a moment.”


    In the afternoon, Lucas’s personal assistant, Desmond ke, called her over.


    Aveline got up and walked over. Desmond said, “These are some jewelry pieces. You have a good eye. Pick a set for me to give to a client.”


    Aveline was a bit surprised. Why would he ask her to do this?


    There were so many stylishly dressed women in the office.


    Although puzzled, she still selected a set.


    Desmond smiled. “Thank you.”


    Then he turned and left. Aveline, feeling perplexed, went back to work.


    That evening, she returned home to an empty and quiet house. She stood at the door, staring nkly for a while, her heart aching again.


    Was Lucas not nning toe back?


    She sat on the couch and turned on the TV. She didn’t want the room to be too quiet, or her mind would start to wander.


    “Our report today: Frederick Tudor’s missing third son has reappeared in public, attending a charity g with a beautifulpanion. What changes will Lucas Tudor’s return bring to Cloudre City? Stay tuned for more…”


    Aveline could no longer hear what the host was saying.


    She stared intently at the girl next to Lucas. The ne around her neck was the very one Aveline had chosen earlier that day!