Ditching Me for His 'Soulmate'? His Loss. Next Stop: My New Life novel Chapter 55

Chapter 5

As I pushed open the front door, a wave of stale air greeted me, carrying the faint, musty scent of decay. The once vibrant roses that had adorned the living room table were now nothing more than withered, brown remnants, their petals crumbled and lifeless—a stark reminder of how much had deteriorated between us.

I settled silently onto the worn couch, the fabric rough beneath my fingertips, as Samuel entered the room. He let out an irritated sigh, the kind that spoke of frustration and impatience, before striding purposefully toward the staircase without a word.

Breaking the silence, I spoke with quiet but unwavering resolve. “I want a divorce.”

Those words hit him like a sudden chill, causing him to halt abruptly, his body stiffening mid-step. Slowly, he pivoted to face me, his expression darkening with a mixture of disbelief and irritation.

“What’s this all about now?” he asked, his voice laced with bitterness. “For old times’ sake, I’ve been trying to keep things civil between us.”

I met his gaze, my voice sharp and cold as I replied, “If you just pretend you don’t know about Lily, maybe we can keep pretending too.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, hollow and cutting. “For old times’ sake? Or for the sake of my company?” The mention of the business seemed to strike a nerve immediately.

Samuel’s face hardened, his arrogance surfacing as he lifted his chin defiantly. “What are you talking about? I’ve been running Emerson Enterprises for years.”

I shook my head slowly, my tone firm and unyielding. “Everyone at Emerson answers to me now. Do you really think it’s still your kingdom to rule?”

His eyes narrowed, greed flickering beneath the surface as he leaned in slightly. “If we divorce, I get half the company. Half of all your assets.”

A cold smile played on my lips as I retorted, “Good luck surviving on your own, crippled and alone.”

His gaze glinted, emboldened by the vulnerability I had shown since my injury. He assumed I was isolated, powerless—an easy target. That arrogance was why he dared to flaunt his betrayal so openly, even after I had caught him.

“And…” His voice dropped to a low, pointed tone as he glanced meaningfully toward the staircase. “Lily’s pregnant with my child.”

He let the words hang in the air, as if that fact alone would secure his claim. “That kid deserves a share of the assets too.”

“Emily,” he warned, his eyes dark with menace, “you’d better think carefully.”

His glare burned into me, teeth clenched tight. “Emily, I underestimated you.”

“But don’t forget,” he warned, “our assets are intertwined. If we divorce, I’ll take half of everything you own.”

“Once I have the money, Lily and I will start fresh,” he declared, voice thick with venom. “You’ll be left alone—just a broken cripple.”

Despite his hostility, I remained composed, resting my chin lightly on my hand as a faint, almost serene smile curved my lips.

“Oh? Then I suppose I can’t let you walk away that easily,” I said softly. “Do you really believe your precious Lily will stay by your side once she sees what you’ve become?”

Samuel’s fists clenched tightly, his eyes burning with fierce conviction. “Lily and I are in love,” he insisted. “She’ll never leave me.”

But what Samuel didn’t realize was that the sweet, innocent facade of Lily he thought he knew was nothing but a carefully constructed illusion—one that would soon unravel in ways he never anticipated.