The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 168

“Babe, I’m leaving.”

His voice was soft but final, and Lucie lay there in the dark, barely able to move. He hesitated at the door, then turned back, his words heavy in the silence.

“Take care of yourself. If you ever run into trouble... you can still come to me, anytime.”

He paused, searching for the right words. “I know you hate me. Maybe in the next life, I’ll try to make it up to you.”

With that, he walked away. No matter how much he wanted to stay, he knew it was over. He had other debts to pay, other wounds to heal, and she was no longer part of that story.

...

It was past eight in the evening when Lucie finally woke, after what felt like days of dreamless sleep. Her head was pounding and her whole body ached, as if she’d been run over. She groaned, forcing herself to sit up, the darkness pressing in all around her.

“Ugh... Steven, you’re a monster.” Her voice cracked as she tried to steady herself.

She couldn’t stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Last night replayed in her mind, raw and real, every moment sharper than the last. He’d been ruthless, not holding back at all; she never thought a man could be so terrifying.

“I hate you,” she whispered, her chest tight with grief and anger. But beneath it all, she was scared he’d played her yet again.

She dragged herself over to the light switch and flipped it on, squinting against the sudden brightness. The first thing she did was search for the divorce agreement.

Thank God—it was right there on the desk.

Curious and a little numb, she opened the password box. Inside was a collection of jewelry—every single piece he’d ever given her, including their wedding rings. Each set was worth millions, and there were at least twenty sets in total. Every piece had marked a special day, a memory she once cherished.

Tears welled up again, falling silently onto the glittering stones. Maybe he never loved her at all—or maybe he did. The love was real, but so was the hurt.

“Steven, if there’s a next life, let’s not meet again,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she finally let herself sob.

Four years of marriage, from fairytale beginnings to this bitter end. It all felt like a beautiful bubble, bursting before her eyes.

The next day, Lucie handed the divorce papers to her lawyer. The court process went quickly. When the document was finally in her hands, she felt strangely empty, unable to calm the storm inside.

She’s slow to love, careful with her heart, so it had taken so much to fall for someone. Even more to marry on a whim. And now, it was over. Just like that.