Chapter 255: The unforseen

Lucas’s hand moved to the bonnet, picked up the envelope containing the divorce papers, and followed Derby into the house.

The front door clicked shut behind them. The spacious living room was unusually quiet. There was no sound of television, music or even servants moving around.

Only an uncomfortable silence lingered between them.

Lucas looked around before sighing softly. "Come on, Derby."

His voice was calm, almost pleading.

"You know this is the right thing to do."

He lifted the envelope slightly. "Let's not drag this out, please."

There was no answer. He frowned.

"Derby? Derby"

Still nothing.

“Damn it,” Lucas glanced toward the staircase. Had she gone upstairs?

With another quiet sigh, he started climbing the stairs. Each step echoed through the silent house. When he reached the landing, he checked Derby's bedroom first. The door was half-open.

He pushed it gently. The room was empty.

"Derby?"

His voice carried through the hallway. "Please don't make this harder than it already is. Just sign the papers."

Again, silence answered him.

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.

Then another voice drifted down the hallway. It was soft, fragile and filled with heartbreak.

"I don't want a divorce. I want you.

Lucas froze.

"You're my husband."

He slowly turned toward the room that had once been his room during the marriage.

The door stood slightly ajar. He walked over and pushed it open.

Derby stood beside the window, her back to him.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, outlining her lonely figure.

She turned at the sound of the door opening.

Their eyes met. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then she slowly walked toward him. Before Lucas could react, she reached for his free hand and held it tightly.

"Lucas..." Her voice trembled.

"Let's start over." She searched his face desperately.

"We can make this work. I'll be a better wife. I'll support you. I'll give you a happy home. I'll give you children."

Her tears gathered. "Alex can't give you children. I really care about you."

Her grip tightened.

"So please...Let's try."

Lucas closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, they were filled only with quiet compassion.

He gently slipped his hand from hers.

"I'm sorry, Derby. You don't know anything about me. There is no way you and I can make this work. Please just sign the paper.”

Derby shook his head negatively.

His words were soft, but firm.

"You and I were never meant to be." He held out the envelope once more. "Please sign the papers."

"I'll send someone tomorrow to collect them."

Without waiting for an answer, Lucas dropped it on the bed, turned and walked toward the door.

"Lucas!" Her voice cracked behind him.

He kept walking.

She hurried after him, clutching the divorce papers against her chest.

"Lucas... please! I'll be a good wife. I'll do anything you ask. Please..."

She caught up with him just as he reached the staircase.

"Don't leave. Let's talk, please..."

Lucas stopped. Slowly, he turned around to face her. His expression remained gentle. Free of anger, free of resentment, only sadness lingered in his eyes.

"Derby...You already know this is the best ending for both of us." He spoke quietly.

“We both deserve the chance to move on. You deserve someone who can truly love you, and I deserve the chance to build the life I've always wanted."

His voice softened further.

"I don't want us to spend the rest of our lives pretending and hurting each other."

Silence settled between them.

Derby's trembling fingers tightened around the papers.

Only hours ago, she had convinced herself she could handle this moment. That she would smile and wish him happiness, and let him go.

However, standing in front of him, watching him slip away, hurt badly.

She realized she wasn't nearly as strong as she'd believed.

The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. One after another. She shook her head desperately.

"No, Lucas. No, please..."

Before Lucas could react, she rushed forward and threw both arms around his neck. She clung to him with all the strength she had.

"Please..." Her voice broke into sobs. "Choose me, I love you. I know I didn't marry you for love at first…But somewhere along the way...I fell for you. I can't sign those papers. I can't lose you. Please stay with me. Please, Lucas..."

Lucas closed his eyes in pain.

Hearing her cry made anger crawled up his heart. How could she love him this deep all of a sudden. It didn't matter.

Slowly, he placed his hands on her arms and tried to loosen her grip.

"I'm sorry." His own voice was heavy with emotion. "But I don't feel the same way."

He gently pulled one of her arms away.

"You'll get over this in time. You'll meet someone who loves you the way you deserve. That person isn't me."

He carefully removed her other arm. "Please, sign the papers. Stop making this harder for both of us."

Lucas turned to leave.

Still crying, Derby instinctively reached for him again. Her fingers caught his wrist.

The sudden pull came just as Lucas stepped toward the staircase.

His foot landed awkwardly on the edge of the top step. His balance shifted. His eyes widened.

"Lucas!"

Derby's scream echoed through the house as his body pitched backward.

For one horrifying second, he reached for the handrail, but his fingers caught only empty air.

Then gravity took over. His body slammed against the step.

Bang!

Another.

Bang!

The divorce papers flew from Derby's hand, scattering through the air like white feathers.

"Lucas!" She lunged toward him.

Too late. His body tumbled violently down the staircase, each impact echoing through the silent house until he finally crashed onto the marble floor below.

The entire house fell deathly silent.

Then Derby's terrified scream tore out of her mouth.

"LUCAS!"

The cry ripped through the house like thunder.

Marvis and Jerry scrambled out from behind the furniture where they were hiding.

Derby stumbled down the staircase, nearly falling herself as tears blurred her vision.

"No...! Lucas, please!"

She stared at him on her knees, her trembling hands hovering over his body, too frightened to touch him.

"Please don't do this to me. This wasn't supposed to happen. Lucas...

I'm sorry. Please get up."

Her voice dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.

Meanwhile, earlier, outside the house. Marvis and Jerry had been parked discreetly across the street, exactly as Alex had instructed.

When they saw Derby rush into the house with Lucas following behind, neither of them sensed immediate danger.

Still, Marvis frowned. "Something doesn't feel right."

Jerry glanced toward the house. "They've been inside for a while."

Marvis checked his watch. "I think we should move closer."

Jerry nodded. "Boss would kill us if anything happened."

The two men quietly got out of the vehicle. They approached the house cautiously.

Finding the front door unlocked, they exchanged a quick look before slipping inside.

The living room was empty. Voices drifted down from upstairs.

They moved silently, keeping out of sight. Taking cover behind the large furniture near the staircase, they listened.

At first, it sounded like nothing more than an emotional conversation.

A woman crying. Lucas trying to calm her. Jerry exhaled quietly.

"I think it's just the divorce."

Marvis nodded. "Looks like we worried for nothing."

Then suddenly "LUCAS!"

The terrified scream echoed through the house, jerking their senses alert.

Immediately followed by the sickening sound of a body crashing against wooden steps.

Jerry's blood ran cold.

"Oh, shit!"

Both men burst from their hiding places without another thought.

They reached the staircase just as Lucas's body came to a stop at the bottom.

"Sir Lucas!"