The Billionaire System: Only I Know the Currency Has Changed

CHAPTER 1

“Sign the papers, Lucas. Let's stop wasting each other's time.”

Lucas Bennett looked at his wife, Victoria, then at the divorce papers on the table.

“Three years of marriage, and this is how you want to end it?”

Victoria sighed impatiently. “Must you make everything so dramatic?”

A man sitting beside her laughed. He wore a tailored suit and a watch Lucas recognized from a luxury magazine.

“Come on, man. Take a look at yourself. You have nothing. What exactly are you offering her?”

Lucas turned toward him. “I don't remember inviting you into my marriage.”

Damien Blackwood smiled. “You don't have to invite me. Your wife did.”

Victoria didn't deny it.

That hurt more than Lucas expected.

He looked at her. “So this is him?”

“Yes,” she answered without shame. “His name is Damien. He's a successful businessman, and unlike you, he can give me the lifestyle I deserve.”

Lucas almost laughed.

“Interesting. When we got married, you said you loved my ambition.”

“I was young.”

“Three years ago?”

“I've grown, Lucas. My priorities have changed.”

Damien leaned back. “People change. You should accept that you're no longer good enough for her.”

Lucas stared at him. “Does talking down to people come with your expensive suit, or is it a free gift?”

Damien's smile disappeared.

Victoria slapped her palm against the table. “Enough! This is exactly why I can't stand you anymore. You always have something to say, even when you're the one who's wrong.”

“Wrong about what?” Lucas asked. “Loving you?”

“About thinking love is enough!”

Silence settled over the room.

Lucas looked at the woman for whom he had sacrificed nearly everything.

He had transferred his savings and investments into her name. He had put the properties he owned under her ownership because she had insisted that married couples shouldn't hide things from each other.

Whenever her family mocked him for not being wealthy enough, he had worked harder.

Whenever Victoria wanted something, he had found a way to provide it.

Now she was telling him he had never been enough.

“Tell me something, Victoria.” His voice lowered. “If Damien lost his money tomorrow, would you still love him?”

She frowned. “That's a ridiculous question.”

“Answer it.”

“I don't have to explain myself to you.”

“Of course you don't. You've already explained everything.”

Damien chuckled. “Look, Bennett, I'll make this easy. Sign the papers, walk away, and stop embarrassing yourself. I'll even give you enough money to start your life again.”

He pulled out his cheque book.

Lucas stared at him.

Then he laughed.

“Keep it.”

Damien raised an eyebrow. “Pride won't pay your bills.”

“Neither will begging a man who thinks my wife is something he bought.”

Victoria stood abruptly. “How dare you speak to him like that?”

Lucas turned to her. “You're defending him now?”

“I'm defending the man who actually cares about my future!”

“And what have I been doing for the past three years? Practicing?”

She opened her mouth, but no answer came.

Lucas picked up the divorce papers.

“Where do I sign?”

Victoria blinked. “You mean it?”

“You wanted a divorce. I'm giving you one.”

For the first time, she looked uncertain.

“I thought you would at least try to convince me to stay.”

Lucas signed his name and pushed the papers toward her.

“Would you stay if I begged?”

She looked away.

“Exactly.”

He walked toward the bedroom and returned with a small suitcase.

Victoria stared at it. “That's all you're taking?”

“It's all that's left for me to take.”

“Lucas, don't act like a victim. You agreed to put those assets in my name.”

“Because I trusted my wife.”

“And now you're blaming me for your own decisions?”

He studied her face for a moment.

“No. I'm blaming myself for trusting the wrong person.”

Damien rose to his feet. “Don't come crawling back when you realize you can't survive without her.”

Lucas stopped beside the door.

“Don't flatter yourself. I survived before I met her.”

“Then why are you leaving with nothing?”

Lucas glanced at his suitcase.

“Because I'd rather start with nothing than spend another day being treated like nothing.”

For once, Damien had no clever response.

Lucas turned to Victoria.

“I hope the life you chose makes you happy.”

She folded her arms. “It will.”

“Good.”

He opened the door.

“Lucas!” she called.

He looked back.

She hesitated before asking, “Where will you go?”

He gave her a tired smile.

“Somewhere I don't have to ask permission to be respected.”

Then he left.

Outside, Lucas stood beneath the evening sky with his suitcase beside him and barely enough money in his pocket to get through the night.

His phone buzzed.

A message from his landlord appeared on the screen, reminding him that the small apartment he had rented before the marriage was no longer available.

He had no house, no investments, and no wife.

He had spent three years building a future with someone who had quietly removed him from it.

Lucas slipped his phone into his pocket.

“Fine,” he whispered. “Let's see what a man with nothing can do.”

He picked up his suitcase and walked into the night.