The Hidden Billionaire’s Final Goodbye

6. The Conversation Behind the Door

Lucas had finished his delivery shift earlier than usual. For the first time in weeks, he had no intention of spending the evening alone in his room or waiting for Amelia to return from another meeting.

He wanted to take her out for dinner.

Not because he believed a romantic evening could suddenly repair their marriage, but because some part of him still remembered the woman he had fallen in love with four years ago: the woman who had smiled at him beneath the rain, the woman who had once told him that she didn't care about money, and the woman who had promised to stand beside him, no matter what happened.

Perhaps he was being foolish. But he wanted to try one last time.

Lucas stopped at a flower shop on his way home and bought a bouquet of white roses. He also made a reservation at a small Italian restaurant Amelia used to love—not an expensive place, but it had been their favorite. He had planned to surprise her.

When he arrived at the Anderson mansion, the sun was beginning to set. He entered through the front door, carrying the flowers in one hand.

The house was unusually quiet. At least, until he heard laughter coming from the living room—Amelia's laughter.

Lucas smiled faintly. He hadn't heard her laugh like that in days. Perhaps she was in a good mood. Perhaps tonight would be different.

He was about to enter the living room when another woman's voice stopped him: *"Amelia, I'm serious. How long are you going to keep doing this?"*

Lucas recognized the voice. Vanessa. Amelia's closest friend. He had met her several times at family gatherings; she was one of the few people Amelia trusted with her personal affairs.

Lucas stopped near the doorway. He didn't intend to eavesdrop. But then Vanessa asked another question: “Why are you still married to Lucas?"

Lucas froze.

There was a brief silence. Then Amelia answered: “Because I have my reasons."

Vanessa let out a soft laugh. “Your reasons? Come on, Amelia. You haven't loved that man in years."

Lucas's fingers tightened around the bouquet. Inside the living room, Amelia sighed. “You're right."

The two words were quiet. But Lucas heard them clearly. He felt something shift inside his chest.

Vanessa continued. “Then why are you still with him?"

Amelia took a moment before answering. “Because things aren't that simple."

“What's complicated about it? You don't love him. You don't even like being around him."

Lucas lowered his eyes.

Amelia's voice remained calm. “Lucas is useful."

The words made his blood run cold.

“Useful?" Vanessa repeated.

“Yes." Amelia laughed softly. “He's easy to manage. He does whatever I ask. He never complains, and he always finds a way to provide money whenever my family needs it."

Lucas stared at the floor. The flowers in his hand suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

Vanessa sounded surprised. “Are you telling me you're staying with him because of his money?"

“Not exactly." Amelia paused, then continued, “Although, honestly, that's the biggest reason."

Lucas stopped breathing for a moment.

Vanessa lowered his voice. “Amelia..."

“What?"

“That's cruel."

Amelia laughed. “Don't be dramatic. Lucas isn't some innocent victim. He knows what kind of life I deserve."

Lucas closed his eyes. He remembered the necklace, the dinner, the way she had looked at him when he tried to celebrate their anniversary. He remembered apologizing—for disappointing her, for not being enough.

And now he understood. It had never been about the necklace. It had never been about the dinner. It had never been about the money.

She simply didn't love him.

***

Vanessa spoke again. “Then why don't you just divorce him?"

Amelia was silent for several seconds before answering: “Because my father's company is still struggling."

Lucas slowly raised his head.

Vanessa asked, “What does that have to do with your marriage?"

“Everything." Amelia sighed. “Lucas has been helping my family financially for years. If I leave him now, my father might lose everything."

Vanessa sounded incredulous. “So you're using him?"

Amelia didn't deny it. Instead, she said something that made Lucas's entire world collapse: “He's a man who can be easily used, Vanessa. He doesn't ask questions. He doesn't demand anything. And as long as I give him the slightest bit of attention, he'll do whatever I want."

Lucas's hand trembled. The bouquet slipped slightly between his fingers, but he caught it before it fell.

Inside the living room, Vanessa remained quiet, then asked one final question: “Do you even feel guilty?"

Amelia's answer came without hesitation: “No."

Lucas stared at the wall.

Four years. Four years of loving her. Four years of sacrificing his own happiness. Four years of believing that his patience would eventually be rewarded.

And she felt nothing.

Vanessa spoke again. “What about Adrian?"

Lucas's heart skipped a beat.

"Adrian is different."

Lucas felt his stomach tighten.

“Different how?"

“He understands me. He's successful, ambitious, and knows how to make me feel special."

The words should have offered some comfort. Instead, they hurt even more.

“Lucas just not the kind of man I want."

Lucas lowered his head.

Amelia continued. “don't want to spend the rest of my life pretending to be happy with someone who can't even provide the lifestyle I deserve."

Vanessa was quiet, then asked, “So what are you going to do?"

Amelia answered immediately: “Wait."

“Wait for what?"

“For my father's company to stabilize." A pause followed, then Amelia's voice became colder: “Once my father's company is stable, I won't have any reason to remain married to him."

Lucas stood frozen behind the door. The words echoed inside his head: I won't have any reason to remain married to him.

He lowered his head. He felt that the past four years of his life had been wasted—not because he had lost money, not because he had endured humiliation, but because he had loved someone who had never truly loved him back.

Lucas remained in the hallway for several seconds. He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. He could barely breathe.

The bouquet of white roses hung loosely in his hand. He looked down at the flowers. He had bought them because Amelia loved white roses; he had remembered that detail for four years, remembering everything about her.

But she had never remembered what it meant to love him.

***

Lucas slowly stepped away from the doorway. He didn't want Amelia to see him, he didn't want Vanessa to know he had heard their conversation, and he didn't want to hear another word.

He turned and walked toward the front entrance. His footsteps were quiet, almost hesitant—as though some part of him still hoped that if he stayed long enough, he might hear Amelia say something different, something that would make the pain disappear.

But the conversation continued behind him, and he knew there was nothing left to hear.

Lucas stepped outside. The evening air was cool. He stood beside his motorcycle, staring at the flowers, then slowly placed them on the passenger seat.

His phone vibrated. A message from Daniel appeared:

> Daniel: Sir, the board has confirmed your attendance at tomorrow's meeting. They are expecting your return.

Lucas stared at the screen.

And what had he received in return? A marriage built on convenience. A wife who saw him as a source of money. A family that considered him worthless.

Lucas looked toward the mansion. Through the window, he could see Amelia sitting comfortably beside Vanessa, smiling and laughing, completely unaware that the man she had spent four years using was standing outside.

Lucas lowered his head. Then he typed a reply to Daniel: I'll be there.

He put his phone away.