The Hidden Billionaire’s Final Goodbye

9. The Final Goodbye

Lucas folded his last shirt and placed it inside the suitcase. His belongings were modest: a few clothes, personal documents, and a watch he had owned long before marrying Amelia.

He glanced around the bedroom. Amelia’s perfume still lingered in the air, her jewelry was scattered across the dressing table, and her expensive handbags occupied more space in the wardrobe than his clothes ever had. He had bought most of them, and he had never minded—back then, seeing her happy had been enough. Now, he wondered how many times he had mistaken her satisfaction for happiness.

His gaze fell on a small velvet box tucked inside the drawer. Lucas took it out.

Inside lay a diamond bracelet he had purchased for their wedding anniversary. He had chosen it months ago, imagining the surprise on Amelia’s face when he gave it to her. But the anniversary had passed, and he had never given it to her.

Lucas closed the velvet box. He placed it on the dresser beside the necklace she had refused to wear. Two gifts. Two reminders of how desperately he had tried to make her happy.

He didn’t take either of them. There was no reason to carry the past into his future.

***

Lucas lifted his suitcase and walked out of the bedroom. Amelia was in the living room, scrolling through her phone, and glanced up when she heard the wheels of his suitcase rolling across the floor.

Her brows lifted. “You’re actually leaving?”

Lucas stopped briefly. “Yes.”

Amelia let out a short laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re still upset about our conversation.”

He didn’t answer.

She set her phone down. “Lucas, this is ridiculous. You’re acting like a child.”

He continued toward the front door. Amelia followed him, more annoyed than concerned. “Where are you even going? Do you have somewhere to stay?”

Lucas turned to look at her. “I do.”

Her expression shifted for a moment, then she scoffed. “Of course. You probably found some cheap room somewhere. Just don’t expect me to come looking for you.”

“I wouldn’t.”

The calmness of his response irritated her. Amelia folded her arms. “You know, if you’re doing this to make me feel guilty, it won’t work.”

Lucas looked at her. For four years, he had tried to explain himself to this woman. He had tried to make her understand that his love wasn’t measured by the price of his clothes or the job he pretended to have. But she had never wanted to understand.

“I'm not trying to make you feel anything, Amelia.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Leaving.”

He turned away. Amelia’s lips tightened. “Fine. Go.” She gestured toward the door. “Go back to your delivery job. See how far you get without the Anderson family.”

Lucas didn’t respond. He simply walked out.

***

The moment the front door closed, Margaret emerged from the hallway. “What was that?”

Amelia glanced at her. “Lucas is leaving.”

Margaret looked toward the door, then burst into laughter. “He’s leaving? With what money?”

Richard, who had just entered the mansion, heard the conversation. “What’s going on?”

“Your useless son-in-law is moving out,” Margaret replied with a sneer.

Richard’s face darkened. He strode toward the door and opened it. “Lucas!”

Lucas stopped at the bottom of the steps.

Richard’s voice carried across the driveway. “If you walk away from this family, don’t ever think you can come back. You’ll never be accepted by the Andersons again!”

Lucas turned. For a moment, he looked at the man who had spent years treating him like an embarrassment, then he gave a small nod. “Understood.”

Richard blinked. He had expected Lucas to argue, to apologize, or to beg for another chance. Instead, Lucas turned and continued walking.

Margaret followed Richard to the doorway. “You’re leaving without even taking money?” she called out. “What a pathetic man!”

Lucas kept walking.

***

Amelia returned to the living room. She picked up her phone and checked the time: Lucas had been gone for less than ten minutes.

“He’ll come back,” she said.

Margaret nodded. “Of course he will. He has nowhere else to go.”

Richard snorted. “Let him learn what life is like without us.”

Amelia smiled faintly, certain they were right. Lucas had always returned. He would spend a night somewhere, realize how difficult life was without the comfort of the Anderson home, and come back with his head lowered. And when he did, she would make sure he understood that she wouldn’t tolerate another dramatic performance.

She picked up her phone again—no message.

Amelia frowned. It was strange; Lucas usually sent her a message whenever he went somewhere, even when she didn’t bother replying.

She dismissed the thought. “He’s trying to get my attention,” she muttered, then returned to her phone. She had more important things to think about: Adrian had invited her to dinner, and unlike Lucas, Adrian knew how to make her feel special.

***

Lucas stood outside the mansion, waiting beside a black car. The driver stepped forward and opened the rear door. “Mr. Lucas.”

Lucas placed his suitcase inside and slid into the back seat. The car pulled away from the curb. He didn’t look back.

His phone vibrated. Daniel.

Lucas answered, “Sir.”

“Everything is ready,” Daniel said. “The private jet is waiting. The Morgan family board has been informed of your return.”

Lucas looked out at the passing city. For four years, he had hidden behind an ordinary life; he had abandoned his responsibilities, ignored the people waiting for him, and sacrificed his own happiness for a woman who had never valued his devotion.

That was over.

“Good.”

Daniel paused. “Will you be returning to Morgan Global Group tonight?”

“Yes.”

A brief silence followed, then Daniel spoke again: “Your family has been waiting for you, sir.”

Lucas closed his eyes for a moment. His family. His real home. The life he had left behind.

He opened his eyes and looked toward the horizon. “Let’s go home.”

***

At the airport, Lucas stepped out of the car. A private jet waited on the tarmac, its polished exterior reflecting the airport lights. Daniel stood beside the stairs, dressed in a dark suit.

“Welcome back, sir.”

He was Lucas Morgan, and he was finally returning to the life that had always been his.

Lucas glanced once toward the city behind him. The Anderson mansion was far away now. Amelia was probably still convinced he would return—she would wait for him, expect him to apologize, and believe that his departure was nothing more than another desperate attempt to earn her attention.

But she was wrong.

Lucas would never return to the life he had left behind—not for Amelia, not for the Anderson family, not ever.