The CEO’s Hidden Bride: Leaving After 2555 Days - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The evening air was crisp as Evelyn stepped out of the restaurant. Instead of heading home, she found herself walking toward Vivian’s office.
Vivian’s eyebrows lifted slightly when she saw Evelyn alone. "Where’s Lucas?"
"He had some business to handle after you left. Since I’m starting at the company soon, I thought I’d stop by and get a feel for the place first," Evelyn explained.
Vivian didn’t question it further. She had just finished her work for the day and gladly gave Evelyn a tour of the office. Afterward, they shared dinner together before Evelyn finally returned to her apartment.
Back home, she checked her phone and noticed a follow request from Lucas on Instagram. His words from earlier echoed in her mind.
"If you’ve decided on the divorce, I’ll respect that. I don’t deserve your love. I failed you, and I’m sorry. But after three years of marriage… can we at least stay friends?"
Friends? Evelyn couldn’t fathom why she would remain friends with Lucas.
There was no reason to. She had assumed they would part ways amicably and leave it at that. So, she hesitated before accepting his request.
Just as she was about to turn in for the night at 10 PM, another notification popped up—another follow request from Lucas, this time with a message attached.
"There are a few clauses in the divorce agreement we need to discuss."
Evelyn sighed and accepted it.
Lucas wasted no time. He sent over the sections he wanted to revise, each marked in red.
Her eyes skimmed the document, and she froze. He had altered the original asset division terms—now proposing an even 50-50 split. That meant she would walk away with half of Lucas’s total assets once the divorce was finalized.
It was an unexpected windfall, but unease prickled at the back of her neck.
She sent him a voice message. "Let’s stick to the original agreement. You don’t owe me this much under the marriage law. I’d feel guilty taking it."
His reply came instantly, as if he had anticipated her response.
"I know you didn’t marry me for money. This isn’t about guilt—it’s what the law entitles you to. Don’t overthink it."
Evelyn tried to argue, but Lucas remained firm. Exhausted, she eventually gave up and let it go.
Days turned into weeks, and Evelyn settled into her new job. A month later, the divorce decree arrived, along with a stack of property deeds, shares, and other assets.
Staring at the staggering numbers in her bank account, she had no idea what to do with it all. So, she set it aside and carried on as if nothing had changed.
Winter melted into spring.
One morning, as Evelyn walked into the office, Vivian called her into a meeting. The topic? A potential partnership with several IT companies back in their home country.
During the discussion, Vivian announced she needed an assistant to travel with her for negotiations. Her gaze swept the room before landing on Evelyn.
"Evelyn, you’re coming with me."
Evelyn blinked, stunned. She had only been with the company for three months. This was far beyond her expected responsibilities.
But Vivian had already made her decision.
After the meeting, Vivian pulled her aside. "We’re meeting with four companies, but our main focus is Sinclair Group."
Sinclair Group? The name sent a jolt through Evelyn.
She hesitated before meeting Vivian’s eyes. "Lucas?"
Vivian nodded. She paused, then spoke carefully. "After our last gathering, Lucas reached out privately. He proposed this project. He also… told me a little about what happened between you two."
"I didn’t bring it up before because it was personal. But now that we’re at a critical stage, I need your help to ensure everything goes smoothly. I know this might be uncomfortable, but I hope you understand."