Chapter Two: Not a Penny Taken

After Lucas left, his personal assistant Owen walked in with a glass of water and medication.

He handed the pill to Avery, saying respectfully, "Miss Cole, please take this."

It was birth control. Lucas didn't love her, so naturally, he wouldn't allow her to bear his child. After every encounter, he would have Owen bring her the pill and demand that she take it in front of him.

Avery stared at the white pill, her heart twisting painfully once again. Whether it was due to the worsening of her condition or the sting of Lucas's coldness, she felt as though she couldn't breathe.

"Miss Cole..."

Seeing her hesitate, Owen immediately reminded her, fearing she might refuse to take the pill.

Avery glanced at him, then calmly took the pill and swallowed it dry.

Owen finally let out a sigh of relief. He pulled out a property deed and a check from his briefcase, laying them in front of Avery one by one.

"Miss Cole, this is Mr. Winter's compensation for you. In addition to the real estate and sports car, there's also fifty million US dollars. Please accept it."

His generosity was impressive. But what she wanted had never been money.

Avery looked up and gave Owen a faint smile. "I don't want any of this."

Owen was visibly stunned. "Do you think... it's not enough?"

That sentence made Avery's heart ache. Even the assistant assumed she was in it for the money—how much more must Lucas think the same? Offering such a generous settlement must be his way of ensuring she wouldn't bother him in the future.

She gave a bitter smile and pulled out a black card from her bag, handing it to Owen. "This was given to me by him. Please return it to him. And tell him that I haven't spent a single penny of his over these five years, so I won't be accepting his severance payment either."

Owen was completely dumbfounded. Over the past five years, this young woman hadn't taken a single cent?

Before Owen could respond, Avery had already placed the black card on top of the pile of documents and turned to leave Mansion No. 8.

The winter in New York was especially cold. Avery walked alone along the sidewalk of the villa district, her thin figure casting a long, slender shadow on the ground. She wrapped her beige coat tighter around herself, gritted her teeth, and walked back to her apartment in high heels, step by step.

Pushing open the door, the spacious penthouse apartment was lavishly decorated but felt as cold as Lucas's heart.

After sitting blankly on the sofa for a moment, Avery began packing her things. This apartment belonged to Lucas; now that their relationship was over, she wouldn't stay here either.

Efficiently, she packed her clothes into a suitcase and soon left, dragging it behind her.

Once in the car, she sent Owen a text message:

[Password: 0826]

Owen immediately understood. Miss Cole had returned everything—not just the money, but even the apartment. Such decisive actions were completely unlike the woman from five years ago who had knelt before Lucas, begging him to pay her a million dollars for one night.

He quickly returned to the office, presenting everything untouched to Lucas and relaying Avery's words verbatim.

Lucas raised his icy blue eyes and scanned the desk. His gaze eventually settled on the black card.

"A million extra?" he asked coldly.

Owen nodded. "Yes."

He had specifically checked the account. Aside from the fixed monthly transfers, there was indeed an extra million—clearly, she was repaying the "money for her body" from five years ago.

Lucas frowned deeply, his long fingers picking up the black card. With a sharp snap, he broke it in half. Then, he pushed the pile of documents toward Owen. "Dispose of it."

Owen hesitated, wanting to say something, but seeing Lucas already engrossed in work on his computer, he wisely kept quiet, picked up the items, and exited the CEO's office.