Ex-Husband, You Don't Own Me

The woman blocking Dexie’s path was Lindy Wilson, Luke’s secretary.

From time to time, Luke took her to business events.

It didn’t take long for Lindy’s arrogance to grow.

She walked around like she already belonged to the Huxley Dawson family.

As if it was only a matter of time… before she replaced Dexie.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson… here again?” Lindy greeted, raising her chin slightly.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm, the word again laced with meaning.

Dexie smiled politely. “Ms. Wilson.”

Lindy’s eyes swept over Dexie’s empty hands with disdain.

“No lunch for Mr. Huxley Dawson today?” she mocked.

“I heard he threw away the food you made last time.”

Her smugness was obvious like she had already won.

In the past, Dexie ignored Lindy’s childish provocations.

Out of respect for Luke.

But now?

She didn’t even like Luke anymore.

No reason to hold back.

As Lindy kept talking, she secretly studied Dexie.

The simple, tailored dress.

Long, neat hair cascading over her shoulders.

That delicate, flawless face…

Despite her jealousy, Lindy had to admit  Dexie was stunning.

But there was something different today.

A cold, sharp aura that made Lindy feel… small.

She’s just a pretty face who cooks for her husband, Lindy reminded herself.

I’m a top graduate. I work at a major company.

She can’t compete with me.

Still, the jealousy gnawed at her.

She needed to crush Dexie with her words.

But before Lindy could open her mouth again, Dexie moved.

In one swift motion, Dexie grabbed Lindy’s chin, lifting it slightly.

Lindy froze.

Her eyes widened in shock at the strength of Dexie’s grip.

Dexie leaned in, her smile calm, icy, and dangerous.

“Have I not been kind enough to you?” she asked softly.

Lindy tried to pull back, but Dexie’s hand was like iron.

For someone so slim… her grip was shockingly strong.

“L-Let me go…” Lindy stammered, her voice muffled under Dexie’s hand.

Dexie’s eyes gleamed, sharp as glass.

“I have a bad temper, Ms. Wilson,” she whispered.

“If you keep struggling… I might accidentally dislocate your chin.”

Lindy’s mouth snapped shut.

Her heart pounded with fear.

Dexie smiled faintly, her gaze cutting through Lindy like a blade.

“So this is why Luke never comes home,” she said quietly.

“He’s been keeping a little fox like you around the office.”

Lindy flushed, a mix of anger, humiliation, and fear.

But before she could retaliate…

Her expression changed.

She spotted someone approaching behind Dexie.

Her eyes lit up with fake innocence.

Her voice turned soft, pitiful.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson, you’ve misunderstood,” Lindy said sweetly.

“Nothing is going on between Mr. Huxley Dawson and me.

I’m just his secretary… I only accompany him to a few business dinners…

You’ve really misunderstood.”

Lindy’s eyes turned red and watery partly from Dexie’s grip on her chin… mostly from embarrassment.

Her fake acting was awful.

Dexie smiled, then finally let go.

“What are you saying? I was just joking,” she said lightly.

She pulled a wet tissue from her bag and carefully wiped her hand…

As if she’d touched something filthy.

Lindy’s hands trembled with anger.

What was that supposed to mean?

Was Dexie calling her… dirty?

Lindy wanted nothing more than to claw Dexie’s face apart.

But she held back.

Because of the person standing behind Dexie.

“Just wait, bitch,” Lindy seethed silently.

“Let’s see how you clean up this mess.”

Dexie looked completely unbothered.

“I’m sorry,” she added casually.

“I have mysophobia. I can’t stand… dirty, flirtatious smells.”

She tossed the used tissue into the nearby trash can.

Lindy’s face burned with rage, but she forced a sweet, innocent smile.

“Mrs. Huxley Dawson, you’ve misunderstood.

There’s nothing between Mr. Huxley Dawson and me.”

Dexie tilted her head, eyes wide with mock innocence.

“Didn’t I say I was joking?

So narrow-minded… Can’t even take a joke?”

Lindy clenched her teeth.

“Dexie… you bitch…”

But she didn’t dare say it out loud.

Dexie wasn’t finished.

“Luke must be blind to fall for someone like you.”

Lindy gasped, fury flashing in her eyes.

But the smug feeling returned as she thought of the person behind Dexie.

“Dexie… you’ve walked right into your own trap.”

Lindy smiled sweetly.

“How can you say Mr. Huxley Dawson is blind?

He’s not blind… though… well… sometimes, there’s really no difference between being nearsighted and blind.”

She let the words hang for a beat.

“After all, he brings someone like you to business parties.

Who exactly is he trying to insult?”

Dexie’s lips pressed together, a flicker of annoyance.

But then… her expression changed.

“Oh, but I heard…

He only takes you to the small, boring parties.”

Lindy’s heart sank.

She knew what was coming… and it wouldn’t be pleasant.

“That makes sense, though,” Dexie continued sweetly.

“Luke may be blind… but he’s not stupid.”

She smiled.

“He knows you’re dumb and terrible with words.

If he brings you to important banquets…

You’ll offend the big clients and embarrass him.”

Lindy’s face darkened.

“You—”

Dexie cut her off, her voice flat and cool.

“He brings you to small dinners because they don’t matter.

It’s like keeping trash nearby, it makes no difference.

That’s probably your only value to the company, right?”

Her tone was calm. Sweet.

But her words were knives.

Dexie smiled gracefully, elegantly, and poised…

Completely unaffected, even as the woman in front of her openly flirted with her husband.

Lindy’s smug smile widens.