Had that button held, his bones at this moment would be reposing on the hillside in far-away Hong-Kong.

Evidently Fate had some definite plans regarding his future, else he would not be in this room, alive.

But what plans?
Why should Fate bother about him further?
She had strained the orange to the last drop.

Why protect the pulp?
Perhaps she was only making sport of him, lulling him into the belief that eventually he might win through.

One thing, she would never be able to twist his heart again.