Chapter19
Lucasstaredatherforalongmomentbeforehesatbackdown.”Iwasthinkingaboutit,butseeingyoulikethis,bullyinganinjuredpersonisn’tmystyle.”
Aveluggedatthecornersofherlips.“Thankyouforyourgenerosity,Mr.Tudor.”
Afakegratitude.
Afakeconversation.
TE
Itfeltlikeatransparentwallhadsprungupbetweenthem.Theycouldseeandtoucheachother,buttheconnectiontheyoncehadwasgone.
Ithadallchangedsincehehadinitiatedthedivorce.
Lucasfeltinexplicablyirritable.Hereachedupandloosenedhiscor.“Takeafewdaystorest.Letsomeoneelsehandletheprojectfornow.”
Avelineasked,“Doesthiscountasaworkceinjury?”
Lucaslookedatherbutsaidnothing.
Avelinecontinued,“Workceinjuriesrequirpensation,right?Idon’tmindgettingafewtensofthousands.Youknowmyountnumber,justtransferitdirectly.”
Lucasdidn’treplytoherremarks.
Hadthiswomanbemoney–obsessedsincesheaskedforadivorce?
First,shewanteda300–square<b>–</b>meterapartmentandtwomilliondors,andnowshewasrequestingabouttensof
+15BONUS
thousands?
Lucasrepliedcoldly,“You’vefoundagreatwaytogetrich.”
Aveline’ssmilefaded.“IfI’dknowndivorcingyouwouldgetmethismuchmoney,Iwouldhavesignedthepaperslongago.”
Lucas’sfacedarkenedimmediately.
Justthen,thedoortothehospitalroomopened,andSophiastoodinthedoorway,herfacewearingagentlesmile.“Lucas,I’mdonewithmycheck–up.Shallwego?”
Lucasstoodupandwalkedover.“Didn’tItellyoutowaitforme?
Sophiareplied,“IwantedtocheckonMissYoung.Is shealright?
“Yes,she’sfine,”Lucassaid.
Avelineinterjected,“Pleaseleave,bothofyou.Ineedtorest.”
Shewasreallyafool tothinkthatLucascaredforher.
Shehadthoughthewaswithherthewholetime,butitturnedouthewasapanyingSophiaforhercheck–up.
Itfeltlikeagapingwoundhadopenedinherheart,allowingacoldwindtoblowin,bringingpainand chill.
Sophíaanxiouslysaid,“MissYoung,don’tmisunderstand,actually…<b>”</b>
<b>“</b>Isaidgetout!”
Avelinedidn’twanttohearherspeak.
Tobeprecise,shedidn’twanttoseeeitherofthem.
TheirintimatepostureandfamiliarityremindedherofhoughablethepastyearshehadspentwithLucashadbeen.
Shewasn’ughable;shehadjustmisjudgedtheperson.
Lucas’sfacedarkened.“Aveline,yourinjuryhasnothingtodowithher.There’snoneedtotakeitoutonher.”
Hewasdefendingheralready.
Thepaininherheartintensified.
Avelinestareddirectlyathim.“Lucas,getout.”
Sophiabecameanxious.“MissYoung,ifyouhaveanints,takethemoutonme.WhyareyoutreatingLucaslikethis?Hedidnothingwrong!”
LucasgrabbedSophia’sarm.“I’lltakeyoubackfirst.”
Sophialookedathimworriedlybutobedientlynodded.
Theyfinallyleft.
Avelinemmedherfistontothebed,hereyesredwithanger!
Hedidnothingwrong?
Hadn’thedoneenoughwrong?
Whydidhehaveteintoherlife?
Whydidheabandonherwhenshelovedhimwithallherheart?
HemightnothavewrongedSophia<b>,</b>buthecertainlywrongedher!
Thatjerk!Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
Askingfortwomillionwastoolittle!
-15BONUS
Avelookoutherphoneanddialed his number,buthehadthenervetohangup!
Great!
AvelinposedamessageonWhatsAppandsentittohim.
“Divorcefee:sixmillion.Don’teventhinkaboutgettingridofmeforacentless!”
Theywerestillmarried,yethewasalreadyopenlyprotectingSophiawithoutconsideringherfeelingsatall.
COINBUNDLE:getmorefreebonus