Chapter26
Asthewordsfell,theairseemedtofreeze.
Avelineblinked,thensmiledandpushedhimaway.“Lucas,thisispointless.”
Wantingadivorceandtosleepwithher–wheredidhegetsuchaudacity?
Avelinewentstraighttofreshenup.
Lucas’semotions,whichhadfinallycalmeddown,becameagitatedagain.
BythetimeAvelinecame out,Lucashadalreadyleft.
Withoutanyexpression,shewenttothekitchen,madesomesd,andateafewbites.ThenshetookoutherphoneandcalledDesmond.
“Hello,MissYoung.”
Avelinesaid,“I’mtakingadayofftoday.Couldyouassistme?”
Desmondwasstartledandthenasked,“MayIaskwhyyou’retakingadayoff,MissYoung?”
Avelinereplied,“Togetadivorce.”
Desmondkeptquiet.
Heshouldn’thaveasked.
“Alright,I’llhelpyouwiththat.”
“Thankyou.”
Afterhangingup,Avelinegotuptowashthedishes.
Thenshestartedcleaningthehouse.Shedidathorough
cleaning,butevenafterthehousewasspotless,somethingstillfeltoff.
Hergazesweptoverthecoffeetable,andshesaw thecouple’smugsonit.
Theywereaneyesore.
Avelineimmediatelyfoundanunusedboxandpackedeverything inthehousethatbelongedtohim.
Themugs,clothes,shoes,socks,fitnessequipment,evenhisrazorandmouthwash–everythingwentintotheboxtobethrownout!
Wheneverythingwaspacked,Avelinelookedatthecontentsoftheboxandfeltabitdazed.
So,afterlivinghereforayear,allhisbelongingsfitintojustonebox?
Herfingersrestedontheedgeofthebox,hereyesfilledwithbitterreflection.
Thiswasdestinedtobeartionshipthatcouldn’st,whichwaswhyhisthingsweresofew,toofewtoevertrulyintegrateintoherlife.
Herchestachedwithasharp,sourpain.Shetookadeepbreath,pickedupthebox,andceditoutsidethedoor,intendingtothrowitinthetraster.
WhenLucascameup,hesawtheboxatthedoor.Hencedatthefamiliaritemsinside,andashebentdowntolookcloser,hisexpressiondarkened.
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Avelinewassittingonthesofaeatingfruitwhenherphonerang.Shepickeditupandanswered,“Hello?”
“Comedown,”cametheman’slow,indifferentvoice.
Avelineasked,“Isthedivorceagreementready?”
Butthecallhadalreadyended.
Ha!Whatatemper!
Avelinefinishedhestbite,thengotup,grabbedherbag,andheadeddownstairs.
Whenshereachedthedoor,shenoticedtheboxwasgone<b>.</b>
Wherediditgo?
Didsomehrowitaway?
Shestoodatthedoorthinkingforamomentbutdidn’tdwellonitsinceshewasnningtothrowitoutanyway.
Shelockedthedoorandwentdownstairs,spottingaluxuriouscarparkednearby.Thecar’stintedwindowsblurredtheman’ssternfeatures,softeninghiscolddemeanorsomewhat.
Avelineopened thecar’sbackdoorandwasabouttogetin.
“AmIyourdriver?”Lucas’scoolvoicecamefromthefrontseat.
Avelinegotinanyway.“We’regoingtogetdivorced,notonadate.Cutthecrapanddrive!”
Lucaskeptquiet.
Hisfacedarkened,andhegrippedthesteeringwheelwithonehand,notmovingforalongwhile.
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Avelinewaitedforawhile,seeinghehadnointentionofstarting
car.Sherolledhereyes.“Sohardtoplease.”
the
Shegotoutandthensatinthepassengerseat.
Thistime,thecarstarted,theengineroaringastheyquicklyleftthedistrict.
Theysoonarrivedatthwyer’soffice.Avelookadeepbreath,pushedopenthedoor,andgotoutofthecar.
Lucasfollowedbehindher.Justthen,hisphonerang.HeContent protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.
answeredit,andwhateverwassaidmadehimfrown.“Alright,I’monmyway.”
Hangingup,hegrabbedAveline’shand.“You’ringwithme.