Chapter48


    Hegaveherwhatshewanted;sheshouldbehappy.Butjustnow,herexpressiondidn’tseempleased.Why?


    Lucasgrewmoreirritatedthemorehethoughtaboutit.Justthen,hisphonerang.ItwasDesmond.“Mr.Tudor,Mr.Hanghasarrived.”


    “Okay,I’llbebackrightaway.”Lucasrepliedcoldly,thenhungup.HecastalonglookinthedirectionofAveline’shousebeforeturningthecararoundandleaving.


    Intheevening,whenSelenaarrived,Avelinehadalreadypreparedfourdishes,withtwomoreandasoupstillcooking.


    “Ave,there’ssomuchfood!”Selenaeximedexcitedly,huggingherandrubbingagainsther.


    Avelinesaid,“It’salright.Gowaitoutside;it’llbereadysoon.”


    Selenareplied,“Okay,Ibroughtsomealcohol.”


    Avelinesighed,“Ican’tdrinkit;Itookcoldmedicine.”


    Selenawassurprised.“You’resick?Butyoulookfine.”Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Avelineanswered,“You’llseewhyIlookfineinabit.”


    Selenawentoutside,andsoonafter,Avelinebroughtouttwotesoffood.Thesoupwasalsoready.Afterwashingherhands,shehandedafilefoldertoSelena.“Here,takealookatthis.”


    “What’sthis?”Selenaopenedit,tookoutthecontents,andhereyeswidenedindisbelief.


    “This…Ave,didyoujusthitajackpot?”


    Avelinereplied,“Sortof.Afterthedivorce,Ibecameawealthy


    +15BONUS


    woman.Canyoumemeforlookinggood?”


    Uponhearingthis,SelenasettheitemsdownandcuppedAveline’sfaceinherhands.“Isthatreallyhowitis?Youmustbesosad.”


    Avelinewastakenaback,staringatSelenaforamomentbeforeburstingintughter.


    “What’stheuseofbeingsad?Canloveputfoodonthetable?Moneyismorereliable.I’mnningtopickagooddaytomoveandthenquitmyjob.Doyouhaveanyningup?Ifnot,let’sgoonaworldtour.”


    Avelinidoutherns.


    Selenacouldn’ugh.KnowingAvelinewell,sheunderstoodthatheroptimismwasjustonthesurface.AvelinehadoncebeensofondofLucas.


    Now,withthedivorcesettlementinhand,theirmarriagewastrulyover.Allthatwasleftwasthe divorcecertificate,severingtheirtiepletely.


    Avelinesighed.“I’mfine,sowhyareyou lookinglikethat?I’msharingmyjoywithyou.Didn’tyoualwaysencouragemetodumpthejerkandembracethefuture?That’swhatI’mdoingnow.”


    Selenasaid,“Butyoumustbehurting,Ave.Ifyou’resad,justcryitout.It’sokay,IpromiseIwon’t recordortakepictures.”


    Avelinughed.“Alright,let’seatbeforethefoodgetscold.”


    “Okay,let’s<b>eat</b>!”


    Selenanodded,openingthebottleofalcohol.“Youcan’tdrink,<b>so</b>justwatchme.Cheers!”


    SheclinkedherssagainstAveline’sssandtookabiggulp.Avelinewasspeechless.


    Ifshe’dknownSelenawouldreactthisway,shewouldn’thavetoldher.


    Afterthemeal,Avelinewasfine,butSelenadrankuntilshepassedout.Avelinemadesomegingerteaforherandhelpedhertotheguestroomtorest.


    Comingoutoftheroom,readytowashupandgotobed,herphonerang.Shepickedit upandsawthatitwasLucascalling.


    Itwasalready10PM.Whywashecallingher?


    “Hello?”


    Sheanswered,hertoneindifferent.


    “Desmond.”


    Theman’shoarsevoicecamethroughthephone,coldtothe


    extreme.


    Avelinewastakenaback.Didhedialthewrongnumber?


    “ThisisAveline.”


    Therewasabriefsilencebeforeshespoke.


    Butallsheheardwashisheavybreathing.Afteramoment,hisvoicecamethroughagain.


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