Chapter52
Lucassuddenlystopped,hergazemakinghimufortable.
“Ireally don’tunderstandwhatyou’rethinking,”Avelineaskedsoftly.“Arewegettingdivorcedornot?”
Lucas’slipstightenedabruptly.Hegotupfromthebedandheadedstraighttothebathroom.
Avelineclosedhereyesandletoutalongsigh.
Let’snotdothis.
Iftheyweregoingtodivorce,itshouldbestraightforward.
Itwouldbeeasierforbothofthem.
WhenLucascameout,Avelinewasgone.Shehadn’tevenstayedforbreakfast.
ShehadonlysenthimamessageonWhatsApp,<b>“</b>I’llbewaitingforyouatthwyer’soffice.”
Lucas’sfacelookedas<b>if</b>itwascoveredinfrost,hisentiredemeanoricyandintimidating.
Thehousekeepercameout,lookedaround,andaskedinconfusion,”Mr.Lucas,didMissYoungleave?”
ThehousekeeperknewAvelinehastnightbuthadbeeninformednottodisturbthem.Hehadexpectedtoseeherthismorningbutfoundnoone.
Lucasputawayhisphone,hisexpressionevencolder.“Doyouhavenothingbettertodo?”
FeelingtheicychillemanatingfromLucas,thehousekeeperquicklyshuthismouth.
Itdidn’tseemtobegoingwell.
+15BONUS
Avelinehailedataxi,andassoonasshegot<b>in</b>,herphonerang.ShelookedatitandsawthatSelenawascalling.
“Hello?”
Selena’ssleepyvoicecamethrough.“Babe,whereareyou?”
Avelinereplied,“Iwent out.Ifyou’restillsleepy, gobacktobed.”
Selena said,“Ihavetoworktoday,soIwon’tsleepanymore.”
Avelinecontinued,“Heatupthefoodyourself.OnceI’mdonewithtoday’smatterseoverintheevening.There’stoomuchfoodformetoeatalone.Thenwecancheckoutthenewhousetogether.
“Soundsgood,”Selenaagreedcheerfully.
Afterhangingup,Avelinelookedoutthewindow.TheTudorresidencewasgettingfartherandfartheraway,butherheartstillfeltheavy.
Thisisthsttime,Avelhought.Shewouldnotallowherselftoindulgeagain.Today,afterfilingforadivorce,shewouldresign.fromherjob,andfromthenon,theywouldhavenofurtherties.N?velDrama.Org ? content.
Whenshearrived,shestoodatthwyer’soffice.Thereweremanypeoplearoundthewaitingarea.
AsAvelinelookedatthebusyofficesetting,shefeltamomentofdaze,assherememberedthedayshemarriedLucas.Theyhadbeensohappyandexcited,fullofanticipationfor<i>a</i>blissfulfuture.
Avelinepressedherlipstogetherandcheckedthetime.If wasalready9:30AM.
Lucasstillhadn’tshownup.
Whatdidhemeanbythis?
She called himdirectly,buthedidn’tanswer,andthecalleventuallydisconnectedonitsown.
What’sgoingon?
Aveline’sbrowfurrowed,growingmoreimpatient.Draggingoutadivorcelikethiswasn’tmanly!
At10:30PM,Lucasfinallyresponded.Whenshesawthemessage,shenearlyspatbloodinanger.
Ser
Lucasreplied,“Ihavetogoonanunexpectedbusinesstrip.I’llbebackinaboutaweek.”
Avelookseveraldeepbreaths,trying<b>to</b>calmherself.Don’tgetangry,don’tgetangry,gettingsickfromangerwon’thelp!
Butthisjerkwasinfuriating!Whydidhehavetogoonabusinesstripnow?
No,thisdivorcehadtohappen!
SheimmediatelycalledDesmond.
“MissYoung,”Desmondansweredquickly,histonepoliteanddistant.
“WheredidMr.Tudorgoonhisbusinesstrip?”Avelineasked.
Desmondreplied,“Istheresomethingyouneed?”
Avelinesaidsoftly,“It’samatteroflifeanddeath.Doyou<b>really</b>needtokeepasking?”
Desmond’seyeswidenedslightly.Wasitthelifeanddeathhewasthinkingof?
<b>If</b>so,thenhecouldtellher.