Chapter<b>167</b>
Avelinepausedforamomentbeforewalkingstraightpastwithoutncingtotheside.Desmondtookadeepbreathandapproachedher.“MissYoung.”
Avelinestopped.“Whatisit?”
Desmondpulledoutadocument,aprofessionalsmileonhisface.“Youshouldsignthis.ItwillbebetterforbothyouandMr.Tudor.”
Aveline’sexpressiondarkened asshelookedatthedocumentinDesmond’shand.“Whatdoyoumean?AreyougoingtobringanewoneeverydayaslongasIrefusetosign?Andtargetmeinthpany?”
Desmondreplied,“That’showitis,butIdidn’tinstructanyotargetyou.”
Hecouldn’tlethimselfbefalselyused.
Aveline’stonewascold.“Ifitwasn’tyou,then<b>it</b>wasLucas.Itmakesnodifference.”
Desmondwastakenaback.Shouldheexinthatshemisunderstoodsomething?Hedecidedagainstit.BettertoinformLucasfirst;hewouldn’twanttoactonhisownanddispleasehim.
DesmondhandedthedocumenttoAveline.“MissYoung,pleasesignit.”
Avelookthedocument.
Desmondtensed,fearingshemighttear<b>it</b>upagain.Instead,Avelurnedandwalkedawaywiththedocument.
“Hey,MissYoung?”
Desmondwasstunnedforamoment,thenquicklytookafewstepstocatchup.“Whereareyougoing?”
Avelinerespondedcoldly,“Sinceit’saboutthedivorce,Ishoulddiscussitwithhiminperson.”
Desmondhesitated,thenasked,“ButMr.Tudor…”
Beforehecouldfinish,Avelinegotintoataxi.
Desmondsighedandtookouthisphone,dialingLucas‘
number.“Mr.Tudor,MissYoungisonherwaytodiscussthedivorcewithyou.”Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
TherewasnoresponsefromLucas;thecallwassimplydisconnected.
Atthehospital.
AvelinearrivedoutsideLucas‘hospitalroomandwasimmediatelystoppedbythebodyguards.
“I’mheretodiscussthedivorcewithhim.Gotellhim,”Avelinesaidcoldly,hereyeslookingatthebodyguards.
Thetwobodyguardsexchangednces,andoneofthemwentinside.Afteramoment,hereturned andgesturedforhertoenter.
Avelineclenchedthedivorceagreementinherhandandwalkedintotheroom.
Anursepassedbyher,andassheentered,shesawSophiasittingbyLucas‘bedside,gentlywipingthecornerofhis
mouth.
Lucasdidn’trefuse,lookingatSophiawithsofteyes.Theatmospherebetweenthemwasintimateandaffectionate.
ThisscenehurtAveline’seyesandbrokeherheart.Shespoke,“AmIinterrupting?DidIruinyoursecremeeting?”
Sophia frowned.“MissYoung,whyareyoubeingsorude?LucasandIarejustfriends.”
LucaslookedatAveline,hisdeepckeyesdarkening.ApologizetoSophia.”
Avelineretorted,“ShouldIcurseherfirst?Otherwise,apologizingjustlikethatfeelsufortable.”
“Aveline!”Lucas‘voiceimmediatelydeepened.
Avelinewalkedoverslowly.“Youdon’tneedtoshout.Icanhearyou.”
Sheppedthedivorceagreementontohim.“Lucas,Iwantedadivorcesobadlybefore,andyourefused.Nowyouagree?”
Thismorning,whenshesawDesmonddeliveringthedivorce.agreement,shewantedtoaskhim.Whatwas hethinking?
SophialookedatLucaswithconcern.“Areyouokay?”
“I’mfine,”Lucasrepliedcalmly.
SophiaturnedtoAveline.“MissYoung,Lucasdidn’tdoanythingtowrongyou.Youpoisonedhim,andhedidn’tpursueit.He’salreadybeenmorethanfair.Whyareyoutreatinghimlikethis?”