Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 450

Chapter 450 I’m Used to It

Ayla really liked Brianna. First, the girl didn’t have a home company. Second, Ayla loved the tension and presence she brought to a role. In the future, she could easily carry big female–led movies. Like Casey, Brianna had that explosive on–camera face–endless potential. Ayla went straight to Hannah. “Get in touch with her. Sign her. Once you’ve mostly nailed things down, I’ll step in.”

“No problem.” Hannah was just as determined; a star agent’s eye was razor sharp. She already had a whole career blueprint for Brianna forming in her head. Going to court her personally felt like a 90–percent sure win.

As the meeting was wrapping up, Ayla sat at the head of the table, glanced around at everyone in the conference room, and summed it up. “This is the first series our company is producing. You all know exactly how important that is. If this show blows up, we’ll gain end–to–end experience in taking a drama from nothing to broadcast–that’s priceless. It’ll add a serious line to everyone’s résumé. On top of that, our own actors, directors, and writers will see their market value double; once the company has name recognition and credibility, the talent we can work with will level up too, which means we can make even better shows. So, this is our starting point, but it’s also a critical step. I hope everyone brings their best attitude so we can get past this first hurdle together.”

Hannah was fired up and took the lead. “Got it!”

Ayla’s little speech poured even more fuel on a room full of young people already itching to prove themselves. With a clear win–win goal in front of them, their energy spiked.

After she wrapped everything up at the office, Ayla headed over to ZeitTech’s lab and stayed there working until 9 p.m. before finally going home.

Draven was slammed today, too. He’d texted her earlier that he wouldn’t be able to pick her up, so when Ayla got back to the apartment, he still wasn’t home.

Ayla washed up, then holed up in the study to keep working. Her paper was about 80 percent done now- push a little harder and she’d be ready to publish.

It was a topic she’d shelved back in college: Remote Intelligence Agent research for deep–space missions. It tied into space exploration, sure, but the framework could be applied to a dozen other fields. The prospects were huge.

She worked straight through until about 11 p.m. before finally slumping back in her chair and letting herself relax.

She yawned, long and lazy.

Days like this weren’t that different from before–except that now she was in a relationship.

If she were still single, she would’ve taken a quick break and gone straight to bed.

Now, she waited for Draven.

Meryll had left her some vegetable juice; Ayla poured herself a glass and curled up on the couch with a book.

Thanks to Troy, she was very used to waiting on a couch for someone to come home. Calling to rush a man. wasn’t her style; she just read quietly and let the time pass.

III

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11:41 Sat, Feb 7

Chapter 450 I’m Used to It

After a while, the words started to blur, and sleep crept up on her.

Ayla had a nightmare–Troy’s cold, cruel face; the suffocating hopelessness of that marriage. Even in sleep, it felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Any dream that had anything to do with Troy was almost guaranteed to be a nightmare.

She jolted awake.

For a second or two, she was completely disoriented–then her gaze crashed straight into a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Draven was watching her. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there like that.

Just now, he’d heard her calling Troy’s name in her sleep.

She could still dream of that man?

Had she ever once dreamed about him?

There was still fear in Ayla’s eyes. Only when she focused and recognized Draven did the choking pressure from the dream slowly ease. She blinked. “What time is it … mm—”

Draven leaned in and cut her off by sealing his mouth over hers, not letting her finish. A few seconds later, he let go, but he didn’t pull back; he stayed close, looking right at her from inches away.

Her heart went soft. “What are-”

He kissed her again, like he was determined to block every word she tried to say.

But just when Ayla really started to lean into the kiss, Draven suddenly stopped.

She understood that he was doing it on purpose. Teasing her.

Ayla blinked up at him. “Are we still kissing or what?”

Draven answered with action. Of course, they were.

This time, the man kissed her like he meant it.

Ayla wrapped her arms around his neck. After a while, he stretched a little and, in one smooth, lazy motion, scooped her up as if she weighed nothing, nudging her slippers onto her feet as he straightened.

“If you’re tired, just go to bed. You don’t have to wait up for me,” he murmured, eyes lowered, his voice gentle.

Ayla said softly, “I’m used to it…”

His step seemed to stutter–just barely–but she still caught it.

Ayla winced inwardly. Wrong thing to say.

Back then, when Max had texted her that Troy had a fever, Draven had already been unhappy.

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