Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Birthday Collision

版

Ayla didn’t like to talk about her private life, but since Nadia was truly worried, she added. T divorced him.”

Nadia was shocked with the revelation. “You actually got divorced? But you loved him so much.”

“Yeah. It’s over.”

Nadia digested the news quickly.

She could understand Ayla’s decision.

It was simple–Troy never loved Ayla. All those double standards had no reason behind them.

“Do you think Mr. Winston will really marry Ms. Summer?”

Nadia asked, then immediately regretted it. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. Forget I said anything.”

“I don’t know,” Ayla answered.

She had spent three years trying to warm Troy’s heart and failed. How could she possibly predict what he would do next?

The call ended there. There was nothing left to say.

But Ayla’s thoughts drifted to Skyla.

She had met Skyla long before she met Troy.

It wasn’t until after the two got married that Ayla learned Skyla was Troy’s first love.

The connection was complicated.

To

put it simply, Skyla was tied to Ayla’s aunt.

After Ayla’s mother passed away and her uncle, Hugh Walker, moved abroad, Juliet Walker took over the family business her grandfather had built.

Then, for reasons no one quite understood, Juliet fell hard for Skyla’s father.

His wife had died young, leaving behind three kids, but Juliet was still marrying into the

Summers.

After that, Juliet became Skyla’s stepmother.

1/5

10:46 Wed, Dec 24

Turtuday Coffiebon

At that time, the Summer Croup was small and insignificant in Trenera Juliet poured all her resources into it, helping it grow into today’s Summer Group

After years of Julier’s hard work, the Summers finally secured a place among the city’s wealthy elite.

Skyla became an heiress, backed by a wealthy family.

Before her mother’s accident, Ayla had been very close to Juliet. Even after Juliet married into the Summers, they saw each other often.

Ayla was dependent on Juliet like a mother.

But after Ayla married Troy, Juliet’s attitude grew cold. They could go a whole year without meeting once.

At first, Ayla thought it was because Juliet had her family and she had less time for her niece,

Ayla had felt sad for a long time, but there wasn’t much she could do,

She could only understand and accept Juliet’s choice, so she stopped reaching out to her.

Looking back now, Ayla realized Juliet’s change in attitude wasn’t only because she had a new family. It also had to do with the fact that Ayla married Troy,

Her thoughts were cut short when the phone rang.

“Are you free Wednesday night?” Halle asked.

“Yeah, I’m free.”

Ayla was good at keeping her emotions under control. Her voice sounded calm, showing no trace of emotional turmoil. “What’s going on?”

“Dinner at Jupiter Cafe. My treat.”

The president of Storm Group was about to return to the country, which meant Ayla had to work late every day that week.

By Wednesday night, it was already eight o’clock when she rushed to the cafe Halle told her to

meet at.

Just as she reached the cafe entrance, Halle stormed out with an angry face.

2/5

19:46 Wed, Dec 24

Chapter 7 Birthday Collision

Ayla asked, “What happened?”

:

Z(46)

Finished

Halle gritted her teeth. “I wanted to make it up to you for your birthday, but some jerk reserved the whole place.”

Halle actually asked me here to make up for my birthday?

Ayla froze. On her birthday earlier that year, Halle had asked her out.

But that same day, Ayla found out she was pregnant. She was so overjoyed that she wanted to surprise Troy with the news, so she turned Halle down.

Troy had promised to come home early. But midnight came and went, and he never showed

1. up.

When she finally called, Max answered Troy’s phone.

She learned from him that Troy had gone drinking with friends, got drunk, and completely forgot it was her birthday.

The next day, Ayla couldn’t help but send a message on WhatsApp. “Do you remember what day it was yesterday?”

She waited the whole day for a reply.

When Troy finally texted back, her heart jumped as she unlocked her phone.

If he remembered, that would be enough for her.

But the message read. “Be home at eight tonight. Make sure you have dinner ready in advance.”

Ayla stared at the words, as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her.

In three years of marriage, she had heard this same line too many times.

Yes, he replied. But it felt less like a husband’s message and more like a boss giving orders to his assistant.

Worse, he ignored what she had asked.

It took real indifference to treat her that way.

That was the moment Ayla told herself not to expect anything from birthdays again.

A birthday was just another ordinary day, nothing worth celebrating.

Which was why she never imagined Halle would try to make it up to her.

3/5

19:46 Wed, Dec 24

Chapter / Brthday Coodleskem

For a while Ayla was too stummed to speak. She wasn’t the type to show her feelings easy on her face stayed calm. In the end, she simply said, “I’m deeply moved?

“You’re moved? We don’t even have a table,” Halle shot back, sharp as ever, though her whee softened with guilt.

“Forget it, this one’s on me. I should’ve booked ahead. Who knew? Any other day you can pre walk in, but tonight it’s all reserved.”

Then she handed Ayla a small gift bag.

“What’s this?” Ayla asked.

“Your birthday present. Take it. Go wait for me by the curb. I’ll bring the car around. We’ll w somewhere better for dinner.”

With that, Halle headed for the parking lot.

Ayla watched Halle’s confident figure disappear, then lowered her eyes to the gift bag in her hand.

The logo was from a jewelry brand. She remembered passing that store with Halle the same day she sold her wedding ring.

She peeked inside. A small square box sat neatly in the bag.

It was probably a bracelet or something like it.

So that day, Halle had secretly planned to make up for her missed birthday?

Back then, Halle didn’t even want to share a meal with her. Yet here she was, showing such quiet thoughtfulness.

Warmth surged through Ayla. For the first time in days, a smile lifted her face.

Her mood felt lighter than it had in a long while.

But the happiness didn’t last.

“Mr. Winston, Ms. Summer, Mr. Bennett–this way, please!”

Ayla had just stepped onto the curb when a voice caught her car.

She knew those last names all too well, but she didn’t think fate would be so cruel.

She turned–and froze. Troy and Skyla walked side by side, surrounded by Max and a group of

415

19:46 Wed, Dec 24

Chapter 7 Birthday Collision

friends as they headed into the cafe.

Finished

In the center of it all, the two of them looked like they belonged together–handsome man, beautiful woman, the perfect match.

As they moved, Troy glanced at Skyla several times. His eyes carried a tenderness Ayla had never once seen directed at her.

Her pupils shrank. She couldn’t help but stagger back a step.

The manager of Jupiter Café, dressed in uniform, hurried out to greet them. “Mr. Winston, everything is ready. We were just waiting for you.”

Skyla leaned closer, curious. “What’s ready?”

Troy’s voice softened. “You’ll see soon enough.”

Still curious, Skyla turned to Max. “If he won’t tell me, then you say it.”

Max grinned and betrayed his best friend right away. “You asked the right person. I checked it out earlier. Troy knew you loved white, so he decorated the entire place in white. Honestly, even as a guy, I was moved by the effort.”

“Shut up,” Troy cut him off, his voice cold.

Skyla laughed, amused. “Don’t stop. I want to hear the rest.”

So Max went on. “He also knows you love lilies. He personally made you a bouquet. He even ordered a custom lily necklace–one of a kind in the whole world–just for you.”

Troy moved to silence him, but Max had already sidestepped, ready for it.

Then his eyes landed on someone familiar by the curb. He froze. “Ayla?”

名