Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 705

Chapter 705 The Desperate Pursuit

Her heart would be a mess again.

And she’d be exhausted. Again.

Ayla held firm. “No means no. I don’t need a reason.”

Finished

Draven stared into her eyes. She’d rejected him cleanly, again. For a split second, the old feeling crashed over him–the abandoned child accepting his fate, believing he didn’t deserve to stay.

But… he didn’t want to be that person anymore.

Every step Ayla took backward, he would take one forward.

No matter how far she ran, he would chase.

This time, he would hold her hand and never let go.

For the first time in a life spent accepting whatever was handed to him, he finally knew what he wanted.

And you don’t let go of that.

You absolutely do not let go.

Draven drew a long breath. The hard edge in his voice softened. His gaze turned gentle. “Ayla, I know Troy and I are alike in a lot of ways. But you know we’re not the same. I have a forceful side, yes. But I would never truly hurt you. When you broke up with me, you were afraid the children would become a burden. between us, weren’t you? I-”

Ayla stared at him, stunned.

Is that the reason behind everything he’s done? The thing no one else could understand?

Draven forced the words out. “You and Max are… to-” He physically could not say “together.” He pivoted. “I don’t mind that he exists.”

Right on cue, Max strolled in.

“Got that backwards, Mr. Storm. The question is whether I mind. And right now, you don’t exactly have a say.”

They’d been so deep in conversation that neither had noticed Max approaching.

Max walked straight to Ayla, took the hand Draven had just been holding, and laced his fingers through hers–tight, deliberate, like he was overwriting every trace. “Ayla is my girlfriend. I suggest you get that straight. You’re here to explain yourself, not to poach.

Ayla lowered her eyes.

That was exactly what she’d been thinking.

::01pm

M

Chapter 705 The Desperate Pursuit

Finishe

Max glanced at Ayla, then back at Draven’s sharp, frozen face. A dangerous glint surfaced in those hunter eyes. “You’ve explained enough. We’re taking the children and leaving.”

Draven’s expression hardened visibly, but those deep, cutting eyes betrayed nothing. He watched them in silence.

His gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, to their joined hands.

His sun. In another man’s grip.

How was that okay?

“One more thing, Mr. Storm. My girlfriend’s children aren’t yours. You have no custody. You can’t just decide to raise them until they’re 18. Ayla is their mother. Taking her own children home is her right. She doesn’t need your permission.”

Max could feel it. Ayla didn’t treat Draven the way she treated Troy.

She was more passive with Draven. Easier for him to lead.

From the few words Max had caught walking in, he’d reached one conclusion: Draven really had no idea how to deal with women.

Right now, the play was simple. Do whatever Ayla wanted.

Make her happy first. Then, at exactly the right moment, ask for something she couldn’t refuse. One thing leads to another, and suddenly there’s an opening.

Lower her guard. Move slowly. Especially since Draven had the ex–boyfriend advantage. He genuinely hadn’t done anything as unforgivable as Troy, which was why Ayla’s attitude toward him was softer.

Shame. The brothers shared the same stubborn streak.

Draven’s one advantage was that he was willing to course–correct. Troy never changed.

So, different temperaments. Different choices.

Draven was proof of that.

Ayla was grateful Max was here,

If nothing else, Max was sharp. Quick on his feet. He could articulate exactly what needed to be said, and when Ayla started wavering in front of Draven, Max steadied her.

She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t stand seeing Draven like this. Couldn’t handle hearing him say these things. Because every word sent ripples crashing through her. And the side of Draven she’d just seen–so different from anything she knew–she was still trying to process it.

Processing this man’s transformation.

Max’s intervention snapped her back. Her focus should be on what she wanted.

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