Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 85

Divorce and Freedom: No More Homemaker for Him

Chapter 85 Not Your Business

B

Finished

James pulled in a sharp breath. His whole posture said he was about to blow up.

Draven said, “Stop. This isn’t your problem.”

James turned toward him and looked stunned.

Draven didn’t flinch at all.

James stayed silent for a second.

Troy said, “You heard him. Move.”

James felt a cold weight hit the center of his chest. Draven’s indifference shook him more than Troy’s anger.

He started to wonder if he had imagined their earlier tension.

Maybe Draven truly didn’t care about Ayla.

The thought made his irritation spike. His face tightened.

He said, “Draven, you don’t need to care about your assistant, but don’t hold me back. I’m her friend. I’m not watching her get dragged around.”

Draven kept his lips sealed. He refused to answer him.

James realized Draven meant every bit of that silence. He had no intention of stepping in.

James let out a short, humorless laugh.

He thought cold men like Draven deserved to die alone.

He looked back at Ayla. He held her gaze and said, “If you don’t want to go with him, I swear I won’t let him take you.”

Ayla felt the sincerity in his voice.

It settled deep and steady.

Troy only showed annoyance.

He never paused to ask what she wanted. He never cared about her feelings.

Ayla gave James a calm look. She said, “Give me five minutes. I’ll tell him what I need to say.”

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Some things between a married couple had to be said face to face.

James nodded once. He said, “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’ll come get you.”

Ayla said, “Alright,” then turned to Troy.

Her voice stayed even. She said, “Let’s go.”

Troy’s hand tightened around her wrist again.

He refused to accept she dared speak to him on equal ground.

His expression darkened, and he moved quickly toward the exit.

His stride grew faster, and soon they walked with several feet of space between them.

Ayla watched the back of his head.

She understood why he was furious. He had always held the control in their marriage.

Her refusal shook that control.

It was like a docile pet suddenly baring its teeth.

Troy had no idea how to handle that shift.

Ayla planned to make him understand that he didn’t get to dictate their relationship anymore.

Draven saw the way she stared at Troy’s back.

He remembered she had said she wanted a divorce, yet she still looked at Troy with old feelings.

Draven looked away like it meant nothing to him.

He grabbed a tennis ball and squeezed it too tightly. Then he said, “Who’s playing?”

James asked, “You’re still in the mood to play?”

Draven said, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

James let out a sharp laugh.

He lifted his thumb in disbelief because Draven’s stone–cold calm was unreal.

James said, “Alright, Mr. Storm. You’re built out of steel. I’m not. I actually care about Ayla. Troy

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dragged her off like a crazed mutt. I can’t pretend it didn’t bother me. I am not in the mood for tennis.”

James pointed his racket toward Herman. He said, “That guy who watched the whole circus without blinking can play with you. I’m going to pick Ayla up in five minutes.”

Herman smiled and lifted his racket. He tapped the ground lightly and said, “Let’s go, Mr. Storm.”

James shot him a glare.

He cursed under his breath.

Herman looked like a gentleman but stirred trouble more than anyone else on the court.

Will stayed quiet and scrolled through his phone.

James looked around and felt thrown off.

Everyone seemed colder than usual.

They didn’t act like this in the past. They used to step in for each other.

Draven had been overseas for years, and Herman rarely played against him. Now Herman struggled to return Draven’s swings.

James watched closely and noticed the extra force in Draven’s wrist.

He smirked because Draven was clearly irritated.

Will typed a message to Halle. He asked, “Does Troy ever hit her?”

Halle replied, “Why? Did he hit Ayla? Did you see something?”

Will typed, “Just asking.”

Halle said, “She never said that. If he was that awful, she wouldn’t have stayed three years.”

Physical violence snapped people awake the first time.

Emotional cruelty cut deeper. Troy had known Ayla loved him. He used that to bend her until she broke.

She only freed herself after everything inside her collapsed.

Will didn’t know that part, but he felt relieved that Troy wasn’t physically abusive.

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鮮蟹

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Troy pulled Ayla all the way into a rest room and finally released her wrist.

The walk cooled him off. His face held nothing, and his eyes were sharper than usual.

The door stayed open. Ayla felt a little safer, so she stayed near the exit.

She wanted to feel safer.

Troy watched her for a moment. His stare was heavy and dark. He asked, “You did that on purpose?”

His voice held no obvious anger.

He always put himself above her. He always adapted to her changes and then dismissed them like they meant nothing.

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