Divorce and Freedom No More Homemaker for Him novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87 Prejudice

Finished

Troy gave a flat “yeah” and looked at Skyla. He asked, “You coming with me, or staying here?”

Skyla chose him right away. She did not even think about it.

She sat in the car, feeling uncasy.

Troy’s sharp profile looked colder than stone. The tension coming off him made her chest tighten.

She had never seen him this upset since he returned to the country.

What had just happened?

Skyla fidgeted in her seat, pricked by both curiosity and fear.

Her hand brushed his by accident.

Troy grabbed her right away.

Skyla jumped. She asked, “What is wrong with you? Did Ayla set you off?”

Troy stayed silent. He laced his fingers with hers and held her tight. They were just like an ordinary couple.

He said, “She isn’t important.”

Ayla went into a locker room and covered the bruise on her neck with a sticky note. It was the only thing she had.

She got it after her hand was hurt last time.

She still had one minute before the time she’d promised James.

She did not walk back early. She waited for him in the rest area.

James showed up a moment later.

James spotted her alone and relaxed.

He called her name from a distance.

Ayla lifted her head.

Her eyes carried a sharp, wild edge that startled him.

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She looked like a lioness ready to strike.

He rushed over and found her looking normal again.

He wondered if he’d imagined it.

He asked, “Did that idiot Troy bother you?”

Ayla said, “No. It’s settled.”

She lied. Rage climbed through her mind like smoke.

She pictured hurting Troy. She pictured it with a cold kind of calm.

She imagined cutting his throat.

James did not buy her answer. “Are you sure?”

She looked steady, but something about her felt dangerous.

Under that calm look hid something mad.

He looked at the bandage on her neck. He did not ask about it. He said, “If you need backup, tell

me.”

Ayla wanted revenge, but logic pulled her back.

She had no power to fight families like his.

She could make a lot of money. As much as Halle, too. But even someone rich like Halle could not shake a man like Draven. She would be destroyed in seconds.

He could wipe out a company in minutes, easily.

Troy had that same level of reach. The thought forced Ayla to breathe and settle.

She looked at James. He was loud and loyal in a way she never expected.

She said, “I saw what you did earlier. I owe you for that. If you ever need help, you can tell me. I don’t have the money, but I can do something else.”

James put a hand on her head. He said, “Are you running a fever?”

Ayla said, “No. I mean it. You treat me well, and I treat you well.”

James stared at her like she was ridiculous. His mouth twitched. He said, “It wasn’t a big thing.

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Troy acted like a rabid dog. He could’ve torn you apart. Anyone would step in.”

He waved it off. He said, “I barely did anything. Don’t make it weird.”

Ayla nodded. She said, “Fine. You treat me like a friend. I want to do the same. If you need something, I’ll help. I’m happy I have a friend like you.”

James grinned. He said, “That sounds better. And trust me, I won’t be shy if I need something.” He added, “Ayla, you got a good edge to you. Not everyone gets to be my friend. I pick them.”

Ayla said, “Okay.”

James jerked his chin. He said, “You heading back to play?”

A hard thump hit his leg.

The ball bounced off him, and he swore under his breath.

He turned and saw Max. Max stood still with a cold look on his face.

Troy had left with Skyla. Rolf did not want to play anymore.

Max told Rolf to get lost. Then he walked straight to Ayla.

He arrived right as James touched her forehead. Max felt a wave of fury rise fast.

He wanted to toss Max out of this place.

James snapped, “I knew some jerk threw that ball. I was right!”

Max dropped the cold act once he reached Ayla.

Something about her was different from the café.

It had to be Troy.

Max’s hand curled into a fist before he forced it to relax.

cousin. I’m the younger

He smiled a little. He said, “Ayla, forgot to mention this. James is my cousin. I’m the one. He asked me to come play.”

Ayla blinked. She hadn’t known that.

But Max had called James annoying earlier.

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Divorce and Freedom: No More Homemaker for Him