Divorce Me I'm Done Serving You (Ayla and Troy) novel Chapter 852

Maybe James had spent too long surrounded by brilliant people. He was used to women Halle's age being like Ayla. Turns out, not everyone was.

Edgar had worked under Troy, and yet one encounter with a stranger had him flustered and rushing to plant his flag. How insecure did someone have to be to panic just because his fiancée looked at another man?

James was secure enough that if Halle were his, she could hire a male escort and he wouldn't flinch. He knew he brought more to the table than any of them.

On the other hand, Edgar clearly wasn't completely indifferent to Halle.

But if he cared, why was he out having babies with someone else?

James was now absolutely certain he had this in the bag.

Edgar had a child. That was a massive liability. All it would take was one well-placed nudge to let the secret out, and the wedding would collapse.

Yesterday, James had felt a genuine flicker of concern. Seeing his rival in person erased it completely. The guy couldn't compete. James relaxed entirely.

What he really wanted to know now was what Halle was actually planning.

But first, a little fun. He turned to Halle, casual as anything. "Wilfrid followed me back to Trensea. He made this incredible spread for breakfast. Want to come over and eat?"

James loved Wilfrid's cooking. He loved being comfortable. Naturally, Wilfrid went wherever he went.

Then he glanced at Edgar, all warmth and generosity. "You're welcome too."

Every word, every gesture broadcast how familiar he was with Halle. Like they were family. Like they'd known each other forever.

It was obviously deliberate.

Too much graciousness from someone who outclassed you had a way of cutting deep.

Edgar felt the sting. His expression tightened. "No thanks."

This wasn't speculation anymore. Edgar was certain this man wanted Halle. He didn't need proof. He could feel the hostility.

James didn't spare Edgar another glance. He looked at Halle and tipped his chin up. "I'm asking you."

Edgar hated that reversal. He wanted Halle to stay the person who needed his protection.

If she hadn't become this fierce, Nina probably never would have happened.

She was nothing like the woman Halle had turned into.

Nina was barely 5'3", thin and delicate, the kind of woman who made you want to shield her from the world. Edgar was drawn to that fragility.

But what he really wanted was for Halle to be that way. Except Halle stood 5'7" with a frame that was built for presence, not softness. At her height, she was always going to be bold and striking. Add her independence, the way she controlled every conversation, the sharpness radiating from every angle, and she was the picture of competence.

Edgar knew how exceptional Halle was. But she kept drifting further away from him, and he couldn't stop it. He loved her. He just wished she'd stayed the same.

Halle's brownstone on Norton Road was a place Edgar had never been to before. The moment he stepped inside, the atmosphere pulled him in.

Nina's apartment, the one she shared with their daughter, was all pinks and pastels. Ultra-feminine. Soft.

Halle's home wasn't about showy design or architectural tricks. The magic was in the details. The furnishings, the textures, the arrangement of everything. It radiated taste and personality. You could feel the woman who lived here in every corner of the space.