Divorce Me I'm Done Serving You (Ayla and Troy) novel Chapter 869

She and the Bowmans had built something warm. She knew the thread was fraying, but she wasn’t ready to cut it.

Part of her hoped Edgar would come to his senses and give their relationship a dignified ending. The other part was just... savoring the last of what had been.

Halle knew what she wanted. So, when Edgar threw tantrums at her, she didn’t care, because getting him to come crawling back had never been the goal.

James let out a quiet “tsk.”

Halle asked, "What? You're going to mock me?"

James said, “Not mocking. Just... a lot of feelings.”

Halle shot back, “Feelings about what? Do you think you understand me now?”

“Of course, I understand you. But, Halle.” James straightened the camera, aiming it at his own face. The easy smile was still there, but his eyes were serious. “Out with the old, in with the new. Let go of the past. You’ll get so much more.”

James would show Halle what real care and devotion looked like.

What he’d heard beneath her reluctance to leave wasn’t stubbornness—it was fear. A deep-down conviction that once she lost Edgar, she’d never find anything that good again.

James’s job right now wasn’t to compete with Edgar. It was to make Halle feel safe.

James wasn’t some entitled rich kid. Good upbringing, solid family, strong foundation. He could handle anything life threw at him without losing his composure—and he could give Halle the security and warmth she needed.

Confident people thought confidently about everything.

James knew it was a little shameless to hype himself up and paint a rosy picture of his future with Halle.

But the facts would prove it: he and Halle were a perfect match.

He wanted every thought he was having right now to come true.

Halle said, “You sound like a guidance counselor.”

“God, no! I’m not trying to lecture you—that’d be patronizing. I’m just telling the truth.” James added, “And also, yes, trying to lure you back home. My dog and I both miss having a gorgeous neighbor around. One day without seeing you, and that’s one day too many overthinking.”

Halle laughed at the camera.

...

The next morning. Halle came downstairs for breakfast. Neither Tyler nor Hayley mentioned the previous night. Their expressions and behavior were perfectly normal—not a single tell.

Halle pretended she didn’t know anything either, savoring the warm, comfortable routine of being around them.

Three people at a table. Like a little family.

By the time his father still hadn’t said a word, the tension in Edgar’s chest finally released.

He’d actually gambled right!

Last night, Edgar had told his mother that Halle looked down on him, then left in the middle of the night. Normally, his father would have called to tear him a new one for treating Halle that way. But no call had come—and now, at breakfast, nothing.

So, his parents were on his side. They knew he’d been wronged by Halle. They weren’t going to scold him.

After all, he was their son. They couldn’t let Halle walk all over him.

Getting his parents in his corner, then having the whole family pressure Halle into fixing her “attitude problem”—that was the plan, and it was working.

Edgar’s mood visibly improved. After breakfast, he walked Halle to the garage.

Halle waited for him to speak, because she still couldn’t figure out what he was up to.

Edgar began, “Did you sleep okay last night?”

Halle replied, “I slept great, actually. You, on the other hand, don’t look so hot.”

Edgar shot back, “You drove me out of my own house, and you haven’t even reflected? That’s honestly impressive. But you know what—good for you.”