Divorce me I'm done serving you (Ayla) novel Chapter 26

**TITLE: Unwritten Feelings Drift by Austen**
**Chapter 26: Shouting in the Crowd**

“Hold on a moment,” a voice cut through the chatter of the crowd, sharp and demanding.

Ayla turned, her heart racing as she recognized Jed, his expression dark and stormy, a clear indication of his anger. The atmosphere around them shifted, tension thickening as the two security guards at his side halted, clearly waiting for his direction.

“Let me go,” she said, her brow furrowing deeply, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

Jed’s voice dripped with sarcasm, each word laced with mockery. “You followed him all the way here, didn’t you? Are you not the least bit worried that Mr. Winston might be furious to see you? Ayla, a little theatrics can be entertaining, but keep pushing, and your little games will only blow up in your face.”

In that instant, clarity washed over Ayla like a cold wave. Her voice turned icy, each syllable deliberate and cutting. “If I can so easily obtain Troy’s schedule and track his every move, perhaps you should reflect on whether this is truly your failure, Jed.”

The privacy of Troy’s calendar was meant to be sacrosanct—that was the responsibility of his assistant and secretary.

Jed was already aware that Ayla had caught wind of Troy celebrating Skyla’s birthday, and he assumed her absence from home for an entire week was proof of her distress. Yet, the sharpness of her retort caught him off guard, a momentary surprise breaking through his irritation.

Instead of feeling sympathy, however, annoyance surged within him. Why couldn’t she just play the part, remain silent, and go along with it like she used to? Life had been so much simpler that way.

With an impatient wave of his hand, he signaled to the guards to continue pushing her away, dismissing her as if she were a mere nuisance.

Ayla was still reeling from the events of the previous night, and now here was Jed, lecturing her without cause. A surge of anger flared within her, turning her cheeks pale with indignation.

She had never been one to lose her composure in public, but today was different. Today, she would not swallow her pride.

Gritting her teeth, she shouted, “Help!”

The venue was teeming with attendees from the tech industry, and at the sound of her desperate cry, heads turned, curiosity piqued. As they caught sight of her striking features, confusion flickered across their faces.

“What’s happening?” someone murmured, their voice barely audible over the growing buzz.

Jed had not anticipated Ayla, who typically blended into the background, to create such a commotion. He froze, taken aback by her sudden outburst.

As she prepared to call for help again, he finally relented, instructing the guards to let her go.

It seemed that acting out had actually worked.

Jed stormed toward her, his expression a mask of fury. “Ayla, yelling like that is embarrassing enough for you. But if you drag Mr. Winston into this chaos, do you have any idea what the repercussions might be?”

Ayla couldn’t help but find him ridiculous. “You’re the only one who knows about my relationship with Troy. Why are you so anxious? Besides, we’re divorced.”

He cut her off, his tone icy and dismissive. “Save those words for yourself.”

Stunned into silence, Ayla stood there, her mind racing. In the past, she had always capitulated, allowing herself to appear weak and easily manipulated. That submissive demeanor had never commanded respect from someone like Jed, a mere footnote in her life.

But she had more important matters to attend to. Engaging in a pointless argument with someone so unreasonable was not worth her time.

After all, it had been her scheming three years ago that had led her to marry Troy. She knew deep down that he didn’t care for her, so she should have kept a low profile. Yet Ayla had always been a dreamer, one who constantly pushed boundaries.

And Jed had an intense disdain for women who refused to recognize their place.

Very much so.

Ayla, meanwhile, was certain that if Jed was present, Troy must be as well. The thought of encountering him sent a shiver down her spine, but she took solace in the size of the venue; the likelihood of a chance meeting felt slim.

Following the signs leading to the ballroom, she navigated through the throngs of people.

Ahead, a robotics exhibit drew a crowd, and Ayla deftly slipped to the quieter side, seeking refuge from the bustling masses.

That’s when she overheard a group of attendees engaged in conversation. “I heard the CEO of the Winston Group is married, but no one has ever seen his wife. A lot of folks thought he wasn’t married at all. Well, I guess that rumor is put to rest now.”

“Put to rest? Why? Did Mr. Winston show up with his wife?” another inquired, curiosity evident in their tone.

“Absolutely. I saw them myself. A handsome husband, a beautiful wife—they look perfect together. I heard Mrs. Winston was his high school sweetheart. From prom to the wedding aisle, they’ve been through it all.”

“And she’s no mere trophy wife, either. She holds a PhD in artificial intelligence. Just returned to the country.”

“No wonder Troy’s always alone at events, never seen with another woman. Turns out, his wife just wasn’t around.”