Divorce me I'm done serving you (Ayla) novel Chapter 7

**TITLE: Unwritten Feelings Drift**

**Chapter 7: Birthday Collision**

Ayla had always been a private person, reluctant to share the intimate details of her life. But as she sat across from Nadia, who wore a genuinely concerned expression, she felt a wave of vulnerability wash over her. With a heavy sigh, she confessed, “I divorced him.”

Nadia’s eyes widened, her surprise palpable. “You actually went through with it? But you loved him so deeply.”

“Yeah, well, that’s in the past now. It’s over,” Ayla replied, her voice steady yet tinged with an underlying sadness.

Nadia quickly processed the news, her mind racing to comprehend the implications. She had witnessed Ayla’s struggles and could see the clarity in her friend’s decision. It was painfully obvious—Troy had never truly loved Ayla. All those double standards and mixed signals had been meaningless, mere shadows of affection that had never materialized into something real.

“Do you think Mr. Winston will actually marry Ms. Summer?” Nadia asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Almost immediately, she regretted her words, realizing the sensitive nature of the topic. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up. Just forget I said anything.”

“I honestly don’t know,” Ayla replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Three years had been spent in vain, trying to break through the cold exterior of Troy’s heart, and now, she found herself at a loss. How could she possibly predict his next move when she had failed to understand him for so long?

The conversation came to an abrupt halt, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. There was nothing more to say, yet Ayla’s thoughts began to drift toward Skyla.

Skyla had entered Ayla’s life long before Troy had. It was only after Ayla and Troy had tied the knot that she discovered Skyla was, in fact, Troy’s first love. The revelation added layers of complexity to their relationship.

To simplify matters, Skyla was connected to Ayla’s aunt. After Ayla’s mother passed away and her uncle Hugh Walker relocated abroad, Juliet Walker, Ayla’s aunt, took the reins of the family business that her grandfather had built from the ground up.

For reasons that remained a mystery to everyone, Juliet fell head over heels for Skyla’s father. His wife had passed away at a young age, leaving him with three children, yet Juliet willingly married into the Summers, embracing the chaos that came with it.

This decision transformed Juliet into Skyla’s stepmother. At that time, the Summer Group was just a small fish in the vast ocean of Trensea’s business landscape. Juliet poured her heart and soul into it, nurturing it until it blossomed into the formidable Summer Group known today.

Years of Juliet’s relentless dedication finally paid off, and the Summers secured their place among the city’s elite. Skyla, now an heiress, was buoyed by the wealth of her family.

Before the tragic accident that took her mother, Ayla had shared a close bond with Juliet. Even after Juliet became part of the Summers, their relationship remained strong. Ayla had relied on Juliet as a maternal figure, feeling the warmth of her support.

However, after Ayla married Troy, the dynamic shifted. Juliet’s demeanor grew distant, and it became common for them to go an entire year without seeing each other. At first, Ayla rationalized that Juliet’s new family responsibilities were the reason for the estrangement.

For a long time, Ayla felt a deep sadness, but she had no choice but to accept the reality of Juliet’s choice. Eventually, she stopped reaching out altogether.

Now, reflecting on it, Ayla realized that Juliet’s coldness was not solely due to her new family; it was also a reaction to Ayla’s marriage to Troy.

Ayla’s musings were abruptly interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone.

“Are you free Wednesday night?” Halle’s voice came through, cheerful and bright.

“Yeah, I’m free,” Ayla responded, her tone composed, masking the turmoil beneath. “What’s on your mind?”

“Dinner at Jupiter Cafe. My treat,” Halle announced, her excitement evident.

With the president of Storm Group returning to the country, Ayla knew her week would be filled with late nights at work. By the time Wednesday rolled around, she found herself rushing to the cafe Halle had mentioned, the clock creeping toward eight o’clock.

As she reached the entrance, she was taken aback to see Halle storming out, her face a mask of frustration.

“What happened?” Ayla inquired, concern creeping into her voice.

Halle clenched her jaw, irritation bubbling to the surface. “I wanted to celebrate your birthday properly, but some inconsiderate jerk reserved the entire place.”

Ayla was momentarily stunned. Halle had actually planned to make up for her missed birthday?

Memories flooded back. Earlier that year, on her birthday, Halle had invited her out. But that day had turned into a whirlwind of emotions when Ayla discovered she was pregnant. Overjoyed, she had wanted to surprise Troy with the news and had turned down Halle’s invitation.

Troy had promised he would come home early, but as the clock struck midnight, he still hadn’t arrived. When she finally called, it was Max who answered Troy’s phone.

“He’s out drinking with friends,” Max had said, his tone casual. “And just so you know, it’s your birthday.”

The next day, Ayla couldn’t hold back and sent a message on WhatsApp: *Do you remember yesterday was my birthday?*

Ayla’s heart raced as she recognized the last names. She hadn’t anticipated that fate would deal her such a cruel hand.

Turning, she froze in place. There, walking side by side, were Troy and Skyla, flanked by Max and a group of friends as they made their way into the cafe.

In that moment, they looked like the perfect couple—handsome man, beautiful woman, effortlessly fitting together.

As they moved, Ayla noticed Troy glancing at Skyla multiple times, his eyes filled with a tenderness that Ayla had never once experienced from him.

Her heart raced, and she instinctively took a step back, feeling as though the ground beneath her had shifted.

The manager of Jupiter Café, dressed impeccably in uniform, hurried out to greet them. “Mr. Winston, everything is ready. We were just waiting for you.”

Skyla leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. “What’s ready?”

Troy’s voice softened, a hint of excitement lacing his words. “You’ll see soon enough.”

Still intrigued, Skyla turned to Max. “If he won’t tell me, then you spill the beans.”

Max grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. “You asked the right person. I checked it out earlier. Troy knew you loved white, so he decorated the entire place in white. Honestly, even I, as a guy, was moved by the effort.”

“Shut up,” Troy interjected, his tone icy as he tried to silence Max.

Skyla laughed, clearly entertained. “Don’t stop now! I want to hear more.”

Max continued, undeterred. “He also knows you adore lilies. He personally arranged a bouquet just for you. And get this—he even ordered a custom lily necklace—one of a kind, just for you.”

Troy moved to silence him again, but Max was already sidestepping, ready for the playful banter.

Then, as if fate had a twisted sense of humor, Max’s gaze landed on someone familiar by the curb. He froze, his eyes widening. “Ayla?”