Divorce me I'm done serving you (Ayla) novel Chapter 710

"Since I promised to tell you what I'm really thinking... Earlier, when I said I didn't mind you being with Max, that you could see us both—I didn't mean it. I panicked because you rejected me. I couldn't handle it.

"I know you're with Max. I know I had no right to send him away. Will you hate me for that?

"Ayla, as long as there's no other man around you, the only thing I want is to take care of you. Share the weight. Let you do whatever makes you happy. If you don't want to be with me right now, then don't. But I'll stay by your side.

"Just rest. Once you've recovered, I'll let you leave.

"Don't be afraid of me. I would destroy myself before I'd ever truly hurt you.

"Just give me a day or two. That's all I'm asking."

Tears were already sliding from the corners of her eyes. Ayla couldn't speak. She could only keep her eyes shut.

She was really the type who crumbled at softness and hardened at force. With Draven acting like this—this gentle, open version—it would have captured her even if it was an act.

And these weren't easy words. This was Draven. The man who never said what he felt, who would sooner swallow his anger than voice it. For him to lay himself bare like this... it meant something.

A familiar warmth drew close. A kiss landed on her forehead.

Ayla's whole body went rigid. When he pulled away, something wet dropped onto her face.

Draven is crying?

How?

His voice sounded completely normal.

"Good girl. Sleep." There was nothing unusual in his tone. The room was pitch black—even if she'd wanted to see, she couldn't. "I'll be right next door. When you wake up, I'll come see you."

His words faded, and Draven rose and left the room.

A few sentences couldn't buy instant forgiveness. And forgiveness was only the beginning. After that came the work of rebuilding trust.

This was Draven's trial. It would take time to earn back what he'd broken.

Draven wasn't Troy. He wasn't reckless or desperate. He had a lifetime's worth of patience.

He found joy in caring for her.

And he was finally learning to move beyond taking warmth from Ayla's body toward actually protecting her heart. From greedily absorbing her light to shielding it.

The breakup had forced Draven to truly grow up.

...

He crossed the room immediately. His warm palm pressed against her forehead. No fever. He lowered his hand.

"Is it your stomach?" His brow was creased with worry. He scanned her from head to toe, and the deeper he looked, the tighter his expression got.

She looked terrible.

This wasn't her home. She didn't know where anything was. She'd just woken up. Brain fog. Her head felt heavy, her legs weak, and there were definite signs of a cold coming on. She didn't answer right away.

Draven had already guessed. "Your cycle isn't due today... Did it go irregular again?"

His palm was already on her lower stomach, rubbing gently. The dull ache eased slightly.

"Do you have painkillers?" Ayla could feel it coming. "I think my period's starting. I need pads."

She started to get out of bed herself, but the second she stood, a wave of dizziness crashed over her. The world tilted. She pitched forward.

Definitely a cold.

Add hunger, pre-period misery... Was she getting old? One all-nighter, and her body was falling apart?

Probably low blood sugar on top of everything. That would explain the vertigo.