Divorce me I'm done serving you (Ayla) novel Chapter 8

**Chapter 8: The Matching Rings**

Ayla stood at the edge of the sidewalk, her heart racing as she awaited Halle’s arrival. The bustling crowd moved like a river around her, shadows intertwining, making her feel almost invisible. She was a mere twenty feet from the chaos, yet it felt like a world away. Just as she began to lose herself in her thoughts, Max’s voice cut through the noise.

“Hey, Ayla!” he called out, his tone casual but loud enough to draw attention.

In an instant, every gaze shifted toward her.

Ayla felt her breath hitch in her throat, a wave of embarrassment washing over her.

Awkward? Oh, it was more than that.

Her eyes instinctively darted to Troy’s left hand, where she spotted it—a simple yet elegant men’s ring adorning his finger. Its understated beauty only accentuated the graceful lines of his long, slender hand.

Skyla, too, wore a ring that mirrored Troy’s.

Matching rings.

The realization hit her like a cold splash of water. Knowing it existed was one thing, but witnessing it was an entirely different experience. A tightening sensation gripped her throat, making it difficult to swallow.

“Beep, beep.”

The sound of two quick honks jolted her from her reverie. Halle’s car pulled up alongside the curb, and she raised her chin, signaling for Ayla to join her.

Without a word, Ayla swung the door open and slipped inside. The car pulled away almost immediately, the distance between her and the group expanding like a chasm.

All of this transpired in mere seconds.

Max was left momentarily stunned. He turned to Troy, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Did Ayla just ignore us?”

She had hurried away, her demeanor cool and her footsteps sharp. This was not the Ayla he knew.

Previously, she would have done anything to keep the peace, always eager to please and never missing a chance to charm the group.

Now, however, Ayla’s frosty expression caught Max off guard. She had always been somewhat of a ghost in their midst, almost as if she didn’t truly exist. But today, there was an unmistakable edge to her—a fierceness he had never witnessed before.

Was this just another fight stemming from her divorce? He had seen enough of those dramas unfold to recognize the signs. Yet, something about her this time felt profoundly different, almost unsettling. He couldn’t quite place it.

Troy, however, had already turned his back, his voice distant and cold. “Don’t mention her.”

Max glanced at Skyla, who didn’t even bother to look in Ayla’s direction. It was clear she was indifferent, her focus solely on the celebration at hand.

Even if Ayla had walked in carrying a beautifully wrapped gift for her birthday, Skyla would have maintained her calm, refined expression.

Max took the hint quickly. “Alright. I won’t bring her up. No need to kill the mood.”

He called to the group, leading them toward the café, eager to shift the atmosphere back to lightheartedness.

Ayla’s brief appearance was nothing more than a passing blip on their radar. No one paid her a second thought.

They all knew Ayla; she was quiet, introverted, and had never quite fit in with the group. There was no bond strong enough to compel anyone to seek her out for a friendly hello.

Besides, tonight was Skyla’s birthday. Who in their right mind would dare disrupt the celebration by acknowledging Ayla?

Only Max felt comfortable enough to joke around, given his close friendship with Troy.

If anyone else even dared to mention Ayla, Troy would shut them down without hesitation.

Skyla was his prized possession. You could offend anyone else in the circle, but never her.

And Skyla was not just beautiful; she was the daughter of the esteemed Summers family. Wealthy, classy, and untouchable. Ayla didn’t even belong in the same discussion. Skyla wouldn’t stoop so low as to acknowledge her; doing so would only tarnish her image.

The group completely ignored Ayla, their attention solely fixed on showering Skyla with compliments.

In the midst of this, Max tugged at Troy’s arm and whispered, “Did you see the gift bag Ayla was holding?”

Troy had only given her a cursory glance. Details like that rarely registered with him.

Max could sense Troy’s patience waning. He hurried to explain, “Remember I told you Ayla sold her wedding ring and went shopping at other jewelry stores? The bag she had is from that same brand. I’m guessing she bought a new diamond ring to make amends with you. But the whole situation ended up being pretty awkward.”

Troy frowned, his mind drifting back to that fleeting moment.

He did recall seeing Ayla with a gift bag.

Troy’s gaze fell to the ring on his own finger—the one Skyla had given him.

Had Ayla finally decided to win him back after all this time?

It felt too late for that. The game of hard-to-get only worked to a certain extent.

His expression remained icy, his voice flat. “I don’t have space to wear it on.”

Max’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

What do you mean by that? You’ve got more than one finger!

Before he could muster a retort, Troy had already moved ahead.

Troy seemed entirely unconcerned about why Ayla had shown up or whose car she had left in.

Tonight, his sole focus was on making Skyla’s birthday unforgettable.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify