Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10 The Suitor

As soon as Arden got into the car, her father, Gareth Wynn, called. She answered, “Dad”

“Did you eat breakfast?”

Yes. Did you and Mom cat?”

“We did. I heard Dorian’s back, right?”

“Yes. He came back the night before last. We went to the Vale estate yesterday.”

Gareth sounded pleased. “Then bring him home for dinner tomorrow night.”

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Arden sighed inwardly but replied, “Okay, Dad. He’s pretty busy, though. I’m not sure if he’ll be free. I’ll ask him.”

After hanging up, she looked at the scenery sliding past the window and opened WhatsApp.

“Mr. Vale, my parents would like us to come over for dinner tomorrow. Do you have time?”

The reply came quickly. “Yes. I’ll have Lucien pick you up tomorrow evening.”

She stared at the message she had been typing, “If you don’t have time, I can go back on my own,” then erased it slowly, deleting one word at a time.

She glanced at her hand and understood. Maybe because of the misunderstanding, he felt guilty and agreed to go. Still, she felt relieved. At least her parents would not worry.

Arden spent the day revising her thesis on campus. Graduation was approaching, and everyone would soon be heading in different directions. There was an unspoken sense of reluctance among them.

That night, she stayed in the dorm instead of going home.

Dorian went to the Vale Group during the day. At night, Cassian organized a gathering, and Dorian joined them. He did not return until close to midnight.

The villa was spacious and quiet.

When he reached the living room, his gaze swept over the couch. Arden was not there.

“Would you like something to eat, sir?” Martha asked as she stepped out of the kitchen, having heard the

noise.

He sat down and rubbed his brow. “No. Is Arden asleep?”

‘Martha paused, then said, “Mrs. Vale didn’t come back.”

Dorian loosened his tie and looked up at her. “Didn’t come back?”

“She called around five,” Martha explained. “She said she had a lot to do at school, preparing for her thesis defense, and would stay in the dorm tonight.”

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She hesitated before adding. “Didn’t Mrs. Vale tell you?”

Dorian was already standing. Smelling the alcohol on him, Martha asked, “Would you like some soup for your hangover?”

The image of Arden holding a bowl the night before flashed through his mind, along with the redness on her wrist. Irritation surged. “No.”

He went back to the bedroom. Before he returned, Arden had come home almost every day. The room still carried traces of her presence,

Standing on the balcony, Dorian lit a cigarette and checked his phone. It was completely silent. He raised a brow.

When he had been abroad, Arden had messaged him every day. Even if it was just a simple good night, she had never missed a day.

After washing up, he sat on the bed and checked again. Still nothing.

Arden had been busy at school all day, focused on her thesis.

That evening, she went out to eat with her roommates. They came from different places but had taken the same classes for four years, and the bond between them ran deep.

After dinner, they headed to a casual late–night grill, ordering beer and seafood, and before long everyone was a little buzzed. On the way out, they ran into a few guys from their program and ended up sitting together.

The dorm closed at eleven. By midnight, they could not get back, so they booked rooms at a nearby hotel.

The guys were decent and made sure the girls were okay.

It should have been a perfectly ordinary night. Unfortunately, the hotel happened to belong to the Boyd family.

When Isla found out Arden had not returned to the dorm and was staying at her family’s hotel, she spoke to the front desk and had a suite arranged for her.

At that moment, a male student was standing beside Arden. Her cheeks were flushed, and he leaned down to ask softly if she felt sick or nauseous.

Seeing her face and then the shy boy fussing over her, Isla raised a brow. She snapped a photo and sent it

to Dorian.

“Dorian,” she asked, “is that your wife?”

Dorian was in his study answering emails. When his phone lit up, he opened it immediately.

Seeing Arden in the photo, his brows furrowed. Hadn’t she said she was staying at school to work on her thesis?

Then he noticed the boy standing very close to her. He clicked his tongue.

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“Where was this taken?‘ he asked

“At Avalen University Lyra Hotel, Isla replied.

She added casually, “Is she really your wife? She looks tipsy. Her face is all flushed. The guy next to her is being very attentive.”

Dorian pulled up Arden’s number and called her. It rang for a long time before she answered.

“Hello?” Her voice was soft, slightly slurred, carrying the warmth of a summer night.

“Arden,” he said. “Where are you?”

At that moment, the boy beside her handed her a bottle of water. “Arden, take a few sips. You might feel better.”

Hearing the boy’s voice, Dorian’s eyes darkened. He stood up and grabbed his car keys.

“I’m at a hotel,” Arden said hazily.

“You said you were staying at school,” he replied sharply. “Why are you at a hotel?”

His tone was unmistakably interrogative.

“At a hotel, obviously to sleep,” she said. “What else would I be doing?”

She frowned, clearly drunk. “Who are you anyway? Why do you care?”

Then she hung up. Dorian stared at the disconnected call, his expression turning colder. He almost laughed in disbelief.

When he headed downstairs, his presence carried a sharp, chilling edge. Martha could not help asking, “Sir, it’s late. Are you heading out?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’m picking up my wife.”

Martha looked confused. “But Mrs. Vale said she was staying at school.”

He did not slow down. Outside, he made another call. “Did she go to a room with that guy?”

He asked through clenched teeth. Hearing his tone and glancing at the group of girls nearby, Damon decided to tease him.

“She’s pretty. It’s normal to have admirers.”

Dorian’s voice turned icy. “Watch her for me. Don’t let anyone touch her. I’m on my way.”

Damon smirked. He was just as domineering as ever. He opened their group chat.

“Looks like Dorian finally has something stressing him out,” he said, sending the photo.

Cassian studied the image and said, “Who’s that? She’s got a great figure.”

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Chapter 10 The Suiter

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Then leaned closer and asked. “Dorian’s type? He laughed. “Guess I’ll grab some popcorn.”

Still staring at the screen. Theo frowned. “She looks young. Is she even legal?”

Someone replied immediately. “That’s Dorian’s wife. Watch your words.”

Cassian stiffened. “D’mn. You should’ve said that earlier.”

Theo lifted his hands. “I said nothing.”

The chat went quiet for a moment. Cassian broke the silence. “Wasn’t the Luce family’s daughter studying in Merovia too?”

Theo replied. “Yeah. She and Dorian were seen together a lot.”

Cassian asked. “Mira Luce?”

“Yeah.” Theo confirmed.

Another pause followed.

Cassian added, “Dorian’s been abroad for three years. The rumors never really stopped.”

Theo said, “The girl in the photo looks too innocent. She’s not exactly the type who can handle those socialites.”

When Dorian arrived, Arden had already gone into the room and collapsed onto the bed, half asleep. Following his instructions, a female staff member had been assigned to keep an eye on her. The male student had been sent away.

Dorian swiped the key card and entered. Arden lay on the bed, her cheeks faintly pink from the alcohol. Without a word, he picked her up.

She opened her eyes drowsily. Seeing his sharp jawline, she made a small sound and murmured, “Honey.”

He stopped. Lowering his gaze, he looked at her.

Then her lashes fluttered. When she saw his face clearly, she corrected herself immediately.

“Mr. Vale.”

Dorian said nothing.

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