Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102 You Don’t Get to Want Me

“In your dreams.”

Dorian blinked. “You used to text me and call me that all the time.”

Arden looked up, voice clear and emotionless. “Yeah, well, like you said—that was the past.”

She glanced at her phone. “You’re gonna be late. It’s already 6:40.”

Dorian didn’t budge. “Then… what about Dorian?”

“I’m not that familiar with you, Mr. Vale.”

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Finished

She stepped past him toward the elevator. He followed, hands in his pockets, eyes still on her body. “You’re really still mad? Because of that necklace?”

Mad? She wasn’t mad. She just didn’t care anymore. Shed learned to stop hoping. Loving herself made a hell of a lot more sense than waiting for anyone else to do it.

“No, I’m not mad. It’s your money. Spend it on whoever you want. Not my

business.”

They reached the elevator. She stepped in and leaned against the back wall. Dorian followed. “I didn’t buy it for her,” he said. “Barry asked me to. Mira’s his sister. The necklace was to settle a debt, not a gift.”

Arden studied her nails again–sakura pink, fresh and glossy. So cute. So perfect. Just like her.

She shrugged. “I don’t care about your business with the Luce family.”

Dorian finally understood something terrifying–when she shut down like this, he had no power at all. “You’re really not mad?”

“No.”

“For real?”

“Yep.”

“Then move back in with me. Tonight.”

She stopped. Looked up at him. He was tall, ridiculously attractive, shirt collar slightly open, that confident, lethal energy pouring off him like a storm cloud.

His eyes were dark. Focused. For a second, she saw something else too. Something soft. Too soft.

“Mr. Vale, are you insane?”

He blinked. “You said you weren’t mad.”

“I’m not. But that doesn’t mean I want to sleep with you

“…That’s not what I said.”

“Oh come on. We both know exactly what ‘move in‘ means to you.”

She remembered every night he came back to the villa. He didn’t talk. He didn’t cuddle. He worked her

19:09 Thu, Feb 5 BNB.

Chapter 102 You Don’t Get to Want Me

until morning.

“Are you gonna pretend you just want to cuddle and chat under the covers?”

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Dorian stared at her lips, voice dropping. “I don’t do just chat, Arden. Not with you.”

Arden smiled, sharp. “If you’re that desperate, I can find someone for you.”

That hit hard. Dorian slammed a hand against the elevator wall, leaning in close. “You think this is a joke? You want me to go to someone else?”

His body was too close. Too warm. His breath was hot on her skin. “I want you.”

He pressed closer, lips hovering right by hers. “Say it again. Say you don’t want me.”

Their breath tangled. Tension pulsed in the air. Too close. Too much.

Arden shoved him back, palms on his chest. Warm, familiar and dangerous.

He looked down, saw her tiny hands pressed against his chest, remembered exactly what her touch felt like.

God, he wanted her. Right now. Right here.

But when he looked at her face–she looked scared. Defensive. Like she was ready to run. He stepped back. Said nothing. Neither of them spoke again until they got in the car and arrived at the restaurant.

Arden was grateful for the silence.

Dinner was at Rivergaze Pavilion, the top restaurant in Zevia. Bookings required a membership and weeks of notice. Everything about the place screamed exclusivity.

Just as they stepped out of the car, a group of people walked up. At the front, a guy with a buzz cut, all sharp lines and muscle, wearing a plain black tee that couldn’t hide how built he was.

He grinned and clapped Dorian on the shoulder. “Dorian, man. You finally made it to Zevia. I was starting to think you were dodging me.”

His name was Ares Sinclair.

Arden would later learn he wasn’t just another rich guy he was ex–special forces. A colonel. And way too young for that kind of rank.

Dorian chuckled and punched him lightly in the chest. Come on. You think I’d skip your dinner invite?”

A whole group followed behind, voices chiming in. “Mr. Vale!”

The air shifted again. Eyes followed him. As always.

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