Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113 Dinner Plans and Silent Phones

Finished

Arden frowned at her phone. She didn’t remember giving Dorian her passcode, and she highly doubted he could crack it. Dorian texted, “Did you have lunch?”

She didn’t respond. A few minutes later, someone knocked on her hotel room door. Arden opened it and saw a hotel staffer pushing in a full lunch spread on a cart.

She blocked the doorway. “I didn’t order any room service.” The server smiled politely. “It was ordered by Mr. Vale.”

Her stomach growled. She was actually hungry, so she let the cart in.

Dorian texted again, “Ordered you something. Just eat for now, I’ll take you out for dinner tonight.”

She didn’t reply. After freshening up, she ate alone and didn’t ask where he was.

Just as she was about to head out for a walk, a message popped up. Vincent texted, “Are you in Zevia?”

Arden replied, “Yeah, I am.”

Vincent texted, “Let me treat you to dinner tonight.”

She remembered how the last time they tried to eat together, it got awkward because of Dorian. So she messaged, “You’re in Zevia too? Let me treat you this time.”

Vincent replied, “Yep, I’m here. Which hotel are you staying at? I’ll pick you up tonight.”

She sent him the hotel name. Meanwhile, Dorian had been stuck in meetings all day. When he finally checked his phone and saw nothing from Arden, he opened their chat and fired off a text.

Dorian texted, “I’m done with work. Let’s go eat.”

Arden was in a car at the time and didn’t see it. After ten minutes with no reply, he called.

She picked up. His voice was low and lazy. “Where are you?”

Just then, Vincent–sitting up front–turned and asked, “Arden, what are you in the mood for? Steak?”

Dorian froze. A man’s voice.

His back straightened instantly, eyes narrowing into slits voice dropping to ice. “Who’s the guy with you right now?”

Arden was calm. “I’m not having dinner with you, Mr. Vale. Enjoy your night. I’m busy. Bye.”

And she hung up. Didn’t even give him a chance to speak. Dorian stared at the blank screen, rage exploding in his chest. He kicked the chair in front of him so hard it screeched. She left him for another guy. That was the only explanation.

Outside the office, Lucien flinched at the sound. He walked in cautiously. “Boss?”

Everything had been going so smoothly, what set him of?

Dorian ripped off his tie, jaw tense and eyes burning. “Get the surveillance tapes from Intervia Hotel. I want to know who she left with.”

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11:37 Sat, Feb 7

Chapter 113 Dinner Plans and Silent Phones

Lucien understood immediately. So that’s why he’s blowing up.

Finished

He rushed out to make calls. Dorian stormed toward the exit, unbuttoning his shirt collar as he went. By the time Lucien caught up, he already had the car keys in hand.

“Back to the hotel,” Dorian said sharply.

The entire drive, his energy was volatile. He sat in the back, lit a cigarette, and pulled up his messages with Arden.

Dorian texted, “Where are you?”

Dorian continued, “Why did you hang up on me?”

Dorian asked, “Who are you having dinner with?”

Dorian continued, “I haven’t eaten either. Want me to join you?”

No response. He stared at the screen like he could burn a hole through it. The longer she stayed silent, the harder he gripped the phone.

After ten minutes of nothing, he started again.

“Arden,” Dorian said, voice flat. “I’m your boss. You know I was sick yesterday. As my secretary, isn’t it your job to check on me?”

A beat. Then, “You’re not allowed to have dinner with other men.”

He typed another message. Deleted it.

Then typed again. “I still have a fever.” Deleted that too.

Finally, he gave up pretending. “If you don’t tell me who you’re with, your whole department’s bonus this year is gone.”

Deleted it. “Damn it.”

He tossed the phone aside and lit another cigarette, pissed at himself for acting like some jealous teenager.

Meanwhile, Arden finally opened her phone and saw “Message deleted.” Three in a row.

She raised an eyebrow. Since when did Dorian get this chatty?

He never used to respond to her messages at all. Seeing his string of deleted texts, Arden couldn’t help thinking–what’s gotten into him?

Probably didn’t want to come off like a stalker boss, she figured. She rolled her eyes and replied, “Mr. Vale, has your fever gone down?”

Dorian saw her message and lunged for his phone. But then he saw the words: Mr. Vale.

She was being polite. Too polite. He texted back immediately.

Dorian replied, “Still running a fever. Not feeling great. Come back, will you?”

11:37 Sat, Feb 7

Chapter 113 Dinner Plans and Silent Phones

Arden texted, “I’m busy. You can have Lucien take you to the hospital.”

He stared at her reply. His face turned cold.

Finished

When he got back to the hotel, the manager had already pulled up the surveillance video. And right there, in the front drive, stood Vincent in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, smiling as he waved Arden over to

his car.

Dorian’s eyes darkened instantly. Vincent.

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