Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Right on Time, Like Always

As soon as midnight hit, she opened their chat and typed her message.

“Happy birthday, Mr. Vale. Wishing you joy today, tomorrow, and always,” Arden wrote.

Finished

Dorian had just finished work and returned to his bedroom when his phone buzzed. He glanced down and saw the message.

“Happy birthday, Mr. Vale.” Not “Happy birthday, honey.”

He paused for a beat.

Then scrolled back to her old birthday messages from the past three years. Each one had been “Happy birthday, sweetheart.” “Happy birthday, hubby.”

He raised an eyebrow and set the phone aside. As always, he didn’t reply.

Back then, he’d muted her messages because he found her constant texting annoying. He still had them muted. Arden hadn’t expected a reply anyway.

She was just playing the part of the obsessive, lovesick wife. What was a birthday message compared to fifty billion?

Two more years, and it’d all be over. They could go their separate ways. The thesis defense was followed by the graduation ceremony. Arden did her makeup light, wore her cap, and gown, and sat with her classmates on the field as they waited for the dean to call their names.

There were performances before the diplomas were handed out. Arden had signed up to sing.

Avalen University was one of the country’s most prestigious universities, and their graduation ceremony was always a big deal–especially with live performances.

Soon enough, clips from the event made their way to social media and shot up the trending charts.

Arden’s performance? Viral.

She hit trending topic #1, knocking the Vivienne–Dorian gossip off the front page.

After receiving her diploma, she went off with her classmates to take photos. In her gown, with soft makeup and long hair, she looked stunning.

Youthful and sweet, with just a hint of allure in her eyes. Her skin was practically glowing in the sun. Her graduation photos quickly went viral too.

Meanwhile, Vivienne was in the middle of shooting a luxury brand campaign. Thanks to the recent gossip linking her to Dorian, the brand’s team had been treating her like royalty.

She was getting her makeup done when her assistant, Daisy burst in.

“Vivienne, something’s wrong!”

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Chapter 14 Right on Time, Like Always

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, relaxed. “What now?”

“You and Dorian just got pushed off the trending list.”

Vivienne’s face tightened. “What?”

Finished

“The graduation ceremony at Avalen University just blew up. A girl named Arden Wynn is trending. Her graduation photos are everywhere.”

Vivienne’s grip on the armrest tightened. “Who did you say?”

“Arden. Arden Wynn.”

Of course. That name was all too familiar.

Three years ago, when Dorian started getting close to her, Vivienne had made sure to ruin it. She’d gone for the jugular.

And yet here she was–again.

“I want to see those pictures. And the video.”

The assistant handed over her phone.

One look at Arden’s face–fresh, glowing, heartbreakingly pretty–and Vivienne clenched her jaw.

“Buy the trending spots. I want me and Dorian back on top. Knock her off.”

With a face like that, no wonder Arden shot to number one. If she ever joined the entertainment industry, half the current A–list would be shaking. At Vale Group, Lucien was scrolling through his phone when he saw the photos.

Wait a minute… That looks like Mrs. Vale.

He clicked on the video. Sure enough, it was her.

He glanced over at Dorian, who was flipping through some documents at his desk. Lucien was honestly a little baffled. A wife that beautiful was waiting back at Silverbay, and yet his boss barely went home.

Dorian caught him staring.

“Spit it out.”

Lucien cleared his throat. “Boss, you want me to do something about the rumors with Vivienne?”

Dorian looked up. “What rumors?”

Lucien was speechless. “You were spotted taking her to the hospital the other night. It’s all over the internet. You’re trending. They’re saying she’s backed by Vale Group.”

Dorian stood up and poured himself a glass of ice water. “When did that happen?”

“Two nights ago.”

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Chapter 14 Right on Time, Like Always

Finished

He downed the water in one gulp.

“Thing is,” Lucien added, “Mrs. Vale just shot to the top of the trending list today with her video and graduation photos.”

Dorian arched a brow. “What video?”

Lucien held out his phone. “Her graduation performance. And the photos.”

Dorian gave it a glance, didn’t say a word.

Lucien couldn’t read his reaction. “You want me to clear up the rumors with Vivienne?”

Dorian narrowed his eyes. “Do I pay you to gossip?”

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100

B

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Everything Was a Deal Until Divorce

Chapter 15 Brought Into the Light