Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216 A Line in the Sheets

Finished

He remembered how she frowned the last time he smoked around her. He tossed the lighter aside and put the cigarette away. “Sleep on the bed. I won’t touch you.”

Arden narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“If my mom or grandma finds out I made you sleep on the couch, do you think they’d let me live it down?”

“They won’t find out if you don’t tell them.”

His patience thinned. “Are you coming or not? Or do I have to carry you over?”

Arden bolted upright. “I’m coming. No need for theatrics.”

She brought her bedding with her. Dorian watched as she laid the blanket right down the middle of the bed, creating a very literal divider.

“What is that?”

“The bed’s big. This way we each get our space. Don’t you think it’s fair, Mr. Vale?”

He stared at the blanket divider, then chuckled. A single sheet–how cute.

“Sure. Take your time.”

He stood up. Arden perked up. “Where are you going?”

“Study. I’ve got work.”

“Oh, okay! Work is important.”

Her obvious delight didn’t escape him. As he reached the door, he paused and turned around. “You seem way too happy about that.”

‘I just care about your career.”

“Too bad for you,” he looked at his watch, “I’ll be done by 11:30,”

He watched the excitement drain from her face and smirked. “Unless you miss me already. In that case, I’ll stay.”

‘No, no! Go work. It’s fine!”

He left, closing the door behind him. Arden grabbed her phone and texted Isla

Arden sent a message, “Celine’s birthday’s tomorrow night. You coming?”

Isla replied, “Of course. Dorian invited the whole Boyd family.”

11:08 pm DDD

Chapter 216 A Line in the Sheets

Arden said, “Did you add Clark on WhatsApp?”

Isla replied, “Oops, forgot.”

Arden added, “He told me to remind you. He’s still into you.”

Isla shot back, “Send me a video of him at work tomorrow. His profile pic looks filtered.”

Arden replied, “No filter. He’s actually pretty handsome.”

Isla sent back, “We’ll see.”

Finished

Arden thought about mentioning the divorce, but decided she’d wait until tomorrow to tell her in person.

She scrolled through the news and short videos. When it was almost 11, she washed up and climbed into bed, pretending to be asleep.

Dorian came back at exactly 11:30.

First thing he did–he looked at the bed. She was curled up under the blanket. The room was dark, except for the bedside lamp.

He walked softly to her side and crouched down, watching her face. Long lashes trembled slightly.

Faking it. He didn’t say anything. Changed into sleepwear, then walked to the other side of the bed and lay down.

He glanced at the ridiculous blanket wall between them and called her name. “Arden.”

No response.

“You asleep?”

Arden had her back to Dorian, body angled away, still refusing to respond. Dorian rolled over, reached out, and gently turned her to face him. Then, without a word, he brushed his fingers lightly over her lashes.

Arden was speechless. What the hell is he doing?

“You were pretending.”

“I was falling asleep, then you woke me.”

“You faked sleep and now you blame me?”

She rolled over and fixed the blanket divider again. “Just go to sleep. We’ve got work tomorrow.

Dorian didn’t argue. He lay back, arm behind his head, eyes on the ceiling. “I meant what I said. I won’t touch you.”

That finally cased her enough to close her eyes. But she couldn’t fall asleep.

She kept tossing and turning. Dorian said nothing, just listened to her movements.

11:08 pm DDD.

Chapter 216 A Line in the Sheets

Finished

Eventually, she rolled to face him. He was lying flat, eyes closed, one arm propped under his head. His shirt was half open, the first few buttons undone, showing a sliver of his toned chest.

Looked like he was really asleep.

She stared at him for a while, then lay back down, trying again. An hour later, she was finally out. Dorian listened to her breathing turn steady, then opened his eyes.

He turned on his side and watched her back rise and fall. And just close enough to reach.

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