Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22 The Divorce Call

Finished

He looked satisfied, in great spirits. Gray shirt, black trousers, tie perfectly in place, cold and restrained again. Nothing about him resembled the man from the night before.

Martha hurried over. “Come eat, Mrs. Vale.”

“Okay.”

Arden sat across from him. They ate in silence.

Arden finished first. She stood, walked to the couch, sat down, and took out her phone. Right in front of Dorian, she called Eugenia.

When the call connected, Arden greeted sweetly, “Grandma.”

Dorian looked up. Arden was relaxed, leaning to one side, one foot slipped out of her slipper and swinging lazily. Her ankle was slim and pale, her whole posture easy and unguarded.

She chatted for a while, asking if Eugenia had eaten. Then she said calmly, “Grandma, I want a divorce.”

Dorian stopped moving the mouse and looked over again. He had always assumed that after all those years of liking him, she would never bring it up.

Yet she said it just like that. Something strange twisted in his chest.

Eugenia exploded. “Arden, did he do something to hurt you? Tell me. Did he not come home last night? Was he with Vivienne?”

“No. He came back,” Arden said.

Then she added, “I want the divorce too.”

Eugenia cut her off. “You wait right there. I will back you up. Don’t bring up divorce so easily. Go eat first. I’m hanging up.”

“I already ate, Grandma…”

The call ended. Arden put her phone away and looked at Dorian. “I told Grandma about the divorce. She got a little emotional. I have things to do at school. I’m heading out.”

She left. That night was the graduation dinner, the final gathering. Dorian sat there in silence. Moments later, his phone rang.

even

He didn’t even need to look. He answered.

“Dorian, get back tonight,” Eugenia said. “I’m busy,” he replied. “No time.”

She slammed something on the table. “Are you trying to divorce Arden? Forcing her to call me? As long as I’m still breathing, this marriage is not ending.”

She hung up.

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13:34 am GP PP.

Chapter 22 The Divorce Call

Finished

Lucien was waiting in the car when Dorian came out, his face dark. Lucien opened the door and glanced at the mirror once they were moving. His boss looked well–rested, but his expression was cold and volatile.

Lucien decided not to speak.

At the office, Lucien brought him coffee. Dorian was signing documents.

“Did you find the girl who saved me three years ago?” Dorian asked.

Lucien hesitated. “When you woke up, Vivienne was there. Could it have been her? She’s always claimed it was her. And she got pregnant afterward.”

Dorian set the pen down. “I never touched that girl. Which means I never touched Vivienne.”

He looked at Lucien coldly. “You know exactly what that pregnancy was about.”

Lucien cleared his throat. “True. You were badly injured. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t.”

“Lucien.”

“If you already know the truth, why treat Mrs. Vale like that?”

Dorian’s thoughts drifted back three years.

“At the time, nothing was confirmed. I thought I’d slept with Vivienne. The timing lined up with the assassination attempt in Soutaria and Myvarra. I thought the child was mine.”

Lucien asked, “What if it actually is?”

Dorian shot him a look.

“Keep digging into the Ash family. They declined for years, then suddenly bounced back. Martin wouldn’t pull that off without outside backing.”

He lit a cigarette, eyes shadowed. “And Vivienne too. No one climbs from obscurity to A–list in a year without someone behind them.”

Lucien froze. “Wait, boss. Isn’t that person you?” Dorian sneered. “Do I look that bored? What do I have to do with her?”

Lucien frowned. “Then why let the rumors spread? If Mrs. Vale sees them, she’ll be upset.”

Dorian gave a short laugh. “She doesn’t look upset. She never even asked me.”

He exhaled slowly. “That assassination three years ago. Vivienne showing up in that small county at exactly that time was far too convenient.”

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