Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 223

After heading downstairs, Dorian walked away from the crowd and called the butler. “Lower the temperature in the house.”

Finished

The butler sounded puzzled. “Sir, the temperature is already comfortable. I just checked with them. They all said it feels fine.”

Dorian’s patience was clearly thin. “I feel hot. Turn it down.”

The butler didn’t dare argue. “Understood, sir.”

Not long after, the temperature in the villa dropped sharply. The young women from prominent families, all dressed in off–shoulder or short–sleeved gowns, began rubbing their arms without even realizing it.

Celine frowned. “Why does it suddenly feel freezing? I’ll go get shawls.”

When the girls reappeared wrapped in shawls, Dorian finally glanced over and looked satisfied.

Once that was taken care of, Dorian sent Lucien a message.

“Get invitations for Colton and Kade. Bring them inside the villa. Have them stay close to Arden at all times. Watch Martin carefully. Don’t let him get near her.”

He added another line almost immediately, “And tell Colton to dye his hair.”

Lucien replied, “Sure.”

Before long, Colton and Kade entered the villa, both dressed in dress shirts, slacks, and ties.

Colton had dropped his usual careless attitude. With his hair dyed, he actually looked surprisingly proper. He leaned toward Kade and whispered, “You think Mr. Vale’s this serious about Arden? Like, serious enough that she might end up being his wife?”

Kade shot him a sideways look. “Why are you so nosy? Just keep your eyes on the guy with Martin. Make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near Arden.”

Colton lifted his glass and nudged closer. “Come on, you’re not curious at all?”

Kade didn’t bother answering. His gaze shifted between where Arden stood and where Martin was.

Martin really was glancing in Arden’s direction again and again.

Vivienne was doing the same.

When Dorian appeared at the top of the staircase, Vivienne immediately picked up her wine and walked over. Even so, she hesitated when she got close and greeted him carefully.

“Mr. Vale.”

Dorian was rolling up his sleeves as he walked down. He didn’t even spare her a glance. He stopped briefly beside her and said, flatly, “Stay away from me.”

Chapter 223 Cold Air, Colder Eyes

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Finished

Vivienne stood frozen as he passed by. Her fingers tightened around the glass until the color drained from her knuckles.

Not long after, Lacey arrived. Isla spotted her and immediately frowned. “Why is she here?”

Celine leaned over. “Who?”

“Lacey. She’s the one who accused Arden at the Haflin Global auction. And at Harold’s birthday banquet in Eloria, she tried the same trick again. She looks harmless, but she’s vicious.”

Celine thought for a second. “Isn’t the eldest daughter Alice? I’ve heard she has a great reputation. Classic elegance, very straightforward.”

“Alice does have a good reputation,” Isla said. “Her mother is from the Deepvale Wren family. Old academic lineage, well–mannered, refined. Unfortunately, she married the wrong man. Lacey is his affair child.”

Isla remembered Alice stepping in to defend Arden at the Eloria banquet. That alone had left her with a favorable impression. “Alice can’t stand Lacey. She even spoke up for Arden last time.”

Celine looked down at Lacey, who was dressed in a pink gown, deliberately styled to look sweet and innocent. Celine frowned. “She’s calculating. If she dares pull anything at my party tonight, she won’t like the outcome.”

“Don’t worry,” Isla said, looping her arm through Arden’s. “I’m staying with Arden the whole time. No one’s getting any ideas.”

“I’m staying with her too,” Ruby added. She didn’t know many people in Avalen and had no intention of wandering off tonight.

Arden glanced around the first floor. The grand piano had already been set up. “I’ll be fine. Celine, your ceremony is about to start. You’re performing tonight, right? Go get ready. I’m going to the restroom first.”

From the moment she arrived, Lacey had been looking for Dorian.

She was also watching Arden.

When she saw Arden in a red gown that made her skin look luminous under the lights, jealousy surged uncontrollably.

The last time she drugged Arden, things hadn’t gone the way she wanted. Tonight was the Vale estate. She wasn’t sure if she’d get another chance, but her grip tightened around her clutch.

She spotted Dorian sitting on a high stool, surrounded by young men from powerful families. Lacey went to the bar, poured herself a drink, then carried the glass toward him.

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