Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 241

Everything Was a Deal Until Divorce

Chapter 241 The BBQ Battlelines

Finished

Dorian didn’t toss the crab back into the tank until everyone looked visibly spooked.

He raised an eyebrow, deadpan. “You’re all this scared and still planning to eat them?”

Celine was on the verge of losing it.

She stormed over and punched his shoulder, hard.

Then she leaned in, voice low. “Seriously, Dorian? If you care even a little about Arden, you’re doing a hell of a job tanking your image. One more stunt like this and she’s giving you a negative score. Who even scares girls with live crabs? You’re insane.”

Dorian’s gaze flicked to Arden.

Her cheeks were still pink, but she wasn’t backing down. She grabbed the seafood net and started scooping crabs like it was no big deal.

Like she hadn’t just yelped two minutes ago.

Ares, watching from nearby, genuinely had no idea what Dorian was trying to pull.

Was he trying to show off that he knew how to handle seafood? Was this about making Arden look at him? Or was he just trying to score a seat at dinner?

Ares stepped over, gave the tank a glance, then looked at Ruby. “I’ll take care of the shrimp and crab,” he offered.

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Ruby looked at him too. Once upon a time, she’d thought he was the only man worth falling for.

Now? She was so done chasing. Looking at him now, he was just another guy. Every other man she met was at least… emotionally available.

She grabbed a seafood net and spoke with a casual tone. “Thanks, Ares: But we’ve got it covered.”

“You sure?” he asked, moving closer to her side.

Ruby stood tall at 5’7“, but next to 6’3” Ares, she looked almost petite,

He glanced down at her manicured hands, decked in tiny gems. “With those nails, you really think you’re grabbing crabs or slicing anything?”

He leaned in slightly, his heat brushing against her.

Ruby forced her heartbeat back under control. She stepped sideways, gave her nails a quick look, then replied coolly, “You’re right. I won’t be doing the cutting. I’ll call someone to help. You don’t need to worry

about it.”

“Call someone?” he repeated, a little bite in his voice. “Who exactly?”

Ruby gave him a look. “Ares, that’s a lot of questions for someone who isn’t invited.”

3:00 pm PD

Chapter 241 The BBQ Battlelines

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Finished

Right then, her phone buzzed. She put the seafood net down, pulled out her phone.

Caller ID was Barry. Ares glanced down too. Of course he saw it.

Barry. The guy who’s always buzzing around Ruby like a fly at a picnic.

Ruby hadn’t planned to answer.

But something about Ares acting weird tonight… it got under her skin. For years, he’d been cold and unreadable. She’d chased him, and he never responded–like her feelings were a joke.

Maybe giving a little attention to someone else would kill that illusion.

So under Ares’s watchful eye, Ruby hit the button.

“Hey, Barry.”

He sounded surprised—and way too excited. “Ruby! Did you eat yet?”

“Not yet,” she said smoothly. “We’re doing a backyard BBQ at Arden’s place, but none of us are good with prepping crab or shrimp. Can you handle that?”

“Absolutely. Send me the address.”

Ruby looked over at Arden. “Do you mind if Barry comes to help with the seafood?”

Arden shook her head. “Nope. Go ahead.”

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Ares’s jaw tightened. His lips thinned. He didn’t say a word, but he didn’t move either–his presence suddenly massive.

He couldn’t exactly tell Ruby not to invite Barry, right?

Wasn’t this what he’d wanted all along? Her moving on? Even so, every cell in his body screamed to shut it down. He stayed frozen.

Dorian, standing nearby, finally let out a dry chuckle.

‘Aren’t you lucky, he said to Arden, eyes narrowing. “You’ve got capable men around, and you still want to

outsource the labor?

Isla snorted. ‘Mr. Vale, you’re not the husband anymore. Pretty sure you don’t get to decide who Arden invites to dinner.”

“Besides,” she added, “Barry’s not freeloading. He’s helping And he’s actually polite and easygoing. Why shouldn’t he come?

She tilted her head. “You know who we should invite? Arden, that senior from Avalen University you’re always saying nice things about–what was his name again?”

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