Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 243

Chapter 243 Too Many Guests

Finished

Caleb spoke into the phone again. “Arden, we’ll head over in a bit. Are you guys at home right now?”

“No,” Arden replied. “We’re at the supermarket near Capitol Plaza, picking up groceries.”

“Oh, that’s close to us,” Caleb said. “Vincent and I will come by and help you carry everything.”

“Okay. Thanks, Caleb.”

Arden ended the call. Ruby leaned over and asked, “So besides Caleb, who else is coming?”

“Vincent,” Arden said. “We used to live next door to each other.”

“Oh,” Ruby raised an eyebrow. “So… childhood neighbor turned first crush?”

“Something like that.”

Dorian listened to their conversation, irritation spreading slowly through his chest.

So it wasn’t just the college senior coming. Now Vincent too.

He fixed his gaze on Arden.

But Arden didn’t look back at him at all. She was still talking to Ruby like he wasn’t even there.

Ares glanced at Ruby and Arden, then gave Dorian a light tap on the shoulder and leaned in. “Stop staring. She hasn’t looked at you once since you showed up. Now her college senior’s coming, her childhood neighbor’s coming. Just wondering, how does that sit with you?”

Dorian shot him a look and didn’t hold back. “Don’t just focus on me. Isn’t Barry coming too? That guy’s interest in Ruby isn’t exactly subtle: You nervous?”

Seeing Arden still ignore him, Dorian decided to provoke her instead. He called out lazily, “Arden.”

“Yeah?” she answered.

“Ares and I can’t help you carry groceries?” Dorian asked. “Why call your brother, and why bring Vincent 100?”

Arden wasn’t married to him anymore, and she wasn’t afraid of him either. “Every time I’ve hosted people before, something always went wrong. Tonight my brother’s coming, so things might finally go smoothly, What’s wrong with inviting Vincent?”

She added, calmly but firmly. “What does that have to do with you? Is this something you need to control

too?”

Ruby wasn’t about to let the fire die down. Exactly. Arden inviting her childhood neighbor over for a backyard cookout, what’s the issue? Mr. Vale, why does the ex–husband sound so invested?

Isla piled on without mercy. And Vincent’s been genuinely good to Arden. You guys don’t krune this, but when Vivienne tried to smear her, Vincent was the one who released the video that cleared everything u

3:00 pm

PD

… |

Finished

Chapter 243 Too Many Guests

Inviting him to a cookout is more than fair.”

Dorian said nothing. Ares stayed quiet too. He’d never realized Ruby could shut someone down so efficiently.

At this point, if he opened his mouth, Ruby would probably tear him apart next.

Arden and Ruby kept scooping live crabs into the mesh baskets. Arden said, “We’ve got a lot of people tonight. Grab more.”

Ruby nodded. “I love crab. Hate cracking it open.”

“Same,” Arden said. “Love crab, love shrimp, but I’m terrible at peeling both.”

Dorian suddenly spoke up, “Ares is good at peeling crab.”

Then, as if that wasn’t awkward enough, he added, “Arden, I can peel crab and shrimp too.”

Ruby and Arden both froze for a second. That was… unsettling.

“What does Ares peeling crab have to do with me?” Arden said.

“And what does Mr. Vale peeling shrimp or crab have to do with me?” Ruby added.

They spoke almost at the same time.

Celine, however, immediately sensed something interesting. She stepped closer, eyes bright with curiosity, and asked Ares seriously, “Ares, you peel shrimp for girls? Have you ever peeled any for Ruby?”

1

Ruby waved her hands quickly. “Please. His hands are for holding weapons, not seafood. When has he ever lowered his head for a woman? Peeling crab? I wouldn’t dare ask.”

Celine glanced between Ares, standing tall and sharp–featured, and Ruby, confident and wild. She let out a thoughtful “Oh, then turned to Dorian. “So what did you mean by that? You wanna peel shrimp for Arden?”

“Celine, don’t talk nonsense,” Arden cut in. “I can peel my own food. I don’t need him.”

Just then, someone called Arden’s name.

She turned around. It was Noah.

Noah walked toward them with an easy, warm smile.

He looked like he’d just gotten off work, still in a white dress shirt and black slacks. His face was clean, calm, and bright, the kind of presence that made people feel at case.

Arden waved. “Noah, you’re here already?”

“Yeah,” Noah said. “I was nearby when you called?”

He noticed the seafood tank. “Picking crabs?”

3:00 pm PD

Chapter 243 Too Many Guests

“Mm–hmm.”

Finished

Noah picked up a net from the side and examined the crabs carefully. “I remember back in college, you really liked shrimp and crab.”

“I still do,” Arden smiled. “You know how to choose them?”

“I do. My mom loves seafood. I used to help her shop all the time.”

Noah grew up in Avalen. His mother was a doctor, his father an engineer. A warm, supportive family. It showed in his temperament–clean, steady, kind.

Ruby and Isla took the opportunity to size him up from head to toe.

Tall, broad–shouldered, clearly fit even under his shirt. Clean–cut, bright–eyed, and gentle–looking. The kind of guy who seemed patient and reliable.

“Hey Noah,” Isla asked, “do you know how to prep crab too?”

238