Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245 The Grocery Run

Finished

“So what now,” Lucien muttered, glancing around the supermarket aisle, “we just stand here like idiots?”

Dorian answered calmly, eyes following the group ahead of them. “We wait until they’re done picking everything. Then we pay.”

Before Ares could respond, two familiar figures appeared at the end of the aisle.

Caleb and Vincent had arrived.

The moment Caleb spotted Dorian, his brow furrowed. Especially when he noticed how close Dorian was standing to Arden.

She’s hosting a BBQ. No way she invited Dorian too. They’d just finalized the divorce. Arden wasn’t the type to blur lines like that.

Vincent saw Dorian as well.

But instead of reacting, he looked past him and searched for Arden.

It didn’t take long.

She was standing near the produce section, holding a pack of mushrooms. When she heard her name… “Arden.”

She turned, saw both Caleb and Vincent, and immediately lifted her hand, smiling. “Caleb, Vincent, over

here!”

Noah turned at the sound as well and followed her gaze.

Arden quickly set the mushrooms down and walked over to introduce everyone.

“Caleb, Vincent,” she said naturally, “this is Noah. He was in the same major as me in college. He really looked out for me back then.”

Then she turned to Noah. “This is Caleb. And this is Vincent.”

No titles. No explanations. Just names.

Noah greeted them politely, but his eyes lingered on Vincent for a brief moment longer than necessary.

Vincent, for his part, studied Noah just as carefully. Two men exchanging quiet assessments without a word.

They shook hands. Exchanged a few polite remarks. Nothing outwardly tense–but neither of them missed a thing.

Caleb, meanwhile, had already turned away.

He walked straight toward Dorian and Ares and asked bluntly. “Why are you two at the grocery store!

3:00 pm PD

Chapter 245 The Grocery Run

Then, without waiting, he added, eyes sharp, “Don’t tell me Arden invited you too, Dorian.”

They’d just divorced. Knowing Arden, that didn’t make sense.

Finished

Dorian didn’t bother explaining. He flicked a glance toward Vincent, then answered evenly, “She did. What’s strange about that, Caleb?”

Caleb let out a short laugh, unimpressed. “Your nerve is impressive, I’ll give you that.”

Then he turned to Ares. “And you? Did Ruby invite you?”

Ares shook his head. “No.”

He added, casually, “She’s not exactly thrilled to see me these days. I skipped dinner, missed a good BBQ, figured I’d come tag along.”

Caleb didn’t buy a single word.

Everyone knew Ruby had chased Ares for years. Relentlessly. And now she’d suddenly stopped.

Caleb snorted inwardly. Men. Always realizing things too late.

He shook his head and muttered, “You’re all kind of asking for this.”

With that, he walked off toward the women picking out groceries.

Dorian and Ares’s phones started buzzing almost at the same time. Dorian pulled his out.

The guys‘ group chat was exploding.

Cassian sent a message, “Dorian, Ares, what’s going on? You two really crashed Arden’s BBQ?”

Theo replied, “Wait, Ruby and Celine are there too?”

Cassian added, “Yeah. Celine just called me and invited me.”

Theo shot back, “What? That’s unfair. I’m family too. Why didn’t I get a call? If you’re all there. I’m coming.

Damon sent, Isla just called me as well.”

Barry dropped a message, “Ruby called me. Said they bought shrimp and crab and don’t know how to prep them. I’m on my way.”

Cassian replied immediately, “Hold on–Ruby called YOU?”

Barry answered, “Yeah. Someone’s gotta handle the seafood”

Theo scoffed. “You? Since when do you know how to deal with shrimp and crab

Barry shot back, “Please. Don’t fight me for the spotlight.”

Cassian tagged Ares. “@Ares You know how to prep seafood?”

3:00 pm PD

Chapter 245 The Grocery Run

Finished

Ares didn’t reply.

Dorian typed one line.

Dorian sent, “He does.”

Theo followed up, “Dorian, be honest. Arden actually wanted you there? That sounds impossible.”

Caleb replied with one word, “Ha.”

Dorian locked his phone and didn’t respond.

Not long after, Barry showed up.

He was in rare form–polite, attentive, cracking jokes as he stood next to Ruby. Every so often, he managed to get genuine laughter out of the group.

Between the number of people and the menu, they ended up with carts piled high. Enough food for a full- ›n American backyard cookout.

At checkout, Noah, Barry, and Vincent all reached for their phones.

But when the cashier scanned the last item, she smiled politely.

It’s already been paid for.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify