Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 296

Finished

Chapter 296 Locked Doors and Line–Crossing

He opened the message. “Arden sent you 5,000 dollars.”

Then the text. His face darkened. He threw the phone aside.

The execs on the call all fell silent.

Dorian rubbed his temples. “Meeting adjourned. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

He shut the call.

Took his phone, lighter, and a cigarette out to the balcony. He lit it, paused… then remembered Arden scolding him about smoking.

He sighed and put it out. He stared at the transfer,

Dorian sent, “Arden, I bought all those pajamas for you. They’re your size. You don’t need to pay me back.”

Arden replied, “I insist, Mr. Vale. I don’t take what I haven’t earned.”

He stared at the screen, lips twitching. What a line.

Dorian typed, “Guess you’ve been saving a lot, huh?”

Arden answered, “Not a lot. Just enough to cover the pajamas.”

Dorian added, “You really want to keep things this separate?”

Arden replied, “Yes. That’s exactly how it should be.”

Dorian didn’t say a word. The money went through, but he didn’t touch it. Didn’t even acknowledge it.

Arden followed up, “Can you just accept it?”

Dorian shot back, “You think I care about a couple hundred bucks?”

Arden said, “I just don’t want to owe you.”

He replied, “Then owe me. Pay it back some other way.”

Arden said, “I can afford this. I don’t need to pay with anything else.”

Dorian replied, “Heh.”

He stopped replying.

Arden stared at his profile pic. He was being ridiculous. Whatever. She set her alarm, tossed her phone aside, and went to sleep.

Locking the door had helped her relax. She drifted off quickly.

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Chapter 296 Locked Doors and Line–Crossing

Around 11PM, Dorian came out of the study. He stopped by her door and knocked.

No response. He tried the knob. It was locked.

He chuckled. Smart girl.

He went back to his room and tried to sleep. He couldn’t.

At 2AM, he called the basement line–where the staff quarters were.

Martha answered groggily. “Hello?”

“Martha. Is there a spare key to the guest room?”

“There is.”

“Where?”

She told him. Dorian went down, got the key, and stood outside Arden’s room.

He hesitated. Then unlocked the door. Only the bedside lamp was on.

040

Finished

The girl was curled up in bed, hugging the blanket. One foot kicked out on top. He stood there staring.

Then walked in. Sure, sneaking into a woman’s room at night was a low move.

But he couldn’t sleep. He wanted to hold her.

Quietly, he walked around to the other side of the bed, climbed in, and pulled her into his arms. He was out within minutes.

6AM. Dorian woke up. Arden was sprawled on his chest, fast asleep. Her leg draped over his.

He looked down, breathing her in. Then bent down and kissed her lips, slow and lingering. Finally, he slipped out of bed.

She’d freak out if she woke and saw him. He had to show restraint.

Back in his room, he checked his phone.

A message from his uncle, Jasper Vale.

Jasper sent, “Dorian, I’m getting married in a month back in Avalen.”

He blinked. His uncle was famously immune to women. The kind of man who’d dodged every matchmaking attempt from the family’s old–money circle–his grandfather nearly resorted to a shotgun wedding. And now suddenly he was talking about marriage? It was… shocking.

Dorian sent, “Wait, you’re serious?”

Jasper replied, “When have I ever joked?”

Dorian wrote, “Okay, bring her back so we can meet her.”

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