Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57 The Art of Faking Sleep

Finished

Isla said, “Be real, Dorian’s got a killer body. If he’s down to sleep with you and you can’t exactly say no while you’re married, then girl, just take it as a free pass. You basically scored a Calvin Klein model for zero dollars. The ones you have to pay for? Don’t even come close to that face, or that body.”

Arden replied, “Alright.”

Isla stared at her for a long moment, like she couldn’t believe how casual that “alright” was.

She clicked her tongue. Damn, Arden, you’re living the dream.

Arden heard the shower still running and quickly pretended to be asleep. She had no idea what she’d say to Dorian when he came out.

Twenty minutes later, the bathroom door opened. Arden immediately shut her eyes.

Dorian walked out with damp hair, a towel in one hand and his robe loosely tied around his waist. He glanced at the bed casually–Arden was lying on her side, facing the door, eyes shut tight. But her lashes… yeah, they were trembling.

Obviously faking it.

He raised a brow. Once his hair was mostly dry, he circled around the bed and climbed in from the other side.

Arden felt the mattress dip slightly as he lay down. That fresh, clean scent from his shower- the exact one on her own skin–drifted into her nose.

The next second, he moved closer. He brushed a kiss against her earlobe. “Asleep?” he asked softly.

Arden stayed frozen, completely stiff. Of course Dorian noticed.

He leaned over her, propping himself up on one hand, then pinched her cheek lightly. “You really asleep?”

Still no movement. His hand slid to her waist, pulling her into his chest. Then it slipped under

her shirt.

His hand was so warm–and so bold. Arden couldn’t take it anymore. She opened her eyes and grabbed his hand. “We have to get up early tomorrow. Maybe we should sleep now, Mr. Vale?”

“Mr. Vale?” His voice dropped into something low and dangerous, right by her ear. He pulled her hand away and let it drift higher.

1/3

14:48 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 57 The Art of Faking Sleep

:44)

Finished

He kissed her earlobe again. Arden caved instantly. “Okay, okay… babe.”

“Mhm.” Clearly in a good mood.

“Can we sleep now?”

Dorian checked his phone. “It’s only eleven. Still early.”

Arden was speechless. “I think it’s late enough.”

She shifted a little, moving toward the edge of the bed. She barely scooted an inch before he followed and pressed up behind her. “Say it again.”

“What?”

“You know what.”

Arden stayed quiet. He kissed lower this time, mouth trailing down toward her chest. Her breath hitched. She whispered, “Babe.”

Even while she kept inching away. Dorian finally just pulled her in tight, locking his arm around her waist. “Still mad at me?”

She was way too close to him. His skin was hot, and her body was heating up too. She asked, “Mad about what?”

He flipped her over so they were face–to–face. “About that video.”

Arden lowered her lashes, lips pressed together in silence. Dorian stared at her long lashes, now hiding everything he wanted to read in her eyes.

“It’s over. Everyone knows I didn’t push her. It’s in the past.”

Arden didn’t want to talk about it. It had been so long already. And the truth was–he had doubted her. Everyone had.

She kept her gaze down. Dorian gently tipped her chin up to make her look at him. “Did you watch the press conference I posted on the Vale Group’s website?”

“No.”

Of course. “I sent it to you on WhatsApp.”

“I didn’t want to hear anything about Vivienne.”

What if you’re still defending her? What if you said something stupid on camera and now

14:48 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 57 The Art of Faking Sleep

there’s a whole new wave of hate coming at me because of it?

44

Finished

Dorian watched her for a long moment. “I’m sorry, for letting people believe the wrong thing all these years.”

Arden looked up–and met his eyes. In those pupils, she caught her own stunned reflection. He… actually apologized to her?

He reached up and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No more being mad, alright?”

There was a soft, coaxing lilt in his voice.

“When you

have time, watch the full press conference. I apologized in it.” Dorian pulled her tighter into his arms. “I’ve already made sure Vivienne’s been blacklisted across the board. She’s going to spend the rest of her life paying for what she did.

“I never liked her. I never touched her.

“And the baby isn’t mine.

“She only showed up at that party–and got photographed at the hospital–because I still thought she was worth something.”

He had planned to use her to dig into who exactly was backing the Ash family, and what they were really doing in Northmere all those years ago.

It had Southaria written all over it. But that part? He kept to himself.

His voice had always been smooth, but now it dropped lower–gentler, more dangerous. The kind of tone that slipped under your skin before you even noticed.

His robe hung loose, barely tied, chest fully exposed–solid lines, tight abs, like a Calvin Klein ad come to life. Arden had never been this close to him while this sober.

Her heart didn’t stand a chance.

Just like that, she was dragged right back to that night in high school–the first time she saw him at the bar.

Back then, her pulse was racing so fast it felt like her whole body had short–circuited.

a

100

B

3/3

14:48 Tue, Feb 3

Everything Was a Deal Until Divorce