Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 67

14:51 Tue, Feb 3

Everything Was a Deal Until Divorce

Chapter 67 A Lie

“Worried about me?”

:

.44)

Finished

Dorian didn’t answer. He got up and walked to the kitchen island, pulling open the fridge and pouring himself a glass of ice water.

Arden watched as he gripped the glass, tilted his head back, and drank. The muscles in his throat shifted as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple rising and falling–weirdly attractive.

Then, suddenly, he looked straight at her. “What are you staring at?”

She looked away fast. “Nothing.”

It was still early. Dorian had work to finish. After draining the glass, he glanced at her again, shoved one hand into his pocket, and walked upstairs to his office.

As soon as he disappeared, Arden let out a breath.

Her gaze drifted to a fresh bouquet of lilies on the table. The scent was light and sweet. She leaned in to smell them, feeling just a little lighter.

Right then, Martha came out with a bowl of supplements. Arden asked, “Martha, did you buy the flowers?”

“No, Mr. Vale asked me to pick them up. Said you

“Dorian?”

liked them.”

Martha smiled. “He acts all cold, but he’s got a good heart. Still thinking about you. You weren’t home these past few days, but he’s been coming back before midnight. Every night.”

That wasn’t just a passing comment–it was intel.

Martha was letting her know where he’d been, clearly not wanting Arden to misunderstand him.

She slowly spooned the soup into her mouth. She didn’t believe for a second that Dorian missed her.

Still, there was no denying the warmth spreading through her after the supplements. She grabbed her phone and shot a text to her brother.

Arden texted, “I’m home, Caleb.” Then she opened her chat with Vincent.

She texted, “Made it home. Sorry about earlier. I didn’t expect Dorian to show up out of

14:51 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 67 A Lie

nowhere. You didn’t get to enjoy the dinner.”

44

Finished

He replied almost instantly. Vincent texted, “As long as you’re home safe, I’m happy. Just seeing you again made my night.”

Then came the follow–up. Vincent asked, “So… you work at Vale Group now?”

“Yeah,” she replied.

What was she supposed to say? That she and Dorian were secretly married?

Another message buzzed in. Vincent asked, “What Dorian said at dinner… was it true? You like him?”

The question hit her hard. She stared at the screen for a while before replying. Arden texted, “Yes. I like him.”

They were married. They’d slept together. She had no right to keep giving Vincent false hope.

Vincent didn’t reply for a long time. When he finally did, it was simple. Vincent texted, “Get some rest.”

Arden texted, “Goodnight.” She curled up on the couch, scrolling her phone, watching TV, anything to distract herself–then finally dragged herself upstairs to shower.

The master bedroom hadn’t changed much while she’d been gone. If anything, it felt a little colder. A little emptier.

She washed up slowly, thinking about their marriage.

Something about Dorian had been off lately. She couldn’t quite explain it. After drying off, she stared into the mirror.

Her face was flushed from the steam. She whispered, “Do you still like him? But he’s never gonna like you back.”

She towel–dried her hair, bent down to grab the hair dryer from the cabinet, and blasted it dry.

Then climbed into bed and laid there on her stomach, aimless.

A message from Isla popped up.

“Didn’t you say you liked him when you two got married?” Isla asked. “So why not go all in? Make him fall so hard he doesn’t know what hit him.”

Arden blinked. Where was this coming from?

21

14:51 Tue, Feb 3

Chapter 67 A Lie

44

Finished

“You want Dorian to fall in love?” Arden replied. “Yeah, and maybe pigs will fly while we’re at it.”

“Girl, have you seen yourself?” Isla shot back. “You don’t even realize how hot you are. What if, just what if, he actually falls for you? Then congratulations, you’re set. Quit your job, live

your best life, and let him spoil you.”

“A guy who made me keep our marriage a secret?” Arden snapped. “The same guy who basically told me not to ask questions about how many women he’s sleeping with? And you think that guy’s gonna fall in love with me?”

“Maybe he didn’t know you back then,” Isla said. “But he does now. You’re incredible. If he’s not blind, he’ll figure it out.”

“I’d rather focus on work,” Arden replied. “I’m not building my future around a man.”

There was a pause. “Okay, but… after that first night,” Isla asked, “has he slept with you again?”

Arden’s face heated up, even though no one could see her. “Yeah.”

“See?” Isla fired back. “He’s into you. Honestly, he’s probably obsessed with your body.”

“And that’s just depressing,” Arden said. “If there’s no love, and we’re just… using each other to scratch an itch, what’s the point?”

Isla didn’t even hesitate. “Arden, that man is literally the golden boy of Vale Group,” she said. “Women throw themselves at him. You’ve seen that smug, untouchable look he always has. I swear, I’d pay good money to see what he looks like when he’s actually in love. Like, down bad. Possessive and completely unhinged.”

And that was the image that stuck in her mind. What would it look like… if he actually wanted her?

Arden didn’t respond. But she kept thinking.

If she really gave this marriage a shot, if she worked at it for the full two years–would the ending be different?

Somewhere in that spiral of thought, she fell asleep on top of the covers. AC still on. No blanket.

At eleven, Dorian came in from the study. He found her passed out on the bed, head tilted to the side, fast asleep.

He walked over, brushed a hand across her cheek, then grabbed the light blanket and covered

1. up. Then he headed into the bathroom to shower.

her

Twenty minutes later, he came out and got into bed. She was still in the same position. Still

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14:51 Tue, Feb 3

Everything Was a Deal Until Divorce