Everything was a deal until divorce novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77 She Won’t Take It Anymore

“I asked Arden. She said it wasn’t her.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow. “So what are you gonna do about it?”

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Dorian finally pulled his eyes away, took a sip of his drink, and stayed silent. Someone else came over to toast, and he didn’t look in Arden’s direction again.

But a few minutes later, there was a commotion by the dessert table. Heads started turning. Lacey was on the floor.

Arden stood beside her, looking anything but calm.

“Why’d you push me?” Lacey’s voice was soft, almost sweet as she looked up at Arden.

Arden frowned, totally confused. “I didn’t even touch you. You tripped on your own.”

That’s when Dorian and the others noticed something was going on.

He walked over. Saw Arden and Lacey in the middle of a standoff.

He looked straight at Arden, and asked, word by word, “You pushed Lacey?”

Arden froze. He knows that woman’s name? And the way he asked–he already thinks it’s me?

She met his eyes. “If I say no, would you believe me?”

Someone had already helped Lacey up. Her ankle seemed slightly twisted and she staggered a little.

She turned to Dorian. “She didn’t mean to, and I’m fine.”

Dorian frowned and called out, “Arden.”

She spun around, glaring. “What, Dorian? You want me to apologize again?”

Just like that, the illusion shattered. That all–too–familiar tone. The same old accusations. It felt exactly like what had happened back then–with Vivienne. She had never been someone he trusted. He always took someone else’s side.

Arden let out a cold laugh, defiant. “Not apologizing.”

In that moment, her gaze turned glacial. Whatever admiration or affection she used to have for him–gone, like it was never there. Dorian caught the shift, a strange tug in his chest, gone before he could even name it.

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Chapter 77 She Won’t Take It Anymore

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He hadn’t asked for an apology–he just wanted to know if she was hurt.

But Arden? She knew the price of staying close to him. Every woman around him always found a way to pin things on her–and it always worked.

Right then and there, Arden shoved Lacey hard, sending her sprawling again. She pressed her heel against the woman’s face, completely unhinged.

“Now that, ladies and gentlemen, is what pushing someone actually looks like,” she said loud and clear. “You like being humiliated? Let me help.”

Maybe she looked like an easy target. Maybe they all thought she’d just take it. Not anymore. No one expected that. The room went dead silent.

Only Lacey’s painful whimpers broke the stillness. Arden turned to leave. She suddenly felt drained. Sick of these parties. Sick of Dorian.

But before she could go, someone blocked her path–and a full glass of red wine splashed across her face.

It was one of Lacey’s friends. The girl’s voice was firm. “I saw you push her. Still gonna deny it? Saying sorry really that hard? Now you’re doing it in front of everyone?”

Cold wine dripped down her face. Arden’s eyes started to sting. From the wine? Or fury? Maybe both. Everyone really thinks I’m easy to mess with, huh?

She grabbed a glass of red wine from the table and threw it right back. Then another. If it had liquid, she grabbed it and hurled it.

Not finished, Arden raised her hand and slapped the girl. Twice. Hard enough that her hand stung. She knew she was being reckless, but she wasn’t stopping. Not this time.

Dorian had just walked over and was about to speak when Arden shot him a glare. “Shut up.”

Then she slapped him across the face. “You pathetic, lust–blinded idiot.”

The slap came out of nowhere. The whole room froze.

Isla had heard the noise and came running. The murmurs around her were enough to piece together what happened.

Dorian let out a dry laugh, rubbed his cheek, and grabbed Arden’s wrist. Seeing that, Isla rushed forward and shoved him. “Don’t touch her.”

Then she dragged Arden right in front of Lacey. “Hit her.”

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Chapter 77 She Won’t Take It Anymore

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Arden didn’t hesitate. She raised her hand and slapped again. “The guy you’re drooling over? Not worth a damn to me. Try coming at me again and next time, it won’t stop at a slap.”

The crowd gasped. Arden called out, “Caleb! Go get the security footage.”

Caleb had just arrived. And of course, the moment he walked in, it had to be his little sister at the center of the storm.

He rushed over, nodded at her request, and went to retrieve the video.

After Arden finished the slap, Isla added her own warning. “Who even are you? Think you can mess with my girl? Next time you see her, take the long way around. Otherwise, I’ll smack you myself.”

Then she kicked Lacey. “You like falling down so much? Go ahead, fall. See if anyone cares.”

She pulled Arden aside and waited for Caleb. He returned with a tablet. Arden grabbed it and shoved it into Dorian’s hands.

“Here. Watch closely. This is how Lacey actually fell. Might as well show the whole crowd while you’re at it.”

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