I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 26

His hesitation spoke volumes, and Aria wasn't blind.

Maxwell was actually furious this time.

"Impossible," Aria muttered, grinding her teeth.

Maxwell had always treated her like fragile glass. How could he possibly be this angry over something so trivial?

It was just a director with a bit of a reputation, right?

The industry was full of directors. She didn't need him.

But then reality set in—if Maxwell was genuinely pissed at her over this, it was a massive loss on her end.

After a brief internal struggle, Aria realized her only option was to leave for now.

Before stepping onto the elevator, she threw one last, longing glance at the heavy, closed office doors.

Meanwhile.

Lyra had practically torn the entire villa apart looking for the necklace.

She interrogated the staff again, but their answers remained a unified 'we haven't seen it.'

Just as she was hitting a wall of despair, the doorbell downstairs chimed.

It was too early in the day for Maxwell to be home, so she didn't give it a second thought and kept rummaging through the bedroom.

She had spent the entire day turning the massive house upside down.

Bang—

The moment the bedroom door swung open, Lyra's guard instantly shot up. She spun around, locking eyes with Maxwell as he strolled into the room.

For a split second, the air was dead silent.

Lyra was the first to scowl and avert her gaze.

By the time he finished speaking, he was standing right in front of her, looking down into her face.

During the days she had been away from him, her mood had clearly lightened. Freed from his constant, suffocating hostility, she practically glowed. Her luminous skin and stunning features were breathtaking.

This was the first time in their years of marriage that Maxwell truly looked at her.

Her beauty was far superior to Aria's.

It was the very reason his wealthy friends only ever mocked her desperate attempts to marry him, but never once dared to question her looks.

Noticing him zoning out, Lyra furrowed her brow and said coldly, "There is nothing left for us to talk about. Just sign the divorce papers. You go your way, and I'll go mine."

Wasn't that the perfect solution for everyone?

She honestly couldn't comprehend what was stopping him. They were already at the point of no return.

"Maxwell, I have never once joked with you about this."