I Chose Me Over My Marriage novel Chapter 35

"Max, there's a mandatory waiting period for divorces now. You two could start the paperwork right away. It wouldn't interfere with the gala at all."

Aria made it sound as though she were solely concerned with his best interests, but her selfish motives were painfully obvious.

She just didn't dare be too aggressive about it.

The Maxwell sitting before her felt entirely unfamiliar.

And Aria's instincts were dead on.

Maxwell's expression grew dangerously opaque, leaving it unclear if he was mulling over her suggestion or second-guessing the divorce entirely.

"It's getting late. I'll have someone drive you home. Unless it's an emergency, stay away from the office for the next couple of days. I have corporate matters to handle."

"Max, I—"

Before she could finish, Maxwell was already helping her to her feet.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

He released her and turned his back, walking toward his desk.

Aria instinctively took a step after him, but quickly forced herself to stop.

A moment later, she bit her lower lip hard, turned around, and headed for the door.

She paused briefly at the threshold but ultimately didn't look back.

Pulling the door shut, Aria stood frozen in the hallway for a second. When she turned, she caught sight of Lyra stepping into an open elevator down the hall.

Across the distance, their eyes locked.

In the next heartbeat, Aria marched aggressively toward the elevators.

Just as the heavy metal doors began to slide shut, she squeezed her way inside.

Since it was the lunch hour, the car was completely empty.

In the quiet, enclosed space, it was just Lyra and Aria.

Without an audience to play to, Aria instantly dropped her pathetic facade.

It was only when a passing employee stepped toward the elevator that she frantically masked the pure venom in her eyes.

Lyra returned to her cubicle, took a moment to decompress, and then opened the file.

The single sheet of paper held only one core objective: convince Silas Chambers not to terminate his partnership with Maxwell.

And, if possible, ensure Aria was reinstated into the production.

Naturally, Lyra chose to completely ignore that second clause.

She pulled out her phone and dug up Silas's contact info. After a moment's thought, she decided against calling him directly and added his number on a messaging app instead.

She wasn't on a deadline, and her own interests weren't on the line anyway.

While she waited, a new message popped up on her screen.

It was from the divorce lawyer she had retained.

*[Based on the current situation, we can't force an immediate divorce. But if you're truly dead set on walking away with nothing, we can cite an irrevocable breakdown of the marriage.]*