Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 219

Chapter 184: Five Hundred Thousand

(Aurora’s POV)

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I went to change back into my regular clothes. When I came out, Tiffany had already taken the shot – the

two of us from behind, my gown spreading across the floor in those layered folds, Phineas standing

beside me with his hand at the small of my back. The composition was almost annoyingly perfect.

Phineas told her to send it to me first, then to him.

I didn’t think much of it at the time.

(Author’s POV)

By the time Aurora was halfway through changing, Phineas had already opened i********•.

He posted the photo with four words: *Does this look right?*

Within twenty minutes, Serena was staring at her phone with her head tilted at an angle, trying to figure out

why the woman’s silhouette looked familiar. She gave up trying to place it and went straight to Eleanor.

“Gran, who is she? Uncle Phineas actually posted something. He never posts anything.”

Eleanor looked at the photo. She knew exactly who it was. She had also promised her son she would say nothing, because the last thing any of them needed was for Jasper to hear about this before the wedding

and decide to make it complicated.

“You’ll find out at the wedding,” she said pleasantly.

“That’s not helpful.”

“It’s not meant to be.” Eleanor glanced at Serena over the top of her reading glasses. “Speaking of weddings – have you given any more thought to Dr. Sloan?”

Serena was already backing toward the door. “I just remembered I have a call.”

“You don’t have a call.”

“I definitely have a call.” She was gone.

Eleanor looked back at the photo on her phone. She shook her head slowly, and the expression on her

face landed somewhere between fond and exasperated.

*You couldn’t wait,* she thought. *You absolute showoff.*

Gavin saw the post eleven seconds after Serena did. He left a comment immediately: *Are you actually

planning a wedding or is this a joke?*

Patrick called him directly.

“Did you see what he posted?”

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Chapter 184 Five Hundred Thousand

“I commented on it,” Gavin said.

Claim

“He didn’t warn any of us. We’ve been using him as our excuse for years – ‘even Phineas is still single, give me a break‘ – and now he just goes and does this without a single word?”

“You could just tell your family you’re not ready.”

“That’s not how my family works and you know it.” Patrick’s voice dropped. “He’s lost his mind. Something

happened to him. He’s not the same person.”

Gavin leaned back in his chair. “He seems pretty happy to me.”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

“I’ll be his best man,” Gavin said. “You can take your grievances up with him at the reception.”

Patrick made a sound that was not quite a word and hung up.

In the car leaving Tiffany’s studio, Phineas mentioned casually that they should visit Professor Walsh

sometime soon. A proper visit.

Aurora turned to look at him. “You mean your uncle.”

“He’s your mentor first.”

“You’re framing this as a surprise.”

“I am.”

“Phineas.” She studied his face. “When you say surprise, what you mean is that he doesn’t know we’re

coming.”

“He’ll be pleased.”

“He’ll be alarmed.”

“Same thing, with Walsh.” He glanced at her. “It’ll be fine.”

Aurora faced forward again. “It’s going to be a disaster,” she said, with the calm of someone who had

already accepted it.

(Author’s POV)

Sienna had been planning the wedding for less than a week, and she’d already made up her mind about

the dress.

She’d found it online – a strapless gown with a cathedral train and hand–sewn beading across the bodice. She looked up the studio address and went in person, because she preferred to look at things directly

when she wanted them.

The shop assistant greeted her at the door.

“The one in the window,” Sienna said. “I want that one.”

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Chapter 184 Five Hundred Thousand

“I’m so sorry, that piece has already been reserved by another client.”

Sienna looked at her. “I’ll pay one hundred thousand.”

“It’s not a matter of price-”

“One–fifty.”

“Ma’am-”

“Two hundred thousand.” Her voice didn’t change. “Go get your manager.”

Clai

The assistant disappeared into the back. The woman who came out was not what Sienna had expected.

Tiffany stopped in the doorway. Her face went very still.

Sienna recovered first. She rearranged her expression into something warm and reached out a hand. “Tiffany. I didn’t realize this was your place. We’re practically family-”

“The divorce papers are signed,” Tiffany said. Her voice was quiet and completely flat. “We’re waiting on

the court’s final ruling. Don’t call me that.”

Sienna’s smile flickered. She adjusted. “I just meant – we’ve known each other a long time. Five hundred

thousand. For the dress. That should be more than enough to keep a boutique like this running for a while.”

“The dress has an owner.”

“Everything has a price.”

Tiffany looked at her without blinking. “Not in my studio.” She tilted her head slightly. “I spent years watching how the Rathbone family operates. I finally understand why the business keeps shrinking. You don’t treat contracts like they mean anything. You treat them like obstacles.”

Sienna’s expression hardened. “Be very careful about what you say to me. I can make things difficult for you. A bad review campaign, a licensing complaint – it wouldn’t take much.”

“Then do it,” Tiffany said simply. “The dress still won’t be yours.”

“You-”

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