Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 237

hapter 207 Provocation

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Chapter 202: Provocation

(Author’s POV)

“Tomorrow,” William said, “you will behave yourself. Jasper’s wedding is a family matter. Whatever you

think of it, you will not make a scene. You will not embarrass this family.”

Phineas set the chess piece down. “And if I do?”

“Then you’ll answer to me.”

“I’m not planning to embarrass anyone.” Phineas picked up another piece. “I can promise you that much.”

“That’s not reassuring. That’s exactly the kind of thing you say before everything goes sideways.”

“Father.” Phineas looked up. “Tomorrow, the person leaving that venue in disgrace will not be me. I can

guarantee it.”

William’s eyes narrowed. “What are you planning?”

“Nothing specific.” Phineas set the piece down and straightened. “I’ll read the room. I’m always perfectly

composed. It’s everyone else you should be worried about.”

William stared at him. “I want to know what you’re walking in there with. Give me something. I need to be

prepared.”

“I told you. I haven’t decided yet.”

“Phineas-”

“I’ll be fine.” He said it with the easy certainty of someone who had already run the numbers and liked the outcome. “The question is whether everyone else will be.”

William pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. He thought, not for the first time, that if he had simply taken the time months ago to understand what was actually happening between Phineas and Aurora, he might not be sitting here now, completely in the dark about his own son’s intentions.

Eleanor, who had been sitting in the armchair by the window with a book she hadn’t been reading for the

past twenty minutes, looked up.

“This is your own fault,” she said pleasantly. “You meddled. You moved pieces on a board you didn’t understand. Now he’s three moves ahead of you and you’re upset about it.” She turned a page. “I don’t know why you’re surprised.”

William turned to look at her.

She smiled and went back to her book.

After dinner, Phineas sent a message.

*Had a few drinks. Can you come get me?*

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6. Свартет 202 Provocation

Aurora’s reply came back in under a minute.

*On my way.*

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Phineas told his father, without particular emphasis, that he was waiting for his wife. Then he walked out

to the back garden, unclipped Ruby from her lead by the kennel, and let the dog run loose across the lawn

while the evening settled in around them.

Ruby was an Alaskan Malamute – large, thick–coated, and entirely convinced that every human being on

the property existed solely for her benefit. She was four years old and had been acquired at a specific

moment in family history.

Serena came through the side gate a few minutes later, still in her coat, and stopped when she saw

Phineas.

“You’re still here,” she said.

“I live here.”

“I thought you’d gone back to the city.” She hesitated. “I was at Sienna’s. For the bridesmaid fitting.”

Phineas glanced at her. “Second time being bridesmaid at the same person’s wedding,” he said. “That’s a

rare experience.”

Serena opened her mouth, closed it again, and decided not to pursue it. She knew perfectly well that her

uncle had never had any patience for Sienna, and she wasn’t going to defend the friendship tonight.

“I’m going to bed early,” she said. “Big day tomorrow.”

She went inside.

Ruby trotted back across the grass and pressed her nose against Phineas’s hand.

(Aurora’s POV)

The estate gates were already open when I pulled in. I parked near the garden path and got out, and

Phineas was right there – standing on the lawn with an enormous dog at his side that I had never seen

before.

The dog looked at me with great interest and immediately started in my direction.

“That’s Ruby,” Phineas said.

I crouched down. Ruby shoved her face directly into my hands, tail sweeping back and forth.

“She’s enormous,” I said.

“She’s friendly.” He watched her. “I got her a few years ago. My parents were pushing hard for me to settle down and I needed something to redirect their energy. Told them to focus on the dog for a while.”

I laughed despite myself. “Did it work?”

“For about six months.”

Chapter 202 Provocation

I scratched behind Ruby’s ears and she leaned into it with complete shamelessness.

Phineas looked down at the two of us.

“Ruby,” he said, in a perfectly conversational tone, “this is your mom.”

My hands went still.

I looked up.

He was watching me with that expression he sometimes had – calm, certain, like he’d already decided

something and was simply waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.

My heart did something completely unreasonable.

I stood up, looked somewhere past his left shoulder, and said, “We should head back.”

We said goodbye to Ruby and walked toward the car. I was already pulling out my keys.

“Where’s your driver?” I asked.

“Night off. Family thing.”

I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

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Something nagged at me as I pulled out of the gate. Phineas’s driver had mentioned his daughter last week – she was in second grade. What kind of sudden family emergency came up on a Tuesday night?

I kept the thought to myself and drove.

Behind us, up on the second–floor terrace, Serena stood with her hands on the railing and watched the car disappear down the drive. She’d caught a glimpse of the passenger side – a woman’s silhouette, dark hair,

familiar posture.

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