Marry Ex's Billionaire Uncle After Divorce (Aurora and Jasper) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 29: I’m Not Acting Out

(Aurora’s POV)

We returned to the private room of the Michelin–starred restaurant. Phineas pulled out my chair before taking his own seat. He handed me the menu.

“Order whatever you like,” he said.

I opened the heavy leather folio. It was a ladies‘ menu. There were no prices listed next to the

dishes.

My stomach tightened. I did a quick mental calculation based on the reputation of this place. The final bill would likely be astronomical.

I took a breath. I had offered to pay, so I had to commit.

“I’ll have the Filet Mignon and the Truffle Risotto,” I told the waiter, keeping my voice steady.

Phineas glanced at the waiter. “Add the Escargots for an appetizer and the Chocolate Soufflé for dessert. And a bottle of sparkling water.”

The waiter offered a perfect, practiced smile and retreated. The heavy door clicked shut.

Silence filled the room. We sat opposite each other, the candlelight flickering between us. The atmosphere shifted from polite to slightly suffocating. We were essentially strangers sharing an intimate space.

Fortunately, the service was impeccable. The appetizers arrived within minutes, breaking the

tension.

We ate quietly. The clinking of silver against china was the only sound.

“How are you settling in at the lab?” Phineas asked suddenly.

I paused, fork halfway to my mouth. It felt less like a dinner date and more like a performance review with the CEO. And I was paying for the privilege.

“It’s going well,” I said politely. “The team is efficient.”

I took a sip of water. I couldn’t help myself. “Regarding the gala the other night,” I started,

looking him in the eye. “The man on the terrace wasn’t your brother Arthur.”

Phineas didn’t flinch. He sliced his steak with surgical precision.

“Is that so?” he asked.

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Chapter 29 I’m Not Acting Out

“You know it is,” I said. “You covered for them.”

He finally looked up. His expression was calm, unbothered.

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“I saw the suit from a distance and assumed it was Arthur,” he explained smoothly. “When I got closer, I heard the voice. I realized my mistake.”

He took a bite of his steak.

“But they had already entered the terrace,” he continued. “If we had walked out then, we would have exposed a private affair. It would have been… untidy.”

I stared at him. He was lying through his teeth, and he did it with absolute conviction.

He set down his knife and fork. “Are you angry?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” I replied, dabbing my mouth with a napkin.

“Good,” Phineas said. He signaled for the check. “This meal is on me. Consider it an apology.”

“But I said-”

“You can treat me next time,” he interrupted. His tone was final.

I looked at his grey eyes. There was an authority there that brooked no argument. I found myself nodding before I could stop myself.

After dinner, I accepted his offer for a ride. The black Maybach glided through the city streets and pulled up smoothly in front of my apartment complex.

“Thank you, Mr. Everett,” I said.

I stepped out into the cool night air. I wrapped my coat tighter around myself and walked toward the entrance.

I didn’t turn around. Yet, I could feel his gaze on my back. It was heavy, scorching, and possessive. It felt like a physical weight pressing against my spine.

I walked through the revolving glass doors. I glanced back. Only then did the dark car slowly pull away from the curb.

I let out a breath and turned toward the elevators.

A figure stepped out from the shadows near the mailboxes. I nearly collided with him.

It was Jasper.

My heart didn’t race. I didn’t feel fear. I just felt a wave of exhaustion. I rolled my eyes so hard

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Chapter 29: I’m Not Acting Out

it actually hurt.

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“Finally,” Jasper said. His voice was raspy. He looked terrible, his shirt wrinkled and his eyes bloodshot. “How long are you going to keep this up?”

“Keep what up?” I asked, stepping around him to press the elevator button.

“I’ve been waiting here for two hours,” he snapped. “I tried to settle this through the lawyers, but you refused. Now you’re hiding?”

“I’m not hiding,” I said coldly. “I have a life.”

A breeze drifted through the lobby as the doors opened. Jasper stiffened. He leaned in, sniffing the air near my shoulder.

His expression twisted into a scowl.

“Oud and Bergamot,” he muttered. He looked at me with accusation burning in his eyes. “That’s a man’s cologne. An expensive one.”

He grabbed my arm. “Who were you with? Why do you smell like another man?”

My pulse spiked, but I kept my face blank. He couldn’t have seen Phineas.

“I don’t answer to you,” I said. “We are in the middle of a divorce. My schedule, and my choice of fragrance, is none of your business.”

Jasper’s grip tightened painfully. His face darkened.

“Stop acting out, Aurora!” he shouted. The sound echoed in the empty lobby.

I snapped.

I ripped my wrist from his grip with a violent jerk.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” I hissed. I stepped into his personal space, glaring up at him. “I am not ‘acting out,‘ Jasper. I am leaving you. There is a difference.”

He looked stunned.

“You should go to Hollywood,” I mocked him. “Your acting skills are wasted as a CEO. You look so genuinely surprised.”

“Aurora-”

“The divorce papers are on the nightstand in the master bedroom,” I cut him off. “They have been there since I left. Stop pretending you don’t know.”

Chapter 29 I’m Not Acting Out

it actually hurt.

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“Finally,” Jasper said. His voice was raspy. He looked terrible, his shirt wrinkled and his eyes bloodshot. “How long are you going to keep this up?”

“Keep what up?” I asked, stepping around him to press the elevator button.

“I’ve been waiting here for two hours,” he snapped. “I tried to settle this through the lawyers, but you refused. Now you’re hiding?”

“I’m not hiding,” I said coldly. “I have a life.”

A breeze drifted through the lobby as the doors opened. Jasper stiffened. He leaned in, sniffing the air near my shoulder.

His expression twisted into a scowl.

“Oud and Bergamot,” he muttered. He looked at me with accusation burning in his eyes. “That’s a man’s cologne. An expensive one.”

He grabbed my arm. “Who were you with? Why do you smell like another man?”

My pulse spiked, but I kept my face blank. He couldn’t have seen Phineas.

“I don’t answer to you,” I said. “We are in the middle of a divorce. My schedule, and my choice of fragrance, is none of your business.”

Jasper’s grip tightened painfully. His face darkened.

“Stop acting out, Aurora!” he shouted. The sound echoed in the empty lobby.

I snapped.

I ripped my wrist from his grip with a violent jerk.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” I hissed. I stepped into his personal space, glaring up at him. “I am not ‘acting out,’ Jasper. I am leaving you. There is a difference.”

He looked stunned.

“You should go to Hollywood,” I mocked him. “Your acting skills are wasted as a CEO. You look so genuinely surprised.”

“Aurora-”

“The divorce papers are on the nightstand in the master bedroom,” I cut him off. “They have been there since I left. Stop pretending you don’t know.”

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<Chapter 29 I’m Not Acting Out

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