The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172-2

Gemma’s POV

The familiar scent of sizzling garlic and chili oil makes the place warm and inviting as ever, as we take our seats at the wobbly plastic table.

The plastic stools creak under our weight, and the neon sign above casts erratic shadows over Jace’s sharp profile. It feels like college again, when life was so much simpler.

Jace tears open the wrapper of his disposable chopsticks, offering me one.

“This stall hasn’t changed at all…”

I smile faintly, dipping a dumpling into the soy sauce.

“Yeah, we used to come here after pulling all–nighters… and Zina would always announce her plans to open up a competing spot across the road!”

“Shh, you’ll summon her again.”

I laugh, and we eat in silence for a few minutes before I break it, bringing up the rooftop mess without thinking.

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“That roofton tonight… with Revna. That wasn’t just bad luck.

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He doesn’t even flinch.

“No, just a coincidence.”

“Seriously?”

Lucky Draw

Jace shrugs, and I feel like there is something more behind his calm voice, but I let it drop.

Instead, I pivot, bringing up the job that I’ve been meaning to talk to him about.

“By the way, the client’s data was garbage. If I’d brute–forced it, we would be exposed.”

Jace doesn’t respond. He pulls a slim portable keyboard from his jacket, plugs it into his phone. I don’t even have time to warn him about my concerns before his fingers are flying across the keys.

“What are you—”

“Watch.”

A dozen lines of code flash on the screen, until there is a satisfying match–feels just like a door unlocking with the right key amongst thousands of others.

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In less than a minute, he has cracked into the defense network

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I look at him, impressed.

That fast?

You used to be faster.

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I freeze, even though he didn’t say it as an insult. Just a fact, but it was enough to shake me.

He’s right. Somewhere along the line, I let Moonlight go soft. He unplugs the keyboard and tucks it away. “Don’t second–guess yourself, Gemma. You’re Moonlight, so don’t forget the only advice you gave me when I first started. Just be yourself, and you’ll find how easily doors open for you.”

I gulp, letting the words sink in. This is when the stall auntie drops off drinks, and Jace swiftly swaps the iced wine I ordered with a warm bottle of juice.

“Hey! Why did you do that!? I’m not going to get drunk and climb on a roof-”

“No, it’s not because of that.”

“So-?”

I question, and he turns several shades of red.

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Your… um… it’s better to drink something warm, it will suit

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I nearly choke on my dumpling.

“Wow, Jace. Where did you come from, the 1920’s!?”

His ears turn red, but his expression doesn’t change.

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“You get migraines when it’s cold, and the menstrual cycle-”

“How cute, you still won’t say the word period!” I giggle, “But seriously, it’s very thoughtful. Is that how you’ve been taking care of your girlfriends?”

He looks down, fiddling with the bottle cap. “I… actually, Gemma, I… have never been in a relationship.”

I nearly choke on my drink. Why the hell did I have to touch on his insecurities just because I was feeling too awkward to address mine? God, Gemma!

“Well, that’s completely fine, too! You know what, innocence is actually in high demand these days, girls like pure and simple men who don’t have a history of breaking hearts just for entertainment—”

I say, trying to lighten the mood.

“So, do you like pure and simple men too?”

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The dumpling I’m chewing on suddenly feels like a rock. Where

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“1–uh-”

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Before I can find something witty yet nonchalant to reply with, my phone buzzes on the table.

Cassian’s name flashes on the screen, turning all the awkwardness into anger.

I flip it over, but it starts ringing again, seconds before the last call was disconnected.

Of course, it’s Cassian again.

Jace raises an eyebrow, looking at my phone.

“You’re not gonna answer?”

“Nope!” I say, hitting decline, then turning off the screen. “I don’t want to deal with him right now.”

On the third try, I grit my teeth and shove the phone into my bag like it’s on fire. Jace says nothing, but his gaze lingers on me for a few moments too long.

3 AM crawls in by the time we finish eating, and we amble towards the curb in silence. The streets are quieter now, most vendors packing up for the night. Jace walks close by, his hand hovering near mine. Finally, I can’t bear it anymore.

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<Chapter 172-2

“I’ll bring dessert-”

Lucky Draw

He is in the middle of his sentence when a loud screech rips through the calm. A black sedan swerves to a halt, so close that it sends dust up in our faces.

I barely have time to react before Cassian storms out of the car, looking like he is the manifestation of a thunderstorm and not a human.

In two long strides, he’s in front of me, and before I can step back, he yanks me away from Jace’s side, gripping my wrist tight.

“You didn’t answer my calls…”

He growls, making a shiver run up my spine. “Just to have junk food with him?”

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