Urging Him to Get a Divorce (Aveline and Xavier) novel Chapter 744

**A Divorce 744**

“Gerald: [Haha, Josephine is here too, you know. Are you sure you want to come?]”

The words hung in the air, a casual taunt that pricked at Xavier’s thoughts. His brow furrowed slightly as he mulled over Gerald’s insinuation. Why was that guy always lurking around Josephine? A flicker of jealousy ignited within him, but he quickly extinguished it. He had his own reasons for wanting to see Michelle, and nothing would deter him from that.

With a determined nod to himself, he decided he would go after all. He felt an urge to gauge Michelle’s reaction upon seeing him. Would she be surprised? Disappointed? Or perhaps, just perhaps, happy to see him?

“I’m heading out,” Xavier announced to Lauren, his tone flat but resolute. “I might be back late, so don’t wait up for me. Get some rest.”

Lauren looked up from her book, a hint of concern in her eyes. “Where are you going this late?”

“I have something to take care of,” he replied, his voice devoid of further explanation. He didn’t want to delve into the details, nor did he owe her any.

Once in the solitude of his bedroom, Xavier changed into a crisp, casual outfit that he hoped would convey a sense of purpose. He wanted to look good, to feel good. He called for Amy to drive him to the Velvet Club, the air thick with anticipation as he mentally prepared for the evening ahead.

Unbeknownst to him, Gerald had spun a web of deceit; Josephine wasn’t at the club at all. Instead, he and Fiona were nestled away in a private dining room, celebrating the successful conclusion of a significant case with a few clients and a partner from the law firm.

As Xavier approached, Gerald caught sight of him and felt a twinge of concern. He wanted to warn Josie about Xavier’s impending arrival, but then he hesitated. After all, Xavier had been giving her the cold shoulder lately. Maybe it was best to let the evening unfold without interference.

Fiona returned from the restroom, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Leaning in close to Gerald, she whispered, “Guess who I just saw?”

Gerald’s mind raced. “Xavier?”

Fiona’s expression shifted, a flicker of excitement crossing her face. “Xavier is coming over?”

“Ha! No wonder Josie is here too,” he muttered, a mix of irritation and disbelief washing over him. “Holy crap, if those two are going on a date, could they not be so blatant about it? Coming here, of all places, knowing I might run into them and spill the beans to Aveline.”

“Trying to keep Aveline happy while he can’t let go of Josie. What an asshole,” Fiona added, rolling her eyes.

“Wait, what do you mean? Josie is here?” Gerald’s surprise was palpable, his voice rising slightly.

Fiona scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips. “Yeah, you didn’t know? Stop pretending.”

“But since when did Leona’s husband become so close with Josie? I mean, they were even arm in arm!” Gerald’s confusion deepened, his mind racing to connect the dots.

Fiona dismissed his bewilderment, finding a seat and pulling out her phone. With a few taps, she sent a photo to Aveline, the caption reading, [Look who these two are.]

Aveline, upon receiving the image, recognized the pair immediately, her surprise evident. [Marcus and Josie?]

“Why are they arm in arm?” she pondered aloud, her mind swirling with questions.

Fiona replied, [Haha, look familiar, right? Arm in arm.]

As the evening wore on, the tension between the characters thickened, each of them navigating their own complex emotions and relationships, unaware of the impending collision that would soon unfold.

—

Regarding the matter of the project, Simon had broached the topic with Aveline, revealing that it was indeed Xavier’s idea.

Initially, Aveline had planned to return to the city, but the moment she learned it was tied to Xavier, her resolve wavered. The thought of him pestering her daily was not one she relished. Yet, her maternal grandparents were aging, and she longed to spend more time with them.

An idea sparked in her mind: perhaps she could invite her grandparents to live with her in the villa at Mount Ardwood while she worked on the amusement park project.

“I’ll think about it,” she replied to Fiona, her mind racing with possibilities.

Fiona’s response was immediate. “If it’s because of Xavier, I don’t think you need to worry. You’ll definitely be dealing with big corporations often when you take on projects in the future.”

“My brother mentioned that after you finish these two big projects with Crestmark and the, aside from major overseas corporations, probably only Crestmark and the will be able to afford you in the country. Other companies will have to see if they can even pay your fee if they want to hire you.”

Aveline responded thoughtfully, “Jasmine, Julian, and I don’t necessarily only take on big projects. As long as a project has merit, character, and allows us to showcase our strengths, we’ll take it.”

With the night unfolding, tensions simmered, and the stage was set for revelations and confrontations that would alter the dynamics of their relationships forever.