After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back (Aveline and Lucas)

"I don't know," Aveline said softly, her voice filled with confusion.

She had no idea why Russell had done something like that.

Selena watched her closely and asked, "Now that you know, what are you going to do?"

Aveline closed her eyes for a moment. "What can I do? He's helped me so many times before. Even though he's done this and I now understand his feelings, I can't do anything about it."

Selena gently patted her shoulder, letting out a sigh. "Then maybe it's best to do nothing... Pretend like you never knew him."

Aveline didn't respond, but the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. Her face had turned pale, and the weight of the situation clearly burdened her.

Selena, feeling a deep sympathy for her friend, wasn't sure what else to say.

"I don't really understand," Selena continued. "If he liked you, why didn't he just confess and compete fairly? Instead, he married Rina. I have no idea what he's thinking."

Aveline suddenly recalled something Aaron had once told her-Russell had married Rina to solidify his control over the Skyler family...

"Forget it. Let's not think about it anymore," Aveline said, her voice weary. "Like you said, let's just act as if we never knew him."

Selena nodded and didn't press further.

...

Back in Cloudflare City, Lucas had been in surgery for hours. He finally emerged, but the bullet had been dangerously close to his heart. Though the surgery was successful, he was still not out of danger and needed to be monitored in the ICU. Desmond stood by, his expression heavy with concern, as he looked at Aaron and asked, "Mr. Fletcher, should we inform Mrs. Tudor?"

Aaron's face was tense as he stared at the ICU doors. "Yes, we need to tell her. She should know about Lucas's condition."

Desmond nodded and pulled out his phone to call Aveline.

At the same moment, Aveline received an anonymous email. The message contained a detailed list of Lucas's subordinates and their territories. Aveline frowned, unsure why someone would send her such information, but then she saw a familiar name.

Maria.

And under Maria's name were Brian, Baron, and Braden...

Aveline's brows furrowed as she scrolled through Maria's personal details.

It was the same Maria she knew.

She couldn't believe it-Maria had been working for Lucas all along.

And she had been in Aveline's life for so long, even becoming her boss.

Aveline had trusted her, considered her a friend...

But it was all a lie.

Maria was working for Lucas. Her presence in Aveline's life had been nothing but a deception. It wasn't hard to figure out why Lucas had placed her there she was meant to spy on her.

Aveline closed her eyes, her face paling as the realization sank in. His promise echoed in her mind, the one where he swore he'd never deceive her again. She could still picture the warmth in his eyes, the sincerity in his voice... and she had believed

him.

But now?

He had hidden such a huge lie from her.

M'

Why hadn't he told her? Did he intend to keep Maria around to monitor her forever?

A wave of pain spread through her chest, and her hand instinctively rested on her stomach. Though still flat, she knew there was a new life growing inside her.

Her voice was dry as she whispered to herself, "Baby, your daddy lied to mommy again. Do you think I should forgive him?"

Of course, the tiny life within her offered no answer, and the room fell into an eerie silence.

Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen-Desmond was calling.

Without hesitation, Aveline ended the call and powered off her phone.

Pet

He had left without a word, disappearing for days without any explanation, and now he had Desmond calling on his behalf? What was he trying to say?

She didn't want to hear it.

She didn't want to see him.

...Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Desmond stared at the disconnected call, confused.

Aaron glanced over. "What happened?"

"Mrs. Tudor didn't answer my call," Desmond replied, bewildered.

Come to think of it, he couldn't recall having done anything to upset Aveline.

The only person who might have done something was Lucas himself.

Desmond sighed, his face crestfallen. "Mr. Tudor, what have you done to upset Mrs. Tudor again? Now I'm the one facing her wrath..."