The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 65

Ava’s POV-

“Come on, Lilian, don’t be a bore. Have another drink!” Isabella shouted, her voice just barely rising above the pounding music in the bar.

I sighed, mudging the glass back toward her. “Maybe you need to ease up on the drinks, Bels.”

“What are you talking about? I’m fine.” She grinned, swaying slightly. “See? Look how sober I am– how many fingers am I holding up right now?”

She held up her index finger in front of my face, but I just rolled my eyes, pushing her hand away with a bit more force than necessary. “It’s “You don’t feel anything anymore. Lilian,” she drawled, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “When did you become such a bore? But you know There was something too knowing in her gaze, and a prickle of suspicion crept up my spine. I eyed her warily. “Bels, what did you do?

Before she could answer, the air around us changed. I felt it, like a wave of energy cutting through the crowded room. Instinctively, my gaze there he was-

Grayson. Our eyes met instantly, and for a brief, intense moment, everything else fell away. His stare pinned me to my spot, the force of it m Isabella tapped his shoulder as he approached, a wicked grin on her face. “She refused even one shot. Good luck with her, you’re going to i She blew me a teasing kiss and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me to face him alone. I glared at her retreating figure, but my attention He finally broke the silence. “Can I sit?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, the irritation building in my chest. It’s a free world, isn’t it? Do what you want.”

Without another word, he slid into the seat across from me, and 1 immediately turned my attention to the glass in front of me, determined n I shot him a look, arching an eyebrow. “It’s about women dancing naked with big assets. What exactly do you find “interesting?”

He tapped his fingers against the table, unbothered by my

sarcasm. Then he continued as if I hadn’t just dismissed him. “The weather’s nice tonight.”

I gave him a long, disbelieving stare, unable to hold back the laughter that bubbled up. “Okay, what is wrong with you? Why are you saying His expression didn’t change. “Isabella said they were good conversation starters.” He said the words like he didn’t believe he would ever h life.

I couldn’t hold back a laugh, even if it was tinged with disbelief. And why are you talking to my best friend?”

Grayson’s face hardened. “That’s not the point.”

I shook my head, giving up, “I don’t know why I’m even talking to you. You made it clear I’m nothing to you, and people who I am nothing to 09:28 Mon, Dec 16

I turned to leave, but his harul shot out, grasping my wrist. Theuch was electric, sending a shiver through me, but i yanked my hand awa you go back to being dead to me the divorce papers, sign them so I can get on with my life.”

He didn’t flinch, just looked at me steadily, his eyes hard and unyielding “I’m not going to sign them.”

I stopped dead, clenching my mean you’re not signing them? Don’t make this

fists as I turned back to him. “What

do you more complicated than it needs to be. Thank goodness the press hasn’t caught on yet; I don’t have the energy for a media

circus.”

He held my gaze, unfazed by my tone. “I’m not signing them because I don’t want a divorce.”

1 exhaled sharply, beyond exasperated. “That sounds

like a you problem. I stopped caring about what you want two months

ago, Grayson. Sign the papers and stay out of my life,”

I could feel my patience fraying, the frustration simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. Just being near him felt like being or

I felt Grayson’s gaze still on me, but I ignored him, my eyes scarining for any sign of her. Finally, I spotted Kim, one of the waitresses we kn “Hey. Kim, have you seen Bels?”

She nodded, looking amused. “Oh, yeah. She left with some guy. It was really intense. They were really getting into it.”

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