Urging Him to Get a Divorce novel Chapter 21

He caught up in a few strides. “Did my mom say something to Collin and Paulina?”

Aveline let out a dry laugh and didn’t break her stride. Shouldn’t he be asking his own mother that?

“That was last week,” she said, eyes fixed ahead.

He’d had days to sort this out. Now, instead of dealing with his family, he wanted answers from her?

Unbelievable.

Aveline’s lips thinned. The anger in her eyes spoke louder than words.

Xavier’s tone stayed breezy. “I just got back. I’m not sure what happened.”

She faced him, voice flat as glass. “Then make time to sign the divorce papers. Let’s just get this over with.”

When this was finished, his family could stop making her life miserable. Josephine could drop the performance.

Xavier kept his gaze on her. “Is this about the divorce papers?”

She shot him a look, then disappeared behind the restroom door without answering.

When she emerged, Xavier was there, leaning against the hallway wall, head lowered. His profile was sharp and strik- ing, like an ancient sculpture.

She’d moved on, but she had to admit he was still striking.

Maybe that was why she’d fallen so hard all those years ago.

Aveline was glad she woke up before it was too late.

She walked past, face unreadable. Xavier straightened and caught her gaze. “About the divorce agreement, I’ll talk to Leona. I’ll have the lawyer draw up a new one. It’ll be fair this time.”

Aveline paused, looking down. What did any of this have to do with Leona?

She didn’t want Xavier’s money anyway. What else did his family want? Robbing Aveline’s money?

She said nothing, and he took her silence for consent. “Come to the Beltran’s mansion tomorrow. We’ll talk to my mom there.”

The sharp click of heels echoed down the corridor.

Josephine appeared, shooting vicious glances at Aveline until Xavier looked her way, and her demeanor flipped in- stantly.

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If Xavier wanted to be fair, he could be. After everything she’d given him, it was the least she deserved.

Xavier expected her to walk into the Beltran’s mansion and smooth things over for Lauren? As if she were still the pushover she’d once been.

Without another word, she walked off.

Xavier trailed after.

Aveline strode right past Josephine, not even glancing her way.

She caught Josephine’s barely suppressed scoff behind her.

Josephine linked arms with Xavier, giving him a wounded pout. “You were gone so long–I thought you’d disap- peared.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

There was a trace of teasing in his voice.

Josephine let out a light laugh. “I need the restroom. Wait here for me?”

“Why?” he asked, bemused.

She pouted again. “What if some creepy guy shows up? I’ll feel safer knowing you’re outside.”

By then, Aveline was too far away to hear any more, and she didn’t care.

Once, she’d been terrified of public restrooms ever since she was harassed in high school.

After their engagement, she’d asked Xavier to wait outside for her, but he barely looked

“You really need someone to guard you while you’re in the bathroom? Don’t be silly.”

Aveline thought needing comfort was a weakness, so she forced herself to get over it.

And she did. Now, public restrooms didn’t scare her at all.

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She found it bemusing. Funny. She owed a little of her strength to Xavier, for better or worse.

Later, when Xavier and Josephine returned to the private room, Gerald spotted Xavier’s grim face. He couldn’t resist a chuckle.

“What happened? Bathroom showdown?”

Josephine shook her head, glancing at Xavier. “Nothing of the sort. We just ran into my sister.”

Gerald’s smile faded. He turned serious now. “You need to sign those papers and move on. Wrap this up.”

Xavier answered, voice flat. “That agreement’s not fair to her. We need a new one.”

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Chapter 21

Gerald snorted. “What, planning to give her half? She’s a liar. She’s not getting a penny.”

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Josephine shot him a withering look, then glanced at Xavier. His face gave nothing away. She lowered her gaze, un- readable.

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