Divorced

“Ave–Aveline?” Lucas called out, but there was no response from the other end. Only the sound of steady breathing reached his ears.

He chuckled softly, then put the phone on speaker, letting it stay connected. As he listened to her gentle breathing, the chaos in his mind gradually eased. If she were beside him right now, he thought, he might feel even more at peace.

The next morning, Aveline opened her eyes and instinctively reached for her phone to check her messages. To her surprise, the phone had shut off on its own.

Huh? What happened? Why did it turn off?

Confused, Aveline plugged it in to charge and waited for it to power back on. When it did, a flood of messages appeared, and she realized she had been on the phone with Lucas for four hours the previous night–from 3 a.m. until 7 a.m.!

Aveline stared at her phone in bewilderment.

A phone call? How was it possible she had no memory of it?

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Selena poked her head in and, seeing that Aveline was awake, said, “Hey, I bought breakfast. Come and

eat.”

“Oh, okay,” Aveline replied, still in a daze as she ran a hand through her hair and got up to wash.

When she came out, she asked, “Did I act weird last night? Like, did I do anything strange?”

Selena shook her head. “Nope, you were really well–behaved. You went to bed and fell asleep almost Immediately.”

Was that so? Then how had she ended up talking to Lucas for so long? The worst part was, she couldn’t remember a single thing she’d said.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Selena asked, “What’s up?”

Aveline shook her head, trying to brush off her confusion. “Nothing.”

After finishing her breakfast of fresh milk and pancakes, Aveline headed out for work. As she stepped into the elevator, she encountered Lucas. He was dressed in a sleek silver–gray suit, looking handsome and slightly wicked, exuding a cool, aristocratic aura.

Aveline glanced at him with suspicion but didn’t voice her thoughts.

Noticing her gaze, Lucas looked over at her. “Aveline, do you remember what you said last night?”

Aveline froze for a moment. So, she really had said things she shouldn’t have?

“I was drunk,” she replied, “I don’t remember.

Lucas‘ lips curled into a sly, mischievous smile. “It’s alright. I remember. I can help you recall.”

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“Tanter 676

“No need,” Aveline quickly refused. If she’d forgotten, there was no point in dredging it up.

Lucas gave her a long, intense look. “You said you love me, that you miss me.”

“That’s impossible,” Aveline denied his claim almost instantly. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

There was no way she would have said something like that.

But Lucas responded, “You also said you were drunk and forgot everything. So how do you know your didn’t say it?”

Aveline replied calmly, “Because I don’t like you. I don’t love you.”

Her tone was steady as if she were stating a simple fact.

However, Lucas‘ expression darkened, though only for a brief moment before he looked away. “I have a recording.

Aveline’s composed demeanor cracked. “What did you say?”

He had a recording? Did she really say those words to him? But how could that be possible? She didn’t love him anymore.

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Lucas stepped out.

Aveline quickly followed him. “Where’s the recording? I want to hear it.”

She couldn’t believe it without proof.

Lucas gave her a cool glance. “And why should I let you hear it? What if you try to destroy the evidence?”

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Aveline opened her mouth to argue, but Lucas had already gotten into his car and driven off, leaving her standing there, completely bewildered.