The call connected, and Aaron's cheeky voice came through.

"Give Selena something to do," Lucas said coldly.

"Hmm?" Aaron asked, puzzled. "What did she do to provoke you? Let me guess, she's advising Aveline to leave you, isn't she?"

Lucas' eyes turned icy. "You're quite perceptive."

Aaron retorted, "Hey, you're asking me for a favor. Could you at least be a bit more polite?"

"Oh, you're really perceptive."

Aaron sighed. "Fine, fine. I know I'll never hear a kind word from you, but don't worry. I'll take care of it."

Lucas acknowledged, "Keep an eye on things over there too."

"Don't worry, everything's under control," Aaron reassured.

"Good."Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

After finishing her morning routine, Aveline came out to find breakfast already delivered by the hotel. They ate together before heading to the hospital. Lucas needed his arm re-bandaged and to receive injections. Aveline couldn't bear to watch, turning her face away when the bandages were removed. Lucas stared at her, his lips pressed into a straight line.

As they left the hospital, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and saw it was Russell calling.

Aveline answered immediately, "Hello, Russ."

Russell's pleasant voice came through, "I heard you're back in Arthur Town. What's going on?"

Sensing the concern in his tone, Aveline casually replied, "Yes, there's some business to take care of here. Once it's settled, I'll leave."

Russell leisurely remarked, "Is Lucas keeping you tied up? At the Johnson family banquet, he couldn't hide the murderous look in his eyes when he saw me."

Aveline chuckled. "Really, it's nothing, Russ. Thank you for thinking of me."

Russell laughed softly, "Of course, I think of you. You're my only female friend, after all."

After a pause, Russell continued, "If you need anything, just call me. Even though I'm not in the country, I can still help."

Aveline felt touched by his words. "Got it, thanks, Russ."

Russell added, "Don't mention it. Honestly, the thing I miss most while being abroad is your cooking. The food here is just terrible."

Meanwhile, Lucas' face had darkened considerably as he watched Aveline's prolonged conversation with another man. Seeing that they had no intention of ending the call, he suddenly reached out, grabbed her chin, and forced her to turn toward him.

He kissed her directly on the lips.

"Mmm...," Aveline's unfinished sentence turned into a muffled sound. of surprise.

Her eyes widened, and she quickly ended the call. She pushed him away and wiped her lips furiously. "What are you doing?"

Lucas fixed her with a cold stare, his voice dropping to a serious tone. Flirting with another man right in front of me, Aveline, I'm not invisible, you know?"

Aveline was flabbergasted by his behavior,

She couldn't understand his train of thought.

Taking a deep breath, Aveline said, Since we can't stand each other, why don't we just get divorced now? That way, we won't interfere in each other's lives."

Lucas let out a derisive laugh. "Back then, I had someone deliver a divorce agreement to you every day, and you refused. Now you want a divorce? Aveline, do you think the world revolves around you?" "You!" Aveline's chest heaved with anger. If she had known things. would turn out this way, she would have...