Selena laughed. "Don't worry, that jerk can't outplay me. When I get bored, I'll just kick him to the curb."

Aveline had a nagging feeling of concern. The last thing she wanted was for Selena to push Aaron too far, as he could be even worse than Lucas.

She voiced her concern, "Just be careful, okay?"

Selena replied, "Alright, alright, I know."

Aveline said, "I won't keep you from your work. You go ahead, and I'll hang up now."

"Love you."

Aveline returned to the studio, her entire demeanor changed.

Sidney was the first to notice, smiling as he asked, "What's got you so happy?"

Aveline was surprised. "Is it that obvious?"Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Sidney nodded, "Very obvious. You usually don't smile at work, but today you're beaming."

Aveline touched her face and then said, "Well, I've signed some big contracts. We're about to make a fortune, so of course, I'm happy."

Sidney said, "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Aveline smiled slightly and turned to open her computer.

She glanced around the office and noticed that Maria was absent today, but she didn't think much of it and started working.

At the hospital.

Lucas tossed the divorce certificate onto Barbara's lap and pulled a chair over to sit by the bed. "Are you satisfied now?" Barbara picked up the divorce certificate and squinted at it, a smile spreading

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across her face. "Good, this is how things should be. Everything is back on track."

Lucas, however, said coolly, "You used to be very kind to Aveline."

Barbara's hand holding the divorce certificate paused slightly.

Lucas continued, "There was a time when you got lost, and it was Aveline who found you and took you to the hospital. From that moment, you accepted her, calling her your granddaughter-in-law every time you saw her. She's an orphan, and she treated you like her own grandmother."

Seeing Barbara's stiff expression, Lucas lips curled into a mocking smile. "But you said many hurtful things to her. Being stabbed in the back by someone she considered family must have been very painful for her."

Barbara placed the divorce certificate aside and sighed, "So, I'm the one who wronged her? Did she ask you to say these things?"

Lucas, surprised by her question, looked at her in disbelief. "Grandma, she agreed to the divorce without hesitation. She took whatever I gave her and didn't demand anything more. Why do you think she is a scheming, manipulative woman?"

Barbara stayed quiet, her face tense. She'd seen too many schemes in her younger days, and it was hard for her to trust a girl from a humble background becoming Lucas' wife. But now she was starting to think she might have been

wrong.

Lucas said in a deep voice, "I've divorced, but as for marrying Sophia, don't push me. Let's each take a step back and give each other some space. Even if you push me too hard, I'll always have a grandmother, but you might lose your only grandson."

Who couldn't issue threats?

Barbara relied on Lucas's respect for her.

But what if he stopped respecting her? What then?

Barbara looked at him in shock. "Lucas, how did you become like this?"

Lucas replied, "Didn't you say I've matured?"