After finalizing the design plan with her client, Aveline Sutton stood up at her desk, flexed her stiff neck, and reached for her phone.

There was still no message from Xavier Beltran, her husband.

She knew he was on a business trip, but a "Happy Birthday" text would've only taken a few seconds.

A pang of frustration washed over her. She dropped the phone back onto the desk, unsure whether to go out for a solo dinner or simply order takeout.

Today was her twenty-third birthday. Settling for takeout felt a little pathetic.

Suddenly, her phone chimed. Her eyes lit up with surprise and hope, and she hurriedly snatched it up.

It was a message from her friend, Fiona Harmon.

Aveline let out a soft, self-mocking laugh and tapped to open it.

"Are you celebrating your birthday at the Beltran Hotel?"

Puzzled, Aveline replied, "No. I'm at home."

A moment later, Fiona sent her a photo. "Then why is Xavier with Josephine?"

Aveline's heart clenched. With trembling fingers, she zoomed in on the photo.

It had been taken in the grand lobby of the Beltran Hotel. There, in front of the elevator, stood Xavier side-by-side with Josephine Sutton—Aveline's half-sister. Xavier was tall and handsome, Josephine stunning and graceful. Together, they caught everyone's eyes.

Another message from Fiona buzzed through. "I thought you said you were spending your birthday with Xavier."

Instead of replying to Fiona, Aveline called Xavier.

He rejected her call after two rings.

A cold wave of despair washed over Aveline, but she refused to believe it. She sent him a text, "Where are you?"

She clutched the phone, her heart pounding. After what felt like an eternity, he finally texted her back, "On my business trip."

"Where? With whom?" she fired back instantly.

His reply came quickly this time. "Stop being so paranoid."

His words were a knife, twisting deep in her heart. "Are you with Josephine?"

One minute passed. Then two. Then ten. But her phone screen remained dark.

Aveline slid to the floor, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

Today was Josephine's birthday, too. So, Xavier had lied about a business trip to celebrate with her.

He even blamed Aveline for suspecting him, calling her paranoid.

Twenty minutes later, a blue Porsche screeched to an unsteady halt in front of the Beltran Hotel's entrance. Aveline got out and charged in.

"Ms. Sutton, you can't park the car here!"

Ignoring the valet's urgent call, Aveline dashed into an elevator whose doors were beginning to close just in time and pressed the button for the 18th floor.

Lauren Beltran, Xavier's mother, had always longed for a son. Xavier was her blessing after two daughters, and the moment he was born, she consulted a fortune teller, who declared that Xavier's lucky numbers were one and eight. From then on, whenever Xavier stayed in a hotel, it was always in Room 8 on the eighteenth floor.

And Room 1808 at the Beltran Hotel, the presidential suite, was permanently reserved for him.

As the elevator ascended, Aveline stood rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her face was pale as she stared at the numbers flashing overhead.

Soon, the elevator settled on the eighteenth floor. The moment the doors opened, she strode out into the corridor.

Standing outside Room 1808, she trembled slightly. She clenched her fists to steady herself before finally pressing the doorbell.

In the very next second, a familiar woman's voice floated through the door. "Darling, could you get that? It's probably room service."

Aveline bit her lip, recognizing the voice. It was Josephine, her half-sister, the daughter of the homewrecker whose actions drove Aveline's mother to her death out of anguish. Aveline could have recognized Josephine's voice out of a million.

The door opened, and there stood Xavier in a white bathrobe. His hair was damp and fluffy, exuding a pleasant shampoo smell, obviously just washed.

Aveline had always loved the scent after he came out of a shower. But now, it sent a deep pain through her heart.

Xavier was momentarily stunned when he saw Aveline. Then he frowned, the disgust on his handsome face undisguised.

He stepped out, closed the door behind him, and looked at her coldly. "You're over the line, Aveline. How dare you follow me?"

Seeing his betrayal with her own eyes, Aveline lost her last trace of hope.

How considerate of Xavier—he had even closed the door behind him, worried that she might lose control and charge inside to beat Josephine up.

Aveline had fallen for Xavier when she was just a teenage girl. Although he remained cold and distant toward her, she pursued him with relentless devotion.

She once saved Xavier's life, and ever since, his grandfather, Rupert Beltran, has viewed her as Xavier's lucky star and insisted that Xavier marry her.

Xavier never said no, which she interpreted as him being fine with the arrangement.

Later, Josephine and her mother, Courtney Kane, joined the Sutton family. And Xavier had acted intimately with Josephine since then. But yesterday, he still showed up at the City Hall and registered his marriage with Aveline.

Aveline had convinced herself that he was merely toying with Josephine's affections and had finally been moved by her own unwavering love. She thought he had chosen to build a life with her.

But now, she saw the truth. She had been lying to herself all along. She was nothing but a joke.

However, she still couldn't help but ask, "Who's in there?"

Xavier responded with silence, his gaze seeming to say, "You know the answer."

She let out a desperate, sarcastic laugh.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xavier's face. Then he frowned, probably annoyed by her laugh. "Go home and wait for me there," he said.

With that, he raised his hand, trying to pat her shoulder.

Xavier would tear down Aveline's pride, then casually say a few meaningless words, and she'd forgive him. The routine was sickeningly familiar to Aveline.

He acted however he pleased, confident that Aveline would never leave him.

The old her would have swallowed her pride and her tears, wrapping her arms around him and pleading with him to stop being so cold. She'd even lied that she believed him so that he'd come home with her.

However, he had never been touched or felt sorry for her. Instead, he'd always push her away and scold her for being unreasonable.

But this time, she curled her lips into a cold laugh, shoved him away hard, and turned to leave.

Behind her, Josephine opened the door and asked, "Darling? What are you doing outside? I thought it was room service."

"Someone got the wrong room," Xavier replied. "Let's go inside."

The door was closed.

Aveline stood in front of the elevator, her heartache almost killing her. The elevator doors opened, then closed.

On her way home, her phone rang. She glanced down at it through her tears. It was a call from Fiona.

She let it ring out, and when it fell silent, a text followed.

She didn't check it until she was finally home. "Are you OK?" Fiona had asked.

She wasn't OK. She was far from it. Five years of loving Xavier so completely had brought her nothing but agony.

The marriage license on the nightstand seemed to glare up at her, as did the photo beside it. Aveline picked up the frame. In it, she was smiling a sweet, hopeful smile, her upper body leaning into Xavier—the very picture of a woman yearning to be close to the man she loved.

But Xavier's face was cold and stern, his expression a stark, silent rejection.

She gradually drifted off to sleep. When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the floor, the photo clutched in her arms.

Sunlight streamed through the window and flooded the room. It was the next day, and Xavier still hadn't returned.

The previous night, he had bundled her off home with a single, terse sentence—probably because he didn't want her to make a scene at the hotel and spoil his perfect, memorable night with Josephine.

In a trance, Aveline picked up her phone. There were no missed calls, no new messages.

Clutching at one last shred of hope, she called Parkview Estates, the home she was supposed to share with Xavier.

The maid, Helena Lavoie, answered. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Beltran," she said. "Mr. Beltran didn't come home last night. To be honest, I've barely seen him this past month."

Aveline wasn't surprised.

She hung up.

She had personally selected the villa at Parkview Estates, overseeing every detail of its design and decoration. It was completed a month ago. She had to beg Xavier before he would even come back to take a brief look.

He hadn't been back to their home—or to her. So, he was still with Josephine.

The deepest hurt eventually numbed the soul.

A heart could only break so many times before it couldn't be mended.

Aveline's was shattered beyond repair.

She called Fiona, who answered almost immediately, and said, "Fiona, I want a divorce. Please draft a divorce agreement for me."

After telling Fiona what had happened, Aveline hung up, freshened up, and then took out her suitcase to pack her belongings.

Compared to the villa in Parkview Estates, the apartment in Winslow Heights wasn't exactly spacious—it was just over two hundred square meters. Xavier, a man who cherished his solitude, had lived here alone. A year ago, upon her graduation and their engagement, Lauren—already considering Aveline her future daughter-in-law—insisted she move in to see to Xavier's daily needs. Despite his stony silence, Aveline had moved in happily.

In just one year, she had filled the space with her presence. The once-empty apartment had been transformed into a cozy home. The plants and flowers thriving on the balcony were ones she had carefully selected at the flower market and had nurtured meticulously every day.

She packed only her clothes and daily necessities. As for everything else she left behind—if Josephine hated it and asked Xavier to throw it all away, so be it.

With her suitcase in hand, she left without a backward glance, feeling not even a trace of reluctance.

There was no way she would return to the Sutton villa to face the barbs of Courtney and Josephine.

Nor could she go back to her grandparents. They had never fully recovered from the hit of her mother's passing, and their only wish was for her to be happy forever. She was determined to hide the truth from them until the divorce was finalized.

Fortunately, a plan was already in place. She and her university friends had intended to start a studio, and just a few days ago, they had rented a modest apartment of about seventy square meters. She could stay there for a while. All she needed now was some bedding and a few basic kitchenware items.

***

Three days later, around 8:00 p.m., Xavier emerged from Entora International Airport. He slid into the back of his black Bentley and directed the driver to head to Winslow Heights.

En route, his childhood friend Gerald Henderson called. "You landed already?"

"Yes," he said.

"Perfect. Join us at Velvet Club."

Rubbing his temple, Xavier declined flatly, "I'll pass. I'm beat."

Gerald urged, "Oh, come on. It's a belated birthday celebration for Josie. You're really not coming? She'll be devastated. We're all waiting for you to cut the cake."

A faint smile touched Xavier's lips. "On my way."

After hanging up, he ordered the driver to reroute to the club.

Just as he stepped out of the car at the entrance, his phone rang again. It was Lauren. "Did you have a row with Aveline?" she asked.

"Why do you ask?" he responded lightly, pushing open the club's door and stepping inside.

"She was supposed to try on the wedding dress, but she cancelled," Lauren said.

Just then, Xavier spotted Josephine waving to him from the staircase. He nodded in her direction and spoke into the phone, "Don't worry about it. She'll show up again in a few days. I'll talk to you later."

After ending the call, he glanced at his phone. Only then did he realize that Aveline hadn't called or even texted him in the past three days.

In the past, whether he was away on business or simply in town, she would call him daily. If he didn't answer, she would inevitably message him, checking in on him.

A faint smile touched his lips as it occurred to him that they were now legally married.

She must have felt entitled to throw these tantrums, now that she was officially his wife.

He walked upstairs, and Josephine immediately linked her arm with his, smiling as they ascended together, "You must be starving after the long flight, right?"

Looking at her, he teased lightly, "I've never met anyone who celebrates their birthday three days late."

"I didn't get to blow out the candles or eat any cake that day. Of course, I want a do-over." She pouted.

Just inside the private room, Aveline's hand froze on the door handle as she heard the familiar voices from the hallway.

Behind her, Fiona whispered, "Is that Josephine and Xavier?"

Of course, Aveline recognized their voices, too. So, Xavier, who had been completely off-grid for three days, was here. And, unsurprisingly, he was still with Josephine.

He had already celebrated Josephine's birthday once—in his exclusive presidential suite at the Beltran Hotel three days ago. Now they needed another celebration at the club? How hard they tried to invent excuses to be together.

Whenever she had wanted to spend a holiday with him, he'd always had a convenient reason to refuse. A belated birthday celebration for her? That had always been nothing more than a foolish fantasy.

The difference in who mattered to him couldn't possibly have been more glaring.

Fiona shot a cautious, observing glance at Aveline's face before venturing, "Perhaps we should go out later."

But Aveline had already made her decision to divorce, which meant she no longer cared. She felt no need to hide from them. After all, she wasn't the one engaged in a shameful affair.

With that, she pushed down on the handle and opened the door.

In the hallway, Xavier and Josephine stood hand-in-hand. Hearing the adjacent private room door open, they turned simultaneously.

Xavier seemed momentarily stunned, but his gaze quickly deepened into an unreadable calm, any emotion at seeing Aveline so unexpectedly sealed away. To him, she might as well have been a stranger.

Josephine, on the other hand, looked openly surprised. With a sly smile, she arched an eyebrow and reached into Xavier's coat pocket. "Darling," she cooed in an affectedly syrupy voice, "did you remember to buy me a gift?"

Josephine pulled a red velvet box from his pocket and beamed, "There is a gift! Thank you, Darling. You're the best."

Xavier glanced at the box, a light, absent smile touching his lips. He said nothing.

Meanwhile, Aveline walked out of the private room and turned toward the restroom, her expression utterly serene.

Fiona, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, followed closely behind.

It was the first time Xavier had seen Aveline so composed when she looked at him. Her gaze as she passed him was like a still lake, utterly without ripples. He found his eyes inexplicably drawn to her retreating figure.

She had surely grown bold. The title of Mrs. Beltran had given her the nerve to actually ignore him.

Noticing his lingering gaze, Josephine tightened her grip on his arm. "Darling, let's go inside. Everyone's waiting for us to cut the cake."

He shook his head slightly and showed a faint smile as he let her lead him into the private room.

Once inside the restroom, Fiona cursed indignantly, "Fuck! That bitch! How dare she call him 'darling' right in front of you? He's your husband! Ugh! Her voice was so fake it gave me goosebumps."

Aveline walked calmly into a stall, her voice flat. "He won't be my husband soon."

Entering another stall, Fiona let out a cold snort. "He still is until the divorce is finalized.

"Aveline, what are you thinking? I don't get it. You want to divorce him just one day after getting the marriage license, but you've been engaged to him for a year. You lived with him, took care of his every need... How can you just walk away without asking for anything? I've handled countless divorce cases, but yours is the only one where the settlement agreement is just half a page. Xavier's going to be so over the moon when he sees it. No wonder he didn't even react when he saw you—those who didn't know would've thought you were complete strangers."

Aveline remained silent throughout Fiona's tirade. Her mind was fixed on the red velvet box Josephine had pulled from Xavier's pocket.

It was from the jewelry brand she loved—known for its unique designs and exorbitant prices, where even the simplest piece cost six figures.

She had always dreamed of wearing one of their diamond rings at her wedding, which was how she instantly recognized the case and knew it held a ring worth millions of dollars.

Perhaps Xavier had already received the divorce agreement from Fiona's firm. Realizing he could finally be free of her, he must have rushed to buy that ring to propose to Josephine.

As for her...

Her eyes drifted down to her own bare ring finger.

When they became engaged, she had personally designed a pair of couples' rings. She had taken hers off when she left Winslow Heights.

And Xavier had never worn his.

Aveline walked out of the stall and stood at the sink to wash her hands.

At the adjacent basin, Fiona glanced over. "You haven't said a word after my long lecture. Are you for real? You really have no feelings left for Xavier at all?"

Of course, Fiona found it hard to believe. From the moment Aveline met Xavier at eighteen, she had been utterly obsessed—practically a simp.

Now, she could only look back on her past self with quiet disdain. She tore off a paper towel and began calmly drying her hands. "Yes. That half-page divorce agreement I asked you to send is no joke."

Walking over, Fiona dried her hands, too. Looking at Aveline, Fiona said, "I hope you mean it. In that case, I'll waive the legal fees for you."

"Really? No legal fees, and you're treating me to drinks?" Aveline smiled. "I'm so lucky. Thank you, Fiona."

Fiona and Gerald, Xavier's childhood friend, had co-founded Beacon Law Firm along with a few other partners—the same group that also opened Velvet Club. That was how Aveline had originally met Fiona—through Xavier.

Unexpectedly, she and Fiona grew close. When she said she wanted a divorce and asked Fiona to represent her, Fiona didn't refuse out of deference to Xavier's power and influence. On the contrary, she offered suggestions for Aveline to claim a larger share of Xavier's assets.

But Fiona's kindness was likely to be wasted. All Aveline wanted was to end this one-sided devotion as quickly as possible. She had no interest in engaging in a prolonged tug-of-war with Xavier over money and property.

There wasn't a trace of reluctance in Aveline's smile, as if she had truly let go of Xavier. Seeing this, Fiona wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Let's go back in and keep drinking. After that, I'll call over a cute guy to take us home. Trust me, you'll be pleased."

As they approached the door of their private room, the sound of a cheerful "Happy Birthday" song spilled out from the room next door. Men and women sang together, their voices bright and full of laughter, indicating a light, celebratory atmosphere.

Not wanting to pick out whether Xavier's voice was among them, Aveline pushed open her own door and stepped inside.

Sitting down, she picked up a bottle and filled both her own and Fiona's glasses.

Under Fiona's gaze, she drank deeply, one steady swallow after another. "Turns out you were just pretending before. You can actually hold your liquor pretty well," Fiona commented.

With a faint smile, Aveline took another sip.

The truth was, she had always enjoyed wine. But around Xavier, she had avoided it—sticking to soft drinks or tea, convinced he disliked the scent of alcohol on women.

Now, it occurred to her that Xavier frequented clubs with Josephine all the time. Whenever Josephine drank too much and leaned weakly against him, he never pushed her away. Instead, he would hold her gently, steadying her with care.

He never had a problem with women who drank. He simply didn't want to be anywhere near Aveline.

Clinking her glass against Aveline's, Fiona said, "The guy who's coming is actually my cousin. You mentioned wanting to start a design studio, right? One of his company's upcoming projects needs scenic design. After you meet tonight, maybe you two can find some time to talk business properly."

Aveline smiled warmly, "First, you waive your fees, and now you bring me clients? I don't know how to thank you."

Fiona patted her shoulder. "We women have to look out for each other. Seeing you move on and build your own success makes me proud."

Aveline accepted the offer gladly because she had full confidence in her design skills.

Several of her works had won international awards, and even as a student, she had taken on high-paying commissions from clients both domestic and abroad. Every one of them had been thoroughly satisfied with her work. Over the years, she had earned a lot through designing.

After she moved into Winslow Heights, Xavier had given her a card, but she rarely used it—preferring to spend her own money instead. Beyond daily expenses, she often bought him clothes, shoes, and accessories, each piece carefully selected from luxury brands to match his status and refined taste as a CEO.

She had been so determined to be Xavier's perfect wife, dedicating herself entirely to their life together, that she'd let her career stall. She took on very few design projects, and when her college friends proposed starting a company together, she declined, saying she only wanted a small studio.

Now, her account held less than 150,000 dollars—not even enough to buy a nice apartment on her own. It was time to focus on making her own money and finally getting her career back on track.

It was nearly midnight by the time they finished their second bottle of wine. Aveline had a meeting the next day, and Fiona's cousin had just arrived at the club entrance. They decided to head out.

Just as they stepped into the hallway, the door of the adjacent private room opened as well. Gerald was the first to emerge. Spotting them, he quickly glanced back into the room.

Xavier followed, one arm wrapped protectively around Josephine's shoulders.

Josephine half-leaned against his chest, engulfed by a strong sense of security as she looked up at him with a sweet smile.

He said gently, "Eyes on the road."

Sensing something, he looked over in Aveline's direction, his gaze detached when he saw her, as if he was looking at a mere stranger.

Aveline locked eyes with him for a second before saying to Fiona, "Let's go." Then she headed toward the stairs.

"Aveline."

Hearing the familiar voice, Aveline stopped in her tracks and turned around.

There, standing before her, were the people who had come to celebrate Josephine's birthday tonight—Vincent Sutton and Eileen Sutton, her cousins, and Leona Beltran, Xavier's elder sister.

It was Leona who had called out to her.

Seeing Aveline turn, Leona frowned in disapproval. "You saw us, yet you walked away without a word? Where are your manners?

"Josie told us you were here. We waited all night for you to come over and say hello, but you never bothered. I thought she was joking. Turns out, she wasn't. She said you were angry with Xavier. Aveline, you've only been his wife for a few days, and already you're putting on airs?"

Aveline's gaze shifted to Josephine, who was watching her with a faint, almost mocking smile. Meeting Aveline's eyes, Josephine deliberately nestled closer against Xavier's chest.

Xavier's eyes remained cool and detached.

He had two sisters. Brielle Beltran, just a year older than him, was relatively close to Aveline. But Leona, three years his senior, regarded Aveline with nothing but hostility. In Leona's eyes, Aveline's devotion to Xavier was just an act—she saw Aveline as a calculating social climber, clinging to the Beltran family and leveraging that one lifesaving incident to demand repayment.

Looking calmly at Leona, Aveline said in an even tone, "Good evening, Ms. Beltran."

With that, she linked her arm with Fiona's and continued down the stairs.

Behind her, Leona snapped, "What kind of attitude is that?"

Fiona muttered under her breath, "She conveniently turns a blind eye to how intimate Xavier and Josephine are, yet expects you to be all polite and proper? Talk about double standards.

"Aveline, you should have just ignored her. You're being decent enough not to lash out."

Aveline smiled faintly, not bothered by Leona's reproach.

In the past, she would have cared enough to offer Leona a proper explanation. After all, Leona was Xavier's sister, and she had been willing to do almost anything to win Leona's approval.

But not anymore. She was exhausted and truly fed up with it all.

As they stepped out of the club, Sebastian Harmon, Fiona's cousin, was leaning against a sleek black Maybach. Spotting them, he waved his hand casually.

Fiona introduced the two to each other.

Sebastian stood tall and upright, with a handsome bearing and noticeably warm eyes. Aveline's first impression of him was distinctly favorable. When he extended his hand, she offered hers in return with a polite smile.

His palm was warm, and his handshake was firm but not overbearing—just like the first impression he gave.

"Mrs. Beltran..."

Aveline turned to find Xavier's driver standing quietly behind her.

"Mr. Beltran mentioned you've been drinking and shouldn't drive. He asked that you ride with him."

A sarcastic smile touched Aveline's lips.

She and Xavier had locked eyes just moments earlier outside the private rooms. Why hadn't he come to tell her this himself?

Because he didn't want to upset Josephine, of course.

Even though she was his wife, the one who should have been upset after watching him hold another woman in his arms.

Xavier was such a hypocrite. She knew he couldn't care less whether she drove after drinking. His only concern was that, as his wife, any accident she might have while intoxicated would tarnish both his and the Beltran family's reputation.

"No need," she said.

Then she slid into Sebastian's car. As she reached to close the door, her eyes caught Xavier standing at the entrance of the club, his gaze fixed in her direction, cold and unreadable.

Beside him, Josephine clung to his arm as though she might collapse without his support.

She looked away and closed the door.

Aveline chose another man's car over Xavier's. Seeing this, the driver returned uneasily to Xavier and stammered, "Mr. Beltran, Mrs. Beltran, she..."

As the black Maybach disappeared from view, Xavier coolly withdrew his gaze. "It's fine," he said, his voice flat.

Leona stepped forward from behind him, her tone thick with displeasure. "Aveline has become unbearably arrogant since marrying you. How dare she ride off in another man's car right in front of you! Xavier, you must put her in her place."

Nearby, Vincent and Eileen exchanged a glance, both looking equally unconvinced.

For years, they had mocked Aveline in private, labeling her nothing more than Xavier's desperate simp.

Who was that woman, acting so cold and dismissive in front of Xavier, as though he meant nothing to her? What had gotten into Aveline?

Sure enough, her previous humility had all been an act. Now that she had finally secured the title of Mrs. Beltran, she no longer felt the need to pretend.

Eileen whispered in Vincent's ear, "Just you wait. Once Xavier dumps Aveline, she'll be crying her eyes out, begging him to take her back."

Vincent let out a contemptuous laugh in agreement.

Josephine looked up at Xavier, assuming he'd be furious. To her surprise, he didn't seem to care.

He smiled faintly and then said to her, "Let's go. I'll take you back."

She nodded with a sweet smile.

Since Xavier wasn't upset, it only proved one thing—he didn't care about Aveline at all.

***

After sending Josephine home, Xavier went back to Winslow Heights. Everything was pitch black when he pushed open the door.

Aveline hadn't come back yet?

Ever since she moved in, the apartment had always been lit up whenever he came home. Now, the darkness was a bit unnerving.

He turned on the light and walked inside. After taking off his coat and tossing it onto the living room sofa, he entered the bedroom. There, he removed his suit jacket and tossed it onto the bench at the foot of the bed.

As he took a shower in the bathroom, something felt off, but he didn't dwell on it.

It was only when he went to the walk-in closet for his nightwear that he realized how empty it was.

Aveline's clothes and accessories were gone.

With only a bath towel around his waist, he stood motionless, lost in thought. Then it occurred to him that the villa in Parkview Estates was now fully renovated, so she must have moved there.

He let out a short, dismissive laugh, put on his nightwear, and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, as he was leaving for work, he saw the coat on the sofa and paused, slightly stunned.

Over the past year, Aveline had seen to all his daily needs. It had slipped his mind that his clothes didn't put themselves away.

He left the coat where it was and went out.

When he arrived at the office, his special assistant, Claude Steele, followed him in and laid on his desk the letters that had arrived over the past three days.

Spotting the words "Beacon Law Firm" on the top envelope, Xavier picked it up and skimmed it.

Leona, who had always found Aveline calculating, had suggested that he have her sign a prenuptial agreement. This must be it.

Just then, Claude reminded him of a meeting in ten minutes. He nodded, tossed the envelope into a drawer, and headed to the conference room.

***

Aveline had drunk a lot the night before. After coming back to the studio, she lay in bed and soon fell asleep, sleeping dreamlessly through the night.

When she woke the next morning, she felt fine, without any hint of a hangover, which surprised her.

She had never had a drop of alcohol before becoming an adult. After that, believing Xavier hated the smell of alcohol on women, she had never dared to drink. She'd never realized she could hold her liquor so well.

Nevertheless, too much alcohol wasn't good for her health, and she should still drink less.

Still in bed, she stretched and stared up at the ceiling. From now on, she didn't have to get up early to spend so much time planning Xavier's breakfast and outfit. It was liberating.

She got up, took a shower, and made herself a simple yet nutritious breakfast. Shortly after, Jasmine Scott and Julian Poole, the co-founders of the studio, entered the door.

Jasmine had been Aveline's college roommate, while Julian was a senior one year ahead of them.

After graduation, Jasmine and Julian had worked for a famous design company while also taking on freelance work. Once they had saved enough money, they invited Aveline to join them as a co-founder.

Initially, Jasmine and Julian had envisioned a larger firm with more talent. But Aveline hadn't wanted to invest that much time in her career. Her priority was to be Xavier's perfect wife and manage his daily life, and a small studio was sufficient for her.

Recognizing her exceptional design talent and not wanting to lose her, Jasmine and Julian agreed to her terms.

They hadn't known Aveline had stayed in the studio.

Upon seeing Aveline putting the plates away, Jasmine teased with a smile, "You're here early. Julian and I were saying on the way here that you wouldn't come over after Xavier went out."

Aveline smiled while washing the plates in the kitchen. Then she went back to the living room and said, "I moved here three days ago.

"I'll be staying here for a while until I find a suitable place to rent."

Both Jasmine and Julian looked at her in surprise. As a man, Julian felt it was inappropriate for him to speak up, so he just shot Jasmine a silent glance.

Jasmine, however, had always been close with Aveline. She asked with a playful, mischievous smile, "What happened? Did you and Xavier have a fight?"

Aveline replied, her tone still flat, "I'm planning to get a divorce."

The smile on Jasmine's face froze.

After a moment of stunned silence, Julian said, "I'm gonna put the kettle on and make us some tea."

He immediately made a beeline for the kitchen, without even putting down his bag.

Jasmine walked over to Aveline and sat down, looking worried. "What happened? Well, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."

"Nothing, really," Aveline said with a light smile. "I just feel tired. That's all. The passion's gone. I'm done sacrificing for a man who doesn't even love me."

Jasmine knew a thing or two about Xavier and Aveline. She patted Aveline's shoulder and said comfortingly, "If you need me, just shout out."

Aveline nodded. "Thank you."

Then she called in the direction of the kitchen, "Julian, could you come over? There's something I want to tell you both."

Julian came over. As he sat down, he gave Aveline a keen, meaningful look. Her flat expression only stirred a more complicated wave of emotions within him.

Just then, Aveline lowered her head and took out the business card Sebastian had given her the night before, so she missed his look.

"I met Mr. Harmon last night," she said. "His company is developing a resort and needs landscape design. The design fee for the project is in the millions. I think we can win this if we try."

Jasmine took the card from her and exclaimed, "Mr. Harmon? You mean Sebastian Harmon, the chairman of the Crestmark Group?

"It really is him! If our first case is a project from the Crestmark Group, then our studio is really going to take off!"

Seeing how thrilled Jasmine was, Aveline smiled.

It made perfect sense that Jasmine was so overjoyed. After all, where the Beltran Group was the titan of Entora, the Crestmark Group was a leading enterprise in Kralville. It was immensely powerful and undertook only major projects. If they could collaborate with it, the contract would be very lucrative. On top of that, it'd be the best promotion their studio could ask for.

However, Julian frowned, seeming worried. "Our studio has just been founded. Will Crestmark Group really work with us?"

Aveline smiled, "Don't worry about that. I chatted with Mr. Harmon last night, and he said his secretary would send me the project info. As long as our design proposal is good enough, he will choose us."

After their conversation in the car, she had found him to be a kind and nice person. But it was probably also because Fiona had exaggerated her design talent, which had piqued his interest.

Still excited, Jasmine blurted out, "How did you meet Mr. Harmon? Did Xavier introduce you?"

Immediately realizing what she had said, Jasmine looked embarrassed.

Aveline was planning to get a divorce. Why would Xavier introduce Sebastian to her?

Besides, everyone who knew Aveline was well aware of how coldly Xavier treated her.

But Aveline didn't seem to care. She said flatly, "Fiona introduced us. Mr. Harmon is her cousin."

Seeing the calm look on Aveline's face, Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "I see. Well, we owe her a big meal, I guess."

Aveline nodded. "Of course. Let me check my emails and see if his secretary has sent me the project info."

The water was boiling. Julian stood up to make them tea.

Meanwhile, Aveline turned on the computer and checked her email inbox. Sebastian's secretary had emailed her the project info ten minutes ago, so she downloaded it and printed it out.

As they went through the profile, they realized the project was even bigger than they thought. The investment alone was ten figures, and according to Crestmark Group's budget proposal, the scenic design fee would be at least two million dollars.

Jasmine and Julian were thrilled. Aveline, too, was determined that the studio would make its mark with this project.

She was no longer content with a small studio. Instead, she aimed to start a company. Furthermore, over the years, her work on overseas orders had earned her a solid reputation abroad. She was confident their company could go international.

The three spent the entire day passionately discussing their design proposal in the studio, even ordering takeout for lunch.

As night fell, Jasmine and Julian left. Aveline walked into the kitchen to make herself some pasta.

Just as she set the plate down on the table, her phone rang. It was her father, Jacob Sutton.

Glancing at his name flashing on the screen, she chose to ignore it. It was never good news when he called.

While she was eating her pasta, Jacob called her three times in a row, but she never picked up.

Then he gave up and resorted to messages. "Why didn't you pick up?"

"Come home. I need to talk to you."

She left the messages on read.

After dinner, she researched the project and its competitors until she felt sleepy. She showered and went to sleep.

For the next few days, she focused on preparing their bid for the project at the studio with Jasmine and Julian, hoping to impress Sebastian.

She had asked Fiona for insights and also watched interviews and reports about him, which confirmed that he was a man with exceptionally high standards.

Jacob called her a few more times, but she continued to ignore him, so he sent her texts to berate her.

As for Xavier, there were no calls or messages.

She didn't get it. She had stated clearly in the divorce agreement that she wanted nothing. Why hadn't he contacted her to finalize the divorce?

But for now, her sole priority was Crestmark Group's resort project. She intended to nail it first, and then have Fiona urge Xavier to proceed with the divorce.

Finally, the only material they needed for the bid registration was the certificates from the design awards Aveline had won over the years. She turned her suitcase upside down, but still couldn't find them.

After a moment's thought, she figured she must have left them at Winslow Heights. It seemed she had to go back to fetch them.

The apartment was secured with both a fingerprint scanner and a passcode. She didn't know if Xavier had removed her fingerprint access or changed the code.

She decided to go back at night. If she couldn't get in, perhaps Xavier could open the door—assuming he was there to answer.

As night fell, she drove back to Winslow Heights, skipping dinner.

Out of habit, she drove into the underground parking lot upon arrival.

Of the three parking spaces assigned to Xavier's unit, two were occupied by his cars. The third—the one where she used to park—was now taken by a yellow Maserati.

She didn't even have to check the license plate. A glance at the familiar dangling ornament hanging from the windshield was enough for her to know it was Josephine's car.

The license plate only confirmed it.

In the entire year she had lived here, Josephine's car had never once appeared here.

It made sense because she would never invite Josephine over.

And at least Xavier had had the decency to meet her elsewhere.

But now, Josephine's car was here, brazenly parked at the home Aveline had once shared with Xavier.

Aveline tightened her grip on the steering wheel, drove out of the parking lot, and parked in an empty spot in the outdoor parking area.

Then she entered the building. She had left her access card behind when she moved out, so she had to approach the concierge on duty on the first floor.

He greeted her, "Good evening, Mrs. Beltran."

Not bothering to explain, she gave a nod and said, "Good evening. Could you please swipe me in?"

Assuming she had forgotten her access card, the concierge smiled and nodded, then walked with her to the elevator.

Standing at the apartment door, Aveline hesitated for a moment before pressing the doorbell. She didn't want to give Xavier the wrong idea.

Or worse, she might walk in on him and Josephine, which would make things so awkward.

But after she waited for a while, no one came to open the door.

She had already rung the doorbell. If they were in the bedroom, they'd been warned. Besides, she only intended to go to the study, not the bedroom.

With that in mind, she tried her fingerprint.

With a soft click, the door unlocked.

She couldn't help but freeze in surprise.

On second thought, perhaps Xavier had forgotten to delete her fingerprint.

She pushed the door open and was about to step inside when suddenly, the sound of a door opening and a familiar woman's chuckle came from behind her.

She turned around.

There were two apartments on each floor. Seeking solitude, Xavier had also bought the unit across the hall, which had been vacant ever since.

Xavier and Josephine were just stepping out of the opposite apartment.

Josephine smiled brightly and said, "I love it. Thank you, Darling. I'll move in tonight."

Looking at her, Xavier nodded. "As you wish."

It seemed Xavier had gifted the apartment to Josephine.

Xavier still had some decency, after all. Since the divorce wasn't finalized, he hadn't brought Josephine into his own home. But wanting to be near her, he'd simply given her the apartment across from his.

With no one else on this entire floor, they could do whatever they wanted.

Aveline watched them silently. They had already closed the door and started walking toward her when they finally noticed her standing there. Both paused in surprise.

Josephine pouted and looked at Xavier, as if upset by Aveline's presence and needing his comfort.

Xavier looked at Aveline, not saying a word, his expression cool and detached.

Aveline said in a flat tone, "I left my certificates here, so I came to pick them up."

With that, she turned and stepped back into the apartment.

The first thing that caught her eye upon entering the living room was a coat draped carelessly over the sofa. She recognized it immediately—a gift she had given to Xavier, one that had cost her tens of thousands of dollars.

Back when she lived here, no clothes were ever left lying around. Every time Xavier came home, she would take his coat or jacket and hang it up properly.

How pathetic.

She made her way toward the study, aware that the two had also entered the apartment behind her. Then came the sound of the door closing.

In truth, she and Xavier had always maintained separate studies. On the very first day she moved in, he had made it clear that she was never allowed to enter his.

So, she had bought a desk and set up her own space in a spare room, where she could read, paint, and design.

The door to her study had always been left open, yet Xavier had never once stepped inside.

It appeared that he respected her privacy. But the truth was, he didn't care about her. So, he had zero interest in her work and hobbies, having no desire to get to know her.

She found the certificates in the bottom drawer of her desk and placed them carefully into her bag.

As she stepped out, Josephine's voice drifted from the living room, sweet and eager. "Darling, you must be hungry, right? I've been learning some new dishes lately. How about I cook for you tonight?"

Xavier replied, "That won't be necessary. Let's eat out. I hate to see you overexert yourself."

"But I wouldn't mind cooking for you."

"You hate the smell of grease, don't you?"

"Well... That's right."

"Then it's settled. We'll eat out."

The conversation between Xavier and Josephine, however brief, was enough to reveal Xavier's gentle and thoughtful side—a side Aveline had never had the privilege to witness.

Aveline, too, had been pampered since she was a little girl. She had never set foot in the kitchen because her mother didn't want her to smell like grease.

But then she met Xavier. Knowing he hated eating out, as the food was often overly flavored and greasy, she learned to cook despite her aversion to the smell of grease.

She prepared three meals for him every day, but he never once told her not to overexert herself.

He ate out with Josephine all the time, never seeming to mind the overly flavored, greasy food. Josephine occasionally offered to cook for him, but he gently declined, saying he didn't want her to overexert herself or expose her to the greasy mess of cooking.

A wave of regret surged over Aveline. She hated herself for realizing the truth so late.

She composed herself and walked out, outwardly calm.

Josephine was sitting on the sofa, while Xavier stood by the wine cabinet, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

It gave her the feeling that they had been waiting for her, worried that she had come here with some ulterior motive.

Out of the corner of her eye, Josephine caught sight of Aveline.

She suddenly picked up the coat lying on the sofa and smiled. "Darling, you've started tossing your clothes around since you began living alone? You should hang them up after taking them off. Here, let me help you put it away."

With that, she stood up and walked past the coffee table.

But Xavier stepped over and extended his hand. "Let me."

He took the coat and draped it over his forearm. Sensing Aveline's presence, he glanced in her direction.

Aveline walked toward the door, pretending not to have seen them at all.

"Aveline," Josephine said, "have you collected all your things? Surely, you wouldn't want to leave anything behind. It would be such a hassle to come back for them later."

Aveline couldn't help but laugh coldly to herself. Josephine was so phony. Although she spoke politely, what she truly wanted was for Aveline to stay far away from their world.

Besides, whenever Xavier wasn't around, Josephine always spoke to her in a mocking or disdainful tone. But now that he was here, she was putting on an act of intimacy.

Anyone who didn't know better would think Josephine genuinely treated Aveline like a sister.

Aveline didn't respond. But just before she walked out the door, she suddenly thought of something.

She turned around and said to Xavier, "Have you read the agreement? When are we going to finalize it?"

Xavier was a little taken aback, assuming she was referring to the prenup. It was only then that he remembered the letter from Beacon Law Firm, still sealed in his drawer.

Perhaps Fiona had told Aveline about it, which was how Aveline came to know Leona had asked the lawyers to draft the prenup. Chances were, Aveline knew about the content, too.

Given that Leona was prejudiced against her, the terms were surely unfavorable to Aveline.

He asked Aveline, "Are you sure?"

No wonder she hadn't heard from him for days. His question made it clear—he had never believed she would actually go through with the divorce, thinking her disappearance was just an extended tantrum.

He must have been surprised to see she hadn't demanded anything in the divorce agreement. He likely still thought this was all just a play for his attention.

She gave an indifferent nod. "Yes. Absolutely."

Hearing this, he shot her a meaningful glance. "Fine. You set the time."

She wanted to say tomorrow, but then it hit her that the bid registration was tomorrow. They were almost certain to pass the preliminary review, which would be followed by a massive amount of work on the design proposal.

She had no idea what her schedule would look like.

"I'll let you know once I've settled on a date," she said.

With that, she turned to leave.

The moment the door closed behind her, a peculiar feeling stirred within. It felt as if that single door now separated her from Xavier's world entirely.

It'd be a lie to say she felt nothing. After all, she had loved him wholeheartedly for years.

And that apartment—which had once been theirs—had now been claimed by someone else who carried herself as its rightful hostess.

Inside, Josephine had thrown shade at her, subtly blaming her for intruding on their little world. But she couldn't refute any of it.

Perhaps Xavier thought the same way, believing she had deliberately left the certificates behind.

Aveline let out a self-mocking laugh and stepped into the elevator.

The next morning, the moment Xavier arrived at the company, he immediately thought of the prenup. He opened the drawer, wanting to take a look.

But the letter was nowhere to be found.

He wondered if he had placed it elsewhere and forgotten about it.

Shrugging nonchalantly, he called Gerald and asked, "Did you draft the agreement? Or was it Fiona?"

Gerald thought he was referring to the divorce agreement. "Fiona did. Why? You don't have to pay a dime for the divorce. Why are you still hesitating? Just sign it."

Xavier arched an eyebrow in surprise.

Fiona and Aveline were close friends. How could Fiona be OK with Aveline agreeing to such terms?

He couldn't help but grow curious about the content of the agreement. Just as he was about to ask Gerald to send it over, his secretary entered to remind him of a meeting in ten minutes. He had no choice but to hang up.

On his way to the conference room, Lauren called. "What's going on with Aveline? When is she going to try on the wedding dress? The designer is internationally famous and only designed the dress for her as a favor to me. She cancelled the agreed meeting time, and now I can't even reach her. What is she trying to do? Is she unsatisfied with the designer? Or me?"

Xavier asked, "Didn't Aveline book another appointment?"

Lauren hissed, "No! And I'm very busy, you know? I say we just cancel the wedding. She'll be the one who looks bad, not us."

"Mom," Xavier smiled helplessly. "I'm going into a meeting. I'll ask her to call you later.

"Don't be mad, OK? That's how you get wrinkles."

Lauren snorted heavily before hanging up.

***

Aveline, Julian, and Jasmine still hadn't settled on a name for their studio yet. However, for their bidding proposal, they held a serious discussion and finally decided on one—Everglow Studio.

It symbolized eternal light.

Aveline was quite satisfied with the choice, as it resonated deeply with her current state of mind. She wanted to leave all the darkness behind and face her bright new life.

Within an hour after Everglow Studio registered for the bidding, Sebastian's secretary, Vivian Sanders, called them with the great news. They had passed the preliminary review—a decision made by Sebastian himself.

Jasmine and Julian were overjoyed. Jasmine smiled, "Mr. Harmon made the decision himself? Aveline, he obviously did this for you."

Aveline was a bit surprised, too, but she thought Sebastian had probably done it for Fiona's sake.

Next, they would begin preparing the design proposal.

The first task at hand was the conceptual design, and their first step was a site visit.

Vivian said she could accompany them to the site at any time. After some discussion, Aveline, Julian, and Jasmine settled on the next day. They didn't have any other projects at the moment anyway.

In the evening, Jasmine and Julian left. Then Aveline was about to enter the kitchen to make some dinner.

Just then, her phone chimed. It was a text from Xavier.

"Mom's upset. Call her to explain.

Even throwing a tantrum has its limits."

Xavier had never called her. He'd only text her when necessary, and his messages were always concise.

She glanced at the message and then set her phone down, her face expressionless, and entered the kitchen.

She wanted a divorce because of his infidelity. Now that Lauren was upset, she was supposed to be the one to explain things to her? Why should she?

And how dare Xavier claim that wanting a divorce was nothing but a tantrum?

The fact that he had brought Josephine back to the Beltran's mansion said it all.

Aside from Leona, no one in the Beltran family liked Josephine. Lauren, Xavier's stepmother, of course, despised homewreckers. Her assessment of Josephine was, "She's the daughter of a homewrecker. What else could she be but trash?"

Lauren, a proper wife, of course, despised homewreckers. Her assessment of Josephine was, "She's the daughter of a homewrecker. How decent could she be?"

But if Xavier was determined to marry Josephine, there was nothing anyone in the family could do to stop him. After all, he was in control of the Beltran Group now.

He was both the CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Aveline smiled sarcastically and turned on the stove.

Over her dead body would she call Lauren to explain.

Hadn't they humiliated her enough already?

Aveline made herself some vegetables and roast beef. While she was eating, Jacob called her again.

She glanced at the screen but once again didn't answer.

He had already called her countless times over the past few days. Even though she never picked up, he kept calling. Who knew what nonsense Josephine had been spreading about her to him today?

The phone had just fallen silent when it rang again. This time, it was Aveline's grandmother, Gloria Sutton.

Gloria was quite fond of her. Even though she knew it was probably Jacob who'd put her up to this, she still answered. "Hello, Grandma."

"Hello, Grandma."

Gloria's voice made it clear she was not pleased. "Aveline, what's going on? Jacob's been calling you and texting you. Why are you ignoring him?"

Aveline said, "I know what he wants to say. I don't want to hear it."

"He's your father. Can't he reprimand you? Besides, you are in the wrong. Of course, he should reprimand you."

Aveline fell silent, not planning on arguing.

Gloria was kind to her, but she was just as kind to Josephine. After all, she and Josephine were Jacob's only children.

So, if she accused Josephine of having an affair with Xavier, Gloria might not believe her.

She had experienced firsthand how adept Courtney and Josephine were at twisting the facts.

Besides, Jacob would undoubtedly side with Courtney and Josephine, and as Gloria's youngest son, he was also the one she doted on the most.

The bitter irony was that Jacob couldn't have stood where he was today without the sacrifice of Bethany Baldwin, Aveline's mother.

Aveline's silence only made Gloria more furious. "Why the silence? Are you feeling guilty? Then come home now and talk this out with Jacob."

Home? Was the Sutton's villa still her home? It hadn't felt like home since Bethany had died.

Aveline said, "I've been busy these days. I'll come back to visit you when I'm free."

"Are you disobeying me?" Gloria raised her voice. "Or shall I come over to invite you?"

Feeling utterly helpless, Aveline sighed, "I'll come back now."

Gloria didn't know she was now living in the studio and might very well go to Winslow Heights to look for her.

After hanging up, she no longer had an appetite. She tossed the remaining food into the trash bin and put the plates in the sink, planning to wash them when she got back.

Then she drove her blue Porsche to the Sutton's villa.

The housekeeper, Hilda Kane, answered the door. She looked at Aveline coldly.

After Courtney married Jacob, she fired the original housekeeper and hired Hilda, her distant relative. Of course, Hilda didn't like Aveline. Over the past few years, Hilda had been giving Aveline dirty looks.

Ignoring Hilda's unfriendly gaze, Aveline stepped into the living room expressionlessly.

Besides Gloria, Courtney and Jacob were there, too. They were on the sofa, enjoying some fruit after dinner.

At the sight of Aveline, Gloria said flatly, "You're back. Come over and take a seat."

Courtney glanced at Aveline, the contempt in her eyes undisguised. Then she nudged Jacob, who was also looking at Aveline.

Catching her drift, Jacob immediately speared a piece of apple with his fork and fed it to her.

Although Courtney had always favored tight clothes because they accentuated her figure, today she was wearing a loose dress. Finding it strange, Aveline couldn't help but size her up for a few more seconds.

Then she walked over to Gloria and sat down. "Grandma."

Gloria kept a straight face, obviously upset with her. "Am I the only one here? Why are you addressing only me?"

Aveline frowned slightly.

Shortly after Bethany's death, Jacob had eagerly brought Courtney and Josephine into the family. Only then did Aveline discover that he had been having an affair.

Their illegitimate daughter, Josephine, had even been born on the exact same day as her.

The original housekeeper, who had worked for Bethany for years, had told Aveline that on the day Bethany went into labor, no one could find Jacob. He had ignored all the calls and texts and only showed up the next day.

His wife and his mistress had gone into labor on the same day, and he had chosen to be with the latter.

From the day she learned the truth, she had never called him "Dad" again.

All these years, Gloria had felt that what Jacob did was wrong and had never forced Aveline to call him "Dad".

So, why was Gloria scolding her for this tonight?

Before Jacob could speak, Courtney beat him to it. "Aveline stopped thinking of Jacob as her father a long time ago. Why force her? See that sullen look on her face? She's making sure we all see it. She's totally ruining my mood."

Jacob sighed, "Forget it. So what if she doesn't call me 'Dad'? No matter what, we're related by blood, which means she'll always be my daughter."

Courtney pressed a hand to her chest. "But I feel so sorry for you..."

He quickly held her in his arms. "Don't get upset. It won't be good for our baby boy."

Meanwhile, Gloria glared at Aveline. "Courtney is carrying Jacob's son. And you upset her the moment you walked in? Did you do that on purpose?"

Aveline was slightly stunned before she looked at Courtney.

Courtney was pregnant? That explains the loose dress.

Courtney was pulling out all the stops—especially at forty-three. It seemed she was set on securing the Sutton family's fortune.

In fact, Courtney had gotten pregnant once before but had a miscarriage. The doctor had said Jacob had a low sperm count.

Aveline said coldly, "You think too much, Grandma.

"Besides, you asked me to come back. I never wanted to. I'm leaving."

With that, she walked toward the door.

Behind her, Jacob suddenly said, "We called you back for a reason. Why have you been throwing a tantrum with Xavier? Do you think you get to put on airs just because you're married to him?"

Aveline turned around. "Is that what Josephine told you?"

Jacob sighed, "Josie just wants what's best for you."

She couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Oh? She seduced my husband and called him 'Darling' to my face. Is that her way of wanting what's best for me?"

"I told you countless times already. Josie sees Xavier as family, and that's why she calls him that. Besides, he doesn't mind. Why should you?" Jacob frowned.

"You have to admit, Josie and Xavier get along better. Xavier prefers her personality."

Gloria chimed in, "Aveline, is it true you're about to sign an agreement with Xavier and will leave with nothing? If so, why don't you step down so that he can be with Josie? You don't have what it takes to keep him around, but Josie does. The Beltran Group's support is essential to Jacob's company. We can't afford to lose Xavier."

Aveline stared at Gloria in utter disbelief.

Did they call her back just to humiliate her?

Through it all, Courtney looked at Aveline with a half-smile while stroking her slightly bulging lower abdomen.

Aveline knew it was Courtney's power move. Now that Courtney was carrying Jacob's baby boy, Gloria totally sided with her and Josephine.

Aveline chuckled softly, curving her lips into a mocking smile. "If you think Xavier is that important, be my guest, take him. I don't care."

Just then, she saw Gloria, Courtney, and Jacob look past her shoulders.

She turned around.

At some point, Xavier and Josephine had stepped inside.

Xavier was looking at her in silence, his gaze unfathomable.

Meanwhile, Josephine tugged at her lips, as if letting out a contemptuous smile.

Aveline was all too familiar with that expression. She just wondered—had Xavier ever seen it?

But he loved Josephine so much that even if he had, he probably found it charming.

Aveline had long let Xavier go, so she didn't give a damn about whether he had heard her words at all.

Without a change in her expression, she walked past him, ignoring his gaze as she left the Sutton's villa.