Chapter 15
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Chapter 15
“Of course,” Julian said with a frown. “Why else did you think I agreed?”
“I thought we were just partnering,” Avery replied.
Julian gave a short laugh. “I’m not Damien. I don’t trade marriage like it’s a business deal.”
Avery didn’t have a good reply, so she lowered her gaze and focused on her steak.
He caught her expression and let the subject drop.
They finished dinner in a calm, easy, and quiet atmosphere, the kind that felt surprisingly right.
Afterward, Julian drove Avery back to her apartment.
Before she got out of the car, he said, “I’ll be waiting at 9:00 am.”
“For what?” she asked.
“For us to get our marriage certificate,” he replied, watching her without blinking.
Heat climbed her cheeks, and she all but bolted from the car.
Showered and tucked into bed, Avery stared at the ceiling and felt half convinced that she was dreaming.
Her marriage to Damien had officially ended today, and by morning, she would marry Julian.
Avery wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but she couldn’t simply let Damien off the hook.
And now, she had a baby to think about.
Her hands drifted to her flat belly. She had bled and sweated for this baby. She couldn’t and wouldn’t give
it up.
Julian looked like he’d make a good father. Maybe marrying him really was the right choice.
While she was lost in thought, her phone buzzed again and again. It was Damien.
“Avery, why did you burn our things?”
“If you left because of Serena, come home and we’ll talk.”
“We’re still spouses. Sit down with me and say whatever you need to say. Don’t just disappear.”
“If you don’t want to come back, tell me where you are and I’ll go to find you, okay?”
“You’re pregnant. I’m really worried about you.”
“Avery, get back here before I lose my temper!”
“Come back, and I’ll let today slide.”
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Avery let out a disbelieving laugh.
How could he possibly think she was just throwing a tantrum?
She went to block him when another message arrived.
“Tomorrow’s our fifth anniversary. We agreed to go to the Whitlow residence together. Even if you’re angry, don’t make jokes about this. You’ll upset Grandpa.”
How shameless! He was even using Eldon to threaten her now.
She changed her mind and typed quickly, “Fine. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
The second Damien saw the reply, he tried to call.
Avery declined the call and set the thread to “Do Not Disturb”:
Before drifting off to sleep, she received a message from Julian. “It’s late. Get some rest. I’ll be on time in
the morning. Good night.”
Oddly enough, her frayed nerves eased.
“Good night,” she replied.
It was the first decent sleep she had gotten all week.
But what she didn’t know was that Damien stayed up all night.
He sat in the study with a cigarette, his phone lit up on the desk, and the chat box was filled with the flood of messages he’d sent to Avery.
Avery had replied once and then gone quiet, just as she did before.
He wasn’t sure whether Avery was still angry, but he was certain she’d be at the Whitlow residence
tomorrow.
Damien didn’t know why, but his unease only grew stronger.
Soon, he realized something was wrong.
Tomorrow was supposed to be the day he exposed her and kicked her out. So why did his gut feel tied in knots?
He smoked through a whole pack without an answer, or maybe he had one and didn’t dare name it.
Just then, the study door opened.
The unique floral scent that belonged only to Avery drifted in. In the dark, he could almost see her walking toward him.
“Avery, is that you?”
