Urging Him to Get a Divorce (Aveline and Xavier) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

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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

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door and stepped inside.

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

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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.

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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

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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?

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

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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.

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