Urging Him to Get a Divorce (Aveline and Xavier) novel Chapter 823

**TITLE: A Divorce 823**

“Is that my sister and brother-in-law? Please, come in!”

Aveline’s heart raced as she caught sight of the familiar figures at the door, a wave of fear crashing over her like a cold tide. Panic surged within her, and she instinctively began to sprint towards the house. But just as she felt the urgency of her feet pounding against the ground, Xavier’s strong hand grasped her arm, pulling her back gently yet firmly.

“Hold on, Aveline. Don’t rush. Just breathe, baby. I’m right here with you. It’s going to be alright,” he murmured, his voice steady and calming, like a soothing balm against her rising anxiety.

Taking a moment to collect herself, Aveline inhaled deeply, allowing the air to fill her lungs and steady her racing heart. Together, they stepped into the house, but dread clawed at her insides, gnawing at her thoughts. What could have possibly happened to her maternal grandparents?

Inside, a scene of chaos unfolded before her eyes. Collin was slumped in an armchair, looking pale and frightened, while Paul loomed over him, a knife glinting ominously in his hand. On the long sofa, Paulina sat, her expression a mixture of horror and despair, with Josephine beside her, a knife held menacingly against her throat.

Both of the elderly were bound and gagged, their eyes wide with terror, silently pleading for help that they couldn’t voice. Aveline’s heart ached as she caught their fearful gazes. Paulina made muffled whimpering sounds, her eyes darting toward Aveline, as if urging her to flee while there was still time.

On the floor, Miranda lay helplessly, also tied up, her face twisted in anguish.

Aveline’s fists clenched at her sides, her voice cold and steady as she confronted Josephine. “Do you even realize the depths of your actions, Josephine?”

Josephine’s face was a mask of icy determination, her eyes glinting with malice. “Nobody moves. If anyone dares to take a single step out of this room, I swear I’ll plunge this knife straight into the old woman’s chest.”

Xavier stepped forward, his demeanor cool and collected. “You’re not the real threat here, Josephine. Paul is the murderer, not you. Even if you’re caught, you’ll only be charged with aiding a fugitive. A good lawyer could help lessen the blow.”

“But if you take a life, that’s a different story altogether. You’ll be facing the death penalty. Think carefully about your next move.”

Josephine shot Xavier a venomous glare. “Don’t feed me your self-righteous nonsense. You have no moral high ground here. Before I ever lied to you, I was the one who saved your life, and you used me without a second thought.”

“Aveline, Jacob wronged your mother, and he wronged you too, but I’ve never done anything to hurt you. I’m innocent in this mess. I didn’t choose my family.”

“But you harbor hatred for Jacob, for my mother, and for me as well.”

“I’m going to prison regardless. My life is already shattered. I refuse to let you two live in happiness while I rot behind bars.”

“I know the police will be here soon. So let’s not waste any more time.”

“Aveline, Xavier, your lives are on the line for the sake of these two old folks.”

Collin and Paulina’s faces blanched as realization dawned upon them, their heads shaking in silent protest, panic etched across their features.

“Collin, Paulina, please don’t be afraid. It’s going to be alright,” Aveline said quickly, her voice trembling slightly, though she felt utterly helpless.

But what else could she say? The odds were stacked against them, and the weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest.

Josephine’s laughter cut through the air, tainted with madness. “What nonsense! How could any of this be okay?”

Her tone shifted abruptly, growing colder and more menacing. “I said don’t waste time. Don’t think you can stall until the police come to save you.”

“Dad, go over there. First, stab my darling sister, then my darling brother-in-law. They won’t dare to move. If they do, I’ll drive this knife into the old woman’s heart.”

“Unless my beloved sister doesn’t care for her grandparents, and my brother-in-law doesn’t love her as much as he claims.”

Paul’s face was devoid of emotion, a vacant shell as he approached Aveline.

Xavier’s voice cut through the tension, sharp and unwavering. “Paul, you had to kill Jacob and Raymond, right? That wasn’t premeditated. It wasn’t murder with intent. You won’t face the death penalty for that.”

“But if you take another life now, that will be intentional murder. You’ll definitely be sentenced to death.”

“Your daughter is out of her mind. Are you losing it too?”

Paul seemed to snap back to reality, momentarily frozen in thought. “I won’t get the death penalty?” he muttered, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

Josephine’s fury erupted. “Dad, don’t listen to his lies! You’ve already killed two people—you’re definitely getting the death penalty!”

“Quickly, kill them all! I refuse to let them live happily while I suffer in prison.”

“This is what you and Mom owe me. If it weren’t for you two, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

“Kill them for me.”

As Josephine and Paul exchanged heated words, Xavier glanced at Amy, who understood the unspoken message and nodded subtly.

Paul hesitated, but then began to advance toward Aveline and Xavier once more.

“Josephine, I’m warning you. If you dare to move, I’ll kill this old woman,” Paul said, his voice trembling slightly.

Aveline felt her nerves tightening like a taut string. Xavier noticed her distress and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, baby.”

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