After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back (Aveline and Lucas)

As Jolie thought further, she realized her rebellion had been directed at none other than him.

Gavin's expression darkened instantly.

Noticing his displeasure, Jolie quickly tried to defuse the situation. "Uh... weren't you about to go work out? You should go. I barely slept last night, so I'll head back and get some rest, okay?"

She attempted to pull her hand free, eager to escape, but Gavin tightened his grip on her wrist, refusing to let her go. His dark eyes locked onto hers, his voice low and commanding. "You've already been up all night. Another few minutes won't make a difference." A sense of danger prickled at Jolie's instincts. Her eyes instantly reflected her wariness as she stammered, "W-What are you going to do?"

Instead of answering, Gavin wrapped an arm firmly around her waist, pulling her closer. His voice dropped even lower. "What do you think?"

"I... I don't know!" Jolie's panic surged as she caught a glimpse of something in his expression she hadn't seen before.

Beneath his usual calm exterior lurked a smoldering anger, cold yet fierce. His entire presence exuded a dangerous energy that made her want to run-far and fast.

She caved immediately. "Gavin, I'm really tired. I just want to rest. Can we talk about this after I've slept, please?"

Her voice softened unconsciously, laced with a hint of pleading. Her wide, innocent eyes only added to the effect, making her seem pitiful and helpless.

The storm of anger in Gavin's chest subsided unexpectedly. Looking at her pleading expression, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Rest here," he said, his tone cold but unyielding.

"N-No, it's fine. My place is just downstairs. It's so close; I'll be there in no time," Jolie tried again, still intent on leaving.

Gavin wasn't having it. "Either we talk now, or you rest here."

Faced with no other option, Jolie immediately changed course. She yawned dramatically and shuffled toward his bedroom, mumbling, "I'm so tired. Fine, I'll stay here and sleep."

Seeing her retreat, Gavin finally released her wrist. His tense expression eased slightly as he watched her disappear into the bedroom. Only then did his tightly wound emotions begin to settle.

...

Jolie pressed her ear to the door, listening intently. When she didn't hear Gavin's footsteps approaching, she let out a long sigh of relief.

For now, she had dodged a bullet.

As for what came next, she would just take it one step at a time.

At least she and Gavin had officially established their relationship now.

Initially, she had planned to wait until

the end of the "five times" arrangement to bring up her reat intentions. But Daisy's words had shattered her composure. She didn't want to wait anymore.

The result would be the same in the end, so what was the point of waiting?

Her next focus was planning how to "return home." However, she intended to hold out "abroad" a little longer to test just how far the Quin family was willing to push their

stance.

en FindNovel

Jolie lay down on the bed, thinking she wouldn't be able to sleep. But the faint cedar scent lingering in the room-his scent-lulled her into a surprisingly quick slumber. She ended up sleeping straight through to the afternoon.

When she woke, she felt completely disoriented.

"Who am I? Where am I?" she thought and sat on the bed in a daze for a long moment before it clicked. She was in Gavin's apartment.

Oh.

And they were... together now.

She climbed out of bed, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and shook off the last remnants of sleep. Feeling more alert, she stepped out of the bedroom. The living room was empty.

Huh? Where was he?

Just as she was puzzling over his absence, a door opened, and she turned her head. Gavin emerged, his tall figure commanding as ever.

He wore a dark gray shirt and black

trousers, the clean lines of his outfit accentuating his composed, restrained elegance. His cold, aloof demeanor still carried that

unmistakable air of dominanvers