Ch. 651..660

Chapter 651 Chapter 651 Even now, he was still trying to threaten her. Did he really think she would be afraid?

"No problem."

Gernard smiled slightly and then turned to the balcony to make a phone call.

Selena excitedly grabbed Aveline's hand. "My dear, you're about to be free!"

Aveline smiled and glanced at Lucas.

His eyes were lowered, his face still as handsome and sharp as ever, exuding a cold and icy aura. No one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

It was the hotel staff delivering the food.

Selena got up to help, setting the dishes on the dining table before walking over to support Aveline.

"Come on, let's eat."

"Mm," Aveline responded.

Russell also walked over, carefully observing Aveline's expression.

Fortunately, the dining area was just a few steps away. Once Aveline sat down, she glanced at the others and said, "No need to fuss, come and join me."

Selena pulled out the chair next to her, about to sit down, but in the next second, she was pushed aside.

Lucas sat directly beside Aveline.

"Hey, you-"

Selena staggered, nearly falling over, and glared at Lucas, wanting to drag him up.

Lucas looked indifferent, seemingly unaffected by the hostile atmosphere. He took out his utensils, glanced at the dishes on the table, and then immediately placed some food on Aveline's plate. Russell frowned.

Gernard approached, raising an eyebrow at the scene. "Mr. Tudor doesn't waste any time, does he?"

Lucas stayed composed. "It's not about rushing. She's my wife, this is my home. Why should I be a guest in my own house?"

Gernard was at a loss for words.

Selena sneered. "Can't you see that no one wants you here? How can you be so shameless?"

Lucas remained unfazed. "Why should I care what you all think? Who do you think you are?" "You!"

Selena's face turned sour, clearly frustrated.

Aveline looked at Lucas and said in a calm tone, "Didn't you come here to discuss the divorce?" Lucas nodded, "Yes."

Aveline continued, "Now that we've talked about it, you can leave."

Lucas curled his lips into a smile. "But I'm hungry, and there's food here. Why should I leave?"

Seeing the playful glint in his eyes, Aveline was left speechless once again.

Dealing with someone as shameless as him seemed pointless. No matter how much they showed their dislike, he simply didn't care. What exactly did he care about?

No one knew.

In just a short while, the plate in front a small mountain, filled with all her asker had already piled up like e dishes.

Lucas continued to add more, causing her to frown. "Stop adding more. I'll eat on my own."

"Alright."

Lucas glanced at her plate and, without further ado, began eating on his own.

Aveline closed her eyes briefly, deciding not to argue with him anymore. Russell had ordered the meal, and she couldn't just waste it-it would be disrespectful to his efforts.

The atmosphere at the dining table was quite tense; no one seemed to be in a good mood.

Except for Lucas, who remained unaffected, carrying on as if nothing was wrong.

He ate at a steady pace, his every movement reflecting the elegance he had cultivated from a young age.

Every now рупом ә иә pup glance at Aveline, and when he.

noticed her eating a particular.net he would add more of it to her plate.

"I'm full."

Aveline, having lost her appetite, put down her utensils.

Chapter 652 Chapter 652 "Are you full already?" Lucas looked at her seriously and asked, "You've eaten very little."

Aveline glanced coldly at him. "Since when do you have to control how much I eat?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow and didn't continue speaking. Instead, he took her plate and started eating her leftovers.

Aveline was slightly stunned by his action.

Everyone else saw this scene and didn't know what to say.

It seemed fine?

They were married after all.

Even though they were in the midst of divorce proceedings, they had once loved each other.

Selena rolled her eyes dramatically, "Disgusting."

"I want to go back to my room," Aveline said.

Selena got up. "I'll help you."

Aveline nodded and then stood up with Selena's help.

At that moment, Lucas put down his utensils, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up, immediately lifting her into his arms.

"What are you doing?" Aveline exclaimed, grabbing his collar as if she feared he would throw her down.

Lucas said, "You're walking too slowly. Let me carry you back so you can rest."

Aveline frowned. "But the doctor said I should walk as much as I can."

Lucas responded, "Then you can practice walking after I leave. I can't help it, I hate seeing you in discomfort."

Aveline was speechless.

The air hung with an eerie silence.

Selena stared at Lucas' retreating back as if trying to bore holes through him!

What an openly shameless man!

Gernard said, "I have some things to take care of, I'll leave first."

Selena quickly said, "Mr. Cooper, take care, and do visit us when you have time."

Gernard nodded. "Okay."

Russell's expression was somewhat displeased as he continued to watch Lucas' back.

Selena hurried into the bedroom, fearing that Lucas might have ill intentions towards Aveline.

However, Lucas simply placed Aveline on the bed and then got up and left.

Ignoring Selena and Russell, he left on his own.

It was as if his whole purpose in coming here was just to have a meal with Aveline and hold her for a moment.

"Crazy," Selena muttered under her breath, then turned to look at Aveline.

Aveline's complexion was pale, her eyebrows tightly furrowed.

"Ave, what are you thinking about?" Selena walked over and asked.

Aveline closed her eyes and said, "I can't understand it."

"What can't you understand?" Selena was even more puzzled.

Aveline replied, "I can't understand his intentions. Is it because of love, or because he can't let go?"

Selena frowned. "Why bother with that? Once you win the lawsuit, he'll be out of your life."

Aveline sighed softly.

"What if it's because of love?"

At that moment, Russell came over, gazing at her, and asked.

Selena scoffed at the side. "How e el could that be possible? How can you hurt someone you love? That bastard Lucas has caused nothing but trouble for our Ave!"

Russell said nothing, just kept his gaze on Aveline.

Aveline's eyelashes trembled slightly, and with a bitter smile, saidve never seen such I I is not what I want." C this Belongs Yes, she did not want this strange, twisted kind of love.

That feeling of having no control over anything, everything dependent on his whims, it was suffocating for her.

Russell moved to her side and sat down. "Then stay firm and don't waver. Aveline, there's better love waiting for you."

Chapter 653 Chapter 653 Chapter 653 y Russell, whose eyes usually held a carefree smile, now stared at Aveline with serious intent.

Previously, his demeanor was relaxed and casual, often appearing before Aveline with various hair colors.

Aveline suddenly realized he seemed to have dyed his hair back to black, as it had been a long time since she'd seen him with any other color. She gave a small smile. "Yeah, I understand."

Russell reached out, lightly tousling her hair, a playful glint in his eyes. "Get some rest. I'll visit you again soon."

"Okay."

Aveline nodded, watching him leave.

Selena, after seeing him out, returned with an excited expression.

"My God! What was that? Was that a confession? A hint? Was it?"

Selena pounced beside Aveline, asking excitedly.

Aveline shook her head. "I don't know."

Selena looked at her. "When Russell said those words to you, didn't your heart flutter for a moment? Like there were butterflies in your stomach?"

Aveline looked at her helplessly. "At a time like this, you're still thinking about that?"

Selena blinked. "When else should I think about it? Otherwise, it would be so boring."

Aveline was exasperated but did not answer her question.

How could she not understand Russell's intentions?

But she couldn't respond.

After a failed relationship, she had no desire to think about such things.

All she wanted was to divorce Lucas as soon as possible and then leave Cloudflare City to live the life she wanted.

It was as simple as that.

The Tudor family's suppression of DK Enterprises grew even fiercer.

Frederick had been waiting for Lucas to beg for mercy, yet as DK Enterprises faced the verge of bankruptcy with hardly any orders, Lucas showed no signs of bowing. He was such a tough nut!

Frederick directly had the Tudor family take over at DK Enterprises, overseeing a shareholders' meeting that ousted Lucas from the presidency.

1/2 Chapter 653 The situation at DK Enterprises drastically changed, and Lucas was completely removed from the board!

When Aveline heard this news, she also received notification of the court date.

A month later, Aveline was working out at home, with Selena accompanying her. Selena excitedly described how miserable Lucas was now without the support of the Tudor family and his role as president of DK Enterprises, having become just an ordinary person.

A layer of sweat formed on Aveline's forehead as she exhaled deeply and said, "Don't forget, even as an ordinary person, he's still worth several hundred million."

Selena was speechless.

It felt like a massive blow!

Despite everything, how could he still be so wealthy!

Aveline sat on the sofa, sipping water from a cup when the doorbell rang.

Selena wondered, "Who could that be? Could it be Russell?"

She eagerly went to open the door, but her expression turned cold the moment she saw who was standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

It was Lucas. He pushed past Selena and walked in, even carrying a suitcase.

"Hey, did I let you in? Do you have any manners?" Selena said with displeasure.

Lucas responded, "I'm coming to my wife's house, why should I need your permission?"

Selena immediately looked to Aveline/ "Ave, look at him!"

Aveline asked, "What are you doing here?"

Lucas approached her, leaning in, and said, "I've already told you that if you insist on going through with the divorce, you'll have to face the consequences yourself."

Chapter 654 Chapter 654 212 Chapter 654 Chapter 654 Aveline stared at Lucas, his stern features catching her off guard. "What do you mean by that?"

A faint, teasing smile tugged at the corners of Lucas' lips, and there was a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Because you sued me, I went bankrupt faster, lost the board's trust, and now I'm no longer the president of DK Enterprises. I'm unemployed. So, as my legal wife, you're responsible for me." Aveline's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing!

What did he just say?

The consequences he kept talking about meant that because he failed, she had to take responsibility for him?

What kind of twisted logic was that?

"No way! I won't take care of you!" Aveline shook her head, still in disbelief.

What a ridiculous joke.

He had been the one refusing to divorce her, and now that he had failed, how was that her fault?

If he had divorced her earlier, would the Tudor family have turned against him? Would he have ended up like this?

Lucas casually sat down next to her and said, "Aveline, you can't refuse me, and you can't kick me out either. So, save your energy. After all, the court date is only a month away." Selena, who had been listening in shock, finally snapped out of it and exclaimed, "Oh my God, this is the most shameless person I've ever met!"

How could he even say these things?

Was his mind functioning properly?

Aveline frowned at Lucas, then reached for her phone to call the police.

Lucas watched her movements calmly and said, "Do you think the police will get involved in matters between a husband and wife?"

Even though the court date was a month away, they were still legally married.

There had been no violent conflict.

Even if there were, the police wouldn't be able to change anything.

Aveline's finger hesitated over the dial button as she bit her lip, staring at Lucas with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

She was overwhelmed by his shamelessness.

Lucas smiled slightly. "I know you admire me, but you don't have to stare at me like that."

Aveline was speechless.

1/2 Chapter 654 Unbelievable.

She turned to Selena and said, "Just close the door for now."

Selena pointed at Lucas. "Wait, you're just letting him stay here?"

"What else can I do?" Aveline looked at her. "Do you have a better idea to get him out?"

Selena fell silent as well.

One phrase, "They're married," left them without a single option. Lucas could stay here as long as he wanted, and even if he got intimate with Aveline right in front of her, she couldn't do anything about it. Selena wished she could fast-forward to the court date, just to witness the moment when the court declared them divorced.

Nothing could be more thrilling.

Lucas, dragging his suitcase, headed straight for the master bedroom.

Selena immediately blocked his way. "No, you can't stay in the master bedroom. Ave needs proper rest."

Lucas shot her a cold look, clearly annoyed.

Selena felt a sudden sense of danger, but she stood her ground, not backing down.

This was the last line she could draw!

After a silent standoff, Lucas was the first to relent. He veered off and headed toward another room.

He entered one of the guest rooms.

This house had three guest rooms and a master bedroom. Selena occupied one of the guest rooms, leaving two others.

Watching Lucas enter the guest room, Selena's face was full of disdain.

She walked over to Aveline, sat beside her, and shook her head with a sigh.

296

Chapter 655 Chapter 655 "Sigh... He's completely shattered my worldview. It's like he has no sense of decency or shame," Selena muttered.

Aveline stared blankly ahead, not responding.

She never expected that Lucas' backup plan would be this....

It seemed he didn't care at all about being kicked out of DK Enterprises. He still had the energy to come here and make her life difficult.

What was he thinking?.

Noticing Aveline's lack of response, Selena waved a hand in front of her face. "Ave?"

"Hmm?" Aveline snapped back to reality. "It looks like, for the foreseeable future, we'll be seeing him every day."

Selena pulled a face. "But I don't want to see him."

"Then you should move out."

Lucas' deep voice cut in, causing both women to look up. He was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes carrying a hint of coldness as he stared at Selena.

Selena sneered. "You think I'll move out just because you said so? Who do you think you are?"

Lucas pointed at Aveline. "She's the boss, and I'm also the co-owner of the house."

Both Selena and Aveline were speechless.

Seeing their silence, Lucas seemed pleased.

He walked over to Aveline and said, "How about you drop the lawsuit? And release a statement saying the divorce filing was just a joke? That would restore my reputation, and I might even get back to work at DK Enterprises. If that happens, I won't have to stay here and annoy you."

His deep, magnetic voice carried a slow, coaxing tone as if trying to persuade Aveline.

Aveline's expression remained cold. "As if."

Lucas burst into laughter.

Aveline rolled her eyes and turned to Selena. "Let's go out for a walk."

"Sure," Selena replied, grabbing her bag and helping Aveline out of the room.

As soon as they left, the smile vanished from Lucas' face.

He pulled out his phone and turned it on, only to be bombarded with countless messages.

Some were from the Tudor family, others were filled with insults.

Somehow, his phone number had leaked, and now his inbox was flooded with messages. The hateful insults poured in as easily as taking a sip of water.

1/2 Chapter 655 Lucas glanced at the messages with cold indifference before finally pulling out the SIM card and tossing it into the trash.

He got up and stepped onto the balcony, gazing at the clear blue sky, though his eyes remained as dark and unreadable as a still, ancient well.

Just then, a WhatsApp call came in. Seeing it was Aaron, he answered with a brief, "Speak."

Aaron's voice came through the line, "How does it feel to be ostracized by everyone?"

Lucas replied, "Not bad. Want to try it? I can help you."

Aaron laughed, unbothered. "No need, my life is carefree enough."

"Right, especially with your fiancée making a fool out of you. You must be loving that," Lucas commented dryly.

Aaron choked on his words for a moment before responding, "I don't care what she does, as long as it doesn't blow up."

"How generous of you," Lucas said in a calm tone, though it reeked of sarcasm.

He frowned and added, "When are you coming to take Selena away? She's starting to get on my nerves."

Aaron replied, "Are you asking me for a favor?"

Lucas smirked. "Yeah, consider it your old man asking for help.' "Fuck off!"

Aaron cursed under his breath, realizing too late that Lucas had gotten the upper hand in the exchange.

"I think it's good that she's with Aveline. It keeps Aveline's spirits up."

Chapter 656 Chapter 656 2/2 Chapter 656 Chapter 656 Aaron's reply was clearly meant to provoke Lucas, and he hung up immediately after. Lucas let out a quiet scoff, then reached into his pocket for a cigarette, lighting it up It was dusk, and the sunset painted the western sky in a dazzling array of colors. Aveline, feeling tired, sat down on a bench, admiring the serene beauty of the lake reflecting the deep blue sky above. Selena handed her a bottle of water and said, "Ave, I have a feeling..."

She hesitated.

Aveline took a sip of water, looking at her curiously. "Hmm? What is it?"

Selena sighed softly. "Looks like Lucas is trying to latch onto you. When force didn't get him anywhere, he's now opting for a gentler approach."

Aveline's grip tightened on the water bottle.

Selena, with her usual playful demeanor gone, looked at Aveline seriously and asked, "Are you going to waver?"

Aveline's lashes fluttered as she shook her head. "No."

Selena pressed, "Even though he was once the love of your life, and now he's showing remorse, wanting your forgiveness, and hoping to live a good life with you-you won't waver?" This time, Aveline's voice was firmer, "No."

Selena smiled slightly. "It's okay if you do waver, you know."

Aveline gave her a surprised look.

Selena's gaze drifted to the lake. "Just see how far he's willing to go. If he's ready to die for you, and actually does it, then it wouldn't be too late to reconsider."

Aveline couldn't help but laugh. She knew there was no way Selena would accept Lucas that easily.

Lucas dying for her?

Impossible.

Lucas was the kind of person who always followed his own whims, a classic egotist. He would never do anything that might hurt or endanger himself. Taking another sip of water, she said, "It's getting late. Let's head back."

"Okay."

Selena nodded and helped her back home.

When they opened the door, the living room was empty. It was the maid and caretaker's break time, so they were in their respective rooms.

Aveline returned to the master bedroom and said to Selena, "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to take a 1/2 Chapter 656 shower. Can you wait outside and hand me my Selena quickly offered, "Let me help you stuff when I'm done?"

Aveline smiled faintly. "It's fine. I'll just sit with the shower. I'm not comfortable with you doing it alone."

on the stool and take my time."

Seeing Aveline's determination, Selena didn't push further.

Aveline stepped into the bathroom, adjusted the water temperature, and slowly undressed. Because of her injuries, she had to be cautious, carefully applying waterproof bandages to the areas that needed protection before taking her time with the wash.

By the time she finished, she was exhausted.

After catching her breath, she called out towards the door, "Selena, pass me my pajamas."

As she dried her hair with a towel, the bathroom door suddenly opened. Instinctively, she looked up and saw Lucas walking in, her pajamas in hand.

Aveline's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately covered her chest. "Who gave you permission to come in? Get out!"

Lucas stood a short distance away, looking at her as she sat on the stool. Under the bright bathroom light, her fair skin glowed, though some areas were still marked with bruises. She stared at him in panic, trying to cover herself, but it was futile.

At that moment, she was completely exposed.

No matter how she tried to cover herself, she couldn't conceal much.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want your pajamas?"

Aveline gritted her teeth and said, "Give me the pajamas!" Lucas stepped closer.

Aveline quickly spoke, "Just throw them to me! Don't come any closer!"

Chapter 657 Chapter 657 "Hmm?"

Lucas paused, staring at Aveline. "Are you sure you want me to toss it over?" Lucas paused, staring at Aveline. "Are yo Aveline responded firmly, "I'm sure."

No way would she let him come any closer.

"Alright."

Lucas nodded, then casually tossed the pajamas toward her.

Aveline reached out to catch them, but they slipped through her fingers and fell to the floor, landing in a puddle of water. The pajamas were quickly soaked, making them unusable.

"You..."

Aveline looked up, glaring at Lucas. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Lucas' sharp, handsome face showed nothing but innocence. "You told me to throw them, and I did. You didn't catch them, so how is that my fault?"

He acted as if Aveline was the one being unreasonable.

Aveline was fuming. "Lucas, I'm freezing, and I'm not in the mood for games. Get Selena!"

Lucas stared at her for a long moment before suddenly walking over. In her shocked gaze, he lifted her into his arms.

"Put me down!"

Aveline's body tensed up immediately. His warm hands pressed directly against her bare skin, while he remained fully dressed. The contrast between them was stark.

Lucas' gaze darkened, and he leaned in to give her a firm kiss.

"Aveline, by now you should realize that when I want something, there's no getting away from it. So why not cooperate? It'll make things easier for both of us.” Aveline was furious, but with her limited mobility and being held in his arms, she couldn't even struggle. Lucas carried her out of the bathroom and placed her on the bed. He then went to the walk-in closet, grabbed a fresh set of pajamas, and made it clear he intended to dress her himself.

"No!"

Aveline refused resolutely. "I can do it myself."

Lucas stared at her intensely for a moment, then handed over the pajamas and watched her get dressed.

Under his gaze, a faint blush spread across Aveline's fair skin. She fought back her embarrassment and anger, quickly putting on the clothes. Then, she scooted back and asked, "Where's Selena?" Lucas replied, "No idea."

1/2 Chapter 657 Aveline reached for her phone to call Sele "Mm!"

Just then, a muffled sound came from inside the walk-in closet.

Aveline's brows furrowed. "What was th "Mm!"

noise?"

+25 BONUS The sound came again, and this time, she recognized it-it was Selena's voice! It sounded like her mouth was gagged, preventing her from speaking! Aveline's eyes shot to Lucas. "What did you do?"

Lucas pretended to suddenly realize, "Oh, it seems she might have fallen in the closet. I'll go check."

He strolled casually into the walk-in closet, and soon enough, Selena's furious voice echoed through the room.

"Lucas, you're such a bastard! I've never met anyone as shameless as you! Aveline doesn't even want to pathetic?"

see you, and yet you keep forcing self on her. Don't you find i Aveline watched anxiously, wishing she could rush over to see what was happening.

A moment later, Lucas' tall figure emerged from the closet, followed by a furious Selena.

"What exactly happened?" Aveline asked, her brows knit tightly.

Selena angrily replied, "He tied me up and stuffed me in the closet just so he could get in to see you!"

Aveline immediately glared at Lucas. "You..."

She opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words.

This man was not only shameless but utterly despicable in his methods!

Chapter 658 Lucas casually slipped his hands into his pockets and strolled out of the master bedroom, as if he hadn't just done something so outrageous.

Selena was so furious that she stomped her foot. "What a piece of work! He's really pushing his luck!"

Aveline was speechless.

She remained silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly. "You should go rest."

Selena, at a loss for words, could only nod in agreement.

Lying in bed, Aveline pondered how she would handle the days ahead. Should she leave Maple Garden? Go somewhere else? But knowing Lucas, he would undoubtedly follow her wherever she went. And from the looks of it, he wasn't seeking her forgiveness at all-he was just being plain stubborn.

Aveline turned over, unable to sleep.

The next day.

She emerged from the bedroom with dark circles under her eyes. Seeing her, Selena immediately felt a pang of sympathy.

"Ave, didn't you sleep well last night?"

Aveline nodded. "Barely slept. I couldn't stop thinking."

Just then, Lucas stepped out of the guest room, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and pants, his muscular arms exposed. His short hair was casually styled, with his bangs naturally falling over his forehead. His stern features were less sharp and carried a softer, more relaxed air, more suited to a home setting.

"Do you need a bedtime story? I've got plenty of time now, so if you need, I can start tonight," he said, a faint, almost teasing smile playing on his lips as he looked at Aveline.

Aveline walked past him without a hint of emotion on her face, coldly tossing out three words, "What bad luck."

Selena followed suit, "Yeah, such bad luck!"

Lucas remained unfazed, calmly following the two women into the dining room.

The housekeeper had already prepared breakfast.

"Good morning, Miss Young, Miss Quin," the housekeeper greeted them politely, then hesitated when she noticed Lucas. "And who might this be?" Lucas pointed at Aveline. "I'm her husband."

The housekeeper froze in surprise.

Selena frowned. "Just ignore him. Pretend he's not even here."

Lucas scoffed coldly. "Do you really think everyone is as rude and lacking in manners as you?"

Selena chuckled. "My manners are reserved for people who actually deserve them. Do you have any?"

1/2 Chapter 658 The two immediately began bickering.

Aveline, feeling a headache coming on, addressed the housekeeper, "His last name is Tudor."

The housekeeper quickly caught on, "Oh, Mr. Tudor."

Lucas shot a triumphant look at Selena before heading into the dining room and sitting down to start eating.

Since Aveline had mostly recovered and no longer needed a caregiver, she had let them go, but the housekeeper stayed on to handle the cooking.

After breakfast, Aveline began her rehabilitation exercises for the day.

Her leg still couldn't bear much weight; it had only been a little over a month, and her recovery was far from complete.

Selena watched Aveline nervously, ready to catch her at any moment.

Meanwhile, Lucas sat on the sofa like he owned the place, engrossed in a book.

Selena glanced at him several times, her expression shifting between frustration and disbelief.

Aveline noticed Selena's reaction and said, "You know, you could just treat him like air, like I do." Selena sighed. "He's so hard to ignore. How do you manage to treat him like he's not there?" Aveline replied, "With enough time, you'll develop that skill."

Selena nodded seriously. "Alright, I'll do my best to learn."

At that moment, Lucas spoke up, "You're applying force incorrectly."

He stood up and walked over to Aveline, adjusting her posture with his hands.

Aveline frowned. "What are you doing? Let go!"

But Lucas calmly replied, "Your posture and the way you're applying force are wrong. If you keep exercising like this, you'll cause further damage to your bones."

His expression was serious, and his gazes were steady, without any unnecessary actions or intentions.

Aveline tried the posture he suggested, and it seemed to require less effort. The pain she had felt before was now almost gone.

She couldn't help but glance at Lucas a couple of times.

Lucas looked up, and their eyes met unexpectedly. The emotions in their gazes remained as calm as ever, and they quickly looked away from each other. Lucas returned to the sofa and resumed reading.

It was only then that Aveline noticed the book he was reading seemed to be about rehabilitation exercises.

She pressed her lips together slightly, then refocused on her own workout.

Chapter 659 Lucas had been staying there for a week. Aside from the first night when he caused a bit of a stir by deliberately entering Aveline's bathroom, nothing else of note had happened since. The few of them managed to coexist peacefully.

Selena had truly mastered the art of ignoring him, treating Lucas like just another tenant.

+25 BONUS Lucas spent his days either exercising or reading, carrying himself with the laid-back air of someone who had already retired.

Even though the Tudor family was in the process of merging with DK Enterprises, he seemed completely unbothered, as if DK Enterprises wasn't the product of his hard work and dedication.

Aveline watched the news and her emotions conflicted.

After graduating college, she began working at DK Enterprises and grew deeply attached to the company. If it hadn't been for everything that happened later, she would never have left so easily. She felt so affected by the situation, so why was Lucas so indifferent?

Unable to hold back any longer, she knocked on his door.

"Come in."

His deep, pleasant voice reached her.

Aveline hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and walking in. By now, she could walk much more smoothly.

Lucas was sitting in a chair, reading a book. When he saw her enter, he raised an eyebrow slightly. "A rare guest," he remarked, his voice low, his gaze intense as he looked at her. Standing by the door, Aveline asked, "Lucas, what exactly are you doing?"

Lucas' sharp eyebrows arched slightly. "What are you referring to?"

Aveline pressed on, "DK Enterprises is about to merge with the Tudor family. Once the merger is complete, DK Enterprises will no longer exist. Are you really just going to watch it happen?" A faint, amused smile tugged at Lucas' lips. "If I'm not watching it happen, should I close my eyes? I suppose that's an option too."

Aveline was speechless.

She pressed her lips together, suddenly feeling that her question had been unnecessary.

Without another word, she turned to leave.

"Aveline."

The deep, soothing voice of the man behind her stopped her in her tracks.

She paused. "What is it?"

Lucas asked, "Do you care about DK Enterprises?"

+25 BONUS Chapter 659 The fact that he had uncovered the secret she tried to keep hidden made her brow furrow. "I was just asking casually. If you, the boss, don't care, why should 1, a former employee?" With that, she left without looking back.

She regretted it immediately.

She shouldn't have come to ask him anything. They should've just continued in this uneasy peace until the court hearing. They could have kept their distance, avoiding any interaction until everything was finally over.

Lucas kept his eyes fixed on the door, a flicker of emotión passing through his sharp gaze. His lips curved slightly, but after a moment, he returned to his book.

That afternoon, Aveline received a call from Yvonne.

Yvonne got straight to the point. "Aveline, it's been a while. Have you given it any more thought?"

Aveline sat on the balcony, looking out at the gloomy sky. For some reason, an inexplicable unease stirred within her.

"Mrs. Tudor, I can't go through with something like this."

Yvonne sighed softly. "I figured as much. You're too kind, but it's a shame that Lucas hurt you so deeply. You've been through so much."

Her tone was full of pity and concern as if she genuinely sympathized with Aveline's situation.

But Aveline's eyes remained cold. "Is there anything else, Mrs. Tudor?"

Yvonne responded gently, "How is your recovery going?"

Aveline replied, "I'm almost fully recovered."

"That's good to hear. I won't disturb your rest any longer. Goodbye."

Yvonne ended the call, and Aveline leaned back, exhaling a long breath.

"Why didn't you accept her proposal?"

Lucas' voice suddenly came from behind her, his tone devoid of any noticeable emotion. +25 BONUS Chapter 660

Chapter 660 Startled, Aveline turned around and saw Lucas standing nearby, holding a freshly made cup of something warm, steam still rising from it.

She frowned slightly. "Were you eavesdropping on my conversation?"

Lucas walked over, sat down in the chair next to her, and looked out the window. His side profile was sharp and handsome, with his bangs falling slightly forward, giving him a more youthful appearance. For a moment, Aveline felt a flash of nostalgia, as if she was seeing him from when they first met.

"Did Yvonne ask you to poison me?" Lucas asked calmly, still looking outside.

Aveline was shocked. "How did you know?"

A slight, mocking smile played on Lucas' lips. "Because she didn't only ask you. She's been trying to get others around me to do the same. I believe they call that 'casting a wide net."" Aveline paused, her emotions becoming more complicated.

Lucas glanced at her. "Why are you looking at me like that? Still upset about me overhearing your conversation?"

He chuckled. "Besides, I didn't eavesdrop. I just happened to pass by and overhear it."

Aveline looked away and said, "I told her I couldn't do it. If you died, I'd end up in prison, and I don't want that."

Lucas laughed softly. "You're easily scared, aren't you?"

Aveline stayed silent.

But Lucas continued, "If you're so easily scared, how did you get the courage to divorce me?"

He gazed at her delicate, male face, her features clean and soft.

"Is it because Russell's backing you up?" He took out his phone and showed her a picture. "Will you still feel the same way about him after seeing this?"

Aveline frowned. "What are you talking about? Russ and I are just friends!"

Despite her words, her eyes were drawn to his phone.

It was a photograph-a rather intimate one.

It showed Russell and Rina in bed together. The photo was clearly taken by Rina, who lay beside Russell with a shy expression while he slept with his eyes closed.

Aveline quickly looked away.

Lucas observed he "Does it hurt? Are you upset?"

Aveline pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

Lucas' tone grew colder, but it was clear he was trying hard to control his emotions.

1/2 Chapter 660 "Did I ever tell you? He's an illegitimate child of the Skyler family. His mother was killed by his father's wife. He's been biding his time, lying low, until he got involved with Rina, who's completely smitten with him. She's willing to do anything for him, and with the Johnson family's help, his father soon noticed him and brought him into the Skyler Group."

Lucas spoke in a detached manner, taking a sip of his coffee before glancing at Aveline. "And that photo was taken on the day he went to the hospital to see you."

Aveline immediately recalled that day-Russell had agreed to stay at the hospital with her, but he left after receiving a phone call.

At the time, she hadn't thought much of it.

So, this is what was really going on.

"Lucas, you've told me all of this, but what does it have to do with me?"

She looked at him calmly. "Whatever choices Russ has made, those are his decisions. But from what I've seen, he's only ever helped me and never harmed me."

Lucas' eyes darkened slightly. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he simply asked, "Even if he's sleeping with Rina, it doesn't bother you?" A flicker of emotion crossed Aveline's eyes. "Why should it?"

What did that have to do with her?