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

"Pfft..." Selena couldn't hold back her laughter, bursting out at Lucas's audacity.

She glanced at Sidney and asked, "Do you think he's dreaming too?"

Sidney offered a faint smile, keeping his reaction subtle.

Lucas ignored the two of them, his intense gaze fixed solely on Aveline.

The elevator doors had closed, and it continued its ascent.

"I never said I'd invite you," Aveline stated firmly.

Lucas' handsome face remained indifferent. "Oh? Well, it's not too late to say it now."

Selena suddenly turned to Sidney and asked, "Are all men this thick-skinned?"

Sidney responded, "Not all of us."

Selena rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe it's selective hearing? They just ignore what they don't want to hear."

Sidney remained silent this time, perhaps because there was some truth to it.

Lucas' sharp gaze shifted to Selena, who met his stare without backing down, even lifting her chin defiantly. However, Lucas's imposing presence was overwhelming, and despite her initial bravado, Selena soon averted her eyes, feeling the pressure.

A hint of disdain flickered in Lucas' eyes as he was about to say something, but the elevator doors opened.

Aveline quickly stepped out, brushing past him without a word, with Selena and Sidney following closely behind her.

Lucas watched as they all entered Aveline's apartment, his expression growing colder.

One Russell wasn't enough; now Sidney too?

"Aveline, you certainly know how to attract attention!" Lucas thought.

...Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Selena nudged Aveline's arm. "Babe, has he always been this shameless?"

Aveline sighed in exasperation. "You're only realizing that now?"

Selena thought for a moment and said, "But I remember, he wasn't like this before. Back then, if I teased him, he'd blush, and his eyes would be glued to you. Whatever you told him not to do, he wouldn't do. He was so obedient."

A trace of sadness flickered in Aveline's eyes. "Like you said, that was in the past."

Selena sighed. "I still don't get it. He just got his memory back; it's not like he lost the memories from that year. How could he change so much?"

Suddenly, an idea seemed to strike her, and she widened her eyes. "Oh my gosh! What if his body has been taken over by someone from another world on a mission? And you're his target for the mission?" Aveline was speechless for a second before she commented, "Babe, your imagination is running wild."

Selena grinned. "That's how it always goes in those novels, right? How else do you explain such a huge personality shift?"

Aveline shook her head. "I don't know how to explain it, and I don't want to care."

She had deeply buried the memories of the old Lucas, unwilling to dig them up again. The current Lucas bore no resemblance to the man he used to be, except for the identical face.

Not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, Aveline turned to Sidney. "Shall we discuss this in the study?"

Sidney nodded. "Sure."

As they headed toward the study, Aveline called back to Selena, "Bring us two cups of coffee."

Selena thought, "Great! Now I'm a secretary!"

Deep down, though, this was exactly what Selena wanted. She'd support Aveline being with anyone-anyone at all—as long as it wasn't Lucas.

By the time their discussion ended, it was already late at night.

Sidney looked apologetic. "I only meant to invite you to dinner, but I ended up keeping you so late. I'm really sorry."