After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back by Riverflow

"I don't know," Aveline said softly, her voice filled with confusion.

She had no idea why Russell had done something like that.

Selena watched her closely and asked, "Now that you know, what are you going to do?"

Aveline closed her eyes for a moment. "What can I do? He's helped me so many times before. Even though he's done this and I now understand his feelings, I can't do anything about it."

Selena gently patted her shoulder, letting out a sigh. "Then maybe it's best to do nothing... Pretend like you never knew him."

Aveline didn't respond, but the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. Her face had turned pale, and the weight of the situation clearly burdened her.

Selena, feeling a deep sympathy for her friend, wasn't sure what else to say.

"I don't really understand," Selena continued. "If he liked you, why didn't he just confess and compete fairly? Instead, he married Rina. I have no idea what he's thinking."

Aveline suddenly recalled something Aaron had once told her-Russell had married Rina to solidify his control over the Skyler family...

"Forget it. Let's not think about it anymore," Aveline said, her voice weary. "Like you said, let's just act as if we never knew him."

Selena nodded and didn't press further.

...

Back in Cloudflare City, Lucas had been in surgery for hours. He finally emerged, but the bullet had been dangerously close to his heart. Though the surgery was successful, he was still not out of danger and needed to be monitored in the ICU. Desmond stood by, his expression heavy with concern, as he looked at Aaron and asked, "Mr. Fletcher, should we inform Mrs. Tudor?"

was tense as he stared at the ICU doors. "Yes, we need

pulled out his phone

contained a detailed list of Lucas's subordinates and their territories. Aveline frowned, unsure why someone would

Maria.

Maria's name were Brian, Baron, and

as she scrolled through Maria's

same Maria

couldn't believe it-Maria had been working for Lucas

life for so long, even becoming her

her,

it was all a

in Aveline's life had been nothing but a deception. It wasn't hard to figure out why Lucas had placed her

where he swore he'd never deceive her again. She could still picture the warmth in his eyes, the sincerity in his voice...

him.

But now?

hidden such a huge

M'

Did he intend to keep Maria around to

instinctively rested on her stomach. Though still flat, she knew there

herself, "Baby, your daddy lied to mommy again.

no answer, and the room fell into an eerie