Chapter 3The Lace Slip Lie

I woke up starving in the middle of the night.

I stumbled downstairs, groggy, planning to snatch a yogurt from the fridge. A sudden, low voice startled me into wakefulness.

"Avery."

I nearly dropped the carton, whipping my head around. Miles was on the sofa, his long legs crossed, staring into the dark room. By the sliver of moonlight filtering through the window, I could just make out the intense focus of his eyes on me.

I stammered. "W-w-what are you doing sitting in the living room?"

His voice was husky, a low grate. "I forgot. What were you doing in the room?"

I gave him a baffled look. "Sleeping, Miles. I woke up from a deep sleep. It's the middle of the night."

Was it my imagination, or did he visibly freeze for a second?

I grabbed my yogurt and waved dismissively. "I'm going back to bed. You should too."

Miles stared at me, his lips parted as if he was about to speak, but he ultimately remained silent.

I woke up the next day just before noon. The first message I saw was from Liv.

Liv: You're not going to the Thorne corporate event?

The updated guest list for the big commercial gala listed Miles’s new executive assistant as his date. As his date, Avery. Did you two have a fight?

I quietly read the lines. A faint, bitter smile touched my lips. We were getting divorced soon. I didn't need to be upset about this.

But still...

It was true Miles and I lacked passion, but we had always maintained a kind of stiff, polite respect. Now, with the lingerie and the public date, it seemed clear: he had found someone he genuinely cared about and was deliberately pushing me out. I would grant him his wish.

The annoying user popped up again.

@UnattainableIdeal: Did you try my advice? Did it work?

Persistent, I thought. I hadn’t had the slightest intention of going to Miles and confessing my feelings.

I sent a cold laugh. No, it didn't work. We're getting divorced.