Semua Bab Divorcing The Ruthless Billionaire: Bab 71 - Bab 78

I woke up to the gentle hum of the just city beyond my window, the sun's first light filtering through the drapes. It was a quiet morning, free of the weights of workloads. I stretched, breathed deeply, and reveled in the smell of fresh linens and paint in the air—a home aroma that I had missed.It had been weeks since Mike and I returned. The transition had been smoother than I had imagined. The city was the same, the streets still throbbed the same, but I was different. I was no longer the fractured woman who had leave to heal. I had healed. I had crossed seas, strolled through ruins, and walked beneath skies Elon never had the chance to wander. And in going through it all, I wrote in his journal. Each letter, each dip of my pen, connecting me to him. My travels became his, my memories akin to what could have been his if only he lived.And somehow, it was as though he was present with me in every break of dawn and every foreign street.Mike accompanied me during those times— for mor

After dinner, the gallery quieted down to a comfortable hush. The takeout containers from leftovers were on the desk, and Alicia was scrolling through her phone, most likely reading the emails she'd put off eating. Mike settled back into his chair, his eyes straying in my direction every so often but not speaking much.Abby had already caught on.She always caught on."You're working late again?" she asked, putting on her coat.I shrugged. "Might as well. Got some things to wrap up."She looked at me knowingly but didn't push. "Alright. Don't burn yourself out."Alicia yawned, stretching her arms above her head before standing. "I should get going, too. Text if you need anything.""Will do."One by one, they left, their goodbyes soft in the quiet space. The gallery always felt different at night—still, untouched, like it existed in its own pocket of time.Mike hadn’t left yet.He was still in his chair, watching me. Not in an expectant way, not like he was waiting for me to say someth

Mike set his cup down and stared fixedly. "Elizabeth and Damian will be celebrating an engagement party this coming weekend."I scarcely blinked; my face was inscrutable. "Thus?"Something—humor, possibly—flitted across his eyes. Or aggravation. "Guessed you were unaware."I gave a brief, disinterested hum. "And why would I?"Mike studied me, his fingers drumming softly against the side of his cup. "You do now."I sighed and glanced off. "Mike, is that what you came here for? To tell me? To persuade me not to do something?"Although his smirk turned a little less, he maintained eye contact. "Things can probably change, but... Or possibly I simply knew you would require support."I laughed and shook my head. "Backup for what? Going has no reason.""None should?" Mike tilted his head. "Knowing that look, Eleanor, as I do. You are contemplating it."I leaned back in my restaurant chair and shook my head. "I'm not. I will also not reject it."Mike observed me for a long time before runnin

The boutique had champagne flutes at the entrance and a sales associate who followed us everywhere to see to all our whims. It was the type of store in which Elizabeth might shop.“Try this on,” Alicia promised, taking a sleek black dress off the rack and holding it to me. "You're going to look hot."I sighed, took the thing, and disappeared into the fitting room. It fit perfectly, hugging me in all the right places, the slit way, way up my thigh. I walked outside, and Alicia let out a low whistle.“I can't believe it; Damian's going to have a stroke."I looked at her. "That's not the point."She waved me off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. But believe me, this is the dress."Once again, I looked at my reflection. The Eleanor in the mirror was not the same one who had been sad over an invitation last night. She looked composed, confident. Unbothered."Admit it," I said. "Let's get it."With the dress secure, Alicia set about securing that appointment with the makeup artist. While they were 'p