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

The corners of Gavin's lips curved into a faint smile.

The subordinate giving the report froze, his eyes widening in shock.

What on earth?!

Did he just witness that?

Their notoriously serious and unsmiling boss-especially during work-had just smiled. In the middle of a meeting at his phone.

Several others in the room noticed it too. Their gazes darted between each other in silent but frantic communication.

What's going on?

Did Mr. Cooper just smile? At his phone? During a meeting?

"Is he... dating someone?" everyone thought.

"Ahem!"

Gavin's assistant cleared his throat, immediately breaking the silent chaos. First, it was a warning to the staff to rein in their imaginations, and second, it was a subtle reminder to Gavin, who was typing a reply. Even the assistant couldn't help the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Who would have thought?

The president of Cooper Enterprises, a man known for his iron will and unshakable focus, was texting his girlfriend during a meeting... and smiling like that. Okay, maybe not quite "lovestruck," but still.

Gavin's reply was short and direct, "I left early. There's breakfast in the pot. Warm it up and eat. I'm in a meeting. I'll call you later."

After sending the message, he placed his phone back on the table and turned his sharp gaze toward the subordinate who had been giving the report.

"I have a question about one of your points," Gavin said, his tone brisk. "Explain this to me."

Without waiting for a reaction, he continued, elaborating on the specific issue.

The subordinate, who had just been swept up in his own whirlwind of gossip, felt his brain completely short-circuit.

What was a battlefield of doom?

This. This was it.

The assistant glanced at the subordinate sympathetically, offering a silent candle of mourning in his mind.

Jolie took out the breakfast Gavin had prepared-chicken soup and scallion pancakes. The dishes were beautifully made, looking so appetizing that she couldn't resist taking a bite.

The moment the food hit her tongue, her eyes lit up.

Delicious!

She decided right then and there that she was eating his cooking from now on!

Just as she was enjoying her meal, her phone buzzed with a notification. Glancing at the screen, she saw it was a message from Selena.

"Settling in okay? Do you need anything else?"

Without hesitation, Jolie initiated a video call.

It connected quickly, revealing Selena's usual neutral expression.

"I'm doing great, Sis," Jolie said cheerfully. "I don't need anything."

Selena hadn't intended to accept the call-she wasn't one for long chats. But since Jolie had already called, would've been rude to decline. Her gaze fell on Jolie as she spoke eventually drifting to her neck.

wn

Jolie was wearing a camisole nightgown, and the marks on her neck were unmissable.

Selena's eyes narrowed, and she leaned closer to the screen for a better look.

Startled, Jolie instinctively leaned back. "Sis, what are you doing?"

Selena's voice came sharp and direct. "What's that on your neck?"

Jolie froze glancing down instinctively. She couldn't see anything, so she switched her video view to check. Her eyes widened as she spotted the marks on her neck-Gavin's kiss marks!

Her face flushed crimson in an instant.

"It's... it's nothing..." she stammered, her voice faltering as she tried to deny it, though her guilty expression gave her away.

Selena's lips curved into a knowing smile. "It seems you're doing very well over there. I suppose I don't need to worry about you anymore."

"You can still worry about me, really," Jolie insisted, her wide eyes radiating innocence and sincerity.

Selena chuckled lightly. "I called to let you know that in three days, she'll be heading to over to see you. Be prepared."

Jolie blinked in surprise. Daisy was coming in just three days? She had expected it to take much longer.

Still, she nodded quickly, already bracing herself.

"Got it, Sis. Thanks for the heads-up," she said with a sweet smile.

Selena didn't linger. She ended the call abruptly, leaning back into her chair with a smirk, shaking her head as she muttered under her breath, "Well, well..."