Chapter 17 She said coldly , " Mr. Henderson , are you upset because you couldn't take your father's last name ? " Gerald froze , then stared at Aveline with a menacing scowl . Xavier's hand paused mid - wipe , his eyes widening slightly in surprise as he looked at Aveline . Aveline turned her gaze away coldly , taking Jasmine's hand and continuing toward the street . Jasmine leaned in , curious , and whispered , " His face changed so fast . What did you mean ? " Aveline explained calmly , " His father married into his mother's family . His brother took their father's last name , but he took their mother's . Brielle is his sister - in - law . And since his mother dotes on Tina , Tina also goes by the surname Henderson . " Jasmine grinned . " Got it . " These days , taking a father's or mother's last name didn't matter much . But Gerald had mocked Aveline by calling her " Mrs. Beltran , " so her retaliation was well - deserved . Gerald noticed Xavier was still staring at Aveline's retreating back , his dark eyes fixed on her . Annoyed , he snapped , " She's already far gone . What are you staring at ? Aveline is getting more and more out of line , bringing up my family's business to attack me . " Before she married you , she acted like a meek lamb . Now she's showing her true colors . I never knew she had such a sharp tongue . " Xavier pulled his gaze back , his tone calm , " If you don't want her talking about your family , stop making fun of her . " Gerald huffed , " Hmph , she can't even stand a joke ? Look at Josie . Even without an official status , she joins in our laughter like one of us . I really like her easy - going character . " " If Aveline hadn't tricked you , Josie would be Mrs. Beltran right now . " Xavier frowned slightly as he looked at Gerald . But just then , his phone rang . He glanced at the screen , saw it was Josephine , and answered , " Hello . " 0.00 % 08:31 Chapter 17 288 Vouchers " Darling , are you back from your run ? Come have breakfast , " Josephine's voice came through . " I'm back . I'll go upstairs to shower first , " Xavier replied . " Okay . I'll save your favorite dishes for you , " Josephine said sweetly . *** Over the next few days , Aveline didn't run into Xavier or Josephine again , or any of their group . She guessed that after the celebration party , they must have returned to the city . Jasmine mentioned to Aveline that the advertisement Josephine filmed for Solara Plaza , a Beltran Group subsidiary , had been trending online for days and had even been submitted to an international contest . Jasmine scoffed , " Unless Xavier bribes the judges , that advertisement won't get past the preliminary round . " Aveline hadn't searched for the advertisement on purpose . She'd been swamped with site analysis and hadn't been online much these days . So she hadn't stumbled across it by accident either . A week later , when they felt they had fully grasped the site's details , the three of them headed back to the city . That evening , after returning home , Aveline took a hot bath to ease her tiredness . She sat on the bed with her phone , thinking she'd start working on the design plan next . So she might as well ask Xavier to sign the divorce papers tomorrow . So she sent him a message , " I'm free tomorrow . Are you available in the morning or the afternoon ? " Leaning back against the headboard , she picked up her iPad to flip through an art magazine , hoping to spark some inspiration . A few minutes later , Xavier called . Aveline didn't want to hear his voice , so she didn't answer . He could've just replied to her message . There was no need for a call . He'd never been so active in reaching out to her before . The ringtone cut off , and soon after , Xavier sent a message , " I'm on a business trip . I'll schedule it once I'm back . " 0.00 % 08:31 Aveline glanced at it , set her phone silently on the nightstand , and turned off the lights to sleep . Meanwhile , in Kralville , Alfred Jenkins , a world - renowned painter , was hosting his 70th birthday party in the ballroom of the Beltran Hotel . Xavier stood by the floor - to - ceiling windows , his tall frame sharp in a tailored suit . He stared down at his phone screen , his expression unreadable . Josephine glided through the hall , wearing an haute couture gown and jewelry worth millions . With her light footsteps and eye - catching appearance , she drew attention . There were envious looks , jealous ones , and admiring ones alike . She loved the attention . Carrying two glasses of red wine , she walked up to Xavier and held one out to him . Glancing at the phone in his hand , she asked , " What's wrong ? " Xavier slipped his phone into the inner pocket of his suit jacket , took the wine glass , and replied calmly , " Nothing . " Sebastian and Fiona stood not far away . Xavier and Josephine were so eye - catching that they couldn't help but notice them . Sebastian took a sip of his wine and said , " Didn't you say Aveline and Xavier are already married ? " Fiona glanced at Xavier and Josephine , then quickly looked away as if the sight annoyed her . " They are , but they'll be divorced soon . I even helped draft the divorce agreement . " " Because of that woman ? " Sebastian nodded toward Josephine . " Exactly . That coquettish woman is Aveline's half - sister , Josephine , " Fiona said . Sebastian frowned slightly . " Josephine ? Why does that name sound familiar ? I feel like I've heard or seen it somewhere , " Fiona let out a cold laugh . " She directed the recent popular advertisement for Beltran Group's Solara Plaza . It's been everywhere . Xavier just threw money at promoting it . "