He caught up in a few strides . " Did my mom say something to Collin and Paulina ? " Aveline let out a dry laugh and didn't break her stride . Shouldn't he be asking his own mother that ? " That was last week , " she said , eyes fixed ahead . He'd had days to sort this out . Now , instead of dealing with his family , he wanted answers from her ? Unbelievable . Aveline's lips thinned . The anger in her eyes spoke louder than words . Xavier's tone stayed breezy . " I just got back . I'm not sure what happened . " She faced him , voice flat as glass . " Then make time to sign the divorce papers . Let's just get this over with . " When this was finished , his family could stop making her life miserable . Josephine could drop the performance . Xavier kept his gaze on her . " Is this about the divorce papers ? " She shot him a look , then disappeared behind the restroom door without answering . When she emerged , Xavier was there , leaning against the hallway wall , head lowered . His profile was sharp and strik- ing , like an ancient sculpture . She'd moved on , but she had to admit he was still striking . Maybe that was why she'd fallen so hard all those years ago . Aveline was glad she woke up before it was too late . She walked past , face unreadable . Xavier straightened and caught her gaze . " About the divorce agreement , I'll talk to Leona . I'll have the lawyer draw up a new one . It'll be fair this time . " Aveline paused , looking down . What did any of this have to do with Leona ? She didn't want Xavier's money anyway . What else did his family want ? Robbing Aveline's money ? She said nothing , and he took her silence for consent . " Come to the Beltran's mansion tomorrow . We'll talk to my mom there . " The sharp click of heels echoed down the corridor . Josephine appeared , shooting vicious glances at Aveline until Xavier looked her way , and her demeanor flipped in- stantly . 0.0 % 18:57 If Xavier wanted to be fair , he could be . After everything she'd given him , it was the least she deserved . Xavier expected her to walk into the Beltran's mansion and smooth things over for Lauren ? As if she were still the pushover she'd once been . Without another word , she walked off . Xavier trailed after . Aveline strode right past Josephine , not even glancing her way . She caught Josephine's barely suppressed scoff behind her . Josephine linked arms with Xavier , giving him a wounded pout . " You were gone so long - I thought you'd disap- peared . " Xavier raised an eyebrow . " What's that supposed to mean ? " There was a trace of teasing in his voice . Josephine let out a light laugh . " I need the restroom . Wait here for me ? " " Why ? " he asked , bemused . She pouted again . " What if some creepy guy shows up ? I'll feel safer knowing you're outside . " By then , Aveline was too far away to hear any more , and she didn't care . Once , she'd been terrified of public restrooms ever since she was harassed in high school . After their engagement , she'd asked Xavier to wait outside for her , but he barely looked " You really need someone to guard you while you're in the bathroom ? Don't be silly . " Aveline thought needing comfort was a weakness , so she forced herself to get over it . And she did . Now , public restrooms didn't scare her at all . up . She found it bemusing . Funny . She owed a little of her strength to Xavier , for better or worse . Later , when Xavier and Josephine returned to the private room , Gerald spotted Xavier's grim face . He couldn't resist a chuckle . " What happened ? Bathroom showdown ? " Josephine shook her head , glancing at Xavier . " Nothing of the sort . We just ran into my sister . " Gerald's smile faded . He turned serious now . " You need to sign those papers and move on . Wrap this up . " Xavier answered , voice flat . " That agreement's not fair to her . We need a new one . " 34.7 % 18:56 Chapter 21 Gerald snorted . " What , planning to give her half ? She's a liar . She's not getting a penny . " 288 iVouchers Josephine shot him a withering look , then glanced at Xavier . His face gave nothing away . She lowered her gaze , un- readable . *** After dinner , Aveline and her friends saw Xavier , Josephine , and Gerald again in the parking lot . They were already climbing into the black Bentley . Watching Josephine slip into Xavier's car , Jasmine smirked . " Now that you've left Winslow Heights , Xavier can bring Josephine over whenever he wants . " Aveline , unlocking her Porsche , spoke coolly . " He already gave her the place across the hall . " Jasmine remembered Xavier had bought both apartments , side by side . She shook her head . " That's some cover sto- ry . " Aveline felt Xavier didn't have to go to such lengths to cover things up , but she wasn't about to get into it. " Come on . I'll drive you home . " " Good night , Julian , " she said as Julian walked to his own car . He waved . " Night ! " *** At Winslow Heights , Xavier and Josephine got off the elevator onto the eighteenth floor . As the doors slid open , Helena stepped out from the apartment with a trash bag in hand . Surprise flashed across Xavier's face . She spoke quickly , " Mr. Beltran , good night . " Then , seeing Josephine , she added , " Ms. Josephine . " Josephine gave a nod . Xavier nodded at Helena . " You can head home now . Good night . " Apparently , he wanted Josephine gone and left some privacy between him and Helena . So Josephine slipped quietly into her apartment across the hall . 71.8 %