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

Maria stared into Herman's eyes, noticing the sincerity and warmth in them. There wasn't a hint of deceit. She smiled and said, "Whoever you fall in love with is going to be very lucky."

Herman smiled back and clinked his glass with hers. "I think that's the least anyone deserves. Every person is an individual, free in their own right. Love shouldn't be something that traps or binds you. It should make both people better, not something that drags them into endless suffering."

"Well said!" Maria clapped her hands, downing another glass of wine.

Herman watched her, his brows knitting slowly.

After a pause, he asked, "That man earlier... you know him, don't you?"

Maria nodded, "Yes. He used to be a designer in my studio. Now, he's my business partner."

She drank a bit too quickly, and the alcohol hit her fast, a rosy blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"At first, the way things started between us wasn't great. It was full of calculations and ulterior motives. I thought once everything ended, our relationship would too. But to my surprise... I ended up liking him," Maria said as if opening up for the first time. Herman listened, but deep down, he knew she didn't see him as anything significant. That was why she felt comfortable talking so openly about her past. If she truly cared, she wouldn't bring it up so easily.

Maria smiled, though there was a tinge of bitterness. "It wasn't pure from the beginning, so even when I realized I liked him, everything started to feel ugly."

"That's not right," Herman said quietly. "Even if it began with motives or some kind of manipulation, the feelings were real. You can criticize what happened or regret the things that were done, but you can't deny the emotions."

"Hmm?" Maria looked at him, surprised by how he viewed it all.

She hadn't expected him to approach it from that perspective.

Maria asked directly, "So, do you think a relationship like that is worth starting?"

Herman paused, considering her question. "That depends on you. If you want to develop it, then be honest and lay everything out. Don't keep it bottled up, and then figure out how to move forward from there."

Maria narrowed her eyes slightly, gazing at him. "You've never been in a relationship? I find that hard to believe. You seem to know a lot."

Herman smiled and replied, "I really

haven't. But ve witnessed it-my

parents are the best example. They've already written the playbook, so Tiana and I don't need to overthink it. We just follow their

lead."

At his words, Maria's eyes lit up with interest. "Now you've made me want to meet your parents."

"You're welcome at my house anytime," Herman offered.

"Alright, cheers," Maria said as she clinked her glass with his again. "Thanks for talking to me about all this. You've helped me see things a lot more clearly."

"You're welcome," Herman replied.

"You're Tiana's friend, so that makes

you... my friend too. If you ever feel stuck or need someone to talk to, I'd be happy to be your sounding board."

Maria smiled, then finished the last of her drink.

Soon after, she had clearly drunk too much, slumping onto the table, her head heavy with alcohol. The food on the table remained mostly untouched, and Herman frowned slightly, worried. She was bound to feel uncomfortable, but in her state, she probably couldn't eat anything.

"I'll help you get to bed," Herman said gently.

Maria lazily raised a hand as if to wave him off, but then it dropped just as quickly.

"Excuse me," Herman murmured softly before lifting her up and guiding her towards the bed.

Her body felt limp, leaning heavily against him. Once Herman laid her down on the bed and started to stand, he suddenly felt her arm wrap around his neck, pulling him down unexpectedly.