After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back (Aveline and Lucas) novel Chapter 1057

Jolie jerked her hand back instinctively, but before she could fully retreat, her wrist was firmly caught in a hot, unyielding grip.

Startled, she looked up and found Gavin awake, his dark, piercing gaze locked onto hers. She hadn’t even noticed when he’d opened his eyes, but now he was staring at her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

“Mr. Cooper, you’re awake?”

Forcing a stiff smile, she tried to play it off casually, her tone light but betraying her unease.

“What were you doing?” His voice was deep, steady, and laced with suspicion as his sharp eyes bore into her.

“I saw you were asleep and thought I’d just let myself out to head home,” she explained quickly. “I didn’t mean to touch you. It was an accident. My apologies.”

Her flustered tone melted into something more composed, her lips curling into a picture-perfect smile. The shift was almost seamless like a sly little fox slipping its mask back on. One moment she was frazzled; the next, she was polite and poised, as though nothing had happened.

Gavin didn’t let go of her wrist.

In the dim light, it was hard to read his expression, but his grip remained firm.

“I brought you back here, and you were just going to leave without a word?”

Jolie blinked, caught off guard by his question.

What was that supposed to mean?

Was he upset?

Her fingers curled slightly, and she struggled to explain, “I… I did call your name, but you didn’t wake up.”

“So now you’re blaming me?”

Jolie was speechless.

The weight of his presence seemed to intensify, pressing down on her. Her wrist remained in his grasp, and the awkward angle was beginning to make her uncomfortable.

“Mr. Cooper, that wasn’t my intention,” she said, her tone softer now, hoping to defuse whatever had upset him. “I just didn’t want to disturb you, so—”

“But you did disturb me,” he interrupted, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Jolie froze, unsure how to respond. His unwavering gaze made her feel like she was being pinned in place, and the tension in the small space was suffocating.

Jolie felt like he was deliberately picking a fight.

What was his problem?

Confused, she looked into his eyes, hoping to find some clue to his mood, but all she saw was an impenetrable darkness. His emotions were completely unreadable.

He was unfathomable—clearly not someone she could match wits with.

He was unlike any man she’d ever encountered before.

Cold, serious, and undeniably attractive.