[BL] Dear Hushand, I want divorce-Chapter 34: To distract him

Ash’s POV:

I felt my blood boiling, every nerve in my body screaming at him. "Why are you digging up my past?"

His face was unreadable and emotionless and he didn’t look guilty at all.

"Ash, I...I don’t have to justify myself to you."

"You don’t have to justify yourself?" I echoed incredulously, my voice increasing in volume. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Elijah stepped closer, his eyes darkening with frustration. "As I said, I don’t have to justify myself to you."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. "Digging into my past without my consent? I want to hear your stupid excuses. So, answer me, Elijah!"

I was shocked to see the same hatred and contempt in his eyes from a few days before. What exactly is this guy up to?

What is he looking for by digging into my past? What if he found out the truth of that accident? Or maybe he already knew. The possibility made my heart race with fear. I had kept those memories buried for a reason, and if he discovered the truth, everything would fall apart.

How far is he willing to go for revenge? The past is a wound I’ve tried to forget, but it’s never fully healed. If Elijah exposes it, I don’t know how I’ll cope. I never thought he’d delve this deep. This fear, this anxiety...I thought I’d buried it long ago, but Elijah’s investigation threatens to bring everything crashing down.

"Why are you so scared? What’s there to panic about or the fact that maybe you’re really hiding something?" He narrowed his eyes on me.

And it was clear that he wasn’t only suspicious of me, rather he was accusing me.

"Like the fact that you were cheating on me with numerous women?" The words tumbled out before I could stop them, and the moment they did, I regretted it.

Elijah’s face twisted with anger, and he grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me closer. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

I could feel the panic rising within me as his grip tensed. "Let go of me, asshole."

He looked deeply into my eyes with a death glare that made me feel chills. But then he let out a long sigh and released me roughly.

I hurriedly walked out of his office.

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Elijah’s pov ;

Without another word, he stormed out of the office, leaving me standing there with an irking feeling in my chest.

As soon as he was out of sight, I grabbed my phone and called Thomas. "Thomas, follow Ash," I ordered, my voice low and urgent. "Make sure he doesn’t do anything reckless. And report me every detail of where he goes and who he meets."

"Yes, sir," Thomas replied promptly.

I ended the call and ran a hand through my hair, cursing under my breath. How could I have been so careless to leave those reports on my desk? I felt my anger rising again, but this time it was directed at myself.

Upon that, I fucking lost my temper again which only made things worse.

What should I do now that could distract him enough to forget about all this investigation crap and I can continue with my plans without further complications.

Should I secure the upcoming role for him? Yeah, it would be a great idea and maybe it would really work in my favour.

*********

The day of the audition arrived.

I was one of the judges for the auditions with the other two judges.

"Elijah," Lucas greeted me with a firm handshake. "Ready for another round of madness?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Lucas Scott is a renowned director with a string of successful films and dramas to his name. Lucas was in his late forties, with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. His work was known for its emotional depth and complex characters. We had worked together on several projects before, and I respected his keen eye for talent and storytelling.

I let out a business smile. "Always. Let’s find our second male lead."

Next was Isabelle Steller, a well-respected actress who had transitioned into producing and judging talent shows. In her early forties, Isabelle had a reputation for being both fair and tough. She had an uncanny ability to see potential in actors, often spotting future stars before anyone else. Her career spanned two decades, and she brought a wealth of experience to the table.

"Isabelle," I said, giving her a nod. "Good to see you."

"Likewise, Elijah," she replied with a warm smile.

We took our seats at the judging table, joined by the first male lead of our drama, Benji Rivera. Benji was a rising star in the industry, known for his charismatic screen presence and dedication to his craft. At twenty-three, he had already made a name for himself with several hit dramas and a loyal fanbase.

One by one, the actors auditioned. Lucas, Isabelle, and I exchanged notes and discussed the performances, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Benji also offered his insights.

As the auditions continued, I found myself waiting for Ash. He should be here by now.

"Next up is Parov Park," the assistant announced, and a young actor stepped forward.

Parov was in his mid-twenties, with a lean build and expressive eyes. He began his audition with a powerful monologue, capturing the room’s attention with his emotional delivery and nuanced performance. As he continued, it was clear that he had a strong grasp of the character’s complexities.

When he finished, there was a moment of silence before Lucas leaned forward. "Impressive," he said. "What do you think, Elijah?"

I nodded. "He’s got potential. Isabelle?"

"I agree," Isabelle said, smiling. "He brought a lot of depth to the role."

The auditions were proceeding smoothly, with several strong contenders presenting their best performances. However, there was one key individual missing: Ash. As the time ticked away, my impatience grew. I discreetly called Daniel to check on Ash’s whereabouts.

"Daniel, has Ash arrived yet?" I asked, trying to keep my frustration in check.

"No, sir. He hasn’t shown up," Daniel replied, sounding apologetic.

I sighed impatiently. "Alright, keep me posted if you hear anything."

Turning to the other judges, I said, "There’s an actor I know who would be perfect for this role. Can we wait a bit longer?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright. But if he doesn’t show up soon, we’ll have to move forward. This actor Parov Park, who gave a solid performance earlier, could be our finalist."

Isabelle chimed in, "Yes, he did a great job. But if you believe in this other actor, we’re willing to wait a little longer."

"I’m interested to see who this mystery actor Elijah kept hidden from us," Benji joked and the other laughed. But I didn’t, because I could hear the slight irritation in his tone.

With their agreement, we decided to give it some more time.

Finally, just as my patience was wearing thin, the door opened. Ash walked in, accompanied by Noah. Relief washed over me, but I quickly masked it with a neutral expression.

Ash looked a bit flustered but determined. "Sorry for being late. I’m ready for the audition." He apologised to the other judges with an embarrassed blush.

Noah gave me a look that I couldn’t quite interpret but didn’t say anything. He just nodded at Ash, offering silent support.

The judges looked at Ash with interest. Lucas leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Oh, I didn’t know it was the infamous Ash Blackthorn. Alright, let’s see what he has got."

Ash stepped forward, taking a deep breath to compose himself. He began his audition, delivering the monologue with a natural intensity that captivated everyone in the room. His performance was everything I had hoped for and more, demonstrating the depth and vulnerability needed for the role.

When he finished, the room was silent for a moment before Isabelle broke into a smile. "That was fantastic, Ash."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "Indeed. You brought a lot of emotion to the character. I guess we found our second male lead."

"Thank you so much, sir!" Ash exclaimed excitedly.

As we discussed the final details with the judges, I glanced at him, he looked both relieved and slightly apprehensive.

As the judges gathered their notes and prepared to leave, Isabelle turned to me with a smile. "Elijah, you really have an eye for talent. Ash is a fantastic choice for this role."

Lucas nodded in agreement. "His performance was captivating. It’s clear you knew what you were doing when you suggested we wait for him."

"I’m glad you both like it," I nodded but my eyes were somewhere else. I saw Ash talking to Noah, and it seemed they were leaving. "Please excuse me."

I excused myself and made my way towards Ash, who was still deep in conversation with Noah. Taking a deep breath, I approached them, hoping to catch Ash’s attention before he could walk out the door.

"Ash," I called out, my voice firm but not harsh.

He turned to face me, his expression was unreadable, but I could sense his defensive stance.

"Can we talk for a moment?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. "In private."

Noah looked at Ash, clearly concerned. Ash hesitated, glancing between us. "It’s okay, Noah," he finally said. "I’ll hear what he has to say."

Noah gave me a warning look. But before I could dismiss him, I was interrupted.

"Elijah! I was looking for you," Benji came running towards us. "Do you have time? I wanted to discuss a few things about the new drama. Can we please go to your office?"

"Mr. Rivera, can this wait? I need to talk to—"

"He already has plans with me," Ash announced, sharp and clear, much to my surprise and disbelief.

I glanced at him and his face hardened while glaring at Benji.