Divorced, But The Billionaire Flusters!

Chapter 7 Charlotte and Another Man

Charlotte's flight was at six in the evening, and despite her busy schedule, her good friend Ava made time to see her off at the airport.

"Why did you suddenly decide to get divorced and go back to school?" Ava asked as she helped Charlotte load her suitcase onto the conveyor belt in the bustling check-in hall.

Charlotte met Ava in high school after transferring, and they happened to go to the same university and study the same major. Despite their opposite personalities, one lively and cheerful, the other quiet and well-behaved, they remained close friends.

After graduation, Ava didn't pursue a career related to their major but instead joined a real estate company, handling leasing for shopping malls and traveling most of the year.

She had just returned from a business trip when she heard about Charlotte's divorce and her plan to pursue a master's degree.

Ava knew about Charlotte's whirlwind marriage to Ethan, which had caught Ava off guard.

While Charlotte was checking in, she glanced back at Ava and said, "I want a different life."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Isn't your current life good enough? You don't have to work, and you will be taken care of. Many people would envy that."

Charlotte said, "It's better to rely on yourself than on others, and I didn't marry Ethan for his money."

Ava replied, "Then why? Ethan doesn't seem like a jerk."

In Ava's view, couples who end up divorcing either have big differences in values, or one of them has cheated. Charlotte and Ethan didn't seem like people with these problems.

Charlotte said, "It's not about him. It's about me."

The staff handed back Charlotte's ID and boarding pass. She took them and checked her watch. "There's still some time before boarding. How about we get something to eat?"

Ava nodded. "Sure."

She put her arm around Charlotte's shoulders and was ready to go.

Charlotte was putting her documents into her bag when Ava's sudden move caused her to drop her ID in her hand. As Charlotte bent to pick it up, a shiny, clean leather shoe stepped right onto the ID.

Charlotte watched as her ID was stamped under the shoe.

The person realized he had stepped on something.

"Sorry," he said with a mellow, deep voice, lifting his foot and bending down to pick up the ID.

Charlotte's eyes met his.

"Charlotte?" The man called her name uncertainly.

Charlotte didn't immediately recognize him.

Ava looked over and greeted him excitedly. "Aiden?"

The name "Aiden" triggered Charlotte's memory.

Aiden Grayson was three years ahead of them and also in the Architecture Department. When Charlotte was a freshman, Aiden was a senior and had been their class mentor for half a year.

She knew of Aiden's reputation when she started university. He was handsome, had a talent for design, was disciplined, and was praised by both teachers and classmates. The only downside was his aloofness, keeping a distance from everyone, a bit like Ethan.

Charlotte was the type to keep her distance from everyone. She had a quiet temperament and preferred a peaceful, low-profile life. So, even though Aiden had been their mentor for more than half a year, she had minimal interaction with him unless it was necessary for their studies. After Aiden graduated, they lost contact entirely. She never expected to run into him there.

"Aiden." Charlotte greeted him shyly.

Aiden didn't seem to mind that she hadn't recognized him. He politely greeted her.

Ava had already started chatting, "Long time no see, Aiden. I didn't expect to see you here."

Aiden smiled. "It's been a while."

Ava smiled too. "We were just talking about you a few days ago. It's such a coincidence to meet you today."

She glanced at her watch and asked Aiden, "Are you in a hurry? How about we grab a meal together?"

Aiden checked his watch and nodded. "Sure."

To avoid missing their flight, they chose a quiet restaurant with live music near the airport. Once they sat down, Ava handed Charlotte and Aiden the menu. "See what you'd like to eat."

"Anything is fine."

"Anything is fine."

They said it simultaneously.

Ava was surprised, and she smiled at them. "You two are so in sync."

Charlotte smiled and handed the menu back to Ava and Aiden. "You two decide."

Maybe it was because she hadn't slept well last night. She didn't have much of an appetite today.

This time, Aiden didn't refuse and took the menu.

Ava was also seriously choosing dishes.

Charlotte didn't interrupt them. Out of boredom, she looked around the restaurant and suddenly noticed someone familiar, making her pause.

Ava looked up and followed Charlotte's gaze, instinctively spotting Harper.

Harper was sitting at the table next to them, back facing Charlotte, talking to her friend about her son and daughter-in-law. "I haven't heard any news about a baby yet. I used to think it was my daughter-in-law who couldn't have children, but it turns out my son doesn't want any."

Charlotte froze upon hearing Harper's words. Harper's friend asked, "Did Ethan say that?"

"Exactly. This has left me not knowing whether to be happy or sad. We never liked the one he married in the first place. They weren't well-matched. She could not help him in his career, and her family was also a burden. We told him to divorce her and find someone else, but he refused. I thought it was because they had a good relationship and he couldn't bear to leave her. But now, it seems like it's because my son has a strong sense of responsibility and couldn't bring himself to abandon his wife. Otherwise, with his personality, there's no way he wouldn't want a child. Although he may seem distant and unapproachable, he's always loved kids since he was young."

Ava glanced at Charlotte with concern.

Charlotte gave her a reassuring smile.

Aiden looked up thoughtfully and glanced at Harper, who was sitting across from him. Perhaps his gaze was too intense, as Harper turned in confusion to look at Aiden and then saw Charlotte sitting opposite him, causing her brow to furrow.

Ava's attention had shifted to Aiden. "What are you doing in Los Angeles? Are you here on a business trip?"

"No," Aiden replied calmly. "I was born here."

Ava's mouth opened in surprise. "What a coincidence! Are you planning to work in Los Angeles?"

Aiden shook his head. "No."

Seeing Ava still looking at him expectantly, he added, "I'm planning to go for further studies."

Ava laughed. "You're not planning to go to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, are you?"

She was just joking, not expecting Aiden to pause in mid-sip of his coffee, look at her, and then glance subtly at Charlotte.

"Are you going there too?"

"I am..." Ava was stunned. "You're really going there?"

"You guys aren't on the same flight, are you?" Ava asked, eagerly urging Charlotte to take out her ticket.

Charlotte and Aiden both took out their tickets, and they were on the same flight.

"That's perfect. I'll be counting on you to look after Charloty," Ava said.

Aiden smiled at Charlotte. "Congratulations."

Charlotte smiled too. "Thank you."

At that moment, Ava's phone rang. She glanced at it, stood up, and said with a smile, "Don't mind me. I need to take this call."

With that, she walked out, leaving only Charlotte and Aiden at the table.

Charlotte wasn't familiar with Aiden and had no topics to discuss. Feeling a slight nausea in her stomach, she sipped her coffee in small sips and slowly turned her attention to the singer on stage, trying to ease the awkward silence.

Aiden didn't break the silence either. After following her gaze to the stage, his gaze slowly shifted back to Charlotte, looking somewhat dazed with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Harper, who had been discreetly observing them, raised her phone, snapped a photo, and immediately sent it to Ethan with a message: What's Charlotte doing? She was already married, but now she was going abroad alone with another man! What will other people think?