My CEO HUSBAND sign the divorce novel Chapter 332

Chapter 332: Preferences

After arranging all the dishes on the table, Alexander returned to the sofa and sat beside me.

"I called Maria," he said. "She said they’re doing well."

"Mmm." I nodded as he began serving food onto my plate. "Aimy’s already used to staying without me."

His movements paused for the briefest moment before he continued filling my plate.

I looked at him curiously.

"What happened?"

He shook his head with a faint smile.

"Nothing."

He was quiet for a second before adding,

"I was just thinking... the two of you have become so independent."

I glanced at him but didn’t think much of it.

Picking up my fork, I began eating.

Halfway through the meal, I noticed Alexander hadn’t touched his own food.

Instead, he was watching me with an amused expression.

"What?" I asked, slightly irritated.

He chuckled.

"Nothing."

"You seem to be eating more these days."

"Much more than before."

I raised an eyebrow.

"It’s been two years."

"And after having a child, most things about me were bound to change."

"I see."

He smiled before placing another piece of food onto my plate.

His amused expression never disappeared.

My appetite had indeed improved over the past two years.

But the truth was...

I’d always loved food.

I only lost my appetite when I was overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted.

Living peacefully with my family for the past two years had healed me more than I’d realized.

Still...

That wasn’t something I was ready to admit aloud.

After lunch, Alexander packed away the empty containers while I stood up.

"Thanks for lunch."

"I should get back to my office."

"I heard you requested your former assistant."

I turned around.

"Yes."

"Having Vicky beside me again would make settling back in much easier."

He nodded.

"Then I’ll arrange her transfer immediately."

A smile tugged at my lips.

"Thank you, Chairman Blackwood."

Alexander looked thoroughly amused.

Without warning, he leaned forward and gently kissed my forehead.

"If you need anything else..."

"Just call me."

I smiled as he walked back toward his desk to pick up his phone.

"Alexander."

He stopped and turned around.

"Mm?"

I hesitated briefly before asking,

"Isn’t my promotion a little sudden?"

"I’ve only just returned after two years."

"You think I had something to do with it?"

I remained silent.

He smiled knowingly.

"It’s not sudden."

"You may have been away from Blackwood Dominion for two years, but that doesn’t erase everything you achieved here."

"Nor does it erase what you accomplished at Whitemore Industries."

His words made me pause.

He was right.

Over the past four years, I’d built a career I could truly be proud of.

Even if Alexander had supported my promotion...

It was still my own achievements that made me deserving of it.

"You’re right."

I smiled faintly.

"I’ll head back now."

"Alright."

"Take care."

By the time I left the Chairman’s office, the lunch break had already ended.

Employees were gradually returning to work.

The moment they saw me walking out of Alexander’s office, quiet whispers immediately spread through the hallway.

"Mrs. Alicia."

I stopped and turned around.

Several employees approached me with friendly smiles.

"Congratulations on your promotion."

I smiled politely.

"Thank you."

"Is there something you need?"

They quickly shook their heads.

"No."

"We just wanted to welcome you back and congratulate you."

"That’s very kind of you."

"I appreciate it."

I was about to continue walking when one of the women spoke again.

"We were hoping to invite you to dinner."

"As our way of welcoming you back."

Their smiles looked sincere.

But I couldn’t help remembering the whispers...

The gossip...

The judgment from two years ago.

Whether their intentions had changed or not...

I wasn’t interested in finding out.

"I’m sorry."

"I already have plans."

"I’ll have to decline."

Disappointment flashed across their faces.

"We were too late."

"It’s alright."

"We’ll invite you another time."

I smiled politely.

"Perhaps."

"Thank you for the invitation."

After saying goodbye, I continued toward my office.

As I walked away, I couldn’t help thinking...

Two years ago...

Some of these same people had stood in the restroom criticizing my personality.

Now they were inviting me to dinner as though none of it had ever happened.

How quickly people’s attitudes could change.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork.

By evening, a familiar knock sounded on my office door.

Alexander stepped inside.

"Aren’t you usually the last one to leave?" I asked.

He smiled.

"Not anymore."

"It’s time to go."

"Come on."

I laughed softly before shutting down my laptop and picking up my bag.

We drove back to the estate together, just as we had come that morning.

"You can come to the house."

"Is that alright?" Raphael asked.

"Of course."

"And we can discuss that software you mentioned."

"Perfect."

"I’ll be there in about an hour."

After hanging up, Alicia stood.

"I’ll go get changed."

"I’ll change too."

Aimy was completely absorbed in her cartoon, so we quietly headed upstairs.

By the time we came back down, dinner had already been prepared.

Alicia and Aimy were waiting in the dining room.

I had barely reached the entrance when the doorbell rang.

One of the staff opened the door.

Raphael walked in carrying several shopping bags and neatly wrapped boxes.

The staff quickly took some from him.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Did you go shopping at this hour?"

He rolled his eyes.

"I bought these days ago."

"It just took you forever to finally let me meet my niece."

I couldn’t help chuckling.

"This way."

He followed me toward the dining room.

The moment we entered, Alicia looked up and smiled warmly.

"Raphael."

"It’s good to see you again."

"It’s good to see you too, Alicia."

Then his attention immediately shifted to the little girl sitting beside her.

Instead of taking a seat, he walked over and crouched beside Aimy’s chair.

"Hi there."

"You must be Aimy."

Aimy blinked and instinctively looked at Alicia.

Just as she always did whenever she met someone new.

Alicia smiled reassuringly.

"Say hello to your Uncle Raphael."

Aimy looked back at him.

"Hello."

Her tiny voice made Raphael’s smile widen.

"Hello, sweetheart."

Before he could continue, I spoke.

"You can talk to her all you want after dinner."

"For now..."

"Take a seat."

He laughed before finally pulling out the chair beside mine.

Dinner soon began.

Throughout the meal, I couldn’t help noticing Raphael stealing glances at Aimy every few seconds.

Eventually, he leaned toward me and whispered,

"How does she look so much like you..."

"...yet somehow end up this adorable?"

I nearly laughed.

Following his gaze, I looked at my daughter.

She was stubbornly trying to scoop vegetables onto her little fork.

Half of them fell back onto the plate.

The other half landed on the table.

She frowned, puffed out her cheeks exactly the way Alicia always did, and stubbornly tried again.

A small smile escaped me.

She had inherited my face...

But every adorable habit she had...

Came from her mother.