CHAPTER 3

Ava's POV

I didn’t know how long I had been sitting there, maybe five or ten or twenty or thirty minutes.

The cold weather froze me to the bone, my wet dress only made matters worse, the breeze seemed to irritate my skin, biting into my skin, but none of that really mattered—nothing did.

My fingers curled tightly around my phone as the tears kept flowing down my cheeks, my phone kept buzzing, indicating a new message, but I couldn't look at the screen, minutes passed and I still couldn't open the phone, fear gripped me.

Where do I even begin? I closed my eyes, remembering when we had just gotten married.

Five years ago

"Ava baby, there is something I want to discuss with you," Liam said as he kissed my cheek.

We were cuddled up together on the couch, watching one of the latest tv series.

Pausing the show, I sat up, looking straight at him, "I am all ears, what would you like us to discuss?"

"I want you to put up your house for sale,"he announced.

"What? Why?" I asked, I had just gotten the house, a beautiful stylish apartment which cost me just below a million dollars.

"Yes, I want us to live together," he said, holding my hands and pulling me towards himself, "I want us to unify everything, all our assets, let's put them all in one name, one account, under one body—where we both can manage the account and our assets together," he explained, holding my arms to his chest.

"I'm not sure about this, don't you think it's a bit early," I replied.

"Fine, you are right, I just thought you love me enough to trust me and build with me," he said abruptly, letting go on my arms and looking away.

"I do love you, okay, let's do it, I'll put up the house for sale and unify our assets, are you happy now my love," I replied as I rubbed his back...

I looked up from my hands, the streets got louder as people moved around and cars flashed the streets.

I picked up my phone to check the time and that's when I saw it...

The messages, they weren't work messages as I had thought, no, they were worse.

“Your shares have been transferred.”

“Asset redirection complete.”

“Authorization confirmed under L. Reynolds.”

All of them had read different words but with one meaning.

He took everything.

A home I built with love was no longer mine.

The company I bled for wasn’t mine.

And as for Liam... he never was.

My phone buzzed again, but I couldn't possibly muster the courage to move.

I already knew, I didn't need to look, no need for more heartbreaks.

After a few more minutes, it vibrated again.

I clenched my jaw, letting out a breath, preparing for the worse, I picked up the phone.

The phone buzzed again.

"Ugh—what now?" I snapped under my breath, unlocking it with bitter fingers, iff Liam had found something else to take, let him, maybe he should just come and take my life at once.

But this time, the screen flashed a name, Clara.

3 New Message – Clara.

“Hey, are you free?"

"Where are you? I need to ask you something.”

“I’m going over to a small party with a few business colleagues—nothing big, just blowing off steam, I was thinking maybe you’d come? You deserve a break, call me if you’re interested.”

My thumb hovered over the screen.

A party? Tonight?

It felt absurd, my entire world had just crumbled, my face looked like a mess—my make-up had been ruined by my tears, now it's drying, forming irregular marks and colours down my face, over my eyes too.

And worse if it, I felt like shit, I could still hear the tone of betrayal from his voice, the mockery in Vivienne's laugh, the red wine on my lips.

I don’t want to smile, don’t want to pretend, I have been pretending for far too long, I want to scream, but who would I scream with?

How many times had Liam told me no.

"No, Ava, that’s not your scene."

"No, you don’t need friends, you have me."

"No, what will people say if the boss’s wife is seen partying?"

Every time I said I needed a break, he offered a different solution, one that tightened his grip on me.

But now... there was no Liam.

My thumb pressed the call icon before I could second-guess it.

“Ava are you good?” Clara’s voice snapped through the speaker, picking up at the first ring, "got my text?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but let out a sob rather.

I pressed a trembling hand to my lips, as if that could force the cry back in.

“Ava? Oh my God—what’s wrong? What happened?” Clara’s tone shifted instantly, rising in urgency.

“I—I want to come,” I croaked out, speaking barely above a whisper.

“Ava... where are you? Talk to me.”

I hesitated, “I’m... I’m just outside Liam’s apartment.”

“Don’t move,” she said, voice firmer now, “I’m coming to get you, I'll be there in ten minutes, just stay where you are.”

The line went dead from her end, then I finally let the sob out, I guess hearing the caring voice of someone was all it took to break me further.

Ten minutes later, a cab pulled up not too far away from where I sat, the door flew open before the tires stopped rolling.

Clara came rushing out, her eyes searching the street for me.

I waved my hand in the air, announcing my presence, she came running over immediately she saw my hand, she sat down beside me, her eyes staring deep into mine, filled with barely hidden horror, she coiled an arm tightly around my shoulder.

I snuggled into her.

“Oh honey...” she whispered.

“I'll be fine,” I mumbled into her shoulder.

“I know,” her voice thickened, “Let’s get out of here, okay?”

She led me gently into the cab, getting in, she gave the driver an address.

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the door, resting my head on the chill glass window, we drove in an awkward silence, the air was tensed, I know she had questions to ask but she didn’t push.

The cab finally slowed to a stop infront of a large exquisite building, the scene outside was wild—the music was loud, hitting my chest hard.

A group of sweaty bodies danced in the fields around the entrance, yelling over the music, seemingly having fun as they drank and made out.

The ground under our feet seemed to be shaking as we stepped out of the cab.

“Clara... this isn’t really my thing,” I leaned in to her, trying to avoid yelling.

She gave me a soft smile, “it’s not mine either,” she leaned in closer, “I’m not taking you to that party, trust me, follow me.”

We squeezed through the many bodies, having to duck under arms, avoid strangers and avoid sloshed drinks, the room had a heavy scent of perfume and smoke.

Then Clara pulled me towards the side of the building, towards a set of stairs—one flight, two, then three—until we emerged on the rooftop.

And it was like walking into another world entirely.

Up here, the lights were soft, ambient, elegant, the music was calmer, more like smooth jazz, men dressed in well tailored suits chatted calmly with women in silk gowns.

Everything looked clean, fancy and exotic—expensive, this was completely different from what we saw down there, I guess this is where the real power players party.

I hesitated at the entrance, “I can’t pay for any of this.”

Clara turned to me, frowning, “Ava, I invited you—have you forgotten? I’ve got it covered.”

Reluctantly, I followed her to a lounge at the corner, calm and quiet.

The seats were large, soft and lined with velvet, with a table between us.

A waiter approached, and Clara ordered for us both.

"A bottle of champagne and two glasses please."

We sat in silence waiting for our order.

For a moment, the silence felt like a relief, the noise downstairs, now was merely a distant hum, but I couldn't help but feel guilty, I shouldn't be here, I wasn't in the same class as these people anymore, maybe I was a few hours ago, but not any longer.

The waiter arrived shortly afterwards with our drink, leaving immediately he dropped them.

Clara took the first sip of the wine, then turned to me.

“Okay,” she said, her tone soft but steady, “spill it.”

I looked at her, then down at the glass in my hand, then back at her.

I had expected this right from the ride in the cab, so after a long breath, I leaned forward,

“Where do I even begin?”