CHAPTER 3: BETRAYAL

When night came, Ava could not bring herself to sleep. Every moment she dared to sleep the images came to her mind. Every single one of them. Ryan kissing another woman. Ryan leaving the boutique with another woman. She couldn't bear the weight of those thoughts. Ryan looking at a woman that was not her. It drove her crazy.

When morning finally came, she had already made up her mind to confront Ryan. No one was perfect. But at least, there had to be an explanation for this sudden change of attitude.

Or was he always like this? She had to hear it all from him.

By the time the city was about to get busy, Ava already got to his place. She walked through the lobby, ignoring the greeting from the receptionist and headed straight to the elevator.

A few moments later, the elevator doors chimmed and she was there. She didn't hesitate to knock. Once. Twice. Thrice. Then, the door finally opened.

Ryan appeared with his dark robe. At first, he looked confused. Then, his expression turned to clear hostility when they locked eye contact.

“Ava," he called her. "What are you doing here?”

The question threw Ava off guard. She was expecting him to be in shock the moment he saw her. He was supposed to be apologising already. Why wasn't he?

"Are you actually asking me that?” She scoffed. "Ryan, we need to talk.”

Ryan dismissed the idea with a cold sigh. "Now is not the right time.”

"No.” Ava protested. "I think this is the most perfect time to have this talk.”

Without giving him any time to drag the debate further, she pushed past him and got inside. Ryan stood there for a while before he hesitantly shut the door.

For a while, no one spoke any word between them. The silence was finally broken by the accusatory tone of Ryan.

“Are you here to apologise?"

What the …..? Ava was shocked.

She pulled out her phone and showed him the files. "Explain to me why there are pictures of you with a woman that is clearly not me.”

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but disappeared quickly.

“Ava….” He tried to speak.

"No,” Ava cut him off.

To her surprise, he sighed and turned. No! This wasn't it. He was supposed to try to defend himself. That's how it's done. She needed explanation for his actions. She needed to hear him say he's sorry. It wasn't coming.

After a moment of silence between them, he said, “Ava, it's over."

The statement hit Ava like a fatal blow. What the heck? Out of all things he could say, it had to be this. He was throwing in the towel because he had been caught.

“What?" She queried him and staggered back.

Ryan affirmed what she heard. “I said it's over. It's over between us, Ava."

He turned and looked at her. There was no love in his eyes for her anymore. "Our engagement. It was a mistake.”

"Is this…a prank? Stop it." Her voice was almost pleading with him.

“You lied to me. You cheated on me.”

Ava was confused by his words. She shook her head. "Is this an attempt to discard what I came here for?”

He ignored her and walked right to the dining table. Then, he grabbed a massive folder and tossed it across the glass.

“Have a look," he said in an icy tone.

Ava was confused and totally lost. She approached the table and opened the contents of the folder. Then, her heart sank completely. Hotel receipts with her name written on them. Photographs and a lot more.

They all pointed at a woman living a double life. And it was her.

Ava shook her head, terrified. “No. This can't be."

Ryan scoffed at her. "What can't be? That I figured out? Cut the cheap act.”

"Ryan, this is completely impossible,” she pleaded.

"That's what all liars come up with when they're caught. You even went to the extent of coming up with those fabricated evidence of yours to turn the tables.”

Ava's heart was being torn to tiny shreds. She had to make him see clearly. But he wasn't listening.

“Ryan, don't you see it? Someone is trying to set us up. First, it was my company. Then, this. Can't you see the pattern?"

He smirked. “The only pattern I see is you."

There was a long pause between them. Then, he spoke again.

“I'm sorry, Ava. But this has to come to an end."

Sorry. Was he? Her joy had just been taken from her. She wiped tears off her eyes and was calm for a moment. Then, she pulled the engagement ring from her finger and gently placed it on the table for him. If this was what he wanted, then, so be it. She wouldn't beg a man to stay with her.

“Here," she said softly. “You can have it."

Ava didn't give him time to respond. She left the penthouse immediately. When she finally got to the garage, she let go of all the tears she was trying to press down. They rolled down her cheeks at once. Her heart felt so heavy that it looked like it would tear through her chest.

Her phone rang, jolting her out of her misery. It was her mom calling.

“Hello," she said as she took the call.

“Ava, where are you? Start coming to the hospital now."

Her tears quickly dried up. Her mom's tone was completely nervous.

“What is happening?"

“Your dad suffered a heart attack!"

As the call came to an end, she jumped into her car and hit the ignition. She wouldn't stand it if anything should happen to her father, the strongest man she ever knew.

As she sped on, a new notification popped up.

Breaking news…

…SINCLAIR HOLDINGS FALLS ANOTHER EIGHT PERCENT.

Another notification followed immediately.

….TWO MORE BANKS SUSPEND PARTNERSHIP WITH SINCLAIR HOLDINGS.

A third came in.

…. CAN THEY SURVIVE THIS HIT?

She had no idea what she was supposed to be thinking about anymore. Everything was falling apart too quickly and all at the same time. The company. Her love life…..and now, her father.

And somewhere in the city, Damian Blackwood was definitely watching it all happen. Whether he was responsible or not, she had no idea.

She hit the accelerator, praying earnestly that she wouldn't be too late to the hospital.