CHAPTER FOUR

ETHAN STOOD TRANSFIXED to the spot was he tried to register the words he had just heard from the woman in front of him.

She was small, her copper curls wrapped up completely in a bandage, her blue eyes was dark with rage, her face was pale and she looked like she fall over any minute.

‘Motherf*cker? Divorce? Before that why does she look so bad?’ He had received the report of her accident and hearing her driver sound somewhat okay had assumed her injuries were so-so.

He had wanted to go visit her, but Victoria had requested his help with setting up the exhibition and she looked so harried he had no choice but to stay behind and sort things out as this event was very important to him.

When Ava’s driver had called again, Victoria had urged him to go.

“Please leave, I can handle the remainder by myself, if the madam knew you didn’t go because of me…I’m afraid she…” Victoria trembled in fear, seeing her so scared, he had hardened his heart and decided to stay back.

“Just take her to the hospital and let the doctors take care of the rest” He had responded shortly,”Call my assistant about such issues next time”

Failing to see the smile that bloomed on Victoria’s face as she buried her face in her palms.

He had then spent the day with her ,preparing for the event and was so busy, he had forgotten about Ava, until she walked in her looking like she escaped a train wreck.

She looked awful and her eyes glowered with hatred as she stared at him.

Divorce?

Did she really mean that?

Ava? She cant possibly be serious

The Ava he knew was calm, levelheaded and stoic to a bore, those dull eyes were mow looking at him with so much hate, he felt like it’d consume him.

“Oh, isn’t this the daughter-in-law? What’re you doing here?” A canary like voice rang out, a slender woman in her 40s wearing an elegant burgundy dress and heels showing her well pedicured toes walked towards them.

It was Phoebe, Ethan’s mother and wife of the current CEO of McQueen group.

“I heard you got into an accident and was worried” she cooed, her eyes glinting with fake concern.

“But seeing as you are fine and already working hard at drawing attention to yourself …I must say, its very unbecoming”

Phoebe turned her attention to the crowd that had gathered, “I apologise on behalf of McQueen, please, by all means, excuse us and enjoy the exhibition”

Turning back to Ava, she spat out “And you, you were never the most beautiful or promising, least you can do is exist quietly and quit being an embarrassment!”

Phoebe McQueen glared at Ava down her nose as though she was trash unworthy of her attention.

She had never liked Ava and she was particularly vocal about it when Kenneth had brought in some fresh orphan to be her son’s wife.

The whole family thought so lowly of her.

A nobody with a subpar business degree, no family or background, she had somehow muddled the mind of the old patriarch and deceived him into forcing Ethan to marry her.

A shameless orphan money grubber .

“Calm down Phoebe” Victoria’s soft voice came at that moment.

”Don’t upset yourself for her” She said linking her arms with Phoebe. She was dress in a full length exquisite green gown which complimented her dark hair perfectly.

Compared to the messy appearance of Ava right now she looked like a descended angel.

Not that Ava cared, she could look like a goddess all she wants, she will never be the centre of Ethan’s attention.

Victoria’s eyes showed a hint of mockery and malice as she looked at Ava, it quickly disappeared as she walked up to Ethan and smiling softly said “Ethan, don’t be upset, the guests are here and besides , I invited Ava, as her painting is here, of course she’s eager to have a look” she laid her hands on his arm, looking soulfully into his eyes.

"Why are you here?, you are the main host , do not neglect our guests for unimportant things”Ethan said drawing her away from himself.

“I have everything under control” she said bowing her head shyly

“I also wanted to see you, I’m scared with you not being by my side”

She sniffed while casting sidelong glances at Ava, but Ava’s expression did not change seeing the direction of Victoria’s gaze, Ethan’s grip on her hand tightened.

“Even more so, its not safe here, remember to doctor’s instructions”.

“How lovely, its so good to see you two getting along so well” Phoebe piped in

“come now Victoria, let’s not worry Ethan and upset ourselves anymore with insignificant people” she said sweetly looking pointedly at Ava.

She couldn’t understand just why and how her father-in-law had allowed himself to be blackmailed by this wench to force her son to marry her.

Phoebe was a pampered noble princess born in wealth and status and only wished for a girl of equal standing to marry her son.

Looking at Victoria , she smiled to herself.

Even though Victoria was a little sketchy with her behaviour, she was the daughter of a board member of the McQueen group, she was also a good arts manager and was valuable to their company.

A backbone of some sorts as among all the subsidiaries of the McQueen group, only the Arts industry was doing well enough for itself.

The attending of this event was a testament to her skills.

Ava, on the other hand ,possessed flimsy business acumen, useful only as an aide, nowhere fit for her son!

Ethan silently watched Ava’s expression with interest, he saw she didn’t even show any reaction to what his mother had said, she stood there staring at them indifferently as though the words weren’t directed at her.

The Ava he knew would have flown into a rage at the mention of her orphan status and at being called a gold digger, which was what he also thought she was, but her gaze was unsettling.

What was she planning?

Asking for a divorce has got to be a joke.

Ava would never divorce him,Never.

His fist clenched as he calmed down, remembering what Victoria had told him that night he had rescued her from kidnappers three years ago.

He didn’t know why his grandfather had insisted on hem getting married, it was not because she took care of him, No, there were doctors and nurses handling that so that reason was ridiculous.

It must be because she had blackmailed him into it, she was obsessed with him and even went as far as threatening Victoria’s safety.

His grandfather had even sternly said he was willing to give him his substantial shares in the group if he married and bore a child with her.

Ethan knew that was never going to happen, how could he bear to lay with a woman who made even his powerful grandfather succumb to her wishes, a conniving and scheming woman.

And what? She was acting all righteous and seeking a divorce?

She was joking g and he didn’t care about it.

Victoria on seeing Ethan stare so long at Ava became enraged, she showed a small smile and walked up to her.

“Madam, it seems you are not well enough to be about”she reached out to hold Ava, blocking the view with her body “How about letting the guards escort you to the mansion so you can rest…Ah!”

As everyone watched shocked, Victoria and Ava fell into the pool at the side.

“Oh my god, someone fell! Quick help!” Screams erupted around.

Ava felt her legs grow heavy, spluttering, she had never learned to swim and she struggled to stay afloat.

“That hateful woman, how dare she push me into the water?!”

SPLASH!

She saw Ethan and a few guards enter the pool and was relieved ,however in the next moment saw them swim towards Victoria who looked like she had fainted already.

Her heart turned cold and she could not stay afloat anymore, she began to sink.

In the next moment, a strong arm gripped her waist and moments later, she was laid on the floor gaping for breath, her senses were a blur and she slowly opened her eyes and looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

A beautiful man, with curly golden hair, baby blue eyes covered by long golden lashes with water droplets hanging on them was shaking her and calling her name.

‘Ah…did I die? I couldn’t even take revenge on those scum ‘ Ava thought wryly ‘at least I get to be escorted by such an handsome grim reaper’

“Ava,! Miss Ava!!,open your eyes, are you okay?” The grim ripper eps calling her name.

She wished she could answer him but her head was spinning and her limbs felt like lead.

The world grew black as she quietly fainted.