CHAPTER ONE

A soft knock sounded at the door.

Ava McQueen froze mid-page turn, she blinked forcing her vision to clear as she glanced up from the report she was reading.

Her assistant Grace, stood in the doorway with a rectangular box balanced in her arms.

“You have a packaged delivered ma’am “

“Thank you Grace, you can leave the package on the table ” Ava said as she slipped the document into the manila envelope and stood up to walk around the desk.

Smiling charmingly at the curious woman , she said“That’d be all for now”

The door clicked shut as Grace left, leaving Ava alone with the package.

“Phew, this finally arrived” Ava said, opening the box to reveal a blue silk dress with sequins she had ordered a week ago.

“I was really excited when I ordered this” she said smiling wryly, “Now it feels so irrelevant”

Her hand drifted to her abdomen. Flat. Unchanged. Six weeks didn’t show.

“I can’t believe I’m six weeks pregnant” The words echoed in her mind as she slumped back into her chair, her fingertips pressed against her pulsing temple trying to massage away the mounting pressure.

“What am I going to do?” she moaned.

She was shocked and trembling with joy but at the same time sad

Shocked because she didn’t believe that one drunken night with her husband could have resulted in a child.

Sad because she feared how he would react to the news…if at all he’d react because he hated her and wanted nothing to do with her.

She had met Ethan at the hospital her mom was hospitalised in for her cancer before she died, his grandfather had also been in the ward and grew fond of her, Ethan has married her under the insistence of his grandfather, she was elated at first because she fell in love with the dark hair gentle giant who took care of his grandfather.

Their marriage was riddled by challenges because of her low status compared to the Prestigious McQueen group and Ethan had treated her coldly, a stark difference from the man she’d fallen in love with.

“I believed if I worked on myself and my skills, he could love me, what a fool I am” Ava said wearily her fingers digging into the arm of her chair.

Reality proved cruel as she was soon transferred to manage one of the units out of the capital.

And from then she began seeing less and less of him and his visits were spent hotel rooms, far away from her.

“I’m tired and prefer the quiet of the hotel, my meetings will be easier too, do not mind me and focus on your job” He had fired at her with his green eyes avoid of emotion and his voice cold the day she had asked why he wasn’t coming to the villa.

He never touched her.

Never

Until that one night. One drunken night after five years of marriage, two spent walking on eggshells and three in separate bedrooms.

The memory of Ethan’s weight pressed against her sent a shiver down her spine. His hands, urgent and demanding. His breath, hot against her neck, reeking of whiskey. His voice, husky in her ear.

“Victoria”

Not her name. Never her name.

Victoria Blackwood. The curator of the prestigious Metropolitan gallery, one of McQueen subsidiaries and daughter of a member of the board of the McQueen Conglomerate. Ethan’s childhood friend and his first love.

Everything Ava wasn’t.

“What a terrible aftertaste” Thinking about that woman, Ava gripped the chair more tightly, the invitation to the upcoming exhibition lay beside the dress box, the McQueen family crest embossed in gold leaf catching the light.

“This is definitely one of Victoria’s arrangements, I wonder why I was invited” she thought curiously looking over the card.

Two days. Two days until she returns to the mansion to face Ethan…

***

“We’re here, madam” The driver’s voice interrupted alas thoughts and her eyes snapped open.

She was dozing again and didn’t realise they were already at the estate.

“I’m so tired, I should get some proper rest soon” Ava said rubbing her eyes wearily and suppressing a yawn as the driver came around to open her car seat.

“Thank you Andrew” She gave him a wobbly smile which faded as she stared at the huge mansion which stood tall and wide in front of her.

“I’m back” Whispering softly, she gathered her handbag and gripped the handle of her suitcase. Gravel crunched under her feet as she made her way towards the entrance.

Maids in crisp uniforms lined the entryway, heads bowed un respect. Their whispers died as she approached replaced by a chorus of “Welcome home, Mrs. McQueen.

“Thank you everyone” Ava responded absently surrendering her luggage to waiting hands as she made her way up the grand staircase to her room.

Trailing her fingers along the polished banister, her thoughts drifted to the conversation she had with Ethan’s assistant that morning.

“The headquarters will be holding an exhibition and a painting of yours caught the eye of a very important client…” The assistant had said stiffly.

“A painting of mine, I don’t remember making one, the only painting in my possession is my mother’s and it’s not ethical to display it without my permission!” Ava said angrily

“Well the piece was presented by Ms. Victoria and Mr Ethan said he’d run it by you and to proceed” a dull reply came back

“I see…, I understand”

A painting her mother had made-A landscape painting of an ethereal creek and mountains-had somehow become her summons to a life she’d been quietly exiled from.

“How ironic is this, the same person drowning me is sending a raft“ A laugh escaped her lips.

Halfway up the stairs she heard a noise coming from upstairs followed by muffled laughter, her heart quickened.

Turning to the maid following several steps behind her face bright” The master is home?” She asked as a wide smile spread across her face, “You should have told me!”

“-No madam, wait a second-“ The head maid, Viola called out, but it was too late as Ava had picked up her skirt and ran up the stairs to Ethan’s bedroom.

She knew he hated been disturbed by anyone especially in the mornings, but she felt the occasion called for it.

She hadn’t seen him in a while and…her baby.

She was pregnant and it was only right that the father of her child knew about it.

Opening her handbag, she grabbed the pregnancy report, clutching it with nervous hands, she reached for the door handle and opened it in one swift motion.

“Ethan, I…” Ava’s words did on her lips and her smile vanished as she took in the sight before her.

A trail of discarded clothes, shoes carelessly discarded and in the cool morning light coming from the window, she saw a woman sitting primly in her husband’s bed in nothing but bright red lace underwear and an amused glint in her eyes.

Ava froze and felt her head ringing.

“Victoria”