CHAPTER THREE

# Unexpected Visitor

"Argh that hurts"

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, a constant companion to the rhythmic beeping of machines. Ava's eyelids fluttered against the harsh brightness.

Her throat felt like sandpaper, each swallow a painful reminder that something was wrong. She tried to move her right arm, but a sharp pain shot through her shoulder.

An IV needle tugged at the back of her left hand when she lifted it to touch her throbbing temple.

White sheets. Sterile smell. Hospital gown scratching against her skin.

Fragments of memory flickered through her mind...screeching tires, shattering glass, the metallic taste of blood. Then darkness.

"You're awake," a familiar voice said from somewhere to her left.

Ava turned her head slowly, wincing at the protest from her neck muscles. Andrew sat in a plastic chair, his uniform wrinkled, dark circles beneath his eyes. His driver's cap was clutched between his fingers, twisting nervously.

"Water," she managed to croak.

Andrew jumped up, pouring from a plastic pitcher on the bedside table. He held the cup to her lips, supporting her head with his other hand.

"Please drink slowly," he said as she gulped greedily. "Doctor said small sips."

The cool liquid soothed her parched throat. She sank back against the pillows, cataloging her injuries. Bandages wrapped her right wrist. Her ribs ached with each breath. A dull throb pulsed behind her eyes.

"How long have I been out for?" she asked.

"A day," Andrew answered, setting the cup down. His hands shook slightly. "They kept you sedated because of the concussion. The other driver ran a red light. I tried to swerve but..." His voice cracked. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. McQueen."

"Not your fault," Ava whispered, reaching for his hand. His fingers were cold against hers. "You're hurt too." She nodded toward the butterfly bandages closing a gash on his forehead.

Andrew touched the wound absently. "Just a scratch. You took the brunt of it." He stared at his shoes, shoulders hunched.

"My baby... where's the doctor? How's my baby?" She asked quietly.

The doctor walked into the room "You're awake,ma'am" he said smiling as he checked her vitals "Everything is looking good"

"Really? Then my baby...?" Ava whispered softly afraid of the answer "is my baby fine?"

The smile on the doctor's face stiffened, he looked at Ava,closed his eyes, slowly shaking his head.

"We couldn't save the baby,Mrs McQueen" He bowed in apology "I'm sorry for your loss".

Ava's throat burned with unshed tears,she struggled to speak but her voice came out surprisingly clear

"It's dead?"

Taken aback by her voice which was void of emotion,the doctor looked at her wondering if the loss had somehow triggered a mental issue.

"It's important you stay calm ma'am" he said "Although you suffered significant shock from the crash,the sustained injuries are not fatal and you can still conceive in the future with proper care and rest".

"My injuries were not that severe?" She asked quietly.

Then, had she lost her baby even before the crash?

'Ah...it must have happened then' she thought bitterly.

When Victoria had pushed her off the bed and she fell on her back, that stabbing pain...

Ava looked around the ward and noted his absence "My husband?"

"I have informed the boss, he told me he'd be here soon and for you to rest" Andrew said softly avoiding Ava's eyes.

"Haha,Did he now?" Ava said, her voice dripping with coldness.

Andrew did not want to tell her the truth ,that Ethan had dismissed him harshly when he had called.

"Take her to the hospital,the doctors will do their job,call my assistant about stuff like this next time" Ethan had hung up before Andrew could get a word out,but he couldn't possibly tell her that.

Ava stared at him,her face unreadable.

She knew he was lying but at this point she was past caring.

"Start the discharge process" She said her tone weak but firm "Now".

Her head was throbbing with pain and each breath she took hurt.

"No, you cannot" The doctor flinched when Ava glared at him for his rebuttal, but he maintained a professional stance.

"We need you to remain here so we can run some tests and be sure you're ready to leave, please be patient and let us help you".

Saying this he walked out to make preparations,however as soon as the door shut behind him.

Ava sat up and slid out of the bed with difficulty

"Get me my clothes Andrew" Yanking loose the IV line in her wrist,her eyes unflinching from the pain.

Andrew winced and looked at her,wondering if she lost her ability to feel with her child.

"Ma'am, please you heard the doctor..."

"If you aren't coming, that's okay, I'd find my way out without you" Ava finished dressing up and started walking out,ignoring the pain in her head.

"Ma'am please hold on" Andrew tried to hold on to her, but she didn't stop.

"Please you're not well enough to be discharged,just two days, if you go out now, the boss will be sad if anything happened to you" Andrew begged as he walked quickly behind Ava.

Ava stopped mid-stride and Andrew almost collided with her.

"He'd be sad? Haha, Ethan will? I don't think so,he'd probably prefer if I never recovered!" She shot back, her eyes murderous.

Andrew shrank back in terror 'Merde, what has happened to the madam?' he wondered in fear.

"Quit spouting nonsense and get a cab here this instant!"

"That...Mrs McQueen?" A tentative voice faltered behind her.

"What?!" She spun around to see a young nurse,holding a tab and staring nervously at them.

"Someone's here to see you"

***

Ava slid into the back of the hailed cab, lost in thought again, with Andrew in front.

“Take me to crest’s avenue” She ordered and looked out the window ignoring Andrew’s shocked and worried look.

Yes, she was still going back to the mansion.

Andrew fidgeted in his seat worried.

He did not want her to return there, he had an inkling of what was going on back at the estate and feared she’d get hurt again.

“Ma’am, can you rethink this? I really think you should stay back at the hospital for one more day…”

Ava glanced at him from the side of her eyes, Andrew grew silent for a while before he spoke again.

“That person…”

“Come to think of it, today is the day of the exhibition hosted by that woman, so Ethan will be at the event Styx garden” Ava said, interrupting Andrew’s words.

“Take me to Styx garden”

Andrew whipped his head back to look at her in shock,.

‘Was she going to the exhibition in this state?!’

With her battered dress and bandages wrapped around her head?

He stared at her silently as she sat still lost in thought, a small smile playing on her lips and a cold glint in her eyes, scared, he closed his eyes and wished nothing bad will happen.

The taxi soon arrived at Styx gardens, Ava could hear the soft music coming from the band in the garden, the chattering of people dressed elegantly, standing in front of displayed artworks holding the flute of their champagne glasses, they faces registering puzzlement when the saw her.

Ava ignored them, trudging through the mill of people and whispers looking for Ethan.

She caught sight of him, in a cheery discussion with some business associate at the side of the pool, talking animatedly, his face flush with joy and that smile, the one she’d loved so much but now it made her sick.

Ava’s hands clenched by her side as she steadied her breath, he hurt her and her child, she’d never forgive him, ‘Who gave him permission to smile like that?’

Their gaze met and his smile disappeared as he watched her approach him , he excused himself and started to move towards her with a dark look on his face.

Ava’s face was equally dark with a smile which puzzled him into stopping a few feet from her.

His shock was intensified when he heard her say cheerily “Hello, Ethan you motherf*cker, I am divorcing you!”