Chapter 3

Ava didn’t remember how she got out of the hotel.

One moment, she was standing in that penthouse, her world collapsing in slow motion… and the next, she was outside, the cold night air hitting her face like a slap.

Her chest tightened. Her breathing came in short, uneven bursts. And then—

She broke.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around herself, like she was trying to hold together something that had already shattered.

“No… no, no, no…”

Her voice trembled as she fumbled with her phone, her fingers shaking so badly she almost dropped it.

There was only one person she could call.

Maya.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Then—

“Ava?” Maya’s voice came through, bright and teasing. “Why are you calling me? Aren’t you supposed to be celebrating your anniversary?”

Ava opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, only a broken sob.

Maya went quiet instantly.

“…Ava?”

Another sob escaped, louder this time, uncontrollable.

“Hey, hey— calm down,” Maya said quickly, her tone shifting into concern. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“I…” Ava tried, but her voice cracked completely. “I can’t— I can’t—”

“Where are you?” Maya cut in firmly. “Ava, breathe first. Then tell me where you are.”

Ava forced herself to inhale, but it came out shaky.

“I need to see you,” she whispered. “Please… I need to see you right now.”

There was no hesitation.

“Okay,” Maya said immediately. “I’m sending you an address. Come straight there, alright? And Ava… try to calm down. I’m here.”

The call ended.

A second later, the address came in.

Ava didn’t think twice.

⸻

The ride was a blur.

The city lights streaked past the window, but Ava barely saw any of it. Her reflection stared back at her in the glass, mascara smudged, eyes red, lips trembling.

She looked… broken.

Her hands rested tightly in her lap as she tried to steady her breathing.

Inhale.

Exhale.

But every breath only seemed to pull up more memories.

Memories she couldn’t stop.

⸻

(Flashback: Six years ago)

Back when life was nothing like this. Back when survival was the only thing that mattered.

Ava and Maya sat on the edge of a narrow bed, the ceiling fan above them spinning lazily in the heat.

The room was small. Cramped. Barely enough space for the two of them.

But it was theirs.

And somehow… that made it enough.

“I’m tired of this life,” Maya muttered, staring at the cracked wall.

Ava let out a dry laugh. “You think I’m not?”

They had just come back from another exhausting day, two different jobs each, barely enough pay, and still not enough to make things easier.

It was always like this.

Struggle. Hustle. Survive. Repeat.

Ava leaned back on her hands, her eyes distant.

“My mom used to say love is enough,” she said quietly.

Maya scoffed. “Love? Love doesn’t pay rent.”

Ava smiled bitterly. “Exactly.”

They both fell silent because they both knew the truth.

They had seen it.

Lived it.

Their mothers had married for love… and ended up struggling every single day of their lives.

Ava closed her eyes.

“I’m not doing that,” she said suddenly.

Maya turned to her. “Doing what?”

“Marrying for love.”

Maya stared at her for a second, then slowly nodded.

“Me neither.”

Ava sat up straighter, her eyes sharp now, determined.

“I want more than this,” she said. “I want a life where I don’t have to worry about bills every single day. I want comfort. Security.”

“Wealth,” Maya added.

Ava nodded. “Yes. Wealth.”

Maya’s lips curled into a small smile. “Then let’s promise it.”

Ava raised a brow. “Promise what?”

Maya extended her hand. “That we never marry for love.”

Ava looked at her hand… then back at her face.

“That we marry for money,” Maya continued. “Or we don’t marry at all.”

Ava didn’t hesitate this time. She placed her hand in Maya’s.

“Deal.”

They shook on it.

A simple promise. One that would change everything.

From that day on… they moved differently. They worked harder, smarter.

They started going to places they didn’t belong: lounges, events, high-end gatherings, anywhere rich men existed.

They learned how to dress, how to talk, how to fit into a world that wasn’t built for them.

Until one night… Everything changed.

⸻

The event was bigger than anything they had ever seen.

Elegant. Expensive. Untouchable.

Ava had almost turned back at the entrance but Maya grabbed her hand.

“We didn’t come this far to get scared now,” she whispered.

So they walked in and that was where Ava saw him.

Ethan.

Standing across the room, surrounded by people, powerful without even trying.

Their eyes met and something shifted.

Things moved fast after that. Ethan pursued her relentlessly, not just interest, obsession.

He wanted her.

Chose her.

And for the first time… Ava felt something she hadn’t planned for.

Love.

⸻

Maya met Alex that same night.

Unlike Ava’s journey, Maya’s was smoother. Alex’s family accepted her, welcomed her.

But for Ava?

It was war.

Ethan’s family didn’t want her, didn’t accept her, didn’t even try to hide it. She was beneath them. A girl from nothing but Ethan didn’t care.

He fought for her, again and again until finally they agreed but on one condition.

A prenup.

Ava signed it without hesitation.

She must marry him.

Their wedding was everything she had dreamed of. Luxury, beauty, and security.

They had done it.

She and Maya.

They had escaped. No more struggling, no more suffering.

They had broken the cycle.

⸻

(Back To Present)

The car came to a slow stop.

Ava blinked, reality crashing back into her. Her chest tightened again. Tears filled her eyes because now—

Everything was at risk.

Ethan wanted a divorce which meant… She could lose it all.

The life. The status. The security.

Everything she fought for.

Everything she sacrificed for.

Ava clenched her fists. “No…” Her voice was quiet but firm and determined.

“I’m not going back.”

Not to that life.

Not to that struggle.

Not ever again.

She wiped her tears, stepping out of the car. Her eyes hardened.

Ethan might want a divorce but he wasn’t going to get one.