Chapter 4

Ava didn’t even remember entering the place.

One moment, she was in the car, barely breathing… and the next, she was in front of Maya.

And then—

She broke all over again.

“Ava… hey, hey…” Maya rushed to her immediately, pulling her into a tight hug. “Calm down. What happened?”

But Ava couldn’t speak. Her body shook as sobs tore through her chest, her fingers gripping Maya’s clothes like she would fall apart if she let go.

“It’s… " It’s Ethan…” she finally managed, her voice breaking.

Maya stiffened slightly, then pulled back just enough to look at her. “What about Ethan?” she asked carefully.

Ava wiped at her tears, but they wouldn’t stop. “He… he said he wants a divorce.”

Silence.

For a second, Maya just stared at her.

Then—

“What?”

Ava nodded, crying harder. “He just said it like that… like it was nothing…”

Maya’s expression hardened, her mind already working. “Okay,” she said firmly, guiding Ava to sit down. “Start from the beginning. Did you guys fight?”

“No…” Ava shook her head immediately. “Everything was perfect. The dinner, the night… even the dance. Nothing was wrong.”

Maya frowned. “Nothing at all?”

“Nothing.” Ava’s voice cracked again. “We’ve been fine, Maya. Happy even.”

Maya leaned back slightly, studying her. “…What about your sex life?”

Ava blinked, caught off guard by the question. “It’s… fine,” she said softly. “More than fine. We’re good. We’re really good.”

Maya’s brows furrowed deeper. “And recently?”

Ava nodded slowly. “We were even talking about having a baby next year,” she whispered. “Everything was… normal.”

That made it worse.

Much worse.

Maya exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing as she thought.

“Then something is off,” she said. “Men don’t just wake up and ask for divorce when everything is ‘perfect.’”

Ava looked at her helplessly. “Then what is it?”

Maya’s voice dropped. “Either something happened…”

A pause.

“Or someone happened.”

Ava’s stomach dropped. “No…”

Maya leaned forward. “Listen to me. Don’t panic yet but you need to start paying attention.”

Ava swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”

“If he’s cheating,” Maya said bluntly, “we’ll find out.”

Ava shook her head immediately. “Ethan wouldn’t—”

“You don’t know that,” Maya cut in. “Not anymore.”

That truth stung.

“Start watching him,” Maya continued. “His calls. His movements. If you can get access to his phone, do it. Don’t confront him again until you know what’s really going on.”

Ava stayed quiet, thinking and shaking.

“And Ava…” Maya softened slightly, placing a hand over hers. “Don’t forget, you signed a prenup.”

Ava’s chest tightened.

“If this divorce happens, it won’t favor you,” Maya added carefully. “So you don’t just sit back and let him walk away with everything.”

Ava nodded slowly.

Her mind was starting to shift now, from heartbreak… to fear.

“And one more thing,” Maya said, a small knowing smile appearing on her lips. “Don’t let yourself go.”

Ava frowned slightly. “What?”

“I’m serious,” Maya said. “Look at you. You’re still beautiful. You still have everything that made him crazy about you in the first place.”

Ava’s eyes flickered.

“Do you remember how he used to look at you?” Maya continued. “The way he defended you? Fought for you? He was obsessed.”

Ava’s heart clenched at the memory.

“You can bring that back,” Maya said confidently. “Whatever is distracting him, you can take his attention right back.”

Ava wasn’t sure but right now… she needed something to hold onto.

“I’ll try,” she whispered.

Maya squeezed her hand. “That’s my girl.”

⸻

That night, Ava returned home but the house didn’t feel like home anymore.

It felt… empty.

Cold.

Too quiet.

She walked into the bedroom slowly, her eyes scanning the space. The bed they had shared. The nights they had spent together. The memories that now felt like lies.

And just like that, the tears came again.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking as everything finally crashed down on her.

“I don’t understand…” she whispered into the silence.

Hours passed.

Tears turned into exhaustion and eventually she cried herself to sleep.

_____

Morning came with a dull, throbbing headache. Ava groaned softly as she opened her eyes, the sunlight too bright, too harsh.

Her eyes were swollen.

Her body heavy.

Her heart… worse.

She slowly sat up, looking around the room, empty. He didn’t come home. That hurt more than she expected.

Ava swallowed hard and forced herself out of bed. She needed something, anything to steady herself.

⸻

In the kitchen, the staff moved quietly as usual.

“Coffee,” Ava said, her voice hoarse.

“Yes, ma’am.”

A few minutes later, the cup was placed in front of her. She wrapped her hands around it, taking a slow sip.

Trying to breathe. Trying to think. Trying not to fall apart again.

Then—

The front door opened.

Ava froze.

Her heart skipped violently as she turned.

Ethan walked in, calm and composed as if nothing had happened.

Their eyes met.

Silence filled the space.

Ava stood slowly. “So,” she said, her voice steady but sharp. “Have you come to your senses now?”

Ethan didn’t respond.

“Have you thought about what you said?” she continued. “Do you realize how crazy it sounds?”

His expression didn’t change.

“It’s not crazy,” he said calmly. “And I still stand by it.”

The words hit just as hard as before.

Ava’s hands clenched. “I’m not giving you a divorce.”

Ethan held her gaze. “You don’t have a choice.”

Her chest rose sharply. “Then give me a reason,” she snapped. “A real one.”

Silence.

A dangerous kind of silence.

Ava stepped closer. “If you want to end this marriage, then say the truth. What did I do wrong?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You want the truth?”

“Yes.”

His eyes darkened. “Fine.”

A beat.

“I know why you married me.”

Ava frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Ethan let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Let’s not pretend, Ava.”

Her stomach twisted. “You married me for my money,” he said bluntly.

The words hit harder than anything else.

“You saw a billionaire, and you took your chance.”

Ava stared at him, stunned. “What…?”

“I was just a means to an end,” he continued. “A way out. A way up.”

“That’s not true—”

“Isn’t it?” he cut in sharply.

Ava’s heart pounded. “I loved you—”

“You loved what I could give you,” Ethan corrected coldly. “The lifestyle. The benefits.”

The word echoed in the air between them. Cruel and final.

Ethan took a step back, his voice dropping. “You didn’t marry me for me, Ava.”

A pause.

“You married a billionaire… for the benefits.”