Chapter 5

Ava stared at him like she didn’t recognize the man standing in front of her.

“What do you even mean by that?” Her voice shook. “I signed a prenup, Ethan. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Ethan let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Stop acting as if you love me all of a sudden.”

The words hit her like a slap.

“I know exactly why you married me,” he continued coldly. “You saw money. Power. Influence. And you took your chance.”

Ava’s chest tightened. “That’s not true—”

“You were a poor girl who came from absolutely nothing,” he cut in, his voice sharp now. “So of course you grabbed the opportunity when you saw it.”

Tears filled Ava’s eyes. “I loved you,” she whispered.

Ethan shook his head slowly. “No. I was the one who loved in this relationship.”

Silence fell heavy between them.

“I fought for you,” he continued. “Against my family. Against everything. You had nothing, Ava… and I still chose you.”

Her heart broke all over again.

“But if it was the other way around?” he added, his voice turning colder. “You wouldn’t have done the same.”

“That’s not fair!” she snapped, her voice rising.

“Then don’t pretend now,” Ethan said flatly. “Don’t act like this is some great love story.”

Ava shook her head, stepping back like she needed space to breathe.

“I want to stay in this marriage,” she said, her voice trembling but firm.

Ethan’s expression didn’t soften. “All I need you to do,” he said calmly, “is sign the divorce papers.”

Ava froze.

“My lawyer will bring them later today,” he added. “Just sign them. Don’t make this difficult.”

Her stomach dropped.

“If you do,” he continued, almost casually, “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. You won’t leave empty-handed.”

The insult burned.

“But if you decide to fight me…” his eyes darkened, “then the divorce will still happen. Just the hard way.”

A beat.

“And I’ll make sure you leave with nothing.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

“Do what’s best for you,” he finished.

Then he turned and walked away.

⸻

Ava stood there, frozen.

The servants in the house moved quietly, pretending not to hear, not to see. Avoiding her, avoiding the tension.

The shame crept in slowly, hot and humiliating. Her chest tightened as she looked around, every glance, every silence felt like judgment.

She couldn’t take it.

Without another word, she ran upstairs.

⸻

The bedroom door was open and inside… Ethan was packing.

Ava stopped in her tracks. “Where are you going?” she asked, her voice barely steady.

He didn’t look at her. “I’ll be staying at the hotel for a few days.”

Her heart sank.

“Until the papers are signed,” he added. “It’s better this way. Less… uncomfortable.”

Ava laughed bitterly. “So you’ve already decided everything for us?”

Ethan zipped his bag calmly. “You can stay here for now,” he said. “I’ll arrange another place for you after the divorce is done.”

Ava stared at him in disbelief. “This isn’t fair.”

He didn’t respond.

“You just woke up one day and decided I married you for money?” she continued, her voice breaking. “After six years? Six years, Ethan!”

Still nothing.

“I don’t understand you anymore,” she whispered. “This isn’t the man I married.”

Ethan finally looked at her. “Then that’s exactly why you should sign the papers.”

The coldness in his voice made her stomach twist. He picked up his bag and walked past her.

“Be smart, Ava,” he added. “You know I’ll win this.”

Then he left.

Silence filled the room again, heavy and unbearable.

Ava slowly sat on the bed, her body trembling. Tears streamed down her face as confusion consumed her.

This wasn’t Ethan.

The man she knew, the man who fought for her, loved her, obsessed over her… This wasn’t him. Something was wrong. Something didn’t add up. And then—

She stopped crying. Her expression slowly changed, cold and focused.

“No…” she whispered. “This isn’t about money.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “He’s hiding something.”

Ava stood up immediately, her heart pounding, but not from pain this time, from determination. She rushed to the window and saw him getting into his car.

Without thinking, she ran.

Minutes later, she was in her own car, following him. Keeping just enough distance. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as adrenaline pushed everything else aside.

She wasn’t going to sit back and cry.

Not anymore.

The car finally pulled into one of the most luxurious hotels in the city.

Ava’s eyes narrowed.

Of course, his family owned it.

“So this is where you want to hide…” she muttered.

She parked quickly and got out, keeping her head low as she followed him inside, careful, quiet, and watching.

Ethan didn’t notice her, didn’t even look back.

Ava followed him all the way to the private floor, to his room. She hid just out of sight as he entered.

The door closed and just like that… she was left standing alone in the hallway.

Her heart pounded. “What now…?” she whispered to herself.

She couldn’t just stand there forever. She needed proof, needed something.

Anything.

Minutes passed.

Too many.

Her mind raced with a hundred thoughts until… A woman walked down the corridor. Young, beautiful, and confident.

Ava frowned slightly, watching her.

The woman stopped right in front of Ethan’s door. Then… Without knocking, she pulled out a keycard, unlocked it, and walked in.

Ava froze. Her blood ran cold.

“What… the hell…”

Her chest tightened as realization hit her like a punch.

No hesitation.

No permission.

That wasn’t a mistake. That woman had access.

Ava’s hands clenched into fists. “So this is it…” she whispered, her voice shaking with anger. “Instead of being honest… You made me the villain.”

Her eyes burned. “No.” Her expression hardened. “I’m not letting this slide.”

Ava stepped forward, her heels clicking softly against the floor as she approached the door.

Her heart pounded violently, her hand reached for the handle, ready and furious.

Prepared to see the truth—

No matter how ugly it was.