Chapter 6

Ava didn’t think.

She didn’t breathe, she just banged on the door, hard. Again and again. Her heart pounded as if it would burst out of her chest.

“Open the door!” she snapped, her voice shaking with anger and desperation.

A second later, the door opened.

Ethan stood there, surprised. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his brows furrowing.

But Ava didn’t answer. She shoved past him, hard. Ethan stumbled slightly as she pushed him aside and stormed into the room. Her eyes scanned the space wildly, looking, searching, expecting the worst but what she saw made her pause.

The woman.

She was fully dressed, seated calmly on a chair, documents spread neatly in front of her. A tablet in one hand, a pen in the other. No panic. No guilt.

Just… work.

Ava blinked, confused. “What… is this?” she asked, her voice uncertain now.

The woman glanced up briefly, composed, then back to her work.

Ethan shut the door behind them with a sharp sound. “What is all this?” he demanded. “Why are you here, Ava?”

Ava turned to him slowly. “I thought…” she hesitated, her voice lowering. “I thought she was…”

Ethan’s expression darkened instantly. “Stop right there.” The tension in the room shifted. “Don’t even finish that sentence,” he said coldly.

Ava swallowed. “I saw her come into your room,” she insisted. “She didn’t knock. She had access, what was I supposed to think?”

Ethan let out a harsh breath. “So this is what we’re doing now?” he asked. “You’re following me? Spying on me?”

“That’s not—”

“You’ve really become that person, huh?” he cut in sharply.

The accusation stung.

“I was worried!” Ava snapped. “You ask for a divorce out of nowhere, then I see another woman walking into your hotel room, what do you expect?”

Ethan stepped closer, his jaw tight. “What you expect,” he said, his voice dangerously calm, “is to stay out of my business.”

Ava’s chest tightened. “This is your business?” she whispered. “We’re married, Ethan!”

“Not for long.”

The words landed like a slap. Silence, severe and final.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, clearly irritated now. “This,” he gestured toward the woman, “is work. Something you clearly wouldn’t understand.”

Ava’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“Now leave,” he said flatly.

She didn’t move.

“Ava,” his voice hardened, “leave.”

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. “Fine,” she whispered.

Then she turned and walked out.

She didn’t remember getting into the car, didn’t remember starting the engine. All she knew was that she couldn’t stay there.

She couldn’t breathe.

She needed answers and there was only one place left to go.

⸻

The Blackwood Estate.

Ava pulled up to the massive gates, her hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel. The guards recognized her immediately and let her in without question.

The estate stretched endlessly, perfect lawns, towering structures, wealth in every detail.

This was Ethan’s world.

A world she had never truly belonged to.

Inside the mansion, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood were seated in the grand living room.

Richard Blackwood, powerful, composed, a man whose presence alone commanded authority, and Victoria Blackwood, elegant, sharp, her eyes always holding quiet judgment.

They both looked up as Ava walked in, surprised.

“Ava?” Richard stood slightly. “What’s wrong?”

Victoria’s eyes narrowed immediately. “Why are you crying?”

Ava didn’t waste time. “Ethan wants a divorce.”

Silence fell, heavy and shocking.

Richard frowned deeply. “That’s not possible,” he said firmly. “Ethan wouldn’t do that.”

Victoria’s expression, however… shifted, suspicion and cold. “What did you do?” she asked.

Ava blinked. “I didn’t do anything—”

“My son does not just wake up one day and ask for a divorce,” Victoria cut in sharply. “So don’t stand there and pretend you’re innocent.”

Ava felt her chest tighten. “I’m telling the truth,” she said. “He said it on our anniversary. Just like that. No explanation.”

Richard looked troubled now. “That doesn’t sound like him,” he muttered.

Victoria scoffed. “Oh, please. It sounds exactly like a man who finally opened his eyes.”

Ava froze. “What?”

Victoria stood slowly, her gaze piercing. “I warned him,” she said coldly. “I told him from the very beginning not to marry you.”

Ava’s throat went dry.

“But he didn’t listen,” Victoria continued. “He insisted. Fought us. Defended you like you were worth it.”

Each word cut deeper.

“And now?” she tilted her head slightly. “Now he sees you for what you really are.”

Ava shook her head. “That’s not true—”

“A gold digger,” Victoria finished.

Silence.

Ava felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.

“That’s enough, Victoria,” Richard said sharply.

But the damage was already done.

“I will call Ethan,” Richard ordered, pulling out his phone. “He will need to explain himself.”

He dialed immediately.

Ava stood there, her heart pounding. Her last hope. Maybe… he would explain. Maybe this would all make sense.

Richard put the phone to his ear. “Ethan,” he said firmly, “I need you at the house. Now.”

A pause. Then—

“Good. I’ll be waiting.” He hung up and turned to Ava. “He’s on his way.”

Thirty minutes felt like hours.

Ava sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes were dry now, not because she wasn’t hurting, but because she had cried too much to have anything left.

Across from her, Victoria Blackwood watched in silence, her gaze sharp, unreadable.

Richard Blackwood stood near the fireplace, his posture rigid, his presence heavy with authority.

No one spoke, they were waiting.

Then, the sound of a car pulling in.

Ava’s heart skipped.

Ethan walked in. He didn’t look at Ava, not immediately. His gaze went straight to his father.

“You called,” he said calmly.

Richard didn’t waste time. “Sit.”

Ethan obeyed, lowering himself into the chair across from him.

The air shifted instantly. This wasn’t a family conversation anymore. This was a confrontation.

“I heard you want a divorce,” Richard said, his voice controlled but firm.

Ethan didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

The word echoed. Ava felt it in her chest.

Richard’s expression hardened. “Why?”

Silence.

Ethan didn’t answer immediately, his jaw tightening slightly.

“That’s not the question,” Richard continued. “The question is, what do you think you’re doing?”

Ethan leaned back slightly, his expression calm but unyielding. “I’m ending my marriage.”

“No,” Richard said sharply. “You are not.” The authority in his voice filled the room. “We do not do divorce in this family,” he continued. “You knew that before you married her. You made your choice. You live with it.”

Ava’s breath caught. For a second, just a second, hope flickered.

But Ethan didn’t even look at her. Instead, he lifted his gaze and met his father’s eyes. “Father,” he said quietly, “I know.”

A pause. Then… “But I want it.”

The room went still.

“And I’m going to get it.”

The finality in his voice cut through everything.

Ava’s heart dropped.

“I want a divorce.”

Silence, heavy and unforgiving. And in that moment, Ava looked at him, really looked at him. At his face. At his eyes and then she saw it. That look, the same look.

Six years ago—

Standing in front of these same people, defying them, fighting for her. That exact same fire. That exact same certainty. That same unshakable determination. Back then… It had been for her. Now, It was against her.

Ava’s chest tightened painfully because she understood something in that moment, something terrifying.

Ethan wasn’t confused. He wasn’t emotional. He wasn’t acting on impulse. No. He had made his decision, completely and fully. And nothing… No one, was going to change it. Not his father. Not his family and definitely not her.

Ava slowly looked away, her fingers curling into her dress because now she knew the truth.

Ethan Blackwood wanted a divorce and he was going to get it.