Chapter Two

Ava’s POV

Every part of me froze as his sharp words felt like numerous knives, piercing into my heart. A torrent of tears streamed down my face, silent and unrelenting. I stared blankly at the man I had loved and married for three years, not knowing I had been nothing but a substitute for the woman he loved.

He glanced at me, his jaw tight, eyes unreadable. “We should end this marriage, Ava. Olivia is back, and I’m finally getting married to her.”

My world and heart shattered into a million pieces as Williams threw the document he had brought out at me. Slowly, I picked up the document, and read through it.

Divorce Papers!

Pain clawed in my chest, and my stomach churned when I saw Williams's signature on the paper. He had signed it already. Was he that eager to be rid of me? How about the company I had given up for him?

My hands quivered as I held the papers and my throat went dry. I blinked severally, trying to push the tears from blurring my vision.

“You can’t do this to me, Williams,” I muttered, my lips trembling uncontrollably. “I’ve done so much for you—”

“I don’t want to hear it, Ava.” He cut me off as he rose to his feet. “You either sign the divorce papers or become a mistress.” The finality in his tone gave no room for negotiation as he made his way towards the stairs, leaving me aghast.

My heart lurched in my throat, and my chest felt heavy with pent-up emotions. Each breath I took felt like a battle against the ache swelling inside me. I stared at his retreating figure, trying to process the words he’d just said.

Divorce or become his mistress? Was that all I was to him? A convenience? A substitute?

When I could no longer hold in my emotions, I slumped heavily on the couch, tears streaming down my face like a broken dam. After what felt like an eternity, I made my way to the stairs and trudged into my room.

I could barely close my eyes to sleep as the night dragged on endlessly. William’s words gnawed at my thoughts, refusing to fade that it left me awake until the next morning.

For some unknown reason, I felt the need to talk things out with him the next morning.

‘Maybe he didn't mean any of his words last night.’ I clung to the lies I told myself because the truth hurt too much to bear.

I got out of bed and walked out of my room to the living room. I needed to sort things out between us before things got out of hand, before Olivia or whatever her name was, ruined my marriage.

After waiting in the living room for more than twenty minutes and Williams had still not come downstairs, I decided to check him in his room. But I stopped in my tracks when the ringing of my phone reached my ears.

William's name flashed on the screen and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Was he not in his room? I brought the phone to my ear after swiping the screen.

“Ava, you need to come to the hospital now,” Williams said over the phone, causing my heart to pound with worry.

Why was he at the hospital? Was he hurt or feeling sick?

He hung up the call immediately, giving me no chance to ask him what had happened and why I needed to be in the hospital.

Worried, I rushed out of the house after grabbing one of William's car keys. I walked to the parking lot and drove to the hospital, my heart racing in panic.

“You are fine…” I sighed in relief when I saw my husband standing at the entrance of the hospital.

Anger swirled in his eyes when he saw me. He walked towards me and grabbed my wrist, making me wince in pain as he dragged me into the hospital.

“Wh-at are you — doing?” Confusion clouded my features but Williams didn't respond.

Two nurses and a familiar doctor walked to the reception.

Williams turned towards the doctor. “You should take her blood quickly.” He said coldly, his eyes void of any emotions.

“What?!” My eyes widened and fear crawled over my skin as the nurses grabbed my arms. “Why is my blood needed?” I asked, my gaze fixed on Williams.

“Olivia needs blood, or else she will die. And you are the only compatible donor around.”

My heart dropped instantly and my throat went dry.

“You… called me here to save your mistress?” I asked, not quite believing this was happening.

Williams wanted me to donate my blood to his mistress? A hysterical laugh broke out of my lips at the absurdity of my situation. I had been married to a beast for three years without knowing and here I was, about to be forced to…

“Take her!” He yelled at the doctor, not responding to my question.

Panic surged through me as the nurses forcibly took me into a ward and strapped me on the bed.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I struggled to be freed. “Let me go!” I yelled but my words fell on deaf ears.

“Williams, this is insane! Can't you see that?” I screamed but my supposed husband didn't burge. He just stared coldly at me like I was nothing more than an object to be used whenever he wanted.

The doctor walked into the ward with a syringe, his eyes pleading as if telling me that this was beyond him. Before I could blink, the cold sting of the needle pierced into my arm and a sharp pain exploded through my body.

My heart pounded so fast as fear seeped into my veins. I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body felt frozen. Every drop of blood drawn felt like a part of me was being taken away— slow and painful.

Suddenly, my vision became blurry, and the last thing I saw was Williams's face, staring coldly at me before everything went dark.