Chapter 3 What game are you playing?

Emily's eyes gleamed with barely concealed delight as she watched Ethan threaten Ava.

He stood tall, cold, domineering just as he always had. To anyone else, it might have looked like righteous anger. But Emily knew better. She saw the impatience in his posture, the irritation sharpened by wounded pride.

And she enjoyed every second of it.

Still, she was careful.

Emily lowered her gaze and tugged lightly at Ethan’s sleeve, her voice soft and trembling.

“Ethan, please don’t be angry,” she said gently. “This must be a misunderstanding. I don’t want the two of you to fight over me.”

Her words were perfectly chosen, humble, considerate, innocent.

Ava looked at her cousin with unconcealed derision.

She had never known Emily was such a talented actress.

That fragile expression. That trembling voice. That pitiful act.

It made Ava sick.

Before Ethan could respond, Ava spoke first, her voice calm but sharp enough to slice through the air.

“My cousin has been dreaming of becoming Mrs. Woods for a long time,” Ava said coolly. “Why don’t you hurry up and marry her? That way she can stop sending me those disgusting messages.”

Emily's expression froze for a fraction of a second.

Messages.

That single word struck like a blade.

She reacted instantly, panic flashing through her eyes before she forced herself to smile.

“Ava, I’ve explained this to you so many times,” Emily said hurriedly. “I never wanted to ruin your marriage. Ethan only feels guilty because I fell into a coma saving him. He’s just trying to make it up to me. There’s nothing inappropriate between us.”

Ethan’s gaze darkened as he looked at Ava, his contempt barely concealed.

“There’s no point explaining anything to her,” he said coldly. “Let’s go.”

He reached for Emily’s hand.

But Ava stepped forward, blocking their path.

“Why don’t we finalize the divorce order now?” Ava asked calmly. “That way, we can each marry whoever we want and never have to deal with each other again.”

Emily’s fingers clenched tightly at her side.

A divorce order?

Ethan told her they were already divorced.

So why hadn’t he completed it?

Her heart skipped uneasily.

Emily lowered her head, her expression turning solemn.

“Ava, there truly is nothing between Ethan and me,” she said softly. “If my presence makes you unhappy, I won’t meet him again.”

Then she turned toward Ethan, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“Ethan, I’m sorry for causing a misunderstanding between you and Ava. I’ll leave now. You should stay and comfort her. Women like to be coaxed.”

With that, Emily turned and walked away fragile, graceful, self-sacrificing.

The perfect victim.

Ethan glared at Ava, fury burning in his eyes.

“I’m busy,” he said icily. “My assistant will contact you. Be prepared.”

Then he turned and chased after Emily without a backward glance.

Ava stood still.

Watching.

Not a single tear fell.

Beside her, Rebecca clenched her fists, shaking with anger.

“Thank goodness you divorced him,” she snapped. “That trash doesn’t deserve you!”

She bit her lip hard.

How could Iris endure such humiliation?

If this weren’t family business, I’d have slapped Emily across the face.

Rebecca took a deep breath, then suddenly remembered something.

“Ava,” she asked, still seething, “didn’t I tell you that if Ethan loses this lawsuit, he’ll have to compensate tens of billions?”

Ava glanced calmly out the café window.

“Yes.”

Rebecca blinked. “Why?”

Ava’s reflection stared back at her from the glass, calm, cold, resolute.

“Rebecca,” she said quietly, “contact Sebastian King. Tell him I’m accepting the case. We’ll begin immediately.”

Rebecca eyes widened in shock.

“Wait, what?! Are you doing this to get revenge on Ethan?”

Ava smiled.

But it didn’t reach her eyes.

“This is business,” she replied evenly. “I just happen to like this case.”

She paused.

“I’ve always enjoyed challenges.”

“And besides,” she added coolly, “we’re divorced. I don’t need to show mercy anymore.”

Rebecca was stunned.

“But… why help Sebastian? You were Mrs. Woods. You loved Ethan so much before. You would’ve done anything for him”

“That was the past,” Ava interrupted sharply. “And the divorce will be finalized soon.”

Rebecca stared at her.

“You’re really going through with it?”

“Yes,” Ava answered firmly. “Once I take a case, I don’t play around.”

Rebecca hesitated, then nodded. She suddenly remembered another issue.

“You’ve been attending hearings remotely for years. But Sebastian insists on meeting you in person this time. If he finds out you’re Ethan’s ex-wife, he might not trust you.”

Ava’s lips curved slightly.

“Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Her confidence was unshakable.

Rebecca smiled at last.

“Alright. I’ll handle the preparations. By the way, Sebastian head of legal affairs is Tim, your senior from law school. Communication should be easy.”

Rebecca studied Ava carefully.

She seemed different.

Stronger.

Freer.

And for the first time, Rebecca felt genuinely happy for her.

She hooked her arm through Ava’s and grinned.

“Come on. Let’s go to my place. I’ll cook dinner to celebrate your freedom from that bastard.”

Ava laughed softly.

Unbeknownst to them, a black car sat parked across the street.

Inside, Ethan watched the two women through the windshield.

Laughing.

Relaxed.

Free.

His expression turned dark and intimidating.

Ava Hilton… what are you planning?

That night, after dinner and a long discussion about the case, Ava finally returned to her villa.

As soon as she stepped inside, a servant approached her nervously.

“Miss, we reviewed the surveillance footage,” the servant said hesitantly. “Someone followed you home.”

Ava’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Who?”

“We couldn’t identify the person yet,” the servant replied. “But the car has been lingering nearby.”

Ava smiled faintly.

“Good,” she said calmly. “Let them watch.”

Because this time

She wasn’t running anymore.