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Chapter 4

Author: E. L. Knox
I walked into the dressing room and began packing a few important documents and a change of clothes.

I left behind every luxury item Matthew had ever bought me. I wanted none of them.

“Ava!” Sophie hurried after me.

“Are you out of your mind? You’re going to David's? Do you really think he’ll want you? You’re damaged goods!”

Damaged goods.

I stopped and turned to face her.

“You’re right, Sophie. I am damaged.

“But you? You don’t even count as merchandise—you’re just some loose woman Matthew keeps on the side.”

“You—!” She raised her hand to slap me.

I caught her wrist.

“Don’t forget—this is my home. One word from me, and Matthew will throw you out.”

“He won’t.” She smirked.

“He can’t bear to.”

“You’re right—he can’t.” I released her wrist.

“Which is why I’m going to give him a very special gift.”

The door opened, and Matthew walked in.

As he watched me pack, he casually asked, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing. Just organizing,” I said without stopping.

“Need help?”

“No, I’ve got it.”

My voice was calm, as if nothing had happened.

“By the way, weren’t you planning a welcome party for Ella?”

“Yes. I was thinking of the day after tomorrow. What do you think?”

The day after tomorrow. Exactly seventy-two hours away.

“Perfect,” I said, glancing at him.

“Let me organize it. I’ll make sure it’s a welcome party you’ll never forget.”

He hesitated.

“That’s great. Ella will be so happy…”

Sophie had clung to his arm.

“I’m tired.”

His attention shifted instantly, so I walked into the guest room and locked the door.

At 2:00 am, I called the party planner, Kathleen Grant.

I knew it was rude to call at such an hour, but I didn’t care.

“Kathleen, this is Ava Vanguard.”

“Ms. Vanguard? It’s very late. Is everything all right?” Kathleen asked, a note of concern in her voice.

“I need to host a welcome party. The day after tomorrow. Unlimited budget.”

“No problem!” Kathleen was instantly alert.

“Any special requests?”

“Yes. I want a backdrop—three meters by five. I’ll send you the photo shortly.”

“Consider it done.”

I hung up and sent Kathleen the photo Sophie had shown me earlier of Matthew and Sophie tangled together on the bed.

At 3:00 am, my father called.

“Ava, what happened?”

Hearing his voice, my tears finally broke. “Dad…”

“Where are you, Ava? I’ll come get you.”

“I’m fine.” I wiped my face. “I need a favor, Dad.”

“Anything.”

“Withdraw everything we’ve invested in Spark Enterprise.”

He was silent for a while.

“All right. First thing in the morning.”

“Dad…?” My voice caught. “I’m sorry.”

“Silly girl, what’s there to be sorry for?” His voice trembled.

“Come home. We’re waiting for you.”

I ended the call and walked to the window.

In the yard, the rose garden shimmered a deep red under the moonlight.

Matthew had planted it himself on our wedding day.

He had said that the roses represented his everlasting and passionate love for me.

I let out a cold laugh.

Tomorrow, I would burn it to the ground—just as he had reduced my life to ashes.
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  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 15

    Three months later.Matthew was sentenced to six years for intentional injury, while Sophie received a one-year sentence for attempted murder. Spark Enterprise collapsed completely after Matthew’s imprisonment and was acquired by David at a bargain price.As for me, I had become Mrs. Smith.“Madam, Matthew sent word… he wants to see you,” the butler said.I was pruning the roses in the garden—the pure white ones David had planted for me, a symbol of a fresh beginning.“I don’t want to see him.”“He says… he’s dying soon.”My hands froze. David walked over. “If you want to go, then go. Close that chapter.”I looked at him. “You don’t mind?”“I trust you,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Go. I’ll go with you.”The prison.Through the glass, I could barely recognize the man before me. Matthew had wasted away to skin and bones; his hair had turned completely white, and his eye sockets were hollow. Only three months had passed, yet he looked thirty years ol

  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 14

    “Ava, you looked beautiful today.” My college roommate, Lina Follett, embraced me. “David is a good man—you two will be happy together.”“Thank you.” I returned her smile.That evening, the wedding celebration took place at a seaside villa—David’s gift to me, our new home. It faced the ocean, where spring breezes carried the scent of flowers.“Do you like it?” David wrapped an arm around my waist as we gazed toward the distant sea.“It’s beautiful,” I leaned against his shoulder, “more beautiful than I ever imagined.”The sea breeze brushed past us, carrying the fragrance of white roses blooming in the garden, pure and luminous beneath the moonlight.“Ava.” David suddenly turned, sinking to one knee.“David, what are you doing? We’re already married,” I laughed softly.“This is my formal proposal.” He drew out a small blue box. “I’ve waited five years for this moment.”When he opened it, a ten-carat pink diamond caught the moonlight and burned with brilliance.“Ava Vanguard

  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 13

    “It’s proof you abused your wife,” David said calmly. “You’re under suspicion for intentional assault.”At that moment, the rear doors of the church swung open. Several police officers walked in, followed by Sophie.Though frail, her eyes showed unshakable resolve. The bruises and cuts along her arms were unmistakable, drawing sharp gasps from the guests.“Officers, that’s him!” Sophie pointed at Matthew, her voice trembling but firm. “He imprisoned me, abused me, and forced me to eat dog food! He’s a monster!”“You beast!” a female guest burst out.“Despicable! Men like him deserve to be shot!”The officers advanced on Matthew. “Mr. Spark, you’ll need to come with us.”“No!” Matthew struggled violently. “I have to see Ava! Ava!”I stepped forward, the train of my pure white gown trailing behind me. The diamond tiara on my head caught the light and blazed like fire.Matthew froze when he saw me. “Ava!”“Mr. Spark,” I said as I walked toward him, my voice warm as spring

  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 12

    On the day of the wedding, I sat in the dressing room, staring at my reflection in the mirror.“Nervous?” David asked as he pushed open the door. He looked especially handsome that day, the black tailcoat giving him the elegance of a prince.“A little.” I turned to him, adjusting his bow tie. “Do you think Matthew will come?”“He will,” David replied, a flicker of coldness in his eyes. “I made sure someone leaked the news about the wedding. In his current state, there’s no way he’ll miss this opportunity.”I nodded. That was exactly the result I wanted.“David,” I said, meeting his eyes in the mirror, “thank you for playing along with me in this charade.”“Charade?” David slipped his arms around me from behind, lowering his voice to a whisper in my ear. “Ava, I have never thought of this as an act.”I froze for a moment, catching the sincerity in his expression through the mirror.“I’ve always loved you,” he said softly, tenderly. “Five years ago, when you chose Matth

  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 11

    When Matthew had nearly lost all hope, a familiar voice called out to him.“Matthew?” the voice called uncertainly.Matthew looked up and saw Jack Mumford, his old college classmate.“My God, Matthew, what happened to you?” Jack stared in shock.The man before him was unrecognizable—hair matted, beard overgrown, his once-tailored suit wrinkled and stained beyond repair. The sharp, confident figure Jack remembered had vanished.“Jack…” Matthew’s voice was hoarse.“What on earth happened, man? I heard your company went bankrupt, but I didn’t expect…”“I’m looking for Ava.” Matthew seized Jack’s hand. “Do you know where she is?”Jack hesitated. “Matthew… I think you should give up.”“What do you mean?”Jack sighed. “Ava… might be getting married.”The words hit like a bolt from a clear sky. Matthew froze. “Impossible… What did you say?”“It’s true. My friend works at a wedding planning company. They got a huge order—the groom is David Smith from Wall Street.”David Smit

  • Married To A Lie   Chapter 10

    It turned out that for the past five years, Matthew had not only betrayed me but had also been played like a fool by Sophie.He started the car and drove aimlessly through the streets. He didn’t know where to go, nor what to do. The company was gone, I had left, and even his daughter wasn’t truly his. All he had left was a mountain of debt—and every bit of it was his own doing.Now, he wanted only to find me, to see me once more. Even if I refused to forgive him, even if I demanded his life, he would accept it. Because I was the only person who had ever truly loved him, and he had destroyed that love with his own hands.He pulled over to the side of the road, clutched the steering wheel, and wept until his voice broke.A week later, Matthew received the bank’s final warning.“Mr. Spark, if you cannot repay the debt within forty-eight hours, we will begin foreclosure proceedings on your house,” the bank manager said coldly.Matthew stared at the home he had shared with m

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