LOGINThey say I trapped Adrian Cole. That I drugged him. Seduced him. Forced him into a marriage to save my failing family. They’re half right. I did marry him. I am carrying his name. But the trap? That was never mine. For 365 days, I’ve lived with a husband who despises me. Who looks at me with nothing but contempt. Who whispers sweet words to another woman while I’m pregnant with his child. I’ve survived his cruelty. His mother’s disdain. His lover’s mockery. I’ve survived everything except the truth—that I’m in love with a man who will never believe I’m innocent. Now he wants a divorce. And I’m ready to give it to him. But Adrian Cole doesn’t know what he wants. One moment he’s throwing me away. The next, he’s protecting me from the very people who destroyed us both. I can’t speak. But my silence is about to say everything.
View More{Adrian's pOV}I didn't go home for several days after the confrontation with Ryan.I couldn't. The thought of seeing Ava, of being in the same room with her, of watching her move through the house with that quiet grace—it made something uncomfortable twist in my chest.I told myself I was angry. Furious, even. She'd been holding hands with her ex-fiancé, listening to his pathetic explanations, letting him touch her like he had any right to.But beneath the anger was something else. Something I didn't want to examine too closely.Fear.I couldn't believe I could have such emotional fluctuations because of this woman. This scheming woman who'd trapped me into marriage, who I was supposed to hate, who was nothing more than an obligation I'd agreed to maintain for business reasons and my grandfather's health.But I was indeed starting to fear losing her.The realization made me furious with myself. How had this happened? When had Ava stopped being just the manipulative wife I resented and
Chapter 19{Ryan's POV}I was overjoyed to see Ava again.Even with a throbbing jaw and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth from where Adrian Cole had punched me, even knowing I'd just made a powerful enemy—I couldn't regret it.Because I'd finally found her again.I touched my lip gingerly, feeling where it had split, and allowed myself a small smile despite the pain.Worth it.I'd met Ava several times before our engagement was called off, during those formal family gatherings and carefully chaperoned outings that were meant to help us get acquainted. And I'd actually been quite satisfied with her from the start.More than satisfied, if I was being honest.Yes, Ava couldn't speak. But she'd never needed words to communicate with me. She would always smile shyly when I approached, ducking her head in that endearing way that made me want to tease her until she looked up again. And her eyes—those bright, expressive eyes that spoke volumes—were deeply etched in my heart from the ver
{Adrian's POV}Ava's recent actions had been irritating me beyond measure.First, she'd gotten entangled with that male colleague—David, the physical education teacher who couldn't seem to keep his hands off my wife. And now, now she was getting involved with Ryan Collins. Her ex-fiancé. The man who'd abandoned her when her family needed him most.Had I been too lenient with her lately? Had I allowed her too much freedom, given her too much space to operate?Maybe she was taking advantage of my... my what? My tolerance? My distraction?I gripped the steering wheel harder, my knuckles white, as I drove us away from that school.Away from Ryan Collins and his sincere eyes and his pathetic explanations.I'd actually been quite reluctant to attend the gala with Vivian last night. The whole evening had felt wrong from the start.Vivian was wonderful, objectively speaking. She was beautiful—strikingly so, with her perfect features and designer wardrobe. She was intelligent, well-educated, ho
{Ava's POV}I tried to calm myself down.I tried as much as I could to drag deep breaths through my lungs, as I stood there against the wall as Adrian’s words ran through my mind over and over again.But the deep breaths didnt help…did nothing to push down the hurt and fury that threatened to overwhelm me.I had to stay calm. I couldn't let Eleanor's pressure and Adrian's accusations throw me off balance.I only wanted Nova. That was all. I had to endure until I was capable enough—financially stable enough, independent enough—to leave Adrian and take my daughter with me.Just endure. Just survive.I'd been doing it for over a year. I could keep doing it.I pulled away from Adrian without meeting his eyes, picked up Nova from her high chair, and carried her upstairs to get her ready for the day.Adrian didn't follow.I went to work at school as usual, dropping Nova off with Mrs. Chen and taking the subway despite the heaviness in my chest.The children were a welcome distraction. Their






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