CHAPTER FIVE

{Ava’s POV}

Adrian’s expression didn’t change. No relief. No surprise. Nothing.

“Good,” he said simply.

I swallowed hard, my hands already moving again before I could lose my nerve.

But I need custody of Nova.

“No.” His response was immediate, his voice flat and final.

My hands moved faster, more desperately. Please, Adrian. Just listen to me—

“There’s nothing to listen to, Ava.”

I can get a job, I signed, my movements sharp and insistent. After the divorce, I’ll work hard. I’ll earn enough money to support her. I’ll take night shifts if I need to. I’ll work two jobs. Three jobs. Whatever it takes. She’ll never go without anything. I’ll give her the best life I possibly can. I know I’m not rich like you, I know I don’t have your resources, but I love her. That has to count for something. That has to—

“Stop.” Adrian’s voice cut through my signing like a blade.

But I couldn’t stop. I kept signing, faster and faster, the words tumbling from my hands in a desperate cascade. I’ll take night shifts if I need to. I’ll work two jobs. Three jobs. Whatever it takes. She’ll never go without anything. I’ll give her the best life I possibly can. I know I’m not rich like you, I know I don’t have your resources, but I love her. That has to count for something. That has to—

“What job, Ava?” Adrian interrupted, pushing off from the desk. His eyes were hard, his jaw set. “What job exactly do you think you’re going to get?”

I froze, my hands still raised mid-sign.

“You can’t speak,” he continued, his voice cold and clinical. “You have no degree. No work experience. No skills that any employer would value. So tell me—what kind of job do you think you’re going to find that will pay enough to support a child?”

My hands trembled as I signed back. I can learn. I can—

“You can’t even support yourself,” Adrian cut me off again, stepping closer. “You’ve been dependent on me since the day we got married. Your father’s company is bleeding money. Your brother is useless. And you—” He looked me up and down with barely concealed contempt. “You think you can just walk out of here and magically become financially independent? You’re delusional.”

Each word landed like a physical blow.

I’ll find a way, I signed, my vision blurring with tears. I’ll do whatever it takes—

“The best thing for Nova is to stay with me. I am the one who can give her the best of everything like she deserves" Adrian said, his voice rising. A life where she never has to worry about money or stability. What you could give her—even if you worked yourself to death—wouldn’t come close to what I can provide in a single day. Not in a year. Not in your entire lifetime. ”

She needs her mother, I signed weakly.

“She needs stability. She needs resources. She needs a parent who can actually take care of her.” Adrian’s expression was merciless. “Are you really so selfish, Ava? So blinded by your own wants that you can’t see what’s best for your own daughter?”

My hands dropped to my sides.

“I can give her everything she’ll ever need,” Adrian continued. “And you—you can’t even give her a voice.”

The cruelty of that last statement stole the breath from my lungs.

I stared at him, this man I’d once loved, this man whose child I’d nearly died bringing into the world, and I saw the truth written clearly on his face.

He didn’t just want to divorce me.

He wanted to erase me.

Before I could respond, before I could even think of how to respond, Adrian turned and walked out of the library.

The door closed behind him with a soft click that sounded like the end of everything.

-----

I didn’t know how long I sat there in that library, lost in the wreckage of my thoughts. It could have been minutes. It could have been hours.

The sound of the door slamming open made me jump.

Daniel stood in the doorway, his face flushed with rage, his chest heaving.

“What the fuck did you do?” he snarled.

I stood up quickly, my hands already moving. Daniel, I—

“Adrian just pulled his investment,” Daniel cut me off, stalking toward me. “Every single dollar. Every contract. Everything. Carter Group is going under, Ava. We’re going to lose everything. Father’s company, our family’s reputation, all of it—gone. Because of you.”

My heart hammered in my chest. I didn’t mean for—

“You agreed to divorce him, didn’t you?” Daniel’s voice was venomous. “After everything I told you. After I specifically told you what was at stake. You agreed to divorce him anyway.”

I had no choice! I signed frantically. He was going to divorce me regardless. I couldn’t—

“You selfish bitch.”

The slap came so fast I didn’t see it coming.

Pain exploded across my cheek, sharp and shocking. I stumbled backward, my hand flying to my face, stars bursting in my vision.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Daniel advanced on me, his hand raised again. “Do you have any concept of how many people you’ve destroyed with your stupidity? Father’s company employed over two hundred people. Two hundred families who are going to lose their livelihoods because you couldn’t keep your husband happy for one goddamn year.”

Daniel, please— I signed, backing away.

“Shut up with your fucking hands!” he roared. “I’m so sick of watching you wave them around like that’s going to fix anything. You can’t talk. You can’t keep a husband. You can’t do anything useful. You’re completely worthless.”

He raised his hand again, and I flinched, throwing my arms up to protect my face.

But the blow never came.

“Touch her again,” a cold voice said from the doorway, “and I’ll break every bone in your hand.”

I opened my eyes to see Adrian standing there, his hand locked around Daniel’s wrist in an iron grip.