Chapter 3

Ava’s POV

The next morning, I woke up far too early. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure I had slept at all.

My first thought was painfully clear: I needed to get rid of that mark as soon as possible.

Damon hadn’t come back to our bedroom last night. He was probably busy learning parenting techniques from his “private tutor”…

Or, more likely, experimenting with new sex positions.

Whatever. I didn’t care.

Whenever he put on that gentlemanly act, his handsome face twisted into something ugly in my eyes—something that made my stomach turn.

I changed into a sharp, professional suit and even put on a full face of makeup. The woman in the mirror looked composed and radiant, nothing like the pathetic mess I had been last night.

At exactly nine o’clock, I arrived at the most prestigious law firm affiliated with the Crawford family.

Mr. Hanson received me personally. He was a senior attorney, an old friend of my father’s, and one of the family’s most trusted legal advisers.

“Ms. Crawford, please accept my condolences,” Mr. Hanson said, grief written all over his face.

“Thank you, Mr. Hanson.” I gave him a small nod. “I came today to ask about the progress of the divorce agreement.”

He nodded. “Of course. I had everything printed out. You may review it now.”

I sat on the sofa and read through every clause carefully.

Mr. Hanson had done an excellent job. He had made sure I would receive the maximum settlement I was entitled to.

“No problems,” I said calmly. “I may not be short of money, but I will not leave a single dollar of what belongs to me behind. Clearly, you have made sure of that. Thank you, Mr. Hanson.”

I stood and handed the documents back to him.

He hesitated briefly before nodding. “Of course, ma’am. Your father was one of the most honorable men I have ever known. I will make sure you reclaim everything that belongs to you. As for the Crawford pack you inherited—”

“Keep it confidential for now,” I interrupted. “Until Damon and I are officially divorced, I don’t want anyone to know.”

“Understood.”

After leaving the law firm, I headed straight to Damon’s company, clutching the harshly worded divorce agreement Mr. Hanson had drafted overnight.

I walked toward Damon’s office.

Of course Sylvia was there.

Not surprising in the least.

She was draped over Damon like a seductive snake, her long red nails tracing little circles over his chest. Her voice was so sweet it practically dripped.

“Damon, do you know? We really slept in your Alpha estate last night, in my bedroom… You kissed between my legs, just like you used to…”

“Baby, you have to go.” Damon lowered his voice and caught her wandering hand, sounding irritatingly helpless. “You know Ava is still my secretary. She could walk in at any moment. We can’t let her find out about us… not yet.”

“I don’t care!” Sylvia pouted, clinging to him as though she had been glued there. “I’ve been away from you for four years. I have to take every chance I get to be with you.”

If I didn’t need Damon’s signature on the divorce agreement, I would have turned around and walked away without a second thought.

Instead, I cleared my throat loudly enough to cut through the room.

They sprang apart.

A flash of panic crossed Damon’s face, while Sylvia looked as though I had ruined the most beautiful moment of her day.

“Ava? You… what are you doing here?” Damon fumbled with his tie, desperately pretending that nothing had happened.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot.” I drew out my words in sudden realization. “Didn’t you say you had a ‘very important meeting’ today? So Sylvia is here to… deliver documents?”

“Yes! Exactly!” Damon seized on my excuse as if it were a lifeline. “I left an important document at home this morning. Sylvia was taking Leo to kindergarten, so she brought it over for me.”

What an enormous lie.

I almost wanted to applaud the effort.

But I kept my face calm and acted as though I couldn’t care less.

I nodded, too tired to argue, and walked straight to his desk, placing the folder in front of him.

“What is this?” Damon stared at it, suddenly alert.

“A document that needs your signature.” I smiled. “Should I come back later? It seems you and Leo’s nanny have something more urgent to deal with than pack business.”

“No! It’s absolutely not like that!” Damon snapped.

Then he hastily scribbled his signature on the line.

“There.” He shoved the document back at me as if it had burned his fingers.

When I saw his name on the divorce agreement, I let out a quiet breath.

I took the papers, only to find Sylvia still lingering in the office, her eyes filled with naked jealousy.

“Ms. Sylvia, is there anything else?” I asked.

“Nothing.” She gave me a provocative smile. “It’s just that you two don’t seem very close. Don’t misunderstand me—I’m only Leo’s teacher. Observing whether his family is harmonious may be helpful to his education.”

I let out a cold laugh.

“That makes sense. Damon, are you cheating on me?” I turned to him.

Damon denied it immediately. “What? Of course not! Ava, why would you think that?”

“Ms. Sylvia’s words simply inspired me,” I said. “So why don’t you tell me—would a woman like Sylvia be worth loving?”

“Absolutely not.” Damon didn’t hesitate. “You know you’re the one I love.”

I turned to Sylvia.

“You should understand now that there is no conflict between us, right?” I said with a smile. “I hope that helps with your observation.”

Then I turned and left.

Sylvia’s breakdown echoed behind me soon after, but I didn’t look back as I stepped into the elevator.

Once I got into my car and drove away from that place, heading all the way to a quiet stretch of countryside, I finally felt as though I could breathe again.

Towering green trees. A clear blue sky.

The view in front of me eased the tightness in my chest.

I had just pulled over to the side of the road when someone knocked on my window.

An elderly man stood outside, dressed impeccably, his silver hair neatly combed.

I studied him cautiously before lowering the window a crack.

He gave me a warm, respectful smile.

“Ms. Crawford, don’t worry. It’s me.”

I recognized his voice immediately.

“You… you’re the one who called me yesterday?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The old man bowed politely. “I am Alvin, the former Beta of the Crawford pack. Please come with me, ma’am.”

My heartbeat suddenly thundered in my ears.

“Where… where are we going?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Home, ma’am.” Alvin’s gaze was gentle but firm. “The Crawford pack has been waiting for you.”

I got out of my car and only then noticed the long black limousine parked some distance behind me, as though it had been waiting there all along.

With Alvin guiding me, I slid into the back seat.

The car moved smoothly forward. Outside the window, the city’s noise and lights gradually gave way to thick, quiet woods.

Even the air felt different.

I knew we were entering Crawford pack territory.

My emotions were a mess.

This place was tied to my bloodline, to where I came from…

Yet stepping into it felt like walking into a stranger’s life.

The car finally stopped before an enormous estate.

Compared with Damon’s luxurious villa, this place was older and grander, carrying the quiet authority that only time could create.

Alvin opened the door for me and stood respectfully aside.

I took a deep breath and stepped out.

The moment I set foot on the first stair, a woman dripping in jewelry emerged from the house.

She was elegantly dressed, but the sharpness in her eyes ruined the grace she had so carefully constructed.

This had to be my stepmother, Rebecca.

“So you’re Ava?” She looked me up and down slowly, her tone dripping with contempt. “An illegitimate Omega who thinks she has the right to come back and inherit this pack?”

Before I could answer, she yanked open her handbag and pulled out a check, holding it out to me with blatant disdain.

“I want you to give up every claim you have to the Crawford family. Publicly declare that Lucas is the rightful heir. Then take this one million dollars and get out.”