Chapter two

Ava watched helplessly as the house she had lived in all her life was sealed by the authorities. After the officers finished confiscating everything of value, she and the household staff were escorted out of the estate.

For a long moment, Ava stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the mansion she once called home. It was over. In just a few hours, she had lost everything.

Soon, the house staff who had once bowed respectfully whenever she walked by began to leave one after another. Some avoided her gaze entirely, while others looked at her with open contempt, as though she had finally received the punishment she deserved. Not a single person stayed behind to comfort her.

Before long, Ava was left standing alone outside the locked gates with nothing but her phone, her graduation dress, and the handbag hanging from her shoulder.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Just this morning, she had left this very house believing she had the perfect life. Now, everything was gone.

Then she remembered John Lyon, her fiancé.

Although news of him and his family allegedly sabotaging her father was spreading everywhere, she refused to believe it. She convinced herself it was all a terrible misunderstanding. And the only person who could give her the answers she so desperately needed was John Lyon.

Clinging to that last shred of hope, Ava hailed a cab and gave the driver John’s address.

Throughout the journey, she held onto the little hope she had left. There had to be a misunderstanding. John loved her. He had promised to marry her. He would never betray her or stand by while her family was in trouble.

She arrived a short while later. As his fiancée, she already knew the passcode. She quickly entered it and walked inside.

“John,” she called. There was no response.

She walked past the empty living room and headed toward the bedroom when she heard a familiar sound. Her heart skipped and footsteps quickened. Gripping the doorknob, she pushed the door open, only to receive the shock of her life.

Her best friend, who had texted earlier claiming she was too sick to attend her graduation ceremony, was in bed making love to her fiancé.

Ava froze on the spot. Her mind went completely blank as she stared at the two people she trusted the most.

The moment their eyes met hers, Lillian’s face drained of color. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself, panic flashing across her face.

“A-Ava…”

“No…” she whispered, shaking her head. “No… this can’t be happening”. Ava’s eyes reddened as tears blurred her vision.

“Lillian…” she choked out. “You told me you were sick.”

She turned to John, desperately hoping he would deny what she had just seen.

“John… tell me this isn’t what it looks like.”

John slowly got out of bed, completely unhurried. He picked up his clothes from the floor and calmly put them on without saying a word.

Ava stared at him in disbelief.

“John…” she called again, her voice breaking. Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she waited for him to apologize and tell her there had been some terrible misunderstanding.

Instead, John let out a mocking laugh. “Ava, you’re even more stupid than I thought.”

“Didn’t you ever notice?” he continued coldly. “I never loved you. I never even liked you.”

Ava’s face paled. “No…” she whispered, shaking her head.

“You were just too busy living in the fantasy you created for yourself. You were so desperate to believe your lies that you never stopped to think for once.”he told her.

Every word felt like a knife twisting deeper into her heart.

John walked toward her, stopping only a few steps away.

“You were nothing more than a pawn.” Ava looked up at him in disbelief.

“My family needed a way into the Richmond Group. Getting engaged to the billionaire’s precious daughter was the easiest way to earn Pete Richmond’s trust. Thanks to you, we got exactly what we wanted.”

Ava’s body trembled. “No… you’re lying.”

John smirked.

“Am I? Then why do you think your father is sitting in a prison cell right now?”

Ava took a shaky step backward. Her world was collapsing right before her eyes, but John continued to speak.

“We handed him the perfect business opportunity. One signature was all it took to destroy him. By the time he realized it was a trap, it was already too late.”

His eyes darkened with satisfaction.

“The Richmond Group is finished. I’ve already acquired the remaining shares, and once the legal process is complete, the company will belong to me.”

He leaned closer, his voice dripping with cruelty.

“And when that happens, I won’t keep it.”

Her heart stopped. Her breath caught in her throat.

“I’ll sell every subsidiary… every building… every asset… piece by piece until there’s nothing left.”

John smiled without an ounce of mercy.

“When I’m done, the Richmond Group won’t even exist. Your father’s legacy will disappear from this country forever.”

He paused, his eyes slowly traveling over Ava from head to toe. His face was filled with contempt and a condescending smirk curled his lips.

And you…” he said mockingly. “You’ll probably be nowhere to be found. A spoiled little daddy’s girl like you wouldn’t survive a single day outside these walls.

He let out a soft chuckle.

“Without your father’s money, you’re nothing.”

His words cut through Ava like a knife. Sadness, humiliation, and rage surged through her all at once. Before she could stop herself, she rushed toward him and slapped him hard across the face.

The sharp sound echoed through the room.

John’s head tilted slightly from the force of the slap. For a brief moment, the room fell silent.

“You monster!” Ava shouted, glaring at him through tear filled eyes. “I’ll make sure you pay for this. I swear I’ll make you regret everything you’ve done!”

She then turned to Lillian, who remained frozen on the bed, her face pale with guilt.

“And you…” Ava said through gritted teeth. “I trusted you like a sister.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pointed a trembling finger at her former best friend. “I’ll make you pay too.”

However, John slowly touched the corner of his lips where Ava had slapped him and smiled cruelly.

“You have absolutely nothing left, Ava.”

His voice was calm, yet every word struck harder than a slap.

“So tell me… what exactly do you have left to fight with?”

Enraged, Ava took a step toward him, intending to fight him. But before she could say another word, the room suddenly spun around her. Her vision blurred, and a sharp ringing filled her ears.

She staggered backward, everything went black and her body crumpled to the floor.

Lillian gasped and hurried out of the bed.

“John! What’s wrong with her?” she asked anxiously. “Is… is she dead?”

John walked over unhurriedly and crouched beside Ava. He placed two fingers beneath her nose for a brief moment before standing up again.

“She’s still alive.”

Lillian let out a sigh of relief. “Then let’s take her to the hospital."Her voice filled with concern.

John gently took her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry,” he said softly. “She’s not going to die.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from Lillian’s face before offering her a faint smile.

“Let me handle it.” Lilian nodded.

Only then did he release her hand, walk over to the table, and pick up his phone. He made a brief call.

A few minutes later, two men dressed in black suits entered the penthouse.

John pointed casually at Ava’s unconscious body lying on the floor.

“Take her,” he ordered coldly. “Dump her anywhere.” But the two men hesitated.

John’s eyes turned icy.

“I don’t care where you leave her,” he said. “Just make sure she’s nowhere near my property.”