[5]

What Ava said immediately drew the attention of nearly every guest in attendance. At that point, almost every pair of eyes in the ballroom was fixed on them, listening carefully to the argument unfolding, especially after Jackson arrived.

Unlike Maverick, who had remained silent the entire time, seeing what Ava had just done finally made him reach a decision.

“I think,” Maverick said calmly, “this conversation ends here.”

He didn’t need to raise his voice to command the attention of the entire room. His cold gaze shifted toward Jackson.

“You’ve already caused enough chaos tonight.” His tone remained flat and controlled. “Don’t make it worse by treating my wife roughly in front of everyone.”

The word wife made Jackson’s expression change drastically. His face tightened with emotion, while the color slowly drained from it.

Maverick was serious.

He wasn’t merely helping Ava preserve her dignity or covering up a family scandal. Was he actually treating this marriage as real?

That had to be a joke. How could Ava replace him with another man so quickly? And yet, despite everything, what had suddenly happened tonight made a deep discomfort settle heavily in Jackson’s chest.

“Do you really intend to stay in this marriage, Uncle Maverick?” he asked in a low voice.

Maverick looked at him without expression. “Weren’t you the one who walked away from the altar?”

Jackson fell silent instantly. Not a single person in the ballroom dared interrupt after that. Because everyone there knew one thing very clearly. Maverick Langham was not joking.

“And you should remember something else,” Maverick continued calmly. “I never treat marriage lightly.”

He gently brushed his hand over Ava’s fingers, which were still looped around his arm.

Then he leaned closer and whispered softly to his bride, as though deliberately displaying their intimacy for everyone to see. But more than that, it was a message directed at Jackson.

Maverick had no intention of letting Ava go easily.

Did Jackson really think that simply because he had shown up, everything would return to the way he wanted?

Of course not.

“You must be tired, darling.” Maverick’s voice softened as he looked at Ava. “I already asked the driver to prepare the car. You don’t mind if we leave now, do you?”

Although slightly startled by both his words and invitation, Ava forced herself to remain calm. A small smile appeared on her lips as she answered, “No, I don’t mind.”

Maverick then led Ava away from the party, completely ignoring the countless eyes following them.

The event ended far earlier than it was supposed to. The guests left carrying what would undoubtedly become the biggest gossip of the year, while the Langham family remained behind trying desperately to contain the media storm swarming them from every direction.

Meanwhile, Ava continued walking beside Maverick, matching his steady pace as they left the main hall behind. But her mind was overflowing with thoughts.

In the middle of all this chaos, Ava still couldn’t fully process the reality of what had just happened.

She was truly married now.

Not to Jackson, but to Maverick Langham.

Not even once had Ava imagined that the impulsive words she blurted out earlier would actually be accepted so effortlessly. And before she realized it, they had already arrived at the main lobby.

A black car was waiting for them outside. Maverick opened the door for Ava, reminding her quietly to watch her step before taking the seat beside her. Soon, the car pulled away from the ballroom at a steady pace.

Heading toward Maverick’s mansion.

It didn’t take long before the black car finally came to a smooth stop in front of Maverick’s residence, standing magnificently within one of the elite districts near the city center.

Ava’s eyes immediately drifted toward the grand modern-classical mansion towering before her. Soft garden lights reflected against the ivory marble walls, while rows of tall trees surrounding the property gave the entire estate a peaceful atmosphere, secluded from the noise of the city beyond its gates.

Ava knew Maverick was wealthy. Even though he rarely appeared in public, his influence in the business world was anything but unfamiliar. But seeing his home with her own eyes still left her momentarily speechless.

The mansion didn’t feel flashy or excessive like most of the other conglomerate family estates she had visited with Jackson before. There were no overwhelming ornaments or any desperate attempt to flaunt wealth to the world.

Instead, everything looked elegant. Calm. Refined. Very much like Maverick himself. And somehow, that realization only made Ava more aware that she was truly stepping into a world that had always felt far beyond her reach.

“What is it?” Maverick asked after noticing she still hadn’t gotten out of the car.

Ava snapped out of her thoughts. “It’s nothing.” She gave a small smile. “Your home is… really beautiful.”

Maverick glanced briefly toward the mansion before looking back at her. “I rarely stay here.”

“Because of work?”

“Because I spend most of my time overseas.”

Ava nodded slowly. Without realizing it, an unfamiliar feeling quietly slipped into her chest. Her gaze lowered toward the gown still wrapped around her body. And on her finger sat a simple ring whose luxurious sparkle was impossible to ignore.

And now… she was standing in the home of the man who had officially become her husband only a few hours ago.

Maverick stepped out first before opening the door for her. “Come inside.”

Ava nervously bit her lower lip before finally following him into the house. The moment the main doors closed behind them, an awkward silence immediately settled between them.

The enormous mansion felt strangely peaceful compared to the chaos they had left behind only minutes ago. The only sounds came from the faint footsteps of the servants standing neatly in the main foyer after realizing Maverick had returned home.

“Good evening, Mr. Maverick.”

Maverick gave a small nod before removing his suit jacket and handing it to one of the male servants. His gaze then shifted toward Ava, who was still standing somewhat stiffly near the entrance.

It was understandable.

Just a few hours ago, she had been Jackson Langham’s bride-to-be. And now, she was standing inside Maverick’s home… carrying the status of his wife instead.

“Everyone, listen carefully.” Maverick’s calm voice immediately made every servant lower their heads even further.

He stepped closer to Ava’s side before speaking without the slightest hesitation. “Allow me to introduce her properly. This is Ava. Ava Langham, to be exact.” His tone remained steady. “She is my wife, and starting tonight, Ava is the mistress of this house.”

Ava’s heartbeat faltered softly in her chest. Instinctively, she turned to look at Maverick, but the man remained perfectly composed, as though what he had just announced was the most natural thing in the world.

“I don’t want a single person here treating her disrespectfully.” Maverick’s gaze swept across the room. “Serve her as well as you serve me.”

“Yes, sir,” they answered in unison.

A middle-aged woman immediately stepped forward politely. “I’m Clara, the head housekeeper of this residence.”

Maverick gave a slight nod. “From now on, you’ll assist Ava with anything she needs on a daily basis.”

“Yes, Mr. Maverick.” Clara offered Ava a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ava.”

That form of address made Ava pause slightly.

Mrs. Ava.

For some reason, the title still sounded unfamiliar in her ears.

Maverick seemed to notice the subtle change in her expression, but he chose not to comment on it. He simply loosened his tie slowly before looking back at her.

“Starting tonight,” he said calmly, his gaze resting on Ava, “you don’t mind staying in my house, do you?”

Their eyes met, and Ava could only respond with a small shake of her head.

Maverick continued in the same composed tone. “If there’s anything you need, no matter what it is, tell Clara.”

Ava nodded quietly.

“At least until the situation settles down.” Maverick paused briefly. “And we’ll need to discuss the arrangement for this marriage.”

Ava slowly clasped her fingers together before finally nodding again. “Alright.”

“Clara will take you to your room first.” Maverick drew a short breath before continuing, “Once you’re ready, come meet me in the study.”

His gaze remained calm, yet there was still something about him that made refusal feel impossible.

“There are several things I’d like to discuss with you.”

Ava nodded once more.

And as Clara began guiding her upstairs through the grand staircase leading to the second floor, Ava couldn’t stop herself from glancing back one last time toward Maverick, who still stood below.

He remained standing exactly where he was, watching her quietly without saying much.

Yet somehow, it was precisely that calmness that made Ava feel even more nervous about her first night as Maverick Langham’s wife.

At that, Ava turned back around.

Without hesitation, she walked toward Maverick, then leaned in and pressed a brief kiss against his cheek before softly saying, “Thank you for everything, Mr. Maverick.”