Semua Bab Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please: Bab 31 - Bab 40

AVA'S POV The room whirled, my heart constricting as Laura’s voice echoed in my mind. She stood there, upright and graceful, with a shining, flawless smile on her face, appearing calm and confident, as if she fully deserved to be there and claim my efforts as her own. How could she? My hands balled into fists at my sides, yet I stayed rooted in place. I couldn’t move. My legs felt as though they were anchored to the ground, my breath caught between shock and anger. The audience erupted into polite applause, oblivious to the weight of the lie Laura had just told. She was smiling, soaking in their attention, her voice dripping with false modesty as she started bragging about her “contribution.” “Thank you so much for your support,” Laura said, her tone syrupy. “These dresses were a result of my vision and dedication. I worked tirelessly to ensure they complemented the jewelry perfectly.” Her words cut through me like shards of glass. I couldn’t believe the audacity. My hard work

LAURA’S POVI felt a burning, twisting pain in my abdomen, but it was nothing compared to the blaze raging in my chest. How could Jason do this to me? Me, of all people? My parents sacrificed their lives for this company, and this was their reward. A humiliating dismissal of their child, with Ava, a lowlife replacing me as Design Director? She not only took Jason from me but now has also claimed my position. I crouched on the chilly tiled floor of my apartment, holding my abdomen. The suffering had transformed from solely emotional to a physical, intense, and ceaseless ache. My eyesight became hazy, and nausea surged in my throat. I required assistance, but the last thing I wished for was anyone's sympathy. Still, I dialed Jason’s number. “Jason,” I choked out when he answered. “I… I think something’s wrong. My stomach hurts...my baby. I need to go to the hospital.” There was a pause, long enough to make my blood boil. “I’ll send the driver,” he said flatly, his tone

AVA'S POV Jason stood there, looking angry and disappointed. His eyes moved from Miranda’s hand on my arm to her face, and she quickly let go of me. “Jason, I was just…” “Apologize,” he said firmly, cutting her off. Miranda’s eyes went wide. “You can’t be serious.” “I said apologize,” Jason repeated, his voice cold and firm. Miranda’s voice was sharp and full of disbelief. “How can you stand up for this woman when I’m your cousin?” Jason didn’t move. He stayed strong, his voice calm. “She’s my wife,” he said, still glaring at her. “And I won’t let anyone disrespect her, not even my family.” The atmosphere was heavy with anxiety. My cheeks burned, yet Jason’s words surrounded me like a protective barrier. For the first time in quite some time, I felt secure. Miranda, hurt by his words, went quiet. Her face was red with shock and embarrassment. Jason turned back to me, his face softer as he reached for my hand. I took his hand, and he led me to the racks of dresses. H

JASON'S POV As soon as the words came out of Alex's mouth, I sensed my whole body tighten. I wanted to respond, but his smug expression and Ava’s quietness rendered me immobile. My hands tightened at my sides, the frustration simmering beneath my skin. How dare he say something like that? How dare he look at my wife like that? Ava’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Alex,” she said with a soft smile, her tone casual but cutting. “Thank you for the orchids, they are my favorite flowers. It’s such a thoughtful gesture.” Her words hit me like a slap. Favorite flowers? Since when did she even care about flowers? I didn’t know. The realization twisted in my chest like a knife. I stepped forward, my jaw tightening. “Ava..." But she didn’t even look at me. She grabbed her bag and turned to Alex. “Shall we?” Alex grinned, the triumph in his eyes unmistakable. “Of course.” And in an instant, she exited the office with him, leaving me there looking foolish. The door clic

AVA'S POV My heart stuttered in my chest, and my mind went completely blank. I hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy except Sally of course who found out because of the car accident I had. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. I couldn’t even manage a simple response. The weight of his question hung heavy in the air, suffocating me. Alex was the last person I imagined to find out. How did he know? More importantly, he should not know about my marriage with Jason. We returned to the table together and with each step I took I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. My hands trembled as I reached for the glass of water on the table, but my fingers wouldn’t cooperate. Everything inside me was frozen. My throat tightened, and I thought I might choke on the words I needed to say. The ones I couldn’t seem to form. "I know you are married to Jason," he continued his voice like a bomb exploding all my secrets. I blinked, my heart racing.