Chapter 3

Jeffrey's face froze in shock as he took the paper from Ava's hand, his eyes scanning the contents with a mix of disbelief and desperation.

"Divorce?" he whispered, his voice laced with denial.

As he read through the document, his expression transformed from shock to confusion. Looking up at Ava, he said, "I thought we've already agreed...it's not what you think it was. Stop being dramatic."

Ava's face remained resolute, her voice firm. "I don't want to listen, Jeffrey. I've made up my mind. I don't want to be a second choice, a stand-in until you can get back to your high school sweetheart. Now that Cassandra's back from the States, I'm free to leave, and you can go back to her."

Jeffrey's expression darkened, his voice taking on a scoffing tone. "Is that what you think? That you're just a stand-in? Something that can be easily replaced?" His words were laced with indignation, but beneath them, Ava detected a hint of hurt and defensiveness.

Jeffrey's face twisted in anger as he tore the papers in front of Ava's face, the sound of ripping paper echoing through the room. "I'm not going to divorce you," he said, his voice firm. "I love you, Ava."

The words "I love you" sent a flutter through Ava's chest, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat. But her next thought was one of disappointment as she realized he was likely saying it out of obligation or convenience.

Jeffrey's expression turned disturbed as he asked, "What do you think will happen when my parents find out you're divorcing me? You'll never bring that up again."

Ava froze, disappointed. However, Jeffery’s face softened, and he smiled, taking Ava's hand in his. "I got something for you, a surprise." His eyes sparkled with excitement, but Ava's skepticism remained, unsure what to make of his sudden change in demeanor.

Jeffrey handed Ava a bag with the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram pattern on the body, the luxurious fabric soft to the touch. The bag was a rich brown color with golden accents, and Ava's eyes widened slightly as she took it from him.

"Open it," Jeffrey said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ava slipped her hand inside the bag and pulled out a stunning blue sparkling dress. The dress was a floor-length, strapless gown made of intricate beaded lace that shimmered and shined in the light. The blue hue was a deep, rich shade that seemed to glow with an inner light, and the beading added a touch of whimsy and romance.

Ava's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at the dress, her eyes widening in awe. "It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jeffrey smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Beautiful, right?" he asked, his voice full of pride.

Ava's heart softened slightly as she gazed at the dress, and for a moment, she thought maybe she should give him a second chance. She nodded, her eyes still fixed on the gown.

Jeffrey's smile grew wider. "I want you to wear it tomorrow to my parents' marriage anniversary," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "It's happening at the family house, and I want you to look stunning."

Ava had reluctantly agreed to attend the anniversary celebration, and now, as she walked hand in hand with Jeffrey into the family house, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. As they approached the dinner room, the sound of laughter and conversation grew louder, and the lights spilled out into the hallway.

The doors swung open, and Ava's eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar faces. But her gaze landed on one person in particular - Cassandra.

She was already seated, laughing and chatting with Jeffrey's mother, and what caught Ava's attention was the fact that Cassandra was holding hands with Jeffrey's mother.

But the real shock came when Ava's eyes landed on the dress Cassandra was wearing. It was the same blue sparkling dress that Jeffrey had bought for her just yesterday. There was no difference, no variation - it was the exact same dress.

Ava felt a wave of emotions wash over her, a mix of shock, heartbreak, and disgust. She couldn't believe that Jeffrey would do this to her, would buy her a dress and then give it to Cassandra to wear to his parents' anniversary celebration.

Ava's eyes locked onto Jeffrey, her expression a mix of shock and confusion, wondering why Cassandra was wearing the same dress as her. Did he buy it for her? Was this some silly prank?

But before she could say anything, Jeffrey cleared his throat and approached his mother, who welcomed him with a warm smile.

Cassandra's laughter echoed through the room as she said, "What a coincidence! Ava and I are wearing the same dress." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned to Ava and asked, "Aren’t you tired of copying me, Ava? You've been doing it since high school, and now you're still following my lead?"

Ava's face twisted in disgust as she scoffed, "What?"

Before the situation could escalate further, Jeffrey's mother intervened, "Okay, okay, let's not fight now. Come quickly, we're about to take a family photo."

As they walked towards the designated area for the photo, Ava noticed a beautifully decorated cake and a present stand. Jeffrey's father was waiting with a camera in his hand, a warm smile on his face.

Jeffrey was the only son of his family, and it was clear that his parents treasured him deeply. They had always been proud of him, and Jeffrey had always felt the weight of their expectations.

He had a deep-seated fear of disappointing them, of not living up to their ideals. This fear had driven him to make choices that would keep his parents happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

And now, as he stood there, surrounded by his family, Ava could see the tension in his body, the fear of being caught in his affair.

As they gathered to take the picture, Jeffrey's dad asked, "Who will take the picture for us?"

Cassandra piped up, "Ava should! She takes nice pictures."

Ava's expression turned wry as she replied, "I'm part of the family, and only those who aren't should take the picture, don’t you think?"

Jeffrey's mom's eyes narrowed. "Ava, what do you mean by that?"

Ava's voice was calm and collected. "Cassandra should be the one to take the picture since she's not part of the family."

Cassandra's face contorted in mock distress, and she began to pretend cry, wailing, "How could you say such a thing to me?"

Jeffrey's mom's voice rose in anger. "Ava, stop that! Take the picture for us now! You have never contributed anything to this family, yet you have the mouth to even speak. An heir or a child you haven’t given us, and now you're speaking?"

Jeffrey's dad handed Ava the camera, his expression stern. Ava wanted to speak, to defend herself, but she decided to keep quiet. She watched as Jeffrey's mom comforted Cassandra, telling her sorry and that she shouldn't cry.

Jeffrey's voice was tired. "Ava, it's just a picture. Stop acting childish. Just take the picture."

Ava collected the camera, her eyes meeting Jeffrey's for a brief moment. It’s just a picture anyways.

She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll take the picture." With a sense of resignation, she raised the camera, framing the shot as the family posed.

As Ava prepared to take the picture, Jeffrey and Cassandra positioned themselves close to each other, with Jeffrey's parents standing beside them, effectively sandwiching the young couple in the middle.

Just as Ava was about to capture the moment, Cassandra straightened her feet to match Jeffrey's height and leaned in, her lips brushing against his cheek in a gentle kiss. Ava's finger slipped, and the camera's shutter clicked, capturing the intimate moment.

Ava's eyes lingered on the scene, her gaze frozen in shock as she watched Jeffrey's reaction.

“What was that for?” He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and looked at Cassandra with a tender expression, his face filled with affection. In stunned shock, the camera slipped from Ava's hand, falling towards the floor…