Chapter 4

But before it could hit the ground, Jeffrey's father rushed to catch it. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Cassandra and Jeffrey's attention turned to Ava, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Ava felt a wave of nausea wash over her, mixed with anger and hurt. She murmured an excuse, "I need to use the bathroom," and quickly turned towards the toilet.

Jeffrey opened his mouth to say something, but Ava was already rushing away, her feet carrying her swiftly towards the bathroom. She reached the toilet just in time, her hands grasping the sink as she splashed water on her face, trying to calm herself down.

As she finished washing her face, Ava stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes red-rimmed and her skin pale.

She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, but the image of Cassandra kissing Jeffrey's cheek lingered in her mind, fueling her anger and hurt.

As Ava returned from the bathroom, she was met with a scene that reignited her anger: Jeffrey and Cassandra laughing and touching each other romantically, with Jeffrey's mother looking on without any objection. The sight was like fuel to the fire, and Ava's anger boiled over.

She walked over to a waiter who was circulating with drinks and collected a glass. Her eyes locked onto Cassandra, and with a deliberate movement, Ava poured the drink onto Cassandra's dress.

"Oops, my bad," Ava said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Didn't see you there."

Cassandra's face turned red with rage as she fumed, "What's wrong with you, Ava?" Jeffrey's mother rushed over, her expression stern. "What's going on?"

Cassandra explained the situation, her voice trembling with anger. Jeffrey intervened, his voice firm. "Ava, you shouldn't have done that."

Ava's expression was innocent. "It was a mistake, I didn't do it purposely."

Jeffrey's tone turned condescending. "When are you going to stop acting like a child?"

Without another word, Jeffrey took Cassandra's hand and led her out of the room, saying, "Let's get you cleaned up." As they walked away, Ava felt a stinging sensation, her anger and hurt simmering just below the surface.

At that point, Jeffrey's mother walked over to Ava, her voice low and menacing. "You know, Ava, if you continue with this attitude, Jeffrey will never look at you again. You'll never have a child and secure your position as a wife in the Jones family. Don't forget the contract. In two days, it will be invalid."

Ava's expression was calm, her voice firm. "In 2 days, I'll be out of your lives."

Jeffrey's mother's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

It was clear that everyone involved saw Ava as a leech, someone who was only in the marriage for personal gain, despite the secret contract between her and Jeffrey's mother. Jeffrey's mother had thought that Ava was too invested in her son to ever leave, but Ava's words revealed a different story.

As Jeffrey's mother stood there, stunned, Ava turned and walked away, heading outside. As she stepped out into the fresh air, her phone began to ring, breaking the silence. She pulled it out of her pocket, her eyes scanning the screen to see who was calling.

For two weeks straight, Ava's phone had been ringing nonstop, with an unknown number flashing on her screen each time.

She'd consistently sent the calls to voicemail, hesitant to answer unknown callers. However, the caller's persistence eventually wore her down, and she decided to pick up.

As she answered, a man exclaimed, "Thank goodness you answered!" Ava's curiosity piqued, she asked, "Who's this?" The caller replied, "It's your father's lawyer, Mike Davis. I've been trying to get in touch with you for a long time now to read your father's will to you."

Ava's eyes widened in shock and concern. Her father? Will? The news hit her like a ton of bricks.

“Could we meet? Like in a day time?” Mike Davis further asked if they could meet up at a location to discuss, and Ava agreed. He informed her that he was in Winchester City, New Hampshire, which was in a different state from hers.

Ava hesitated, explaining that she didn't have the money to travel to him. She had been living off the allowance Jeffrey and his mother provided, and the thought of working hadn't crossed her mind.

Mike Davis reassured her, "Don't worry about that. I'll make arrangements for your trip. Just send me your account number, and I'll get everything sorted out for you to fly over."

"See you soon, Ava." With that, he hung up. Ava was left stunned, wondering what her father's will could possibly entail.

Ava wondered if she could leave Jeffrey, but the time she brought up the idea of divorcing, he dismissed it. The constant bullying and manipulation had taken a toll on her, and she couldn't continue like this. Despite being pregnant, she didn't want anyone to know, especially not Jeffrey and his mother.

As she returned to the gathering, Ava asked Jeffrey's mother where he was.

She looked at Ava with a frown, "He hasn't come back yet, he might still be with Cassandra, helping her change," she replied.

Ava's eyes narrowed, and she swiftly went to find Jeffrey. Her feet carried her to a room where she thought she might find him. As she slowly pushed the door open, she stumbled upon a scene that made her heart sink.

Jeffrey was kissing Cassandra again, and Ava felt betrayed. This two were so inseparable. Kissing each other intensely like they were about to eat each other.

Ava covered her mouth, about to cry, but her feet faltered, and she stumbled backward, hitting a vase over its stand and its shatters on the ground.

The sound caught Jeffrey's attention, escaping his lips, he immediately asked, "Who's there?"

Ava felt a wave of fear wash over her as she realized she might be seen. Jeffrey and Cassandra looked at the half-open door, but Ava remained frozen, holding her breath.

Jeffrey decided to approach the door, walking out of the room, as he didn’t receive a reply he feared to be caught. Standing outside the room, his eyes scanned the hallway, only for it to fall upon…