"I want a divorce," Dylan roared, slamming a bunch of documents on the dining table.
Ava flinched at his loud voice and gawked at the divorce agreement before her, the letters blurring her vision. It was their fifth wedding anniversary, and she had envisioned an evening filled with love and celebration. But her husband had just slapped her with a divorce agreement.
"Why, Dylan?" she choked out.
"Why? Because I never loved you. The marriage between us is nothing but a contract. The term is over, and I want you out of my life."
His sneer twisted her stomach. The dismissive tone in his voice was chilling. He had reduced their entire relationship to a mere transaction.
Ava blinked dazedly at him, her ears ringing. She had loved this man for ten years, and she had been married to him for five years. But her love and devotion for him did not melt his cold heart.
She had planned a surprise dinner tonight and thought of cracking the news of her pregnancy, believing it might bring them closer. Instead, she was met with this devastating blow.
"Dylan, please," she begged. "Give me a chance. I'll become the perfect wife you wanted. I won't demand anything. Just don't leave me, okay?"
She put her hand on his face. But he shoved her away, and she stumbled back, grasping the edge of the dining table to steady herself.
"You make me sick when you beg, Ava," he snapped. "Weren't you once the proud daughter of the Williams? Look at you now—pathetic. Don't you have any shame or self-respect? You disgust me."
Those words pierced her heart. She had taken care of him and helped him sign several valuable projects. Even though he was always cold to her, she kept loving him and helping him, always believing that her love would eventually break through his icy exterior. But all she received in return was hatred and disdain.
"I only have one woman in my heart, and it's Gianna," he proclaimed. "The term of the contract is ended, and I don't need to stay in this meaningless marriage anymore. I am going to marry her."
Ava's lips quivered as she fought back her tears. It had always been Gianna he cared about. Despite knowing the truth, she had made him marry her five years ago, hoping she could make her place in his heart.
How wrong she was!
"We've been together for five long years," she managed to say. "Don't you have any feelings for me? I've given you everything—my love, my attention, even the shares of Williams Holdings. I've worked tirelessly, caring for you. Can't you love me back just a little?"
"No!" he said without hesitation, his shoulders stiff. "I only have pure hatred for you."
He shot her a chilly glare as he took a step toward her. "Your father caused the accident that killed my parents. I lost both of them because of that man. All these years, I've been waiting for the right moment to strike back and take everything from your family."
Ava's heart plummeted, disbelief flooding her senses. She could hardly comprehend his words. "This is not true," she wailed desperately. The foundation of her world seemed to crumble beneath her. "Your father and my father were good friends. How could he hurt your parents? You must be misunderstanding."
"That's what I thought," Dylan shot back, his voice growing louder. "But your father was a cruel man. He wanted the Brooks' fortune and orchestrated the accident."
"No, no… you have misunderstood something. My father was not like that. He was a kind man…"
"Is that so? Then have a look on your own." He shoved a folder to her. "He had been preparing to take over my family business. If I didn't agree to marry you, he said he would take over the company."
Ava realized her mistake. In her desperate desire to marry Dylan, she had demanded her father to help her back then. But she didn't know his father had resorted to this strategy to force Dylan.
She put the folder aside and reached out to hold his hand, "Dylan, I am sorry. Don't blame my father. It's all my fault. I was so much in love with you that I desperately wanted to be your wife. So, I requested him…"
"You were also a part of his plan," he scoffed contemptuously, cutting her short. "I knew it. You are a cunning and manipulative woman. If it were not for you, I would have been married Gianna a long time ago. You schemed with your father to get the property, didn't you?"
There was no warmth in his eyes, not even a trace of nostalgia for all the time they had spent together.
Ava blinked her tears away, a bitter smile curling her lips. All the sacrifices she had made, all the love she had poured into their marriage seemed to have gone in vain. To him, she was just cunning and manipulative. All he could think about was Gianna.
"I invested five years into this marriage, took care of your needs. Don't you feel anything for me? Not even a hint of gratitude?"
"Aren't you tired of begging?" he grumbled, scowling at her deeply. "Despite knowing that I hate you, you still want to be with me! Why can't you just accept the reality?"
He chuckled scornfully. "Since you are so reluctant to leave me, let me tell you one thing. I thought I would never reveal this, but you forced me. Do you know how your father died?"
Ava's eyes widened, chills pricking her back. An ominous feeling settled in her heart. "What do you mean?"
With a menacing sneer, he leaned closer. "I had been slowly poisoning him."
Ava gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
"That poison slowly weakened his heart, and he died from a heart attack."
"You – murdered him! How could you do that to him?" she bellowed, grabbing his collar.
"He deserved it," Dylan roared, shoving her away.
Ava stumbled to her floor. A sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen, almost taking her breath away. She clasped her stomach, clenching her jaw to endure the pain.
"He killed my parents, and I took revenge," Dylan said mercilessly. He didn't notice her suffering. "Now you know the truth. Do you still want to be with me?"
Ava sobbed helplessly, feeling lost. The man she had trusted, the one she had loved so completely, had taken her father's life. Her one mistake had cost her everything. If she had not married him, her father might have been still alive.
"Sign the divorce agreement." He shoved the documents to her.
With tears streaming down her face, she glared at him, her body trembling in pain and anger. "I regret loving you, Dylan. It would be nice if I had never met you."
She took the documents and jotted down her name firmly. She shoved the divorce agreement back into his hand. "You are free to marry your beloved."
Dylan clenched his jaw as he glared down at her. "Leave the house before I am back tomorrow evening. Gianna will be staying here." He turned around and dashed out the door.
Ava broke into sobs, tears streaming down ceaselessly. "I am sorry, papa. I wasn't a good daughter. You suffered because of me."
She lamented for marrying Dylan and wished desperately for a way to turn back time, to rewrite the painful narrative of her life.
Her hand instinctively went to her stomach. "Sorry, baby. I can't bring you to this world. I am tired of living."
With trembling hands, she reached for the knife lying on the dining table. "Dylan, I hate myself for loving you. I wish I won't see you in my next life."
She slit her wrist.
Hello, dears. I created another book. It is participating in Viral Book Call competition. I hope you all will support me like always. Please add this book to your library and send powerstones.
Thank you. Keep reading.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Beep-Beep-Beep…
The monotonous rhythmic sound of beeping filled the air, piercing through the haze in Ava's mind. She winced as she slowly regained her consciousness. She looked around and found herself lying on a hospital bed, white sheets tucked around her.
'I am still alive!' she mumbled to herself, astounded.
She clearly remembered dying. How could she still be alive? Who had saved her?
She sat up in a daze and checked her wrist. But her skin was smooth, unmarked as if she had been never injured. "Uh!" she gasped in surprise. "How could that be possible? Where has the mark gone?"
"You are awake." A female voice snapped her out of her reverie.
Ava whipped her head up and saw a nurse walking in.
"You know you are allergic to peanuts. Why were you eating so much peanut butter? Do you have a death wish?" the nurse chastised her.
"Peanut butter!" Ava murmured, shocked.
She had indeed tried to hurt herself by eating it in a fit of anger. But that was four years ago. Why was the nurse talking about it now? She hadn't eaten peanut butter in years, let alone recently.
'Did she hit her head somewhere?' she thought, suspiciously looking at her.
"You're lucky you were brought here in time," the nurse continued as she changed the empty IV bottle with a full one. "If not, you'd be lying in a coffin by now. Don't pull this stunt again."
Ava felt a chill on her nape as a wild thought surfaced. It was too absurd, too unreal to accept. Could it be possible that she had traveled back in time?
Her heart hammered in her throat. No, it couldn't be. It wasn't possible.
"What is today's date?" she asked instantly, anticipation and fear coursing through her.
"It's the thirteenth of October 2020."
Ava's heart seemed to stop breathing. She was reborn. Four years ago, she had eaten a lot of peanut butter on her first marriage anniversary.
She remembered waiting anxiously for Dylan, hoping he would return from the business trip in time for their anniversary. But he had not. He had simply ignored her calls and messages. In a fit of frustration and heartbreak, she had tried to hurt herself.
How foolish she was!
But now, with this second chance, she vowed to change everything. She wouldn't waste her life on Dylan. She would stay far away from him and his family.
"Papa is still alive!" she mused out loud.
"Hm? Did you say something?" The nurse was stunned.
Without paying attention to her, Ava reached for her phone from the side table and dialed her father's number.
"Hello?" Thomas' thick voice filled her ears.
Ava couldn't hold back her tears. "Papa!" she said shakily. It had been so long since she had heard his voice.
"Ava? Why are you crying? Did Dylan bully you?"
Ava sobbed harder and couldn't say a word.
"Sweetheart, talk to me. You are scaring me now. Where are you? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine, Papa," she finally managed, wiping away her tears with shaky hands. "I just… I missed you. That's all."
Thomas laughed, relieved. "If you missed me so much, come over and have dinner with me. It's been a long since you have last visited me."
Ava bit her lower lip, feeling guilty. She had been so consumed with taking care of Dylan's needs that she had completely ignored her father and had rarely visited him. But she wasn't going to make the same mistakes again. Not this time.
"Yes, I'll be there," she said firmly. She would protect her father and the family business.
Ending the call, she looked up at the nurse. "Help me get discharged."
"You really should stay another day," the nurse advised. "You need rest."
"I'm fine," Ava insisted. "Just help me leave." She was already determined.
Seeing the resolve in her eyes, the nurse relented and gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll speak to the doctor." She walked out.
Ava lay down, feeling drained. Just then, the door creaked open and two women stormed in. Her stomach twisted at the sight of Erica and Gianna.
"You! What are you doing lying here?" Erica, Dylan's cousin snapped. "Get up and come home."
Erica grabbed Ava's arm, trying to yank her out of bed. Ava swatted her hand away and shoved her down.
Erica sprawled on the floor and glared at Ava with anger and disbelief.
"Erica! Are you alright?" Gianna rushed to help her up. Turning to Ava, she snapped, "Have you gone crazy? You pushed her!"
"You are courting death," Erica spat, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you push me." She moved with a stormy momentum and raised her hand to slap her.
With swift reflexes, Ava caught her wrist in mid-air and shoved her back with a force that made Erica stumble backward.
Erica and Gianna stood frozen, staring at Ava in disbelief. They had never witnessed Ava retaliate. She was no longer a submissive and fragile woman they used to bully. Something had changed in her.
Ava glared at them as she clambered down the bed. In her past life, she had endured their humiliations and torment in silence. But not anymore. This time, she would stand her ground.
"Don't dare mess with me," she hissed, her eyes full of warning. "If you don't leave now, I'll file a harassment complaint. Get out."
"You!" Erica snapped, her mouth twisting in rage. "You are going too far."
Gianna put a comforting hand on Erica's shoulder and signaled her to stay calm.
"Ava, don't be upset," she chimed in, her tone smooth like butter. "It's not Erica's fault. She was just mad when she heard you attempted suicide. You know Dylan is on an important business trip. If he hears about what you did, it will only distract him. Erica didn't want to trouble him, so she scolded you."
Ava rolled her eyes. It was always like this – Gianna pretending to be innocent. "Oh, don't worry. He won't be worried. Even if I die, he won't feel anything."
"Ava! How can you say that?" Gianna whined. "Are you calling Dylan heartless?"
Before Ava could respond, Erica's voice cut through the room. "You bitch! You're trying to slander Dylan. Just wait until he gets back. I'll tell him everything, and we'll see how you handle it then."
"I don't want to deal with him anymore," Ava shot back, her patience snapping. "I am going to divorce him."
"Are you serious?" Gianna exclaimed, eyes widening with disbelief.
Ava snorted derisively, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "You must be thrilled, right?" She moved in closer and patted her shoulder. "I wish you a happy life with the man I've decided to dump."
She pushed her away and walked out of the ward, leaving them gawking at her.
Gianna blinked, still in shock. "Did you see that? She is completely different… she is not meek at all."
The transformation was stark and didn't go unnoticed by them.
"It's just an act," Erica muttered through her gritted teeth. "Let Dylan come home. I'll see how long she can keep pretending to be rebellious."
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