Ava knew clearly that once she told the truth, there would be no turning back between for her and Ethan. But when disappointment accumulates to the extreme in one’s heart, one will be reckless and want to let go of everything. She looked up at the husband she had once loved deeply, cruelly tearing open her own wound and exposing it completely in front of Ethan. As she spoke, her heart ached almost numb: “Ethan, you don’t need to think it over. I don’t want the position in Ronin, even the title of Margret. Because I can’t… have…”
Ava couldn’t finish the word “children”. Ethan’s phone rang. He stared fixedly at Ava’s face, answered the call, and from the other end came Secretary Lena’s anxious voice: “Ethan, Miss Garcia’s condition is critical. You must come quickly.”
“I see.” Ethan hung up the phone and said to Ava: “We’ll talk about things later.” With that, he walked towards a black Rolls-Royce nearby, ready to get in and leave. Ava still stood there. A gust of night wind blew, making her shiver with cold.
She first murmured his name, then raised her voice, and finally, with almost a lifetime of sorrow, cried out: “Ethan, aren’t you willing to give me even one minute? After four years of marriage, aren’t I worth you listening to this sentence?”
Ethan held the car door handle, his voice cold: “We’ll talk after Lily gets through the critical period.” The man stepped on the gas, and the car sped away.
The night was as cold as water, but not even a fraction as cold as Ava’s heart. She quietly looked in the direction her husband had left, murmuring to finish that sentence: “Ethan, I can’t have children.”
The night wind howled, and she said it again—”Ethan, I can’t have children!” Every time she said it, it was a cruel lash on her once love for Ethan, a ruthless mockery of her all-or-nothing devotion… She had given her youth, given everything, but it was worthless in Ethan’s heart. Her sadness and sorrow had never been related to Ethan.
Ava suddenly wanted to indulge, suddenly wanted to break free from the shackles of being Margret for the past four years. After tonight, she would no longer be Ethan’s wife. She was just Ava, living only for herself. Ava lowered her head, looking at the ridiculous suit she was wearing. In the business world, Ethan needed her to wear it, but outside of it, he found it boring and dull. Now even Ava thought this shackles was ridiculous. She had actually expected to gain love by catering to a man.
How ridiculous!
When Annie came over, Ava had taken off her coat. The silk shirt underneath had two buttons undone, revealing a small patch of fair skin. Her long black hair was let down, cascading over her slender back, giving an indescribable mix of purity and allure. Ava leaned against the car body, her fair long legs stretched out. She turned her head to look at Annie and asked softly: “Do you have a cigarette? I want to smoke one.”
Annie’s nose soured. As Ava’s personal secretary, she had been with her for four years. She knew best how much Ava loved Ethan, and she could see clearly how devastated Ava was now. Annie didn’t have cigarettes on her, but she managed to get a pack.
Ava had never smoked before. She was choked to tears. In the choking smoke, she laughed and cried, breaking down her love for Ethan into pieces of hatred, each piece piercing into her bones, into her heart…
It was Ava’s first time indulging herself. Dim lights, a intoxicating atmosphere, everything felt so decadent. Ava was thoroughly drunk, and she didn’t care anymore. Ethan’s opinions, the Sinclair family’s rules, none of it mattered…
She lay on the table, tapping her glass lightly, signaling the bartender for another drink. The bartender was about to comply when a slender finger gently pressed down on the glass. Then, a tall, sharp-figured man sat down beside Ava.
It was Benjamin. Benjamin from Inkwell Legal. His dark eyes held a hint of thought as he studied Ava intently: she looked even more unrestrained and charming than the last time they met. Her soft body lay weakly on the table, her shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a glimpse of soft, full curves. Ava’s skin was so smooth…
Benjamin’s eyes darkened. After a few seconds, he took off his coat and gently draped it over Ava’s shoulders…
The woman jolted slightly, looking up at him. Through the flickering lights, she was drawn into those dark eyes, as if falling into an abyss. Benjamin’s tone held a touch of distance: “You’ve had too much to drink. I’ll take you home.” Ava leaned against the bar, staring straight at Benjamin. He was surprised to notice a hint of alluring charm at the inner corners of her eyes—a softness usually masked by her reserved clothing…
Ava’s voice was slurred, lacking her usual dignity: “Who are you? Why should I go with you?” There was no reasoning with a thoroughly drunk woman. Benjamin took out his wallet, placed a stack of cash on the bar, then bent down to lift Ava into his arms. She struggled instinctively, but Benjamin held her legs firmly, his tone as stern as if addressing a criminal: “If you don’t want to be in tomorrow’s entertainment news, come with me right now.” Ava was forced to stay in his arms.
Her cheek rested against Benjamin’s neck. His skin there was surprisingly hot. Uncomfortable, she shifted slightly, moving her face to his shoulder. With the barrier of his shirt, she settled a little but still mumbled about wanting to get down: “Benjamin, let me go.”
In the parking lot, neon lights filled the sky, with only a few stars visible. Benjamin looked down at the woman in his arms, a strange light in his eyes: Ava knew it was him. But quickly, Benjamin suppressed that odd feeling. He didn’t forget that Ava was Ethan’s wife—not some woman he could casually have a fling with. Five minutes later, Ava was dumped into the car. Ava leaned back against the leather seat, eyes gently closed, her face pale. As she slept, she looked completely fragile…
Benjamin glanced at her twice, then started dialing Ethan’s number. Both of Ethan’s phones were turned off. Benjamin guessed it was related to Lily. otherwise, Ava wouldn’t have gotten this drunk. He was about to call Secretary Lena’s phone—Ava woke up.
She reached out and swatted Benjamin’s phone away. “I don’t want to go home.” She tilted her head slightly, her chest heaving rapidly. The thin fabric of her shirt shifted softly with her movements, mixing with her scent to create an indescribable allure.
Benjamin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He turned his face away, looking out at the fading night, then glanced at the woman beside him—she seemed to have fallen asleep again. Benjamin watched her silently for a few seconds, then opened the car door and got out.
The night was dim…
The man’s tall figure leaned against the hood of the Land Rover, his black clothes blending into the night. He took out a cigarette, put it to his lips, and bent down to light it, shielding the flame with his hand. Pale smoke rose, quickly scattered by the night wind, softening his sharp features.
After smoking half the cigarette, he turned to look at the woman in the car. Dressed in moon-white, her features were like a painting, the corners of her eyes clouded with a faint, charming glow…
