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I want to kill him.
My legal team went in guns blazing, working nonstop to protect my brand and everything I worked so hard for.
The whole ordeal is a nightmare, dragging on for a month passed. It’s a mistake I vow never to repeat. How could I be so naïve to trust a man and even have him move in with me when clearly, I didn’t know him at all?
Love and intimate relationships aren’t worth all the turmoil. Sure, I bet against Will, but I have no qualms about staying single. More than ever, not worrying about a lover sounds perfectly fine.
Then there’s the matter of my father.
To say he isn’t impressed is an understatement. I’ve seen him angry when business deals were compromised, and more notably, when Will and Amelia’s affair leaked, but this is the next level of rage. He’s on the warpath, and the person caught in the crossfire is, unfortunately, my mother.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” I say quietly over the speaker, unable to get out of bed. My eyes glance at the clock on the nightstand, noting the time and quickly calculating how early it is for Mom. She has always been an early riser, much like myself, but the stress of life has worn me out of late. “This is a never-ending mess.”
“Ava, this isn’t your fault,” she reminds me, softening her tone. There’s always something in her voice that calms me down. Unlike my reactive father, Mom is rational. “People do things when they’re hurt.”
“But I don’t understand? I’ve done nothing to hurt him. He left me for another man. I’ve said nothing regarding his sexuality nor tarnished his name at all. Aside from a blank statement saying we parted ways, I’m innocent here.”
My eyes close while I pinch the bridge of my nose, tired of this constant state of despair I’ve been finding myself in. The ripple of bad luck is like poison seeping through my veins, a slow, agonizing pain that makes it impossible to fight against.
“You will get through this, honey. You’re strong and so much like your father it’s crazy.”
“Speaking of Dad…”
Mom clears her throat. “He has already left for the office.”
Dad is also an early riser but heading to the office at five in the morning is enough to tell me he is not coping, still on a mission to destroy Olivier.
“He hasn’t returned my calls or my texts. I know he is angry, but that holiday was on a private island. I wasn’t walking around in public.”
A loud sigh escapes Mom. ?
?You know your father, Ava. If someone comes after someone he loves, he won’t stop until that person pays the price.”
“Wha… what does that mean?” I panic slightly. “What will he do to Olivier?”
“Honestly? I’d say he’ll be hit up with a lawsuit as well as a forced public apology.”
I throw my head back against the pillow, releasing a groan. “God, Mom, what the hell is going on with me?”
“You’re experiencing life. The ups and downs.”
“More like downs.”
“It won’t always be this way, Ava. First, you need to remember who you are. Grieve this relationship, then hold your head up high and show the world you won’t take shit from any other man.”
I laugh softly. “So you haven’t heard of the bet I made with Will? I swore off men for a while.”
“Oh, Ava, taking my mom hat off for a moment,” she conveys with a faint chuckle, then continues, “a girl needs to get laid sometimes.”
“Are you sure you didn’t put Eric’s hat on?”
“Too many years as his best friend. I’m ruined.”
Releasing a sigh, I fidget with the edge of my duvet. “But I’m serious, Mom. I’ve dated men and just experienced living with someone. Men are hard work. I don’t need all the bullshit that comes with falling in love. I get you and Dad did it, Millie and Will. I mean, sure, it looks nice, but heartache is brutal.”
“No argument from me. It is hard work. I’ve gone through my share of heartache,” she reminds me wistfully. “But sometimes, life doesn’t allow you to avoid the inevitable. Falling in love can be the best or worst time of your life. It’s not always a fairy-tale ending.”
“So, what you’re saying is, I’m screwed even if I try to control everything?”
