Chapter 7

-Ava’s POV-

Tick Tock.

The rhythmic tick of the clock echoed louder in my head as I sat outside my father’s study. Each second felt like it was dragging me closer to my fate. My heart pounded harder with every passing moment, the fear twisting tighter in my chest.

Lucas Pierce, my father, would never hurt me physically.

But emotionally? His words cut deeper than any blade ever could

“Miss Ava, he is ready for you”

The low voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see my father’s right–hand man, his face expressionless as ever. I gave him a tight, barely–there smile and stood, my legs feeling heavier with every step as I walked toward the door.

With a deep breath, I entered the study.

Before I could even shut the door behind me, his voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“What is the most important thing I’ve taught you, Ava?”

My body tensed immediately, freezing in place. I hadn’t even crossed the room yet, and the interrogation had already begun. I was wired to him in a way that was terrifying–my fear always led me straight to him

My eyes automatically found him standing by the window, his back turned to me. Even without looking at me, his presence, commanded every inch of the space.

He was immaculately dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, every detail sharp, as though the idea of even a wrinkle in his appearance was intolerable. For a man his age, he looked sophisticated–years of power etched into every line on his face.

He turned around, and instinctively, I took a step back..

His eyes–a piercing, icy blue, the most dominant color of mine whenever they didn’t swirl–narrowed as they locked onto me. His gaze had always been cold, calculating

“You know how much I dislike repeating myself

I swallowed hard. My mouth felt dry as I forced myself to respond.

“Perfection is the only way we exist,” I muttered, the words bitter on my tongue.

“Very good,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion as he moved to sit behind his massive mahogany desk. He sat with the same poised elegance as always, like nothing could ever make him lose control.

I stood frozen in place, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

“Now,” he continued,

leaving mine. “Why was I informed that my daughter not

publicly humiliated her husband?”

mind raced. I knew this was coming. It didn’t make it any easier to hear. The disappointment in his voice was enough to make me feel like a little girl again, one who had failed him for the

time.

spilling out

21:53 Thu. Dec 12

Chapter 7

in the room thickened,

next.

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are going back to your jack, and you will issue a public apology. You will ask Dylan to take you back,

seconds in my head, forcing myself to

I said, keeping my voice steady despite the fear crawling up my spine.

lifted, his expression hardening.

that had been. hiding the fading bruise for days. My

flicker of something I

since the second month we got married. I stayed because I thought I could

paused, my throat tightening as the words continued to spill

he do?” I continued, my expect me

back to that?”

cheated on me. She’s even pregnant with his child.

forever, I felt a strange sense of release. The weight that had been crushing

But my

relief

cold as ever. “You will go back and show him that

you can be

you weren’t perfect

a physical blow, leaving me momentarily breathless. I stood there, staring at him,

tear slid down my check, unbidden. But

“No.” I whispered.

Ava,” he repeated, this time more firmly, though there was no need

same scared, obedient daughter who had always cowered before him I had tasted

lifting my chin. “I won’t do as you say anymore, Father. I am

of his fury

Not this time.

won’t go back to Dylan, I continued, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “I won’t pretend you. You don’t get to control me

his eyes, but before

Dec

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