The Queen's Back

Chapter 151

Ava had been sitting there since the afternoon, and now it was past eight. When Bud finally walked in, the sight of her just sitting there like a lost doll, with her red, puffy eyes, knocked the wind out of him. It was the first time Bud had seen Ava so spaced out, and for some reason, it made him feel uneasy. He walked over and took a seat next to her, asking, "What's wrong? Why are you crying like this?"

As soon as Bud walked in, the servants had cleared out, leaving just the two of them. The chandelier above was shining down on Ava, making her look even more pale and highlighting her sollen eyes.

Ava finally looked up and locked eyes with him. She seemed to be studying his face, trying to remember every little detail even the small mole that was easy to overlook. This was the guy who had both captured her heart and crushed it. After what felt like forever, she finally asked, "Bud, do you have a girlfriend?" Her voice was hoarse, but each word hit him like a ton of bricks.

Bud instinctively wanted to deny it. He didn't want to rush into a relationship or anything. But as the thought of his morning with Chelly flashed through his mind, he caught himself. Instead of a firm 'no, he found himself saying, "How did you know?" That pretty much sealed it. Ava's expression shifted to a bittersweet smile. "So, you do have a girlfriend. Got it, Bud. I'm done with these feelings for you. You don't have to worry."

No matter how much she liked him, she wasn't about to hang around someone who was already taken. Plus, if he didn't have feelings for her when he was single, that just meant all her longing was just in her head.

Now that Bud had a girlfriend, Ava felt like her time with him was officially over. It was a tough pill to swallow, realizing she and Bud just weren't meant to be.

After she finished speaking, she shot Bud one last look before turning to leave. But as soon as she turned around, tears started streaming down her face, dripping down her neck.

Bud sat on the sofa, watching her walk away, and for a split second, he felt a strong urge to call her back. It surprised him. This was supposed to be what he wanted-Ava stepping away from him. But somehow it felt so wrong. Once she got the closure she needed, Ava headed home to pack her bags and catch a flight. A getaway was exactly what she needed.

Right before she was about to board, she sent a message to Mon on WhatsApp. Knowing Ava had left Nathontown, Monal figured it was a good idea for her to take a break. She texted back. [Have fun! And hit me up if you're feeling down.] After that, Mona messaged Maxwell to see if he was free for dinner. When he replied that he could make it, she got to work in the kitchen.

to be anything fancy-Mona was totally capable of handling it herself. But as she thought about Ava, a

was bubbling over. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't even noticed. Quickly, he

scrambled to turn it off-only to realize he had already taken care of

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Chapter 151

and asked, "Hey, what's going on? You seem a bit out of it. I'll cook next

just thinking about Bud. Did you hear

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he say he wasn't planning to marry until he was

either?" Mona said, a little disappointed. She was hoping for some

I can just ask him," he

let go of her hand and sent Bud a message

his study right now, feeling kind of

automatically thought it was from Ava-she was the kind

message, only to find it was from Maxwell instead. Disappointment washed over