**Chapter 18** “My name is Lydia, Miss Sharp,” the nurse said, her smile unwavering as she met my gaze. I narrowed my eyes, scrutinizing her before flicking a glance at Letty, who appeared equally puzzled. “I never hired any nurse,” I replied, an edge of annoyance creeping into my voice. “I’d tell you that you have the wrong house, but you clearly know my name. So the only viable explanation is that someone else sent you here, or maybe this is all some elaborate ruse.” Don’t get me wrong—having someone to help me through the coming days might be beneficial, yet this felt all too peculiar. Lydia set her bag down and turned to face me. “I was hired by Mr. Wood and instructed to report immediately.” A groan of frustration slipped from my lips. I felt a surge of emotions—surprise mingled with anger. Just when I decided I didn’t want his help, he swooped in to play the hero. Where had he been when I needed him most during our marriage? He had ignored me, rendering me invisible. “I’m sorry you wasted your time coming here, but you need to leave,” I stated firmly, settling back against the sofa. I refused to give Rowan any foothold in my life. The only solid ground we shared was our son, Noah, and that was the extent of our connection. “I’m sorry, madam, but he instructed me to remain in your house, despite how stubborn you might get,” she replied, her voice laced with authority. Her tone grated on my nerves. She spoke to me as if I were a petulant child throwing a tantrum. I was furious, itching to wipe that polite smile off her face. “Listen, this is my house, and Rowan has no authority here. You’ll leave before I decide to call the cops,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. A flicker of uncertainty crossed Lydia's face. She was torn between obeying Rowan’s orders and the fear of my impending threat. Before we could delve deeper into our standoff, another knock sounded at the door. What the hell? Was this some bizarre ‘visit Ava Day’? “Looks like there’s another guest,” Letty said, breaking the tension as she left the room. Moments later, she returned, leading an unfamiliar man clad in a uniform, a clipboard clutched tightly in his hand. “Who is Ava Sharp?” he asked, directing his attention toward me. I raised a trembling hand. “That would be me.” “I have a delivery for you and I need you to sign some papers,” he continued. “What delivery?” I inquired, rubbing my temples in distress. A dull throb began building in my head. I contemplated kicking everyone out just to regain some semblance of peace. He checked his clipboard. “Your brand-new Range Rover,” he stated matter-of-factly, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Excuse me?” My confusion was palpable just as Scarlet dashed out of the room. The man studied me, then repeated what he’d said. I stood there, dumbfounded and awash with disbelief. First, I was confronted by a nurse I hadn’t hired, and now I was being informed about a brand new car? “Damn, it’s the latest model too!” Scarlet exclaimed as she returned, awe replacing her earlier astonishment. Turning back to the man, I asked, “Let me guess, Mr. Wood purchased it and put it in my name?” Before he could respond, Rowan strolled into the room, radiating the confidence of a man who believed he owned the place. “As a matter of fact, yes,” he affirmed. “Your car was blown up, so I got you a new one.” With a nod toward Scarlet, he greeted her, “Hello, Letty.” She returned his greeting, leaving me bewildered, silently processing the implications. Apparently, I was the last to know that my brother was dating. With a steadying breath, I rose and faced Rowan. “I appreciate your intention, considering I am the mother of your son, but this isn’t necessary. I can handle everything on my own.” Deep down, I recognized his motives weren’t born out of genuine care; it was because I was Noah’s mother. He had made that crystal clear time and time again. A frown etched into his handsome features. “That’s not why I’m doing this.” “I truly don’t need your help, so please instruct him to take back the car and terminate her services,” I pointed at the delivery man and then at Lydia. “Really, you don’t need help?” He raised an eyebrow, incredulity dripping from his words. “There isn’t a car in sight, you lack a phone, and just by looking at your pale face, it’s clear you’re exhausted…you need rest and someone to care for you.” “Like I said, I’ve got everything under control. I’ll order a new phone tomorrow, and I already have…” Why couldn’t he just leave me to my own devices, to wallow in my solitude as I had always done? “Then show me. Show me the car you already have in mind,” he commanded, his tone unyielding. With an exasperated huff, I retrieved my laptop from the table and powered it on. I had already done my research while at the hospital, and I knew precisely what I wanted. I pivoted the screen around, revealing the model I had settled on. “Seriously?” he questioned, an eyebrow arched in skepticism. Scorn laced his voice, making it clear that my choice failed to impress him. “Now that’s a piece of junk,” Letty chimed in from behind me, echoing Rowan’s sentiments. I turned, realizing that everyone had gathered behind me, their judgment palpable. It was infuriating to have an audience, each of them nodding dissent. “Excuse us,” I grumbled, taking Rowan’s hand and dragging him to the kitchen. In my mind, it felt dramatic and urgent, but in reality, it unfolded with agonizing slowness. I halted at the granite counter, leaning against it and letting go of his hand. “Letty is right; that car is a piece of f***ing junk,” he scoffed. “How do you expect to drive that?” Sure, I knew it was an older model, possibly on its last legs, but it was precisely what I wanted. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t the newest model; as long as it took me from point A to point B, that was enough. “It’s my choice, Rowan,” I responded defiantly, crossing my arms. His expression turned serious, a look I recognized from his business negotiations. “You refused any financial assistance during our divorce. With your teacher’s salary, you don’t earn much; you likely have a mortgage on this house, and now you want to add the expense of a car? Just accept my help. It will save you money.” Every syllable out of his mouth ignited my temper, echoing Emma’s judgments and the opinions everyone else had of me. They all looked down on me for being a teacher, and it filled me with rage. “I said I won’t accept the damn car!” I shouted, my anger bubbling close to the surface. His demeanor hardened, and he stepped closer, invading my personal space. “Be reasonable for once in your f***ing life, Ava.” “I am being reasonable! I asked for a divorce to remove you from my life…why now are you suddenly so interested in helping when you never cared before?” “Because you’re Noah’s mother! Of course I f***ing care! And, in case you’ve forgotten, I can’t completely separate my life from yours since we share a son—our lives are inevitably entangled,” he growled, his eyes ablaze. “Only for the next ten years! Being part of Noah’s life doesn’t mean you have to be part of mine and vice versa,” I countered. Fatigue weighed heavily on me, and I sank onto a barstool. My head throbbed as if it might roll off my shoulders, screaming for rest. “Take the car,” he insisted again. “Why don’t you take it and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine?” I retorted, feeling utterly drained. It wasn’t about being ungrateful; I simply didn’t want to owe him anything. I also wished to avoid anymore run-ins with Emma; she wouldn’t be pleased with Rowan’s attempts at helping. Just as I prepared to respond, Letty strutted into the kitchen. “I don’t understand why you two excused yourselves when we can still hear you screaming at each other,” she pointed out, her bravado unwavering despite our glaring stares. “Look, Rowan, Ava is exhausted. It’s been a long, trying morning for her, and I’m sure she wants to sleep. So just drop the car issue; all you’re doing is making her angrier. Ava, accept the help offered to you by Lydia. You can barely stand; how do you plan to manage on your own? You need support until you recover.” Her words resonated deep within me. I wanted to argue, but she had a point; perhaps I could accept his charity for once. “Fine,” Rowan and I conceded simultaneously. Letty smiled, helping me down from the stool. “Seems like you’re on your way to la-la land.” I chuckled lightly as she led me to the living room. The delivery man was nowhere to be seen, likely waiting outside. Letty handed me over to Lydia, giving her an encouraging nod. “Looks like you’ll be staying to help Ava,” she instructed. “Rowan and I will be leaving.” Lydia nodded as Scarlet stepped forward, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace. “I’ll see you soon, and thank you for giving me a chance,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. All I could manage was a small smile, exhaustion overcoming me. She released me and moved toward the door, glancing back only to find Rowan still lingering instead of following. “One more thing,” he said, gently placing a brand-new phone on the table. Before I could respond, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on my cheek before turning to leave. I stood there, feeling a mix of emotions, watching him walk away. “Come, Miss. Let’s get you to bed,” Lydia murmured, breaking the silence. I nodded, my thoughts a whirlpool of questions. Why had Rowan gone to such lengths? I didn’t want him to unearth this softer side of himself that had never been directed toward me. I preferred him as the man who had played the villain in my life; it would be far easier to hate him that way.