### Chapter 40: Avenging Angel “How dare you?” The fury in Ava’s voice crackled through the elegant hall like a live wire. Brenda sneered, her indifference cutting like glass. “It’s not my fault the little brat has no idea where she’s going. This dress is a limited edition Louis Vuitton, and she nearly ruined it by spilling juice all over it!” The animosity between Brenda and Ava was palpable. I knew their history all too well; Ava had faced relentless bullying at school, with Brenda sitting at the throne of her tormentors. Cowering behind Ava was a small girl, no older than five, clutching the hem of her pretty pink dress. Her heart-shaped face was framed by lustrous black hair that cascaded down her back, and her doe-like eyes shimmered with fear. An unbidden thought flashed in my mind—what if I had a little girl with my gray eyes and Ava’s radiant brown hair? I froze, shock surging through me. Where in the world did that come from? I shook my head, forcing those thoughts away, and concentrated on the scene unfolding before me. It seemed Ava was finally stepping up to defend the defenseless. “Seriously? That’s your justification for humiliating a child? Especially when we’re here in support of them?” Ava’s frown deepened, casting shadows across her striking features. “That’s not a stupid reason!” Brenda insisted, her foot stamping the ground in a display reminiscent of a spoiled child. “I refuse to let some orphan girl, who doesn’t understand the value of wealth, ruin a dress worth more than she’ll ever possess!” Gasps rippled through the room, shock painting the faces of our audience. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the atmosphere, and Brenda’s bravado faltered under the weight of discontented stares. “That’s not what I meant…” she stammered, her bravado cracking as she recognized her audience was not on her side. “Enough!” Ava’s voice sliced through the tension. “Your attitude towards these children is unacceptable. I see no reason for you to remain here.” She gestured to one of the imposing bodyguards stationed near the entrance. “What? You’re kicking me out?” Brenda’s disbelief was clear, a mix of outrage and incredulity. Ava let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes in a way that suggested Brenda’s presence was more than she could tolerate. “Clearly.” “You can’t do that! I’ve donated a significant amount to this foundation. You can’t just throw me out like this!” Brenda’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation. Ava’s lips twisted into a wicked smile. She called for Mary, who rushed over with a sense of urgency. “Check how much she’s donated to the foundation,” Ava instructed, and Mary began tapping furiously on her tablet. After a moment, Mary looked up. “One million dollars,” she announced. Ava turned her gaze to Brenda, an icy calmness settling over her. “You see, what we truly don’t need in our foundation is someone like you—someone so arrogant that they think we cannot thrive without their money.” Turning back to Mary, she added, “Transfer that exact amount back to her account.” Murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd as silence enveloped the room, everyone seemingly frozen in their tracks, unsure of what to do next. “It’s done, boss.” Mary wore a triumphant smile, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. “Now that you have your money back,” Ava said, her voice sharpening like a blade, “I want you to leave my banquet. And let it be known—you are barred from attending any future events tied to me or my foundation.” There was a resolute strength in her tone, one I had never heard before. Brenda erupted into a flurry of curses aimed at Ava and the foundation. Ava simply nodded to the bodyguard, who promptly began escorting her out, her flailing limbs and shouts growing fainter until they faded completely. Once Brenda was gone, Ava turned to address the room. Just as she had done with Christine, this confrontation would undoubtedly shatter Brenda’s social standing, a perfectly executed revenge that would resonate throughout the community. “Does anyone else share Brenda’s sentiments?” Ava’s voice rang out, unwavering and powerful even without a microphone. “As I said, we are here for these children, and I will not tolerate anyone mistreating them.” In that moment, she appeared to me like an avenging angel, prepared to strike down anyone who dared to look upon the children with disdain. When silence reigned, she smiled, the tension in her expression easing. “Well then, I apologize for the disturbance. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening,” she concluded before turning gracefully away and stepping outside to the balcony. Emma said something beside me, but I barely registered her words; my attention was fully captured by Ava’s retreating figure. I pushed my chair back and stood up, my intent clear. Emma called my name, but I didn’t look back. Long strides carried me towards the exit. Ava stood on the balcony, her back to me, absorbed in the darkening sky as the wind tousled her hair. Now that I found myself here, a wave of uncertainty crashed over me. It had been weeks since we’d spoken; I was left in the limbo of unanswered texts and voicemails. I stepped closer, my approach clearly audible. She turned, locking eyes with me, tension radiating between us. “What do you want, Rowan?” she asked, her sigh heavy with resignation. “Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice was edged with hurt. “You were my wife, and yet you kept this part of your life hidden from me.” “Tell you what?” she replied, her brow furrowing in confusion. “About everything—the Hope Foundation and your financial security. Why let us all look down on you?” I pressed, searching her eyes for answers. A scoff escaped her lips as she turned fully to face me. “When was I supposed to tell you? You made it clear you didn’t want to be around me. You did everything to avoid spending time together.” I stood there, trapped in her gaze, realizing a stark truth. There was a new depth in her brown eyes, something vibrant that hadn’t been there before. But there was also an emptiness lingering just below the surface. She continued, her voice low as she gazed out towards the garden. “Besides, would you even have cared? You never seemed particularly invested in anything about me.” My gaze drifted over the crowd, watching people come and go. She had a point; I had become a cold, resentful figure in our relationship. In my anger, I had shut her out, unable to see the woman behind my disdain. “About Emma...” I began, wanting to apologize for my earlier thoughtless words, but she interrupted me. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t want you back, Rowan. I don’t wish to come between you and Emma. All the love I had for you is gone. You dug its grave.” She inhaled deeply, the air heavy with unspoken pain. “Loving you was the biggest mistake of my life, and I won’t prolong that error.” Those words hit me like a sledgehammer, and I staggered back, grappling with the raw emotion they ignited within me. “I’ll always be grateful you gave me Noah. He’s the only good thing from our time together. I regret loving you, but I will never regret our son.” Turning her attention to the door, her gaze found Ethan, who stood watching. “I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you,” she said, still locked on him. “I’m sorry that my mistake pulled you away from Emma. I know no one believes me, especially you, but I was drunk that night. Regardless, I sincerely wish you all the best with your new relationship.” Feeling a twinge of jealousy rise in my chest, I watched as Ethan’s gaze shifted to hers, and he smiled at her with that smug confidence I loathed. “I intend to keep my distance from your life, and I ask that you do the same. Don’t come to my house, don’t hire bodyguards for me, don’t contact me unless it’s about Noah. And I’d prefer any messages go through our lawyers.” She held firm, but the way her eyes remained glued to Ethan told me a different story—a connection far too intimate for my liking. Finally, she turned back to me. “I believe I’ve said everything that needs to be said. Goodbye, Rowan.” With that, she started walking toward the door. My heart screamed for her to stop, and I clenched my fists, battling the overwhelming urge to pull her back to me. She hesitated, then for a moment, she turned around. “One last thing: please assure Emma that I have no desire to be involved with you. And you might want to seek the truth from her—your relationship can’t survive on the lies she told just to get me into trouble.” With those final words, she walked away, leaving me standing there, a heavy ache settling in my chest. “Ava...” Her name escaped my lips in a desperate plea. I watched as Ethan met her halfway, taking her hand and leading her outside. Just in time, I turned and saw them stepping into the garden together. All it took was a glimpse of them sharing a kiss, and I felt the world tilt beneath me. I spun away, my heart drumming painfully in my chest. This was what I wanted, wasn’t it? For her to move on, to leave me and Emma behind. I had wished for her freedom, and now here it was. So why did it feel like everything was collapsing around me? Why did the emptiness within me continue to grow? She was meant to be the wrong woman for me, yet with every step she took away from me, I felt myself withering, lost in a sea of regret and longing.