Chapter 32

Dead to me

Ava.

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I was happy today. Not only had my dinner date with Ethan gone well, but I was going to go back to

work tomorrow and the day after that will be my birthday.

Just like I had predicted on Saturday, Ethan had managed to help me forget. A few minutes after

getting to his place, I was already laughing my ass off.

He cooked, and he didn’t disappoint. The food was absolutely delicious. There was just something

about a man that can cook and make you laugh. It ended up being a happy and fun night. It got better

when I came back home and I was able to talk to Noah.

He had calmed down a bit. We chatted about everything and nothing at all, before he fell asleep still on

the phone. It had been the highlight of my day.

I was baking when someone knocked on my door. I was craving some comfort food so I decided on

cookies and chocolate cake.

Wiping my hands with the kitchen towel, I went and opened my door. Part of me was shocked when I

came face to face with Emma. The other part wasn’t. 1

“What do you want, Emma?” I ask in irritation.

The fact that she was here didn’t spell good things. The last time she was here, I was almost killed a

couple of hours after fighting with her.

Her face is stony when she answers “We need to talk”

My whole being rebelled against the idea. Against my better judgement I let her in and lead her to my

living room 2

“Say what you came to say and the leave” I take a sea and watch carefully as she does the same.

She is quiet as she surveys my home. She sneers after her inspection is over,

I roll my eyes. Of course this doesn’t meet her standards It isn’t flashy nor expensive. It was simple and

homely.

“Are you going to smeei at my home the whole day or are you going to talk? 1lean back into the chat

and study her.

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I doubt Emma knew the difference between a home and a house. Mine was a home, it had a

warmth to it while what Emma liked was a huge expensive house that looks clinical and cold.

Tm here to tell you to stay away from Noalt” she says crossing her legs.

I sigh “Seriously? You came all the way to my house for this nonsense again?”

I was getting tired of repeating the same thing over and over again. How will I make her understand

that I wasn’t one bit interested in Rowan?

The man has caused me so much heartache, so why would I want him back?

“It’s not nonsense. He wants to move on with me but you keep dragging him back to you. Can’t you just

let him go? He doesn’t love you for heaven’s sake!”

The last sentence shouldn’t hurt but it does. I don’t want to be reminded that I fell in love with a man

that hates me. That even after years of trying, his heart still remained inaccessible to me.

“And how have I dragged him back? hmm?”

“The attack two weeks ago. He rushed here in the middle of our movie night just because he heard you

were hurt”

I shake my head at her. She’s considered to be the top lawyer yet she was dumber than an ostrich.

“How’s that my fault, Emma. He is your man so why don’t you put a fucking leash on him” I snap.

Why the hell were we even having this conversation? Didn’t she realize that she won? That she got the

guy? That I wanted nothing more than to move on with my life.

I found a great man and I was hoping my relationship with Ethan will lead somewhere. I didn’t want the

drama with Emma and Rowan affecting what we were building.

“I still think that you’re doing all these things to get attention and sympathy from him” she mocks,

sneering at me like she said the most intelligent thing.

“Get out!” I stand up and point at the direction of the door.

I was done with her nonsense. I won’t allow her to tarnish the joy I was feeling today.

She stands up too. “What? You don’t like that I’ve discovered your plan. It’s only a matter of time before

everyone realizes that all these attacks are fake”

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“Are you done showing me how stupid you are?” I ask. “You think I’m faking these attacks, but do you

want to know what I think? I think you’re behind them. I have no enemies except for you and who would

benefit if I were to tragically die? It’s you.

With me out of the way you have Rowan all to yourself and you won’t have to deal with seeing me

around because full custody will go to Rowan”

She stares at me as if in shock. Either she’s shocked that I figured it out or shocked that I brazenly

accused her. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and it made sense.

Emma could want me dead because of two things. One, revenge and two to cut me off completely ⚫

from Rowan’s life because for some stupid reason she felt threatened by me.

“How dare you!” she screams at me.

“No, how dare you, come to my home spouting bullshit. We’re no longer kids, Emma, so grow up and

act like the fucking adult you are… Now leave, I’m done with your nonsense” 1

She’s angry. It’s written all over her face. I’m sure if looks could kill then I would be an ancestor by now.

It doesn’t faze me though. I wasn’t going to let any of them walk all over me.

I tap my legs impatiently. “Are you going to leave or do you want me to drag you out?”

With a click of her tongues she turns to leave and I sigh in relief. That moment of relief soon ends when

she turns to me.

“One more thing, keep your freaking son out of my business” she says angrily.

“What did you just say?” my voice takes on a warning note.

I must have heard her wrong because she didn’t just curse at Noah.

“I won’t let him get in the way of my relationship simply because he doesn’t like me. He’s a damn brat

and once I’m married to Rowan, I’m going to have him shipped to a boarding school. Who does he

think he is? He’s still a dam kid and he has no say in adult issues. So you either control the brat or I

sear you’ll be seeing twice every year

The sound that echoes takes her by surprise. She swivels her head in my direction. Her hand cradling

her check

“Did you just slap me?” her wide eyes begin to fill with tears.

My hand was tingling from the impact, but I ignored it “Yes, and if you don’t fucking lears rights

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“You’ll pay for this” she screams before stomping out of my house and banging the door behind

her.

How could Rowan want such a woman around Noah? I still couldn’t believe the vile things she

said about my son. What the hell happened to Emma? She was never this cruel, aloof yes, but

never cruel.

I lean against the wall and catch my breath. My day was now ruined. The happiness I was feeling a few

minutes ago had vanished.

The oven dings and I go to take out the cookies. I look at them but the excitement to eat them was now

gone. Leaving them to cool, I instead go and watch a movie.

An hour later and my mind was still in turmoil. I didn’t even know what the movie was about. Deciding

to take a bath, I switch off the TV.

I was just walking upstairs when the continuous ringing of my doorbell stops me. I sigh in defeat and go

to open it, thinking it was one of the many girl or boy scout selling cookies.

Staring at the angry face of Rowan makes me wish I hadn’t opened my door. Before I can react, he

pushes me inside then closes the door. He continuous pushing until we stop at the space between the

foyer, kitchen and living room.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Rowan booms, making me shiver from his anger.

“What?”

“Did you think that Emma wouldn’t tell me? Or did you think I wouldn’t notice the hand imprint left of her

cheek by you”

He starts pacing. His words sink in and it dawns on me the reason why he was here.

“You don’t understand” I try to explain my reasons but he doesn’t let me.

“Understand what? That you slapped her for no apparent reason? That you accused her of being the

one after you when you have no fucking proof? Or do you want me to understand all the vile things you

told her he advances, his eyes blazing.

I don’t know what she told him but I’m sure she lied and didn’t tell him everything.

won’t let you hurt Emma, you get me, Ava? If you so much as ever lay your filthy hands on her

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her” he warns, his voice dangerously low.

This was a side to Rowan I’ve never seen and for the first time in my life, I was scared of him

“Rowan, it wasn’t like that, she…”

He cuts me off. “She what? Fought back against your insults and told you I never loved you? She

was fucking right. Listen to me and listen good, Ava, you’re nothing and you will remain to be

nothing. You brag to her about sleeping with me when the truth is I fucked you because you were

convenient.” He said with an evil glint in his eyes.

“Please stop” I pleaded with him but he didn’t.

“You tried being descent fuck but you weren’t even good at it. Every time I was inside you, it’s Emma I

wanted, it’s Emma I imagined beneath me. Every time I cummed, it’s her face I saw. You were nothing

special, just easy and so I used you. I used you like the fucking slut you are”

For the second time that day, I slapped someone. His head swivels from the impact of my hand. Tears

were rolling down my face. Every word he said cutting me to pieces.

“Leave Rowan, and never step foot inside my house again. Take your bodyguards with you. I don’t

want or need your help and I don’t you anywhere near me ever again. From today you’re dead to me” I

tell him brokenly, the fight completely leaving my body.

I turn around and take the first step up the stairs. I stop but I don’t look back at him.

“I’m giving you two minutes to leave before I call the cops on you.” I warn before continuing up the

stairs.

I get in to my room and lock it. Minutes later I hear him leave. Once he does, I fall to the ground and

break. a

Rowan just destroyed me and he didn’t even need any weapon. His words have completely. shattered

my soul, probably leaying nothing behind.

I continue crying. The tears pouring from me endlessly. My chest felt constricted and my heart was in

pieces. He broke me over lies told by a jealous woman.

I was going to pick myself up. I was going to move forward, but for every hurtful word he threw at me.

Karma was going to get him and that bitch that calls herself my sister. For what he has done today, I

will never forgive him nor forget.