Bago_Bago_5587

In a marriage of convenience, Nathan, after a night of drinking, has an affair with Ava, leading to her ectopic pregnancy. 

Before the surgery, Ava calls Nathan, who is preoccupied with his mistress and neglects Ava, even going as far as to accuse her of having an affair and carrying another man's child after the surgery...

As their one-year contractual marriage comes to an end, Nathan realizes his feelings for Ava. 

But Ava is not willing to play along anymore!

Excerpt：

"I am Nathan Ford's girlfriend, loved by him, as everyone knows. And you... you're just a title holder, soon to be thrown out. By then, you'll lose all your dignity... no, you've already lost it. I bet your deceased mother would turn in her grave if she knew what you've become."

Hearing Iris Hart's sharp and biting words, Ava Sterling initially didn't want to stoop to her level. 

However, the mention of her late mother crossed a line.

A crisp slap echoed before Iris Hart could even react, leaving five bright red marks on her face.

"Ah—Ava Sterling—you lowlife, how dare you hit me..." Iris Hart realized she had been slapped and reached out to retaliate, but Ava Sterling was prepared and caught her hand easily.

"Listen, Iris Hart, if I'm the joke, what does that make you? You're also a joke. At least I'm Nathan Ford's wife by law! You! Iris Hart, are nothing but a mistress scorned by everyone. Every wealthy man may stray, but a hotel is just a hotel, and home is home. There can be many dishes, but there's only one bowl of rice."

Ex-husband seeks remarriage？I'm not cooperating!

"You're sick," Ava Sterling retorted.

In the arena of arguments, she, Ava Sterling, would not lose, especially not to Nathan Ford and Iris Hart.

"Are you jealous?" Nathan Ford, seizing a playful moment, teased, looking directly at Ava Sterling.

"What are you talking about?" Ava, utterly bewildered, responded.

Was this man's thinking off? Jealous, of what? He must be seriously ill, and not just mildly.

"Why then, do you call me a stud and a jerk?" Nathan Ford pressed, puzzled and somewhat amused.

It was his first time being branded as such. Until now, the only woman he had sex with was... Ava Sterling herself.

"I'll say what I want. So, you're allowed to act, but others can't speak? Mr. Ford, it seems my mouth is mine to use, and you're being quite overbearing," Ava said, exasperated.

"Mmm..." Before Ava could finish, her words were silenced by a soft, pressing kiss, the air quickly thickening with the scent of pheromones.

"If you're going insane, go get treated. Don't lash out at me," Ava snapped, stepping on Nathan Ford's foot hard enough to make him release her.

This man, flaunting his "girlfriend" before trying to kiss Ava, was nothing but a philandering jerk.

Initially, Ava was hesitant, but now she was certain.

"You're just jealous," Nathan Ford stated confidently.

"You're deluding yourself with vanity, Nathan Ford. Where do you get the audacity to be so confident? With Iris Hart head over heels for you, don't assume all women should revolve around you, as if every other man in the world is gone," Ava wiped her mouth, refusing to even glance at Nathan Ford again.

"You..." Nathan was taken aback by Ava's sharp tongue, underestimating her in the past.

Just as he was about to retaliate, the thought of "Serenity Tea Haven" cooled his temper.

For some reason, he enjoyed watching Ava's indignant reactions, finding them amusing.

"What's your take on the Serenity Tea Haven bid proposal?" Nathan Ford suddenly shifted the conversation by a full three hundred and sixty degrees, leaving Ava Sterling struggling to keep up.

"Serenity Tea Haven…" Ava Sterling's mind raced, and once she caught up, she declared confidently, "I won't back down. You might as well give up on that idea."

"You're quite persistent, but I'm determined to win Serenity Tea Haven. Are you sure you want to go head-to-head with me?" Nathan Ford couldn't out-argue Ava Sterling, but when it came to business, he felt she was still too inexperienced to compete with him.

"Ha, Mr. Ford's feelings for Iris Hart are truly profound and mysterious," Ava Sterling scoffed, finding the man too enigmatic for her liking.

"A man who knows the times is a wise man," Nathan Ford said, his lips curving into a triumphant smile.

What does he mean by 'a man who knows the times is a wise man'? Ava Sterling couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

Nathan Ford, thinking Ava Sterling was too embarrassed to admit it outright, said, "You're doing the right thing not challenging me. There's no shame in that; don't be overly competitive."

"Mr. Ford, you're quite presumptuous. Well, I'm actually quite eager to see who will come out on top in the end," Ava Sterling, though not entirely confident, couldn't verbally concede defeat, especially not on the matter of Serenity Tea Haven.

"You… are you deceiving me?" Nathan Ford narrowed his eyes, had she not just conceded?

"What am I deceiving you about?" Ava Sterling looked utterly confused, feeling like she and Nathan Ford were not on the same wavelength, constantly at odds in communication.

"Didn't you agree to back out of the Serenity Tea Haven bid?" Nathan Ford countered.

"You must have hearing problems. When did I ever agree to that?" Ava Sterling was both amused and exasperated, finding this man bizarre beyond belief.

Give It Up