CHAPTER 40

Peeking through the slight crack in the door, she saw them—Xavier and Victoria—entangled in a scene that shattered her world into a million pieces. Xavier had Victoria pinned against the wall, his lips trailing along the curve of her neck with an intimacy that was all too familiar. Victoria's shirt was half-open, exposing her bare skin, and her hands clung to Xavier's biceps, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she panted with anticipation.

Ava's heart broke, splintering into fragments so small she could scarcely believe it was still beating in her chest. The sight before her was a cruel and devastating betrayal, each second she witnessed felt like a fresh knife twisting deeper into her soul.

The pain was overwhelming, a visceral agony that left her paralyzed. She couldn't move, couldn't speak—she could barely breathe. Time seemed to slow, trapping her in this moment of sheer devastation, forcing her to watch the man she loved, the man she had built her life around, betray her in the most intimate way possible.

Her mind raced, a cacophony of thoughts and emotions colliding in a chaotic swirl. All the plans, all the dreams she had for their future, crumbled into dust. The man she had trusted, who had once made her feel cherished and adored, now stood before her as a stranger—a cruel stranger who had just ripped her heart from her chest.

For a brief, searing moment, she felt the urge to burst through the door, to confront them, to scream and demand an explanation. But before she could act, a numbing wave of disbelief washed over her, smothering the anger and leaving her hollow. She felt as if the very essence of who she was had been drained from her body, leaving behind only a fragile shell that could collapse at any moment.

Slowly, almost mechanically, Ava backed away from the door, her movements wooden, her mind in a haze of shock and grief. Turning away, she began to walk, each step feeling heavier than the last as if the weight of her sorrow was dragging her down. She didn't know where she was going; all she knew was that she needed to escape, to get as far away from Xavier, from the image of his betrayal, as she possibly could.

Reaching the personal elevator which had another power generator, she jabbed at the button repeatedly, her hands trembling uncontrollably. When the doors finally opened, she stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor, leaning against the wall as though it was the only thing holding her up. The tears she had fought so hard to hold back began to fall, cascading down her cheeks in a torrent of silent sobs. She slid down to the floor of the elevator, hugging her knees tightly to her chest as she wept, the pain of her broken heart pouring out in each ragged breath.

Everything she had believed in, everything she thought she knew, had been a lie. And now, she was left utterly alone, burdened not only with the weight of Xavier's betrayal but also with the secret growing inside her—a secret that would change her life forever.

*

As the elevator doors slid open, Ava stood tall, quickly wiping away the lingering tears from her cheeks. Composing herself, she walked towards the reception desk with a practiced smile.

"Hey, Clare, do you have a pen and some paper?" Ava asked, her voice light and casual.

Clare looked up, noticing the slight redness around Ava's eyes. "Of course. Is everything alright?" she asked, her concern evident.

Ava flashed her a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yes, just some bad cramps. You know how it is." She took the pen and paper that Clare handed her, sitting down to scribble a note. When she finished, she folded the paper neatly and placed it in an envelope.

"Could you please give this to Xavier tomorrow after lunch? It's important," Ava said, her tone steady.

Clare nodded, her concern not entirely eased. "Sure, I'll make sure he gets it."

Ava smiled in thanks before walking out of the building, maintaining her calm exterior until she was safely inside her car. The moment the door closed, her façade crumbled, and she let out a shaky breath. She drove home, the silence in the car only amplifying the storm of emotions raging inside her.

Once home, Ava moved with purpose, though her heart was heavy. She grabbed a suitcase and began packing her belongings—clothes, essentials, anything that mattered to her. The room that had once felt like a safe haven now seemed like a prison, filled with memories that were too painful to bear.

After packing, she made her way to the security room. Her fingers trembled slightly as she hacked into the system, deleting all footage from the past few hours, as well as the upcoming three hours. She knew she had to be smart—Xavier would notice her absence soon enough, and she needed to buy herself some time.

After securing her bags, she quickly wrote a note and left it on Xavier's bed. It was simple, direct, and final. She had no time for long explanations. She had to move quickly.

With her luggage in the car, Ava took a deep breath and approached one of the bodyguards, Dante, who was eyeing her suspiciously.

"Nice day, isn't it?" she said, looking up at the sky, her voice light and conversational.

"Yes, ma'am," Dante replied, though his gaze didn't waver from her, his suspicion evident.

Ava smiled, hoping to put him at ease. "I'm not running away, Dante. Mia is coming tomorrow, and I've packed all the welcome preparations in my suitcase. No need to worry."

Dante seemed to relax slightly at her explanation, though his eyes still held a hint of doubt. "If you're still unsure, you can call Xavier to confirm," Ava added, pushing her lie further.

Dante finally nodded. "No need, ma'am. We know the boss trusts you."

Ava laughed, a bitter sound that she masked as lighthearted. "Yes, he does. Alright then, see you later tonight."

She patted his shoulder and got into her car, driving away from the life she had known for so long. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her chest, but she couldn't afford to falter now.

She drove to her old house, the place she had lived in before Xavier had come into her life. There, she packed another suitcase with her most important belongings—things she couldn't bear to leave behind. Time was running out, and she knew Xavier would discover what she had done sooner rather than later. The thought of his reaction sent a shiver down her spine, but she couldn't dwell on that now.

Dialing Xavier's number, she forced herself to keep her voice steady, even as the pain of what she was about to do tore at her insides.

"Hey, Xave," she greeted him, hating how natural it felt to say his name, even now.

"Hey, love," Xavier's voice came through the phone, warm and affectionate, which only made the knife in her heart twist deeper. "How did the doctor's appointment go?"

Ava swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice from breaking. "I'll tell you everything when you get home. But, could you do me a favor?" She needed to keep him occupied for as long as possible.

"Of course. Anything," Xavier replied, the concern in his voice tugging at her heartstrings.

"I'm having really bad cramps, and I'm craving that ice cream we had a few days ago. I know it's out of the way, but could you pick some up for me? It'll probably take about an hour."

He chuckled softly, the sound bittersweet to Ava's ears. "Anything for you. Are you sure you're okay? I can come home right now."

More lies. Her heart screamed at the deceit, but she had no choice. "No, I'm fine. Just get the ice cream, please."

"Alright, I'll see you soon. I love you," Xavier said before hanging up.

Tears welled up in Ava's eyes once more, but she blinked them away, forcing herself to stay focused. She placed a hand on her stomach, where a new life was growing inside her—a life that Xavier would never know.

She removed the necklace Xavier had given her, which she knew contained a GPS tracker and a microphone, and tossed it into the trash. She couldn't risk being traced. Then, she headed to the nearest bank, where she withdrew a large sum of money, fabricating a story about an emergency to justify the transaction. The tellers gave her odd looks, but she didn't care. She needed the cash, and she needed it now.

Next, she went to an Apple store and bought a new phone and SIM card, knowing it would take at least 24 hours for the new number to activate. It was a small window, but it was all she had.

She then made a call from a public phone, her hands shaking slightly as she dialed a familiar number. It rang twice before a male voice answered.

"Hello, who's this?"

"Hey, Martin, it's Ava," she said, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"Ava! How are you?" Martin's cheerful voice was a small comfort in the midst of her turmoil.

"I'm in a bit of a bind, actually. My uncle had an accident, and I need to get to Chicago tonight. Can you book me a flight? I'll pay you back when I get to the airport."

"Of course, Ava. I'll take care of it. But you'll need to come early to sort out the formalities."

"Thank you so much, Martin. I'll be there by five, near the security office."

"Got it. Take care."

After hanging up, Ava made her way back to the hospital. She spoke with Dr. Drake, pleading with him to keep her medical condition confidential. She requested that if anyone asked, they should be told she had asthma, not lung cancer. She also asked him to keep her pregnancy a secret. The doctor agreed, though his concern for her was evident.

As she left the hospital, Ava hailed a taxi and asked the driver to stop by the post office on the way to the airport. She knew it was against the rules, but she was desperate. "Please, it's an emergency. I'll pay you extra," she urged.

The driver hesitated but eventually agreed. Ava hurried into the post office, sending a package to her parents with instructions that it be delivered as soon as possible. It was another precaution, another step in her plan to disappear.

Arriving at the airport, she put on a black wig and a mask to obscure her appearance. When she met Martin, he hardly recognized her. "As you said, I hope Charlotte Jones is okay," he said, handing her the ticket. "That's a pretty common name, you know. I met three Charlotte Joneses today. By the way, nice dye job. And my condolences about your uncle."

"Thank you, Martin. I really appreciate this," Ava said, giving him a quick hug before heading to the boarding gate.

She sat in the waiting area, her heart pounding in her chest. In a single day, her entire world had collapsed, leaving her adrift in a sea of lies and half-truths. But amid the pain and betrayal, there was a flicker of hope—a new life growing inside her, a reason to keep going, no matter how much it hurt.

As the boarding call echoed through the terminal, Ava closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within her. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew one thing: she had to protect her child. And that meant leaving everything behind, including the man she had once loved more than anything in the world.

With one final glance back, Ava boarded the plane, closing the chapter on her old life and steeling herself for whatever came next.