THROWN OUT

Ava sucked in a sharp breath, wincing as she wiped the blood from her split lips. She frowned at the stain in her hand before looking at Matilda who was the least concerned about the injury.

"You!" Matilda sneered with venom in her voice. "I should've known from the start! You're nothing but a pathetic snake! This was your plan all along, wasn't it?!"

Ava clenched her fists as Matilda turned sharply to Gaulin. "I warned you, didn't I? I told you time and again that she doesn't belong here, but you wouldn't listen! And now look at what she's done—manipulated your father into signing legal guardianship over to her. And to top it all, she even had the audacity to throw us out of the hospital yesterday!"

Ava's vision blurred with rage. The metallic tang of blood still lingered in her mouth, and she could feel the sting where Matilda's rings had cut her skin. But she couldn't act irrationally.

"I didn't manipulate grandfather."

SMACK!