|Divorce|

Ava's head felt heavy, like a rock was pressing down on it.

She tried to open her eyes.

Everything was blurry at first. Voices rang in her ears—loud, angry, confusing. She couldn't tell who was talking. Her body felt like it didn't belong to her. Weak, sore, and so tired.

Slowly, her vision cleared.

The first person she saw standing in front of her… was Ethan.

A small smile tried to appear on her face. It was weak—almost invisible—but it was there. Her heart still ached for him, even now. She opened her mouth to say his name…

But then she saw someone else standing beside him.

Natalia.

Reality hit her like cold water.

"Ava?" a voice called out.

It was Eleanor. She rushed toward the bed and gently helped Ava sit up. Her movements were careful, like Ava might fall apart again.

"You're in the hospital," Eleanor explained, brushing the hair away from Ava's face. "You fainted in the café bathroom. You've been unconscious for two days. We were all so scared."

Ava's eyes scanned the room.

Ethan was still there—but he hadn't moved.

He hadn't said a word.

And Natalia was holding his hand.

Right in front of her.

So openly. So shamelessly.

A sharp pain stabbed Ava's chest. Her throat felt dry, and her lips barely moved as she whispered, "What… what's happening?"

Natalia stepped forward, her heels clicking on the floor like it was a runway.

"Well, since you're awake now," she said coolly, "we don't have to wait anymore."

She dropped a folder on the small table beside the hospital bed.

A pen sat neatly on top.

Ava blinked, confused. Her eyes moved from the folder to Natalia.

"What is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The divorce papers," Natalia said bluntly. "Sign them."

Eleanor's jaw clenched. Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

"Brother," she turned to Ethan, her voice shaking with disbelief, "do you even have a heart anymore? Have you completely lost your humanity?"

But before Ethan could answer, Natalia stepped in front of him, blocking Eleanor's view.

"Talk to me, Eleanor," she snapped. "You know very well I can't wait around forever."

Ava tried again. Her voice cracked. "Wait for what? What is going on?"

The room went silent for a split second.

Then a voice thundered from the door.

"Just sign the damn papers, you bitch!"

It was Clara.

She entered the hospital room with her usual pride and cruelty, her eyes filled with disgust as she looked at Ava.

Eleanor stood frozen in shock, while Ava could only lower her eyes, her soul sinking deeper.

"We're tired of your drama," Clara said harshly. "Every day, it's something with you. Crying, acting like a victim. You've ruined my son's peace for years."

"Mom, stop it!" Eleanor yelled. "She just woke up. Can you not see she's barely even able to sit up?!"

"Don't speak over your elders!" Clara snapped back. "What kind of spell has this slut cast on you that you've turned against your own family?"

Ava felt her heart shatter. She couldn't speak. She couldn't move.

Everything around her felt unreal.

Natalia crossed her arms and looked down at her with a mocking smile.

"This marriage is over," she said coldly. "Everyone knows it. You're just holding on to something that's already dead. So do everyone a favor and let go."

Ethan still said nothing.

Not one word.

Clara walked closer to Ava's bed and leaned in, her voice low and cruel.

"Sign the papers," she hissed. "So my son can finally be free from this prison of a marriage. So he can marry the woman who's giving him a child."

Ava's eyes widened.

Child?

Ava's heart skipped a beat.

Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to Natalia, needing to hear it from her directly—even though her heart already knew the answer.

Natalia stepped closer, her voice smooth and proud. "Yes," she said. "I'm pregnant with Ethan's child. He's the father of the baby growing inside me."

A sly smile played on her lips, her hand resting on her stomach as if to mark her victory.

Ava didn't speak.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, but her body stayed still.

The room was quiet for a moment—until Ethan broke the silence.

"Let's end this here, Ava," he said, his tone low and tired. " I love Natalia and now she is with my child. So, Just sign the divorce papers."

Ava turned to look at him.

He didn't look angry. He didn't look guilty. He just looked… done.

She stared at him quietly for a long moment, and strangely, this time, she didn't cry.

She didn't beg.

She didn't scream.

She just felt… numb.

 she asked softly, " What if I still refuse to the divorce papers? You know right, I am still your wife legally and if I won't sign the divorce paper your so call affairs partner will be mistress all her life."

Natalia' jaw clenched she never thought Ava will humiliate her like that in front of Ethan. "How dare you say call me mistress? Ethan loves me and this is the prove of our love making."- Natalia pointed at her flat womb "…..where you couldn't give him son, you are failed a wife and now when he finally wanted to feel love and not used you are offended."

Clara also screamed at Ava, "If you won't divorce my son I will make sure I will chop of your hand and put your fingerprint on it. You don't know me Ava. Don't play with our more emotion. Just sign the fucking divorce paper."

Ethan heard all of these by said nothing whereas Ava all this time didn't look at them only staring at Ethan.

This time a sad smile escaped from her lips,

With slow hands, she reached for the pen on the table. Her fingers shook. Her body felt like it was floating outside of itself. Like none of this was real.

She looked at the paper once. Her name already printed at the bottom. All that was left… was her signature as his signature had already there.

She pressed the pen to the paper.

And she signed.