Chapter 707 All This, Just to Leave Me?
The night was as dark as spilled ink.
Avery stared at her, disbelief written all over his face. "You're breaking up with me over this? Just days ago, we were fine."
"Yes," she said quietly. "And it did feel good."
"I used to feel like I mattered to you. But now, Avery, everything you say and do tells me I'm not worth it. Because the way we started wasn't exactly clean, you think I don't deserve your respect. Autumn's from a family your parents adore — she gets your sympathy, your comfort, even after you've broken up. And me? All I ever get is humiliation."
Her voice wavered, sadness creeping in.
She never wanted to compare herself to others. Love couldn't survive comparisons — they only stripped it bare. Between her, him, and Maggie, she didn't want things to turn ugly. She wanted to end it on friendly terms.
Maybe this was the best ending.
She stepped back, murmuring, "This is good for both of us. I can keep my integrity, and you can go on with your free life. Avery, there's no blame here. We just see the world differently. Maggie — we can raise her together."
Avery's eyes darkened. "You can hit me, scream at me, but you don't get to just walk away. Am I really someone you can toss aside so easily?"
Isadora shook her head, her denial barely audible.
A knock sounded at the suite door. Avery thought it was Jennifer coming back, so he went to open it — only to find Autumn standing there.
She was in a slinky evening gown, clutching a delicate handbag, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. "Is she mad? Avery, can I apologize to her?"
He tried to stop her, but Autumn slid past him, quick and slippery as a shadow. She turned to Isadora, her voice soft and earnest. "I'm sorry! I didn't know you and Avery were together."
Isadora felt nothing toward Autumn. She wasn't Avery's wife, but claiming ignorance was a stretch — Avery had brought Maggie along on his trip, and Autumn had tagged along after her own breakup. Staying close to a man with a child didn't exactly scream innocence.
Autumn clearly had an agenda.
She'd thought Isadora was going to marry Tobias, so when her own relationship fell apart, she'd turned to Avery, hoping to rekindle something. She played the fool to linger near him, testing the waters.
She hadn't expected Isadora to show up.
Now, she was here to gauge Avery's reaction — and it was obvious they'd been fighting.
Avery's brows drew together. "You should go."
Autumn tilted her head, biting her lip. "I left a pair of black stockings in the bathroom."
Avery's face went stone cold.
When had Autumn left stockings in his bathroom?
She tiptoed through the living area into the master bath, emerging with a damp pair in her hand.
"I borrowed the bathroom before I left," she said softly.
"You couldn't use another bathroom?" Avery's voice was sharp.
Autumn's eyes filled with tears. Avery, frustrated, grabbed her by the arm and shoved her out the door. When he turned back, Isadora was packing Maggie's things.
"She's not wrong," Isadora said quietly. "She likes you. When things started between you two, Maggie was already here. Now she's chasing you — there's nothing wrong with that."
"So I'm the one at fault?" Avery asked.
Isadora looked up at him, calm but unflinching. "What do you think?" Then she went back to packing.
Avery caught her hand, his eyes locking on hers. "Don't go. If I've done something wrong, can't you at least give me a chance to make it right? Or am I just... a temporary comfort to you, Isadora? Not worth even a little compromise?"
She wanted to. God, she wanted to.
But no woman could pretend not to see that damp stocking. She wasn't that forgiving.
Pulling her hand free, she said coldly, "There's nothing left to say. Avery, do you really not like her? Not even a little? If you don't, why would you let her into your private space?"
"I don't like her," he said.
Isadora didn't reply. She just stared at him, then went back to packing. Avery tried to stop her, scattering her things in frustration.
They stood under the light — once lovers, now strangers divided by a single misunderstanding.
After a long silence, Avery said softly, "Isadora, I like you."
Once, those words would have been enough. But now, a single pair of stockings had shattered their trust. She didn't believe in his innocence, and he didn't believe she and Tobias had been entirely platonic.
Both their hearts felt unbearably heavy.
"Let's not let this affect Maggie," she said, her voice breaking.
Avery's gaze locked on hers, his voice barely louder than the silence outside. "Isadora, besides Maggie, what else do you care about? You don't believe nothing happened between me and her? Then look at me. See if there’s any trace of another woman on me. See if I’ve given myself to someone else."
He caught her hand and pulled it toward him, tearing open the buttons of his white dress shirt. A couple popped free, revealing a strip of warm, bronze skin — smooth, taut, unmarked.
Before he could speak again, her hand came up and struck his face.
The slap cracked through the air, ringing in his ears.
He was about to lash out when she whispered, "Parking garage."