Ava could tell he was mad, but she had no clue why. He was the one who wanted the divorce, so why would she still call him "honey"?
"We're getting divorced. How can I still call you 'honey'? We need to draw a clear line. Calling you 'honey' will just cause confusion." Ava felt a sharp pain in her chest. These words were really for herself: to draw a line, to avoid misunderstandings, to stop herself from falling for his charm again. She didn't want something that wasn't hers.
Even though Alexander was the one who brought up the divorce, her words hit him hard for some reason. He stood up, lost for words, and turned to leave.
Alexander walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and turned back. "Ava, have you always seen me as your big brother?"
Ava was taken aback, not expecting that question. "What did you say?"
"Before we got married, you said you didn't love me, that you only saw me as your big brother."
"I did say that," Ava replied, puzzled by his question.
Ava had joined the Mitchell family at eleven and was smitten with Alexander from the start. He was a young man with stars in his eyes.
At nineteen, they got engaged, married at twenty, and now, at twenty-one, her feelings for him had never wavered. She knew she wasn't good enough for him and that he always had someone else in his heart, so she used that excuse.
"Do you still see me as your brother? We've been married for three years. Have your feelings for me never changed?"
Ava stayed silent.
Alexander pushed, "Answer me!"
"Of course. I came to the Mitchell family at eleven, and we grew up together. You're naturally my brother, just like you've always seen me as a sister." Ava didn't get why he kept asking.
Did it really matter? They were getting divorced!
Alexander looked at her and said calmly, "That's good. After the divorce, you can find a man you truly love."
Ava felt a lump in her throat, looked up, and forced a smile. "Yeah, I hope you and she will be happy together."
She had to be the best ex-wife ever. She genuinely wished he and his first love could be together openly in the future. Plus, she'd explain things to Scarlett.
This dream that was only hers for a year had to end.
"Ava," he suddenly called her.
"Yes?" she responded, struggling.
"I..." he stopped abruptly.
She waited.
"I'll go now. You should rest." Alexander turned and left.
Ava wrapped herself in the blanket and cried her heart out. Afraid of being heard, she covered her mouth tightly with her hand, almost suffocating.
She didn't know how long she cried, but the exhaustion from pregnancy made her sleepy. When she woke up, it was already dark. She reached for her phone on the bedside table and saw a message from Alexander.
[Felix will come over today. Look at the agreement first, and let him know if you have any requests.]
Ava's eyes welled up again. It must be the unstable hormones from the pregnancy!
She had to be strong and get through the divorce. There were so many things she had to handle, and she couldn't fall apart. The Mitchell family heir getting divorced wasn't a small deal. She had to face a lot, starting with Scarlett.
And she still had the baby. Her hand unconsciously touched her belly.