Avah's pov
By ten o'clock, my phone was ringing non-stop. I had slept late watching a Chinese series and completely forgot today was moving day.
The series was Flourished Peony, set during historical times. It followed a woman whose in-laws took advantage of her, spent her dowry, and mistreated her.
When she finally decided to divorce her husband, he refused. But since she wouldn’t budge, they decided to kill her to keep her money. Luckily, she survived and moved to another city.
In this new city, she worked hard, but men continuously made life difficult for her and her female friends. They insisted women shouldn’t be businesswomen and needed to get married. They kept saying these women would die alone as if that was the worst thing imaginable.
I cried through several episodes because I could see how hard she worked, only to be sabotaged as if it meant nothing.
By the time I went to bed, I was tired and angry. I wished I could jump into the show and deal with those men myself. Even though it was fictional, it portrayed the harsh reality many women face when they choose to leave marriages.
I’ve always been a girl's girl. I would never stand by and let another woman suffer if I could help it.
So when my phone started ringing, it jolted me awake. I had completely forgotten about today’s plans.
I picked up the call before the persistent ringing destroyed my phone.
"Mrs. Stone, I have been sent by Mr. Stone to pick you up and help you move," a man’s voice said.
"Is this Derrick?" I asked.
"Yes, madam," he answered politely.
"Don’t call me Mrs. or Madam. Just call me Avah. The others sound so creepy and old."
"Yes, Ms. Avah."
"Give me 30 minutes, and then you can send the movers in," I instructed.
"Okay."
I rushed to the bathroom to shower quickly. I wasn’t about to let grown men stare at me looking disheveled while they moved my things.
By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, I was in a rush. My wet hair clung to my neck, and I hastily threw on a pair of comfortable jeans and a loose shirt. Today was going to be hectic, and I didn’t have the energy to worry about looking put together.
The movers arrived precisely thirty minutes later, just as I finished tying my sneakers. Derrick stood at the front, his polished appearance and professional demeanor making me feel oddly self-conscious about my hurried look. He greeted me with a polite nod, stepping aside as a team of uniformed movers began streaming into the apartment.
“Good morning, Ms. Avah,” Derrick said, his voice calm and measured. “The movers will handle everything. Please let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Derrick,” I said, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “And...please just call me Avah. No need to be so formal.”
“Of course, Ms.—Avah,” he corrected himself quickly.
I watched as the movers worked efficiently, carefully carrying out the last of my belongings. Each box and suitcase felt like a fragment of my old life being stripped away. The apartment, now almost completely empty, looked stark and unfamiliar.
I found myself lingering in the kitchen, pretending to check for anything I might have missed. The truth was, I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. This small, cramped apartment had been my sanctuary. It had witnessed my struggles, my triumphs, and everything in between. Walking away felt like leaving a piece of myself behind.
Derrick’s voice broke my train of thought. “Everything is ready, Avah. The car is waiting downstairs.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Okay. Let’s go.”
As I stepped out of the apartment for the last time, I took one final look around. Memories flashed before my eyes; the late-night shifts, the early mornings, the quiet moments I had spent alone. This place had been my home. Now, I was walking into the unknown, unsure of what waited for me on the other side.
The door closed with a soft click behind me, and I followed Derrick down the stairs. The movers were already loading the last of my things into a sleek black SUV. My stomach churned with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Roman’s world felt so far removed from this one. I couldn’t help but wonder, would I fit in? Or would I always feel like an outsider looking in?
“Ready, Avah?” Derrick asked, opening the car door for me.
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
As the car pulled away from the curb, I glanced back at the apartment building one last time. My past was behind me now. All I could do was focus on what lay ahead.
I felt oddly attached to that apartment. It was the first place I had been able to afford after working tirelessly for a while. I decorated it myself, piece by piece. Even though the furniture was cheap, it was mine, paid for with my own hard-earned money.
Now, I was heading to a big, cold house. A place that wasn’t mine, with a man I barely knew as my husband.
What could possibly go wrong?