Chapter 44
William tossed his car keys onto the coffee table and slumped into the sofa with his legs spread wide apart, his face dark with gloom.
"That crazy woman downstairs splashed paint all over Sarah."
He looked at Ava with disgust. "Can't you stand your own sister?"
This comment made Ava sick. What kind of sister was Sarah? Whether in her original family or her current one, Sarah was like a malignant tumor growing inside.
Her mother had stolen Steven and wrecked her family, and now the man she'd cherished for three years wanted to divorce her for Sarah's sake.
It would be a lie to say she didn't hate her.
This man in front of her had clearly been fooled by Sarah's acting, thinking they had a deep sisterly bond. He had no idea that Sarah was the root of all her pain—what sisterly affection could there be?
What normal sister would carry on an ambiguous relationship with her own brother-in-law? Even if they had some history, she should keep her distance.
Ava smiled bitterly. He was still blaming her for being heartless toward her own sister. His position was always on Sarah's side, trusting her completely.
What did she have left to compete with Sarah? Sarah didn't need to do anything—just standing there, she'd already won. That's the power of a first love.
"Mr. Morgan, did I do something to upset your girlfriend? If you need me to, I can go with you right now to get divorced."
She was tired of being Mrs. Morgan anyway.
Since they loved each other so much, she might as well let this pair of cheaters have what they wanted, so all three of them wouldn't suffer.
Ava knew clearly that dragging this out would only hurt her the most. In this moment, she suddenly felt generous enough to stop caring. Just separate and never see each other again—being an ostrich wasn't so bad.
Under the table, Ava's hand gently touched her belly. Having two babies in this lifetime would be enough. A luxury item like William wasn't something an ordinary person could covet—thinking too much about it would shorten her life.
"No time like the present—why don't we go get the paperwork done today?"
William's breathing hitched as he glared at the woman calmly drinking her milk, his eyes gradually filling with anger. How could she talk about divorce so casually?
She no longer tried different ways to get his attention or cling to him, but instead urged him to divorce her every day. Someone who had always been gentle and obedient had suddenly grown a rebellious streak, and the stark contrast was hard to adjust to.
One phrase best described William's current mood: I can accept that you don't love me, but I can't accept that you loved me and then suddenly stopped.
William wasn't afraid of anyone going against him—he'd make sure they suffered for it. This was true in business, and women were no exception.
"Want a divorce? Did you find your Joseph?"
He squinted and walked over. The housekeeper Lily, seeing the couple arguing again, wanted to come over and say a few words, but before she could speak, she saw William grab Ava's chin and kiss her fiercely.
Frightened, she quickly hid back in her room, not daring to come out. Young people's world was hard to understand.
After William had kissed her enough, he bit her lip hard, only releasing her when he tasted the sweet metallic flavor, his eyes dark as he looked at her, breathing heavily.
"So eager to divorce and throw yourself into Joseph's arms? Dream on! I don't agree, and you two will never have a chance in this life or the next."
Ava gulped in oxygen, unable to help but laugh a little. He was still going on about Joseph—she'd really given him an excuse.
He was the one who brought up divorce, and now he was the one backing out.
What exactly did he want? She couldn't quite figure this man out anymore.
If she hadn't seen with her own eyes Sarah holding onto him and showing off their relationship in front of the Morgan Group employees, that kiss just now would have almost made her think he'd fallen in love with her.
"William, what exactly are you thinking? Can't we just get divorced simply? You can rest assured, I don't want your assets; there won't be any disputes between us."
Her casual way of talking about divorce only made William's anger burn hotter, almost ready to set the house on fire.
He understood what she meant—she was willing to leave with nothing, desperate to get away from him, practically ready to run away overnight.
No matter what the occasion, he was always the center of attention, yet this woman wanted to escape him at any cost.
Was he really that bad?
Ava's indifferent attitude gave him a sense of defeat for the first time in his twenty-eight years.
"Whether we divorce or not isn't up to you."
He went to the study and took out the divorce agreement they'd signed not long ago, tearing it into pieces right in front of her and letting them flutter down. The white paper scraps scattered on the floor, just like her carefully managed emotions, which were falling apart with those pieces.
He just had this ability to break through her defenses with a few words. No matter how much mental preparation she did, she was fragile in front of him.
Ava finally finished her glass of milk, but it felt like it hadn't reached her stomach at all, stuck in her throat, making her extremely uncomfortable.
She suddenly understood—he didn't agree to the divorce, yet he wanted to keep Sarah on the hook too.
He wanted to have it both ways with two women, enjoying the best of both worlds.
Scumbag!
"I'm tired of this. Please, just end it. I'll agree to whatever conditions you have, as long as you'll divorce me."
The sense of powerlessness throughout Ava's body left her at a loss. She didn't want to argue with him anymore, her tone almost begging him—as long as they could divorce, anything was fine. She was done playing this tug-of-war game.
People aren't machines, and love is inherently selfish—what woman could be generous enough to accept her husband playing both sides between her and another woman?
She wasn't that magnanimous.
When her attitude suddenly softened, William actually liked it. He enjoyed seeing her beg him with red eyes—if it happened in bed, it would drive him crazy.
"Ava, stop always thinking about leaving me. Think more about how to please me. When I'm happy, I can agree to anything."
His arrogant attitude made Ava feel humiliated. She realized once again that things between them had never been equal.
Her love had been ground into the dust.
She didn't even have the freedom to leave him—what dignity was left to speak of?
She was just a canary he kept in a cage, something to play with when he was happy, and toss aside when he wasn't.
"How do you want me to please you? Can I bring Sarah back home? You two can have the master bedroom, I can sleep in the housekeeper's room downstairs, as long as you agree..."
...to divorce.
The last two words were blocked by his lips.
William's kiss was domineering and fierce, reopening the wound that had just clotted, as if he wanted to merge her into his body.
Ava whimpered in pain, which only gave him an opportunity. He smoothly pushed in, entangling with her relentlessly, as if punishing her heartlessness with his actions.
At least right now, he believed this woman who could talk about divorce so casually was heartless.
"Better think clearly about what you're saying. Three years of living in luxury—after leaving me, what man could give you these living conditions? Think about your wall full of designer bags and closet full of jewelry. In all of Emerald City, no one would dare take you in. Without me, you're nothing."
His words were as sharp-tongued as always, showing no mercy, trampling her dignity like weeds.
Ava's eyes turned red, whether from anger or anxiety.
"William, please, let me go."
She didn't want anything anymore, including her dignity. Even if it meant losing a layer of skin, she wanted to escape him.
"If you're begging, you should look like you're begging. I told you, please me, and when I'm happy, I'll agree to anything."
William stood tall, looking down at the woman sitting in the chair with a superior attitude, his eyes burning with two flames, revealing dangerous signals that perfectly demonstrated a man's base nature.
Having been married to him for three years, Ava could certainly read the signs.
His needs in that area had always been quite demanding. Except during her period, he basically wanted her several times every day. Setting aside his complaints about her small chest, he was still quite hungry for her body.
"I'm not really convenient today."
Ava lowered her head, wringing her hands, feeling uneasy.
"On your period?"
William suddenly bent down, his hot breath spraying entirely on her ear.
"Doesn't matter, you still have a mouth, don't you?"