Chapter 82 The Villain Sues First
Ava frowned slightly, set down her cup, and already knew what kind of performance Mia was about to put on.
"Ms. Taylor, Ms. Davis fell down by herself. What does that have to do with me? Why are you taking it out on me? I kindly stayed behind to take care of Ms. Davis, but you're slandering me like this and treating me so badly. I ask you, is there no justice left in this world?"
Mia lay on the ground screaming hysterically, questioning them pitifully. Tears streamed down her face, her whole face was swollen, and she looked miserable—as if no one could be more innocent than her.
"What's going on?" Joshua walked in and saw this scene. His cold eyes narrowed slightly, his indifferent voice extremely dark.
"Joshua, what did I do wrong? Ms. Davis fell down by herself, so why are they blaming me? I'm really so hurt..." Mia lifted her eyes, tears brimming, looking at Joshua pitifully and aggrieved.
That helpless and pitiful look would make anyone feel sorry for her.
Isabella was actually laughing out of anger at Mia's acting. "Wrongly accuse you? Mia, how shameless can you be? Ava was clearly pushed down the stairs by you, and you have the nerve to say we're wrongly accusing you?"
Mia immediately retorted firmly, "Ms. Taylor, you need evidence when you speak. Do you have evidence to prove that I pushed Ms. Davis? If not, this is slander. I know we have conflicts, but that's not a reason for you to slander me."
Having destroyed all evidence and taken care of everything, Mia was naturally confident.
"Evidence?" Ava laughed coldly. "You destroyed it all, didn't you?"
Mia couldn't be stupid enough not to destroy the evidence. Ava was certain she had destroyed it all—otherwise she wouldn't dare be so arrogant and smug here.
"Ms. Davis, I have no idea what you're talking about." Mia still looked innocent.
"Playing dumb when you know the truth. If you dare to do it, don't you dare admit it?" Isabella's voice grew louder with anger.
"I didn't do anything. I don't know what you're talking about." Mia stuck to this point. She looked at Joshua hopefully and asked, "Joshua, I really didn't. Ms. Davis fell down the stairs by herself."
Ava pressed her dry lips together slightly, unconsciously looking at Joshua, and finally couldn't help asking, "Joshua, do you believe it?"
No matter what, Ava wanted Joshua to believe her.
She couldn't have fallen down the stairs for no reason. Joshua wasn't stupid—he had to be suspicious.
Joshua didn't speak. His dark eyebrows furrowed slightly, a coldness gathering between them. He seemed to be struggling, his deep eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
After a long pause, Joshua finally spoke, "A servant saw that you accidentally missed a step and fell down the stairs."
The servant's description matched Mia's exactly. Joshua had no reason to doubt Mia.
Ava's expression froze slightly, deep bitterness flashing in her clear eyes. A strong sense of disappointment spread through her heart.
Mia lowered her head, and at an angle no one could see, she smirked coldly—a smile both sinister and triumphant. She knew that without surveillance footage she might still be suspected, but having a witness changed everything. She had specifically gone back to bribe a servant.
Ava, I told you I would definitely beat you.
Mia became even more confident.
Ava looked at him for a long time, pulled at the corner of her mouth slightly, and finally smiled and shook her head. "Joshua, you have so little trust in me."
She lowered her eyes, not knowing how to describe the grievance she felt at this moment.
The person who had harmed her like this was acting arrogant in front of her, while the person she hoped would believe her instead believed the villain.
Disappointment invaded her, her heart felt like it was being cut by knives, the pain unbearable.
That laugh was cold and sarcastic, appearing indifferent yet flawless.
At the doorway, Finn and Cleo's little fists were clenched tight with anger.
When Isabella had received the news that Ava was in the emergency room, she had been at Ava's house with Finn and Cleo. She wanted to hide it from the two children so they wouldn't worry.
But Finn and Cleo were so smart—as soon as they saw Isabella's expression was off and she left in such a hurry, they sensed something was wrong.
Finn checked and found that according to Ava's watch, her movements that day showed she had gone to the hospital, then quickly to the Thomas Villa, and then returned to the hospital at high speed—all within less than an hour.
Then, about an hour after this period, Isabella received a phone call and rushed to the hospital. This was clearly suspicious. He suspected something had happened to Ava.
So Finn and Cleo came to the hospital, asking around along the way, and sure enough learned that Ava had been sent to the emergency room.
Cleo was already crying uncontrollably. Finn was holding back tears—now wasn't the time to cry. Mia had harmed Ava, and they had to get payback.
"I want to go in and see Mommy." Ava was so afraid of pain, and with such serious injuries, she must be hurting so much. Cleo just wanted to be by Ava's side right now.
Finn held Cleo back, urgently advising, "No, now's not the time."
"What do you mean not the time? Mommy was hurt by Mia."
"I know, Cleo." Finn's little face was serious, very calmly steadying Cleo. "Mommy doesn't want Mia to see us. Mia will do anything to get what she wants. If she discovers us, she'll definitely come after us, and then we'll just cause more trouble for Mommy.
Right now we're hidden while the enemy is exposed, which is good for us. Come with me. Mommy's injury definitely won't be for nothing—we have to get payback."
"But..." Cleo hadn't thought as comprehensively as Finn. She just wanted to be with Ava. After being hurt by Mia, and with Joshua not believing her, Ava must be so sad right now.
"No buts, come with me." Finn forcefully pulled Cleo away.
Ava turned her eyes away to look out the window, using a helpless smile to mask the coldness in her heart.
Joshua felt his heart tremble heavily at that look from Ava, and even his chest ached along with it.
"Rest well, I'll come see you later." In his struggle, Joshua dropped this sentence, turned and left the hospital room. Seeing Joshua leave, Mia followed him out.