Chapter 18 The Scumbag's First Love

"You!" Ava's patience was wearing thin as she stood up from her chair.

"Mr. Davis, you can crush me with a flick of your finger. I have no room for resistance. If you insist on having me, I have no choice. But, don't force me to hate you," she said coldly, her face showing resolute pride.

Ethan felt a wave of frustration. He had never let anyone easily stir his emotions in all these years. Ava was the first woman he had actively approached, yet now she was full of resistance.

He thought, ‘It was you who had approached me first, and now that you have stirred my heart, you want to discard it?’

He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of defeat rising from the depths of his heart. His face darkened unpleasantly, but along with it came a strong unwillingness.

The two of them stood like opposing forces on a battlefield, neither moving.

Finally, Ethan stood up from his chair, causing Ava to tremble.

Seeing her guarded demeanor, he couldn't help but laugh lightly, tinged with mockery, as he uttered a few words almost through gritted teeth, "I hope you won't come begging to me again."

With that, he turned and walked towards the door.

He wasn't someone without pride. Ethan's dignity was not to be tarnished.

Ava breathed a sigh of relief, but what followed was uncertainty. She thought. ‘What is wrong with this man? Could it be that he has fallen in love with me?’

The thought was laughable even to herself.

She knew her own worth, and Ethan was someone she couldn't afford to offend. She had been forced to get involved with him before because of the Smith family, but now that the Smith family was back, she had no reason to continue pleasing a man and degrade herself into being his plaything.

In the following days, Ethan didn't appear, nor did he call her. This made her gradually relax her guard.

She felt that men pursuing women was just a fleeting excitement. Once the novelty wore off, it was nothing special.

Presumably, Ethan had calmed down these days and found better women. He had probably lost interest in her.

The perfume competition of Prosperity Group was approaching, which was more important to her than anything else. She had to give it her all.

For the next few days, she locked herself in the fragrance room on the second floor. Apart from the servants calling her for meals, she didn't go downstairs. It wasn't until a brand new creation appeared in front of her.

The preliminary round of the Prosperity Group perfume competition officially began, with the venue located on the first floor of the Prosperity Group building. Many people came to participate in the event, and the entire venue was filled with fragrance rooms for interviews and experts from all walks of life.

Just as Ava arrived with her concocted sample, she saw a familiar woman.

She was wearing a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, paired with pure white pearl tassel earrings, giving off an aura of a youthful white lotus flower that made people want to protect her.

This woman was none other than Tyrone's first love, Tasha Cross.

Back then, Tyrone had told Ava that his sister wanted to study abroad, but he was financially strapped. If his sister missed this opportunity, she would never have another chance.

Ava, like a fool, readily gave him her heart, saying that she would support him in everything.

Tyrone took her money to send Tasha abroad to study. During this time, Tyrone had used various excuses to go overseas to see her. Once, they were even caught in a video call in the same room.

At that time, there was a time difference, and it was midnight on Tyrone’s side. Tyrone casually lied that there was thunder there, and Tasha was afraid, so she asked him to come over and accompany her.

Ava didn't even notice the hickey on Tyrone's neck.

Looking back now, she was really foolish back then. Tyrone's surname was Love, while Tasha's surname was Cross. There was no way that they were siblings.

It wasn't until later, when the Smith family fell, that Ava truly learned about their relationship. It turned out that they were childhood sweethearts.

It seemed that Tasha had returned from studying abroad now, having been polished to perfection.