Chapter 402

Chapter 402

Ava grabbed the car door handle, refusing to let go.

Robert didn't give a damn whether she lived or died. He started the engine and drove off, dragging Ava along the pavement. Even after she'd been pulled for several yards, he showed no sign of stopping. Finally, when the pain became unbearable, Ava let go.

The moment she released her grip, Robert floored the accelerator.

……

Knowing Emily would only spiral if she stayed home, Sawyer took her out, hoping to ease her anxiety. "Alice will bring James back safe and sound. Try not to worry too much."

The words were barely out of his mouth before Sawyer regretted them, annoyed at his own awkwardness. He could never find the right thing to say to comfort anyone. Emily nodded anyway. "Yeah… I trust Alice."

She knew worrying wouldn't help, but she couldn't stop herself. Still, keeping calm was all she could do right now.

They wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Both were so lost in their own thoughts that they didn't notice Ava until she was right in front of them—hair disheveled, blood streaking down her face.

They stopped in their tracks. Emily stared at Ava's battered appearance, momentarily stunned.

The instant Sawyer saw her, his fists clenched. He pointed at Ava's face and snarled, "You shameless bitch. What the hell do you want?"

"Emily… can we talk? Just the two of us?"

Ever since Emily learned that Alice had locked Alex up, she'd known Ava would come back to Emerald City—and that she'd come looking for her. What Emily hadn't expected was how wrecked Ava would look. Still, seeing her bloodied and broken stirred nothing beyond a flicker of surprise. Emily was too worried about James to feel any satisfaction.

"Get lost," Sawyer snapped. "There's nothing to talk about. Emily doesn't want to see you."

Without a word, Ava dropped to her knees in front of them. "Please. Just talk to me."

Emily took a deep breath, her patience already frayed. "What do you want?"

"I'll stay on my knees while we talk. Is that okay?"

Ava's voice was weak, hollow.

This was the first time Emily had ever seen Ava this broken. She assumed Ava was here to beg her to release Alex—which Emily had no intention of doing. Not when Robert had kidnapped James.

If Ava thought groveling would 'save' her son, she was delusional. Emily decided to crush that fantasy immediately. "If you're here about Alex, save your breath. I'm not asking Alice to let your son go."

Besides, as far as she knew, Alice had only confined Alex to the Silver Creek villa. She hadn't actually done anything to him yet.

And Alex had nearly destroyed Alice.

Honestly, locking him up seemed too merciful.

"I know," Ava said quietly. "I know begging you won't help. Whether Alex goes free is up to Alice, not you. That's not why I'm here. I just… wanted to talk."

She wiped the tears from her face and gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh. "Besides, you're probably the person in this world who hates me most. What good would begging you do?"

Emily let out a cold laugh. "You're flattering yourself. Love and hate both take energy. You're not worth hating."

In the past, Ava would've assumed Emily was just putting on airs.

She would've been certain Emily hated her.

And that hate would've thrilled her—because she'd believed it meant Robert truly loved 'her,' Ava. That Emily's jealousy proved she, Ava, had something Emily didn't.

Being envied by a society princess made her feel superior. It let her believe that even if she couldn't match Emily's background, she was better in other ways. That's why Robert had grown tired of Emily and chosen her instead.

But now—after hearing Robert call Alex as stupid as she was—she finally understood. The idea that she was better than Emily had only ever been a coping mechanism. A fantasy she'd clung to because she could never truly have the title of Mrs. Baker.

"Or maybe I should say… I came to confess." Ava threw away the last shred of her pride and spoke from the heart.

Emily smirked. "Fine. Let's see how you plan to confess."

She turned to Sawyer. "Give us a minute."

Sawyer hesitated. He eyed Ava warily. Even though she looked like a wreck right now—no obvious threat, no weapons—he still worried she might snap and attack Emily. Maybe this whole 'let's talk alone' thing was just a trick to get rid of him.

But Emily insisted. He respected her choice.

"Alright. I'll be right over there. Yell if you need me."

He shot Ava one last warning glare.

Ava met his eyes and actually smiled—trying to prove she meant no harm.

The smile made Sawyer's stomach turn.

He forced himself not to lash out, then walked a short distance away.

Once Sawyer was out of earshot, Ava's voice cracked. "Emily, I was wrong. I regret everything. I never should've gotten between you and Robert. I was shameless—I knew he had a wife and a child, and I still threw myself at him. I deserve to die!"

By the end, she was sobbing. She started slapping herself across the face, over and over, cursing herself with every blow. "I'm disgusting. I'm trash. This is karma. This is what I get for being a mistress."

Emily watched her self-flagellation with a blank expression. "This is your confession?"

Ava looked up, dazed. "You think I'm not hitting hard enough? Then tell me what you want. What do you want me to do?"

"I mean it—I really want to make amends. Whatever you ask, I'll do it!"

Emily closed her eyes briefly. "Robert did this to you, didn't he?"

Ava's pupils contracted. Emily had guessed it before she'd even said a word. At this point, there was no use hiding it. "Yes. That bastard did this to me. He grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head into the car door. He was trying to kill me! He's not even human!"

She sobbed through her accusations against Robert, then suddenly looked up at Emily with wild, red-rimmed eyes. "Did he… did he ever hit you?"