Chapter 11
Lucas looked up and asked Ava, "Did you order takeout?"
Ava stood up and walked toward the entrance, "Open the door and see."
When she opened the door and saw who was standing outside, her heart suddenly tightened, and emotions that had been calm for days became agitated again.
"What are you doing here?"
"You have the nerve to ask? You're a married woman—is it appropriate to live at a single man's place? Come back with me."
"A married woman? That term doesn't really apply to me anymore, does it? We agreed to divorce. Let's go to city hall tomorrow and finish the divorce paperwork."
So she wouldn't be an eyesore to him anymore.
She was talking about divorcing tomorrow, but William completely ignored her. He just picked her up and carried her toward the door in big strides. At the doorway, he ordered James,
"Bring out Ava's suitcase."
His usual bossy way of doing things.
"Asshole, put me down..."
Ava kicked her legs in protest, but William turned a deaf ear to her words and carried her straight downstairs, stuffing her into the car.
As long as the divorce wasn't finalized, he wouldn't allow her to live elsewhere—that was his principle.
"Want a divorce? We'll go together tomorrow."
"Fine."
At the mention of divorce, Ava calmed down and replied with a single word. She adjusted her sitting position and turned her face toward the window, showing him the back of her head.
As the car drove out of the neighborhood, Ava watched the rapidly retreating street scenes outside the window, feeling secretly sad.
She had never had a say with William—whether it was the divorce or anything else, she could only follow his arrangements. Like today, she didn't want to go back with him, but was forced into the car anyway. She wouldn't have resisted before; now her resistance was just ineffective.
He had always been domineering. This brief marriage had never been fair.
Anyway, it was going to end. She'd just let this relationship last until tomorrow.
Back at the villa, Lily had prepared a table full of delicious food. William went to his study as soon as he got home and never came out.
Ava ate this meal alone and quite comfortably. After three years as a wealthy wife, her stomach had become refined and delicate. Lily's cooking suited her taste better. In the days she'd been away, she hadn't had a single decent meal.
Like she'd returned from famine, Ava had a big appetite.
Or maybe it was because of the pregnancy—she always got hungry easily. The little one in her belly was also greedy, probably a little foodie.
Lily brought over freshly made soup. When she saw the empty bowls on the table, she paused for a moment, then showed a pleased smile. She'd been assigned by Howard to take care of the couple since their marriage. In three years, this was the first time she'd seen Ava appreciate her cooking so much.
For a cook, the greatest compliment was a clean plate. Lily asked with a smile,
"Mrs. Morgan, would you like another bowl of rice?"
Ava waved her hand, a bit embarrassed, "Lily, I'm full."
Lily went back to the kitchen and brought an empty bowl. "If you're full, have a bowl of seafood soup. Mr. Morgan had this seafood sent over. I heard it was air-shipped right after being caught at sea—very fresh. Mr. Morgan specifically asked me to make you soup tonight."
Ava fell silent. What did this mean? Compensation?
Lily had already filled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her.
The bottom of the bowl was layered with shrimp meat and shellfish. Lily's knife skills were excellent—the pieces were all cut to the same size. Tomatoes and cheese had been added to the soup, making it look appetizing. The rich, smooth cheese seafood soup used to be her favorite. She'd have Lily make it every few days. William didn't like it, but Ava would finish two bowls each time.
The soup hadn't changed today, but as Ava smelled the strong seafood scent, a wave of nausea surged up.
Lily panicked and hurried over to check the soup, finding nothing wrong. She put down what she was holding and patted Ava's back, looking puzzled. After all, she'd been through it herself.
"Mrs. Morgan, are you pregnant?"
Ava's face turned bright red. Fighting back the nausea, she quickly pushed the seafood soup away.
"No, my period just ended."
With one sentence, she brushed the matter aside. To avoid Lily's suspicion, Ava quickly left the dining room.
The study door on the second floor was tightly closed. She couldn't help but lighten her footsteps as she went upstairs. She grabbed a nightgown from her room and went straight to the guest bedroom to wash up and sleep.
In the middle of the night, she felt a weight on her waist. Startled, her mind half awake, just as she was about to push the person next to her away, her head was pulled by a strong force into a solid chest.
The familiar woody scent mixed with a faint tobacco smell entered her nose, and Ava's eyes involuntarily moistened.
"What are you doing?"
William seemed very tired, his voice lazy and lingering,
"Don't move. Sleep."
As he spoke, he held her tighter, domineeringly pressing her against his chest, not caring whether she was comfortable or not.
Ava could barely breathe. She struggled slightly in his arms, trying to break free from his restraint.
She'd deliberately taken a single-person blanket and hidden in the guest bedroom, afraid he might suddenly force her to do something inappropriate. She needed to protect her belly now—she couldn't have another accident.
Thinking of this, Ava felt her current situation was dangerous. With him holding her so tight, did he really want to have sex?
It wasn't impossible.
His needs in that area had always been strong... she knew that.
Through two layers of fabric, body heat that didn't belong to her came through. Ava took a breath of cold air, wondering how to get away from this man tonight before tomorrow's divorce.
It was a bit difficult.
She knew his temper—resistance would only trigger his desire for control.
The single-person blanket was really struggling to cover two people. Plus, with his large build, they had to press together to barely both be covered.
"Mr. Morgan?"
She called out tentatively. William didn't respond. He was already in a drowsy state, yet the arm across her waist was practically trying to meld her into his body.
"You went to the wrong room. This is the guest bedroom."
She reminded him softly, still getting no response.
"Can you face Sarah like this?"
Like a sleeping lion whose tail had been stepped on, William suddenly opened his eyes, rolled over, and pinned her beneath him, looking down at her. Even in the dark, she could clearly see those deep, narrow eyes—more inscrutable than the night itself.
Sure enough, Sarah was his weak spot. Would touching it get her killed?
They were getting divorced anyway. At this moment, Ava suddenly wanted to recklessly test his limits. She used to be so careful around him, afraid of being disliked, afraid of annoying him.
Now he was going to abandon her and embrace his lover—what outcome could be worse than this? Her former humility and compliance were just to make him fall in love with her. How could she have known that love couldn't be begged for? When there's no love, there's no love—nothing you do matters.
"What are you going to do?"
"What did I do?"
They both spoke almost simultaneously.
William suddenly laughed softly, moved his head closer, buried it in her neck, and asked in a breathy voice,
"What do you think I'm going to do? Or what are you expecting me to do?"