Chapter 22 Mentioning the Past
A sneer curled at the corner of my mouth. I walked forward slowly, gently grabbed her collar, then slowly let it go and smoothed it out, a strange smile playing on my lips.
"Forgot to mention, I'm a fighting expert. Well, from elementary school, but the muscle memory is still there."
Ava rolled her eyes and snorted coldly, "Threatening me with violence again? Ha, Ms. Brown, people who solve problems with violence are all low-class, especially in our circle."
I curled my lips with disdain. "Of course, but that doesn't apply when the other person isn't human. Back in school, didn't Ms. Davis also hang out with thugs and get into group fights?"
At these words, Ava's face instantly changed. Her lips trembled, her eyes turned red, and she looked at me as if she wanted to tear me apart.
"Sophia, I knew you had bad intentions. Back then, it wasn't that I didn't come forward to testify. I had already collapsed from mental shock and was in the hospital, unconscious for several days. By the time I woke up, you two were already together!"
My tone was cold, with underlying anger. "Whether you were really unconscious or not, I won't expose you. But the truth will surface on its own one day."
Ava's eyes widened, her lips pressed tight, her voice clearly trembling. "Sophia, why are you bringing up things from so many years ago? To stir up trouble?"
"Not that many years ago. Six years."
Ava's eyes bulged, the muscles on her face twisted unnaturally, her voice shrill and sharp. "You're talking nonsense! Sophia, you'd better stop bringing up what happened back then! You already got Tyler because of that incident. What, still not satisfied?"
I pulled at the corner of my mouth, my eyes full of mockery and coldness. "This is what you get for not listening. If you get close to Jasper again, I'm capable of anything."
Ava's cheeks flushed with excitement, her voice sharp. "I came to pick up Jasper, and Tyler didn't say anything. Besides, Tyler couldn't make it because of a meeting, so he asked me to come! What, you're blaming me?"
"Yes, I should blame you. If you didn't want to come, could he force you? At the end of the day, you were willing."
As if I'd hit the mark, Ava's face looked terrible, her eyes seeming to flash with countless bolts of lightning.
"I happened to be free and didn't want to refuse Tyler. Plus, Jasper likes me, so why shouldn't I come? On the other hand, teaching Jasper those things—aren't you afraid of corrupting him? Is this what you, the so-called competent mother, should be doing?"
I remained expressionless, maintaining my calm and aloofness. "Ava, this is my child. It's not your place to tell me what to do. You don't need to try to win Tyler's heart by pleasing Jasper. Your little schemes mean nothing to me. Jasper is my child. If you continue to deliberately approach him, next time I'll go straight to the police. It won't look good if word gets out that you were taken to the police station—might affect your reputation as a cellist."
After I finished, Ava frowned, a flash of anger in her eyes. She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.
Just then Jasper came back. I picked up his backpack and took his hand to leave.
But Jasper still called out sweetly, "Goodbye, Ava."
Ava deliberately put on a gentle expression. "Jasper, take the ice cream. You haven't finished it yet."
Just as Jasper was about to reach for it, I stopped him in time. "Jasper, did you forget what I told you before? Too much ice cream will give you a stomachache. Has Jasper forgotten how awful that feels?"
At this, Jasper pulled back his hand, his little head drooping. "I remember. Then I won't eat it, Mom."
I patted Jasper's head. "Jasper is such a good boy."
Ava wouldn't give up and added, "Once in a while is fine. Come on, Jasper."
I remained expressionless. "This is my child."
With that, I pulled Jasper out of the classroom, while Jasper kept looking back at Ava every few steps.
Watching our retreating figures through the hallway window, Ava was nearly mad with anger. Her chest heaved violently, her fists clenched tight, clearly holding back her rage.
That evening, after Tyler came home from work, I went to his bedroom on my own initiative. I had to talk to him about what happened today.
"Tyler, did you take what I said seriously?"
Tyler was taking off his suit jacket. He lifted his eyelids slightly. "I was in a very important meeting and couldn't get away, so I asked Ava to help me pick up the child."
"Looks like you forgot what I said last time, or maybe you just don't take me seriously at all."
At this, Tyler frowned and walked toward me. "I didn't mean to not take you seriously at all, but I was in a meeting, you were stuck in traffic, and only Ava was free."
"If you couldn't go, you could have told me. I would have asked the teacher to watch Jasper for me. Or you could have sent Hayden. I told you before, I won't allow Ava to have contact with Jasper. Have you forgotten what happened at the amusement park last time? Do you really think it was an accident?" I suppressed my anger, trying to stay calm while talking to Tyler.
Tyler looked displeased. "Do you have to make such a big deal out of this? Jasper really likes Ava. And Ava called me saying you told Jasper not to go with her. Did that happen?"
Hearing Tyler's words, I almost laughed from anger. But I'd already expected Ava would twist things and complain like this.
"I've had higher education, and I wouldn't do something like that. I just told Jasper not to go with anyone except Mom and Dad who comes to pick him up. How did it become me deliberately targeting her in Ava's mouth? She's the one reading too much into it."
Tyler's slightly furrowed brow showed hints of irritation. "Either way, I was the one who asked Ava to go today. You didn't need to take it out on her. She cried."
At this, I pulled at the corner of my mouth. "She cries at the drop of a hat. So why don't you go comfort her more?"
"What do you mean by that?"
I shrugged. "Nothing. Just stating facts. Isn't she just looking for your comfort?"
Tyler's expression darkened. "Sophia, you've been like a different person lately. Is it because of Ava?"
My heart ached sharply, then instantly turned cold. "A cheating man openly mentioning his mistress in front of his wife—you're the first."
Tyler's eyes were dark and unfathomable, yet chillingly cold.
"Sophia, you're getting more and more fond of talking nonsense."
"Don't change the subject. I'm telling you, one more time—if I see Ava near Jasper again, I'm calling the police."