Chapter 6
“It’s not nonsense.” My voice was calm enough to surprise even me. “I’ve already spoken to your mother. The paperwork is being prepared.”
His mother snapped, “Cole just got out of the hospital. Is this really the time to throw a tantrum?”
I almost laughed.
A tantrum.
Three years of being used, humiliated, deceived, and now that I was finally walking away, it was a tantrum.
Cole pushed his chair back. “Come outside.”
“No.”
“Ava.”
“I said no.” I looked at him, then at Selena. “Why should I go outside? Isn’t this exactly what all of you wanted?”
Selena set down her glass carefully. “Mrs. Sterling, if this is because of me, then I should explain. Cole and I are just old friends. Please don’t misunderstand.”
Cole’s mother immediately reached for her hand. “Selena, don’t blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you.”
I looked at Cole. “Does it not?”
His jaw tightened. “You’re making a scene.”
I smiled faintly. “Am I?”
For a moment, his face flickered with something close to panic. “Ava, we’ll talk about this at home.”
“There is no home anymore.”
I stood up.
“I’ve already moved out. I’ve signed what I needed to sign. As soon as your legal office finishes processing the papers, we’re done.”
Cole shot to his feet. “Who said you could move out?”
The room went still again.
There it was.
Not grief. Not love. Not regret.
Control.
I looked at him and suddenly saw everything with perfect clarity. The way he always softened his voice when he wanted to manage me. The way he wrapped commands inside concern. The way he acted gentle while deciding everything for me.
“You don’t get to ask that anymore,” I said quietly. “Because you’re not my husband now. You were only ever playing the part.”
His face went pale.
For the first time, Selena’s composure cracked.
Cole lowered his voice. “Ava. What exactly do you know?”
I held his gaze for two long seconds.
“Enough.”
Then I picked up my bag, turned, and walked out of the private room without looking back.
Cole caught up with me in the underground parking garage.
He grabbed my wrist just before I reached the curb. “Ava, stop.”
I yanked my hand free. “Don’t touch me.”