AVA'S POV
I stared at Emma, my eyes widening at what she had just said. Did I hear her right?
Her lips were still curled into that stupid smirk, like she'd just won a game.
“You’re lying,” I whispered. My hands were shaking, my chest tightening so hard I could barely breathe. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.
Emma tilted her head and laughed. “Oh, Ava,” she said. “I thought you’d be happy for me. I mean, it’s not like you didn’t see this coming. Canaan’s been obsessed with me for months.”
My stomach twisted, “Obsessed?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You’re insane. He’s my husband Emma. What the hell is wrong with you? Canaan is fucking married for God's sake. Why would you go after a married man.”
Emma raised her eyebrows, “Oh, come on, Ava,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You had to have known. He couldn’t stay away from me. We’re in love. He didn’t want you. He wanted me. He'd always wanted me, you were just too blind to see it. Pity.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. And before I knew it, I was yelling. “We were supposed to be best friends, Emma! BEST FRIENDS!” My voice cracked, “How could you do this to me? You went behind my back, and now, now this?!”
“Best friends?” Emma said, then she laughed. “Please, Ava. I was never your friend. I just needed to get close to him somehow, and you were the easiest way in.” She shrugged like it was nothing. “You were convenient. That’s all.”
I don’t even remember thinking about it, my hand just moved on its own. The slap echoed in the room, and for a second, Emma’s head snapped to the side.
Her cheek turned red instantly, and she froze, her eyes wide with shock.
Then she finally moved, and she looked furious. “You bitch!” she screamed. She stepped forward, “You think you can hit me and get away with it? You have no idea who you’re messing with, Ava. I’m going to ruin you. You think just because you are from a rich family, you can do whatever you want.”
“What the hell are you even talking about?” I shouted back, my heart pounding loudly.
Emma didn’t answer. She just glanced outside, her eyes darting toward the window for a second. Then, out of nowhere, she grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin so hard it felt like she was trying to rip it off.
“Stop it,” she said, her voice suddenly desperate. “You have to stop this. Please, Ava, just, just stop!”
Stop what? I didn’t even know what she was talking about. Before I could say anything, though, she jerked back.
It all happened so fast, her arms flailing as she fell backward. The glass table behind her shattered as she hit it.
“Emma!” I screamed, my legs frozen in place as she hit the ground. Blood. There was so much blood everywhere, rolling down her thighs, staining her skirt, spreading across the floor.
The door burst open, and Canaan stormed in, his face pale as he took in the scene. Behind him, a couple of his assistants followed, their eyes wide with shock.
“What the hell happened?!” Canaan yelled. He dropped to his knees beside Emma, his hands hovering over her like he didn’t know what to do.
I opened my mouth to explain, but nothing came out. My throat felt like it had closed up completely.
“She…she pushed me,” Emma said weakly, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Ava pushed me.”
“What?” I asked, my eyes wide. “No, I didn’t..”
Canaan’s head snapped up, he looked furious. “You did this?” he yelled. Before I could defend myself, he reached out and slapped me across the face so hard my vision blurred.
“Canaan…”
“Shut up,” he snarled. “You’re coming with us. If anything happens to Emma or the baby, I swear, Ava, I’ll kill you myself. James, get her to the car and bring her to the hospital.” James, one of the assistants behind him, pulled my arm tightly, like I was a prisoner.
People watched us as he dragged me out of the office and Canaan carried the already unconscious Emma out too.
I didn’t even fight back as he dragged me outside and shoved me into the backseat of his car. My hands were trembling, my mind spinning as I tried to make sense of what had just happened.
I didn’t push her. I didn’t.
At the hospital, everything moved fast. Doctors rushed Emma into surgery while Canaan paced the waiting room angrily. I sat in the corner, silent.
This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. I’d planned to confront him, to demand a divorce, to finally end this nightmare of a marriage and start over. But now? Now I was sitting here, accused of something I didn’t do.
After what felt like hours, a doctor came out, his face grim. “Mr. Cooper,” he said, looking at Canaan. “Your wife is stable, still unconscious though, but… I’m sorry to say she lost the baby.”
Wife. He wasn’t even married to her. But Canaan didn’t correct the doctor. He just nodded, his eyes cold as he turned to look at me.
“Come on,” he said, his hand grabbing my arm.
“What…what are you doing?” I stammered, trying to pull away.
“We’re going home,” he said, his grip tightening.
The ride back was silent, and very uncomfortable. As soon as we got inside, Canaan exploded. His fists hit me immediately.
“Canaan…” I tried to stop him but was cut off by a fist to my stomach, making me fall.
He didn’t stop until I was barely able to move. All I felt was pain and then suddenly everywhere became dark.
