Chapter 3: I Refuse to Be His Weakness
The card slipped from my fingers onto the hospital blanket, and five words stared back at me.
Don't believe everything you see.
I kept reading them over and over, but my heart just wouldn't calm down.
Grace Holloway had introduced herself as Kingsley Group's senior legal counsel, and if she was Ethan's lawyer, then why would she secretly warn me?
Nothing made sense anymore.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
"May I come in?"
I swiftly moved the card under my pillow, then looked up.
The nurse was standing in the doorway, looking sorry for something, and she had a gentle smile on her face.
"Someone is here to see you."
"I don't want visitors."
She hesitated.
"He said it will only take a minute."
Just as I was about to say no again, I heard a voice that sounded really familiar coming from somewhere in the room.
"Ava."
Every muscle in my body stiffened.
Ethan.
He stood in the doorway wearing the same charcoal suit from the previous night, but something about him had changed.
He looked different, his black hair wasn't perfectly styled like it usually was, and there were dark circles under his gray eyes. For the first time, he seemed really tired, not like his usual self where nothing could touch him.
The nurse glanced between us.
"I'll give you some privacy."
She quietly closed the door behind her.
The room fell quiet, and for a moment, neither of us said a word. Then, Ethan slowly moved closer to my bed, his footsteps breaking the silence.
"How are you feeling?"
A bitter smile touched my lips.
You're bringing this up now, after everything we've been through and twelve hours after our divorce was finalized?
"You don't get to ask."
His jaw tightened.
"I heard you fainted."
"So, that's the real reason you're here?" I said, my voice icy. "You're just making sure I don't do something crazy before the divorce is finalized?"
His gaze met mine.
"No."
"No?"
"I came because..."
The words died on his lips.
Because what?
He glanced at the IV in my arm, then quickly shifted his gaze away.
It's probably a good idea to stay in the hospital for a little while, just to make sure everything is okay.
"That's none of your concern."
"It is."
He replied too fast, and for a split second, a strange look crossed his face before he went back to looking calm.
"I mean... until you've recovered."
I folded my arms.
When you decided to be with someone else, you gave up the right to care about what happens to me.
His shoulders stiffened.
"I know."
The quiet admission caught me off guard, and there was no excuse, no denial, only two words.
"Our finance department will cover every hospital expense."
A humorless laugh escaped me.
"There you are."
His brows knitted together.
"What do you mean?"
"The real Ethan Kingsley."
I held his gaze.
"The billionaire who believes money can fix everything."
His lips parted, but no sound came out.
"I don't need your pity," I said, "and I'm not looking for a handout. What I don't want is for you to feel guilty about something that's not your fault."
"It isn't guilt."
"Then what is it?"
For the first time...
He had no answer.
There was a knock at the door, and before we could even say anything, it swung open.
Sophia walked into the room, holding a beautiful bouquet of white lilies in her hands.
Her smile disappeared in an instant when she saw Ethan standing right next to my bed.
"Ethan?"
Relief quickly replaced her surprise.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
Ethan's eyes met hers for a brief moment as she wrapped her hand around his arm, but he quickly and gently pulled away, his touch soft as he removed her hand from his arm.
It was just a quick moment, but Sophia and I both caught it, and for a split second, her smile slipped.
"I didn't know you were visiting Ava."
"I was just leaving," Ethan replied evenly.
Sophia turned toward me.
"I'm glad you're awake."
She placed the flowers on the table.
"I was really worried."
"Thank you."
My voice remained polite, nothing more.
She hesitated before speaking again.
"I hope everything is alright between us."
I looked directly into her eyes.
"You came to my anniversary dinner."
"You announced your engagement."
You stayed with me the whole time as I signed the papers to end my marriage.
I offered her a small, emotionless smile.
"And now you're asking whether I resent you?"
Her face flushed.
"I never wanted to hurt you."
"No?"
She lowered her eyes.
"I was tired of hiding."
For a second...
I almost believed her.
"Ethan," she said softly.
He interrupted before she could continue.
"We're leaving."
She blinked.
"But—"
"Now."
She put on a fake smile and trailed behind him as he headed for the door. Just as they were about to step out, Ethan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He glanced over his shoulder, our eyes locking for just a brief moment.
Questions flooded my mind.
Who sent those anonymous messages?
Why had his own lawyer warned me?
And why had signing those divorce papers seemed to hurt him almost as much as it hurt me?
I broke the moment first.
"You should go."
Then, just a few seconds passed, and the door closed with a soft click, and suddenly the room was really quiet.
It wasn't until that moment that I felt the tears well up, and it wasn't because I still had feelings for Ethan, but because something deep inside of me had finally been set loose, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
She used to be the kind of woman who would beg for any little bit of love, even if it meant feeling lonely all the time. But that woman doesn't exist anymore, the one who thought being alone was just part of loving someone.
The moment I put my signature on those papers, it was like I had laid her to rest.
A gentle pang spread through me, and without thinking, my hand drifted to my belly.
I wasn't alone anymore.
Now I have someone who needs me, someone who can't defend themselves, someone who makes it all worth it.
I closed my eyes.
"I'm not sure what's ahead of us," I said quietly, "but one thing I can promise is that I'll always be here for you. I'll keep you safe and make sure you never feel like you don't belong or that you're not loved. You deserve to feel wanted and cherished, and I'll do everything in my power to make that happen."
My phone's soft buzz broke the silence, and I guess the nurse had found it and put it next to me on the bed.
The screen lit up.
Unknown Number.
One message appeared.
Leave New York today.
Before I could react, another arrived.
They're already watching the hospital.
As I stood there, a shiver ran down my spine, and I slowly turned to face the window that looked out over the parking lot.
A black SUV was parked across the street from my house, and the man inside was wearing dark sunglasses, staring straight at my window.
I was staring at him, and suddenly he looked up, his eyes locking onto mine as he lifted his phone, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
I couldn't help but wonder, was he snapping a photo of me or just checking to see if I was still around?
Either way...
Someone was watching me.
