"You won't?" I tilted my head.
The next second, I had snatched the phone from his pocket.
Before he could react, I had already unlocked it with his face.
"Ava!"
With a sickening crunch, the phone was snatched from my grasp. I didn't even get a clear look at the screen before he smashed it on the ground.
The screen shattered into a spiderweb of cracks, utterly destroyed.
"You..."
His breathing was ragged. "What in God's name has gotten into you?"
"Mom, slap him! Dad always gets defensive like this when he's guilty!"
A sharp smack echoed as my palm struck his cheek, as if Thea's voice had guided my hand.
"You've been hiding things from me!"
"Ava!" Chloe cried out, rushing forward.
She wrapped her arms around me, holding me back. "Is there some misunderstanding? Everything was fine just a moment ago!"
"That's it, Mom! That's her act! She always plays the peacemaker, tricking you and wrapping you around her little finger! She bullies me when you're not around!"
I had somehow managed to stay calm through everything else, but hearing that Chloe would bully my daughter... I snapped.
"Mom! The proof is on her phone, too!"
I shoved Liam away and rounded on Chloe. "Where is your phone?"
"Ava?" The worry in Chloe's eyes morphed into pure shock.
"Give it to me."
Seeing my outstretched hand, she slowly released my arm.
She took an involuntary step back.
"Ava!" Liam grabbed me. "We've looked forward to this day more than anything, haven't we!"
"Who did I do it all for!"
I snapped my head up.
His eyes were glistening with tears.
He ripped open his dress shirt, revealing the gruesome gunshot scar on his chest.
"Isn't this enough? Or these..."
He rolled up his sleeves, revealing several old, deep scars on his arm, some so severe you could almost see the bone.
He'd gotten all of them protecting me from my family's wrath.
"If these aren't enough, then just take my life."
He snatched a bodyguard's gun and shoved it into my hand.
He pressed the dark muzzle to his own temple, his hand gripping mine over the weapon as he cocked the hammer. "Go on. Shoot."
"Ava, in life, I am your man. In death, I will only die by your hand."
"Do it!"
I instinctively tried to pull away, but his hand was a vise, forcing me to keep the gun pressed against his head.
A shot rang out.
"Mr. Monroe!"
