My Ex husband Won't Stop Chasing Me

Chapter 6: Signing The Papers

Ava Duval

Ava was drained when she got home later that evening. Damian had already been blowing up her phone with his fake concern, and he flew into her arms the moment she stepped through the door.

"Babe... Where have you been? Where did you go to? I've been trying to reach you all afternoon and evening."

He began inspecting all over her body.

"Are you hurt? Did anything happen? Was it that man... your father? Did he want to see you? Did he say anything to you?"

He held Ava's cheeks in his palms and peered into her eyes with so much concern, that if Ava hadn't known better now, she would have believed every bit of it.

Ava felt sick to her stomach. How many times? How many times had he done this same fake concern, all the while sabotaging her and making her suffer slowly? How didn't she see the signs? How had he been so great of a pretender that she didn't see through him?

"Babe? What's the matter? You're too quiet, and it's scaring me." He gently led her into the living room.

He puffed up all the pillows on it, the way she always liked it, and made sure she was very comfortable.

"It's nothing..." Ava finally found her voice when she finally came to the heartbreaking realization that she was alone in this world, and Damian had clocked out of their marriage even before they got married.

"I wanted to get some groceries around and I left my phone in the car. I guess that's why I didn't see your calls." She smiled and pressed a kiss on Damian's palms.

"Imagine when I finished shopping, only to realize that I wasn't with my card, and I wasn't even with my phone to call so you'd transfer the money to them." She chuckled slightly and stood up.

"I'm actually exhausted, right now. How about the kids?"

"They are doing their homework now, babe. You don't have to worry about them. I'll take care of them." He slipped an arm around her waist as he led her into the bedroom.

***

Ava sat in front of her vanity, her hands shaking at the piece of paper in front of her.

The end to five years of sacrifice and love that she had given to this family. Her heart ached, especially when she thought about the bond she shared with the children and Damian.

Every milestone they had reach, every troubles they had conquered together, and this was how it was ending...

Ava wiped the furious tears from her eyes and began to apply a little bit of make up on her face.

She was going to end this one and for all before Damian did. She wouldn't give him the benefit of hurting her and walking away on his own terms.

Behind her, she heard him come in.

"You look so beautiful, baby." He held her shoulders and squeezed them softly as they both stared at each other through the mirror.

"I'm so happy to have you as my wife, and I don't know how much I can say or explain the feeling in my chest any time you're near."

Ava's stomach churned, and she had to fight off the nausea in the pit of her stomach at the way his mouth dripped with fine words.

"Uhm, yeah..." He said out of the blues. "The company's annual gathering is next month, and there is lots of paperwork that needs to be signed before we can move forward with the event."

"Let me guess," Ava swivelled around with a soft smile on her face as she tilted her face to the side to look at him directly, and she watched his eyes darken as they slowly rested on her lips.

"You will be needing my signature, won't you?"

Damian shrugged and the corners of his lips tugged into a smile. "I knew the woman I married was smart."

Ava faked her laughter. "In that case, I'll come to your study later in the evening to help you sign everything." She rose to her feet and pulled herself into his arms, holding him there for a while.

"You work so hard for this family, babe. I'm so proud of you."

She moved away within a few seconds as if she was about to go do something important, but in reality, she was disgusted that she had to be in close proximity with him. "Oh, before I go..."

She reached towards her table and picked up the documents and a pen. Right now, Damian thought she trusted him so much, right? She knew it could also go the other way round.

"It's just Leo's and Isla's field trip permission slip. The school needs both parents' signatures." She turned the folder toward him and pointed to the signature line, her fingers firmly grasping the top to cover the title. "Right here."

Damian looked at the paper, didn't read it, and signed without thinking twice. Ava was using his own tactics against him, and he fell right into her trap.

If she had just presented the divorce papers to him, he wouldn't have signed so easily until he got what he wanted.

"Okay..." Ava smiled cutely. "I'll turn it in to their teachers tomorrow."

***

When she was alone in the room after sending Damian on an errand, Ava pulled out her suitcase and put it on the bed as she began to pack her things.

She didn't have a particle plan in mind, but she knew she had to leave this house. She had to be over and done with this marriage.

As she was packing, something fell out of her suitcase, and she picked it up. It was an intricately designed card by Noir Elite. The biggest fashion house that competed on international levels.

Ava remembered when she was at the peak of her career and they wanted to recruit her. She had turned then down because Damian had gotten down on one knees and asked her to be his wife.

She had chosen his love and affection over a career that would have put her on an international level.

She remembered the dejected look on the CEO's face after she turned him down.

From what she heard, it was rare for the CEO to come himself to recruit a person, which meant her skills had been widely recognized.

She chuckled slightly at the memories and flipped the card over. A stupid thought came to her mind immediately when her eyes settled on the number on the card.

Was it still possible? Would she still have a chance? She didn't want anything to discourage her from trying, so she whipped out her phone immediately and called the number.

"Noir Elite fashion house, how can I help you?" The robotic voice came in, almost surprising Ava because she thought no one would pick up since it was already late.

"Um... I'm Ava Duval, and..."

"Ava Duval." The robotic voice went silent instantly, as if logging the information.

"Please, give me a moment. You will be transferred to the CEO immediately."

CEO? Her call could do that? Ava's heart began racing as she waited each second.

She sat down on the bed to calm her anxiety, and when the familiar voice answered, she almost passed out.

"Miss Duval? How do you do this evening?" The man on the other end began smoothly. "We've been waiting for your call..."

Waiting for her call? For five years?

"It's been five..."

"Yes, Miss Ava. It's been five years, but we still want you in our fashion house." The man's voice dropped lower, almost begging.

"Have you changed your mind? Would you like to work with us? We can make all the arrangements immediately. It doesn't matter if you're married, we will work on something to accommodate your marriage and—"

"No..." Ava started, then realized her response could be misinterpreted. "What I mean is that, I would like to accept the offer, because I'm no longer a married woman.”