The Breaking Point
1341 Words
~Ava~
Time went by slowly. Days turned into nights, and weeks felt like they would never end while I was trapped inside the Calloway mansion.
I had become an expert at playing my role as Ethan’s perfect, obedient wife. At least, that was how it seemed to everyone else.
Ethan barely spoke to me unless it was necessary.
The walls of the mansion suffocated me. Every time I walked through the halls, I felt like a ghost trapped in a house that wasn’t mine, tied to a man who didn’t want me.
But I wasn’t going to let it break me.
Not anymore.
Another charity gala. Another evening spent pretending.
I stood next to Ethan, my hand on his arm, as we welcomed guests. His father watched us from across the room, his eyes narrowed, making sure we looked perfect. He had always wanted us to appear as the ideal couple, and now he was checking to see if we were living up to that image.
The weight of his gaze made my skin crawl.
I forced a smile as an older woman approached us. “You two make such a stunning couple,” she gushed, reaching for my hand. “Newlyweds always have such a glow.”
Ethan stiffened slightly beside me, but his face remained unreadable.
I felt the bitterness rise in my throat.
A glow?
There was nothing glowing about this marriage.
If only they knew the truth.
But I smiled anyway, because that’s what was expected of me. “Thank you,” I said politely, my voice smooth despite the storm raging inside me.
Ethan leaned down slightly, just enough to make it seem like we were whispering sweet nothings. But instead, his voice was cold. “Keep smiling.”
I gritted my teeth, gripping the champagne glass in my hand.
I hated him.
I hated his father.
And I hated myself for letting them do this to me.
But this night was different.
Because tonight, I was done pretending.
I slipped away the moment I could, moving through the corridors of the estate.
I needed air. I needed space.
And more than anything, I needed answers.
I'd had a bad feeling for weeks. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, it just wouldn't go away. I had made a big sacrifice for my brother, but now I was starting to wonder if it was all worth it. Something just didn't feel right.
Ethan never spoke about the situation. His father never mentioned it again. And no matter how many times I had asked, they always gave me vague answers that didn't really tell me anything.
I needed proof.
I needed to know if the reason I sacrificed everything was even real.
As I walked through the dimly lit hallway, I heard voices coming from Ethan’s study. The door was slightly open.
I froze.
It was Ethan’s father. And Daniel.
“She’s starting to ask too many questions,” Daniel was saying.
“She won’t find anything,” Richard Calloway replied dismissively. “She’s a foolish girl, desperate to believe she’s done the right thing.”
My stomach twisted.
Done the right thing?
Daniel hesitated. “And if she does find out?”
Richard chuckled. “Then she’ll learn the truth the hard way, that she was never needed. That this marriage was never about her.”
My breath hitched.
My hands shook.
I backed away, my heart pounding against my ribs.
What did he mean?
What was he hiding?
I needed to find out.
Later that night, after Ethan had disappeared into his study and the house had gone quiet, I sat in the darkness of our bedroom.
The weight of my suspicions was unbearable.
I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed the one number I hadn’t dared call in months.
It rang once. Twice.
Then…
“Ava?”
I nearly collapsed at the sound of my brother’s voice.
“Liam,” I whispered, my throat tightening.
“Ava, where have you been?” His voice was urgent, frantic. “I’ve been trying to reach you. They wouldn’t let me…”
“Are you okay?” I interrupted, my voice barely above a whisper.
He exhaled sharply. “I’m fine. But Ava… What's going on? Why did you marry Ethan Calloway?”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing. “I did it for you. Because they said…” My voice broke. “They said you were in danger.”
But instead of understanding I was met with silence.
Then Liam's voice cut through the quiet.
“Ava… what the hell are you talking about?”
My entire body went cold.
“They told me,” I whispered, gripping the edge of the bed. “They told me they would hurt you if I didn’t do it.”
Liam cursed under his breath. “Ava, no one ever threatened me. I was never in danger.”
The room spun.
My heart slammed against my ribs, and my breath came in sharp gasps.
It was a lie.
All of it.
The reason I had sacrificed everything, the reason I had agreed to this marriage, the reason I had given up my life…
None of it was real.
I had been manipulated…
Used…
And Ethan had let it happen.
I don’t remember ending the call or rushing out of the room. It's all a blur.
All I knew was that I was standing in front of Ethan’s study, my entire body shaking with rage.
I pushed the door open.
He looked up from his desk, his brows furrowing. “Ava?”
“You lied to me,” I said, my voice trembling with rage.
He exhaled, leaning back in his chair. “Define ‘lie.’”
His indifference only fueled my anger. “You let me believe my brother was in danger! You let me think I had no choice!”
He tilted his head. “And?”
I stared at him, my hands shaking. “And? That’s all you have to say?”
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. “Ava, let’s not do this right now.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Of course. Because it’s not convenient for you, right?”
He didn’t answer.
I took a step closer. “Did you ever plan to tell me?”
He met my eyes, and for the first time, I saw something there. Not guilt. No regret.
Just a cold and distant feeling, like he didn't care at all.
“This marriage was never about you,” he said simply.
The words hit like a slap.
I swallowed hard, my throat burning. “Then why did you do it?”
He stood, adjusting his cufflinks. “Because it was necessary.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You don’t even care, do you?”
He didn’t respond.
And that was answer enough.
I turned to leave, but Ethan spoke up again. "I want to be with Lillian," he said.
I stopped and turned back to him, shocked. "What?"
Ethan sighed, like he was tired of talking about it. "I was supposed to marry her. Now that I've gotten what I wanted, I don't need to pretend to care about you anymore."
He looked at me with a cold gaze. "Don't act innocent. I know you and your parents planned for you to marry a rich guy like me."
My anger boiled over, and I dug my nails into my palms. "You don't have to pretend to care?" I asked, my voice shaking.
Ethan looked me straight in the eye. "Lillian is pregnant."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "Of course she is," I said, laughing bitterly. "I thought you were just a heartless man, but really you're just a coward."
Ethan's jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything.
I turned to leave, gripping the door handle. "You'll get the annulment papers soon," I said without looking back.
Then I walked out, and this time, I wasn't coming back.
- Writer
