Chapter2
1087 Words
Ava woke up to the golden light reflecting through her bedroom curtains. Her hazel eyes were swollen and stinging from a night of uncontrolled crying.
Her long hair tangled from tossing on the bed. On the floor was the emerald dress she wore last night, still soaked in water.
She remembered what happened between her and Blake last night, Camila's hurtful words and her mother's hospital bills she could pay made her sigh.
Her father and stepmother didn't even glance at her when she returned back home in a soaked dress and tears.
Ava sat up; her chest was heavy as she wiped her face. She quickly had a hot bath and wore a black sweater and sweatpants. She packed her hair into a messy bun when her stomach growled, causing her to remember that the last food she ate was yesterday’s lunch.
She decided to go downstairs for breakfast, but she kept asking herself questions.
What if Camilla was there, smirking, her blue eyes mocking Ava’s pain? Or what if her parents give her a heavy task to carry out for the day instead of having time to rest?
She managed to go downstairs, and she heard voices coming from the dining. Her fist tightened, and she pushed the door open.
Richard Sterling, her father, sat at the head, his grey hair thinking, and his face was behind a coffee mug.
Eleanor, her stepmother, sat beside him. Her blonde hair was packed in a sleek bun, and her blue eyes were as sharp as Camila's.
Across them was Camila, dressed in a cream silk dress and her hair neatly styled as she sipped her coffee. Her blue eyes flickered to Ava, and she smirked.
“You look like you did get enough sleep, Ava.” Camila smiled. “Bad night?”
Ava froze in the doorway; the memories of Camila and Blake came flooding into her mind. “You’d know why,” she replied, her voice low. She hurriedly took her meal and turned to return back to her room.
“At least someone knows the truth,” Camila chuckled dryly.
Ava stood still and turned to Camila. “What truth? The truth that you have been sneaking and sleeping with Blake for months or that you have always been a w***e?”
Eleanor’s form clicked against her plate, her eyes narrowing in anger. “Ava, where are your manners? We're having breakfast.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed and tears began to form. “Start?” she asked. “She has been sleeping with him for months. And you both…” She turned to her parents, noticing their blank expression. “You didn't even ask why I was crying last night. I came home soaked and in tears, and you both didn't even care.”
Richard cleared his throat, his grey eyes avoiding Ava. “You’re being dramatic, Ava.”
“Dramatic?” Ava stepped forward, her chestnut hair loose from its bun. “Camilla stole my boyfriend, and you don’t care?” Her eyes moved to Camila, who still had a little smirk on. “How could you, Camilla?”
Camila gently sipped her coffee. “Blake chose me, Ava. He's tired of playing around with you. He wants a future, not some charity case.”
Ava’s breath ceased, and her fist tightened. “A charity case? I loved him.” She turned to her parents. “Do you both know about this?” she asked as she noticed their blank expression.
Eleanor sighed, “Of course, we knew. Blake’s a Kingston. His family wealth could secure Sterling Enterprises. Camila is a better match for him.”
Ava’s heart skipped and her jaw dropped in disbelief. “So you both knew about these a long time ago.” Her voice cracked. Her parents' silence last night flashed in her memory. They had been plotting.
Camila laughed coldly. “Grow up, Ava. I'm the heir. You're just… Blake deserves an heir, not a spare daughter.”
“Enough!” Richard commanded. He leaned forward; his face hardened as he fixed his eyes on Ava. “Sterling Enterprises is drowning in debts. Lawsuits, bad investments, and creditors are increasing. We are on the edge of bankruptcy.”
“Bankruptcy, you want to use Blake’s wealth to save Sterling's enterprise, yet you call me a charity case?” She replied, her voice rising.
Eleanor stood up, “No! Blake’s wealth is to make our enterprise bigger when he marries Camila, but the Russell family will save us from this bankruptcy.”
“What does that have to do with me anyway? Camila was supposed to get married to Austin Russel. Is she planning to sleep with both of them?”
Eleanor quickly walked to Ava and slapped Ava hard on the face. “How dare you say such about my daughter?”
Ava's face fell to the floor, and her right palm covered her cheeks.
Camila chuckled. “Serves you right, Ava. You can call me all sorts of names. For your information, everybody knows Austin Russel is a loser, and I am not wasting my life on that loser. You're more... disposable.”
The word disposable hit Ava hard. “What do you mean?”
Eleanor tilted her head. “It means you're the one getting married to Austin Russel, dummy.”
“You are selling me off?” Ava asked.
“It’s for the family, Ava. The Russels need a bride to seal a merger. Their money will cover your mother’s medical bills, and that will reduce the burden on us and the company.”
Ava slowly lost her balance, and she quickly reached for the table. “You’re trading me just like that? After you let Camila take Blake?” she asked, tears rolling down her cheeks. “My mother’s bills are becoming a burden to the company? What about what I want?”
“You’re the spare, Ava. Camilla’s our future. This is your role.” Eleanor replied.
“No way; my mother started this company with you, Dad. I have been using my money to settle her bills when the company is supposed to cover her medical expenses.“ Ava said, and everybody went silent.
She chuckled dryly, “Now you all are silent because you know it’s the truth. Well. I won't marry Austin Russel. You can't force me.”
Richard leaned closer, his tone low. “You will, Ava. Or your mother’s care ends tomorrow. No machines, no blood, no oxygen.”
- Writer
