THE REVENGE OF LADY QIN

CHAPTER 2

After getting discharged from the hospital, I didn’t head home. The last thing I wanted was to see Theo’s face or hear another of his mother’s backhanded insults. Instead, I found myself outside the apartment of my best friend, Kellie. I hadn’t seen her in over two years—Theo had made sure of that, always telling me that friends were a distraction, that real wives spent their time tending to their husbands, not their social lives. But right now, Kellie was the only person I could think of and trusted.

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I knocked. A second later, the door flew open, and there she was. She looked the same—sharp eyes, wavy dark hair, and that slightly sarcastic smirk that used to drive me nuts.

“Ava?” Her eyes widened in shock as she looked me over, taking in my dishevelled appearance and the bandages on my leg. “What happened to you?”

“Can I come in?” I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.

“Of course.” She stepped aside, motioning for me to enter. Once the door closed behind us, Kellie turned to me, her face a mixture of concern and confusion. “Ava, what’s going on? I haven’t heard from you in ages, and now you show up looking like… like this?”

I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to meet her eyes. “Theo. And Mei.”

Her brows knit together. “What about them?”

I couldn’t keep the words from spilling out, my voice cracking as I told her everything—the affair, the insults, the complete disregard as I lay bleeding on the floor. Kellie’s face went from shocked to furious, her fists clenching as I described how Mei had gloated and how Theo had left me to fend for myself.

“Ava, that man is a monster,” she said, shaking her head. “And your sister… I don’t even have words for her. Why didn’t you call me sooner? You should have left him the moment he started treating you like this!”

“I know, I know,” I whispered, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. “But I thought things would change. I thought if I was patient if I was a good wife, things would get better.”

Kellie put a hand on my shoulder, her expression softening. “Ava, it’s not your fault. You didn’t deserve any of this.”

I closed my eyes, taking comfort in her words. But then, the anger bubbled up again, fiercer than before. “I don’t just want to leave him, Kellie. I want to make him pay. He stole my parents’ company and turned my life into a nightmare, and I can’t just let him get away with it. I want revenge.”

A slow smile spread across Kellie’s face. “Now that’s the Ava I remember. What’s your plan?”

The problem was, I didn’t have one. I knew I wanted to take back what was mine and make Theo regret every horrible thing he’d done, but I had no idea where to start. “I need a lawyer, for one,” I said, rubbing my temples. “And I need money. He’s got control over all of my finances, and I have nothing.”

Kellie looked thoughtful, then she walked over to her phone. “You’re going to stay here with me, Ava. No arguments. And as for money, don’t worry about it—I’ll help you get back on your feet. And… I have an idea. It’s a bit crazy, but hear me out.”

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “I’m listening.”

She smirked. “Do you remember Axel Qin?”

The name sent a shiver down my spine. Axel Qin was one of the most powerful men in the city, the CEO of Qin Inc. He was ruthless, ambitious, and wealthy beyond imagination. We’d only crossed paths a few times at business events when my parents were still alive. “What about him?”

Kellie’s smirk grew. “What if we could get him to help you? Think about it, Ava—he has the resources and the influence, and he has no love for Theo’s family. They’ve been rivals for years.”

My eyes widened. “Kellie, are you insane? How on earth would I convince someone like Axel Qin to help me?”

She shrugged. “Leave that part to me. But first, let’s focus on getting you out of Theo’s house officially. You need to make a clean break, pack up your things, and make it clear you’re not going back.”

Just the thought of walking back into that house made my stomach turn, but she was right. I couldn’t keep living in the shadows, pretending everything was fine. I had to take my life back, step by step.

I nodded. “Alright. I’ll go back tomorrow. Pack everything that’s mine and tell him I’m leaving for good.”

Kellie grinned. “That’s the spirit. And don’t worry—I’ll be right there with you. Theo and his mother won’t know what hit them.”

______

The next morning, I steeled myself for the confrontation ahead. Kellie dropped me off outside the house, squeezing my hand reassuringly before I climbed out of the car.

I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of strength I had, and walked inside. Theo was waiting for me in the living room, arms folded across his chest, looking every bit as smug and condescending as ever.

“Finally decided to come home?” he sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I was starting to think you were just going to hide out somewhere like the coward you are.”

I ignored his words, walking past him without so much as a glance. His mother’s voice piped up from the kitchen, sharp and judgmental as always. “Leaving already, Ava? How predictable. You never had the strength to be a good wife.”

I clenched my fists, but I kept my mouth shut. There was no point in arguing with her; I wasn’t here to change their minds. I was here to end this chapter of my life.

I made my way up to our bedroom. No, his bedroom, now. Every inch of it was filled with reminders of what my life had become, a gilded prison disguised as a luxury home. I grabbed my suitcase from the closet and started packing, throwing in clothes, toiletries, and a few personal items I’d managed to keep hidden from Theo’s prying eyes.

By the time I made it back downstairs, Theo and his mother were waiting for me, arms crossed, smug smiles plastered on their faces.

“You’ll be back,” Theo said, his voice dripping with confidence. “You don’t have anyone else. You need me, Ava.”

I looked him straight in the eye, feeling a surge of defiance. “Expect the divorce papers soon, Theo. I’m done.”

I walked out of the house without looking back, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders as I stepped outside. Kellie was waiting for me in her car, her eyes lighting up with pride as I climbed in.

“Well?” she asked, grinning.

I took a deep breath, allowing myself a small smile. “It’s over. I’m finally free.”

And now, it was time to put my plan into motion. I was done being Theo’s puppet, done being a victim. I was going to get back everything he’d taken from me—and I wasn’t going to do it alone.