Chapter 130 Have It Your Way
The word 'divorce' echoed in Alexander's mind, a relentless mantra that tightened his grip on the doorknob. 'Yes, we should get divorced,' he thought, his heart pounding with the weight of the decision.
"Alex, we agreed to get the documents today. If you walk out now, I—" Ava's voice trailed off, her plea hanging in the air.
"What, I should stay and sleep with you?" he retorted, frustration lacing his words.
Ava's suspicions were hard to shake. He found no solace in her presence, and now he was leaving in the middle of the night. If she had merely asked if he was going home, perhaps it would have been fine. But she had to mention Isabella, and that was the last straw for Alexander. He spun around, his brow furrowed in anger, "Of course, I'm off to see Isabella!"
A sharp pain clutched at Ava's heart, her fists clenched at her sides. "Alexander, we’re still married. You rushing off to another woman—what does that make me? Can't you even refrain for one night?"
"And what about you? We're still married, and you refuse to let me touch you. What am I supposed to do?"
"I said I'd help you in other ways, didn't I?"
"I don't want other ways," Alexander snapped back. "I want the intimacy that's normal between husband and wife!" His gaze bore into her, his words deliberate and pointed, "Can you do that?"
Ava's hand instinctively drifted beneath the quilt, resting on her belly. If it weren't for the baby, she was sure she could have coped. Her heart was a tempest of grief and anger, yet she couldn't find the words to express it. All her heartache had nowhere to go but into a silent rage.
"Just go then," she said sharply, "run off to Isabella. Do whatever you want!"
Retreating into her bed, Ava pulled the blanket over her head and succumbed to her tears. 'I’m sorry, my sweet baby. I’m so helpless. I can’t keep your father, and I can’t even tell him the truth. If I won't let him touch me, how can I prevent him from seeking comfort elsewhere? We're getting divorced anyway, he might as well... Mommy's just too exhausted to care anymore,' she thought, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Time seemed to stretch out, and when Ava finally emerged from under the blankets, she found herself alone. Alexander had left. Wiping the tears from her face, she looked down and whispered to the small being inside her, "Don't worry, child. Even without a father, I will take good care of you."
Ava had already forgotten about the key, such was the depth of her sorrow. After some time, a crushing tightness enveloped her chest, and the images of Alexander and Isabella intertwined haunted her the moment she closed her eyes. 'Does he really go to that woman? No, she needs to do something, anything, to distract herself,' Ava thought.
She washed her face, trying to invigorate her spirit. Cautiously, she crept into the old lady's room. With Alexander gone, it was up to her to sneak out the documents. She’d need to call Alexander the next day.
The door to the old lady's room was unlocked — at her age, locking it could mean being trapped in an emergency. Therefore, Ava made her way inside without issue. She pulled out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and carefully avoided shining it on the sleeping old lady, not wanting to wake her.
The old lady was sound asleep, oblivious to Ava's presence. Ava approached the spot she had scouted out earlier in the day and found the box. It was too dangerous to open it there. Clutching it to her chest, she tiptoed back to her room.
Panting with nervousness, she locked her door, placed the box on the bed, and her hands trembled as she took out the key.
