Chapter 206 Sadness and Compassion
Despite the repeated wounds inflicted upon her heart, she clung tenaciously to the thread of hope. Yet, the previous night had brought a call that shattered her illusions. He was leaving. Her pleas and attempts to halt his departure fell on deaf ears.
In a surge of anger, she trailed him covertly, witnessing firsthand his concern for Isabella. He held her hand, vowing that if she survived the surgery, he would make her his wife.
Ava's laughter echoed in the room, bitter and hollow. "He made it sound so effortless," she said, "as if he wasn't already bound by the vows of marriage—as if his marital status held no significance."
Her narration was steady, her tone devoid of any strong emotion. Yet, the despair that laced her words sent a chill down the spine of anyone who heard her.
"Ava, he's not worthy of you. You'll find someone better," William assured her, his gaze intense.
Ava closed her eyes, her voice a mere whisper. "I've known him for a decade. I’ve always believed him to be a good man—ambitious, reliable. During our year of marriage, he treated me well, fulfilling my every wish. I even dared to think...he had begun to care for me."
She continued, her voice growing stronger, "He had a responsibility towards me, but that obligation paled in comparison to his love for Isabella. Now, I understand it all too clearly."
Her laughter morphed into sobs. "I was a fool, unable to separate reality from illusion, lured by sweet nothings, convinced that my feelings were reciprocated. In the end, I was the only one in this solo performance. He never cared for me, yet I deceived myself into believing I could make him love me."
Ava's lips twisted into a bitter smirk, a mockery of her own naivety.
William remained silent, understanding that his role was to listen, not to speak.
Even without prompting, Ava continued to unravel her story.
"Do you know? I even... I even found myself envying Isabella for receiving Alex’s love. For a fleeting moment, I contemplated challenging Isabella, to see who would emerge victorious."
Her fingers clenched the bedsheet, her body trembling with a cocktail of pain and anger. She was only human, and it was only natural for her to feel enraged when her love for Alexander was met with such a response. The thought was tempting, but fleeting.
"But when I regained my composure, I realized how absurd it was. If a man loves me, I shouldn't have to compete with another woman for his affection. And if he doesn't love me, what right do I have to wage a war over him? After all the battles, he still wouldn’t love me, and I’d only end up hurting myself."
Ava's teeth gritted together, her tears cascading down her cheeks like a torrential downpour.
William's brow furrowed, his heart aching with her sorrow, but also filled with a profound pity for her.
He extended his arms, yearning to offer her comfort, but Ava curled up, as if retreating into a world where he couldn't reach her.
He knew that if he embraced her now, it might only frighten her.
Reluctantly, William lowered his arms.
"Ava, I could punch him for you," he offered, his voice laced with sincerity.
It seemed like the only thing William could do. He yearned to thrash Alexander, to make him pay for not cherishing a woman as remarkable as Ava—a woman any man would be lucky to have.
Yet, William also felt a twinge of guilt, for he was secretly relieved that Alexander was finally going to divorce Ava.
By tomorrow, she would be free, no longer tethered by the chains of matrimony.
Alexander was oblivious to the fact that Ava was carrying his child. From now on, she and the child would be free from any ties to Alexander.
