Chapter 81 If Not for You
Ava was left in a state of speechlessness, her mind a whirlpool of confusion.
The abrupt transformation in her mother-in-law's attitude was nothing short of startling. What could be the reason behind her earlier display of warmth towards Isabella?
Was it all a ploy, designed to shatter her at this very moment, or was it merely a veil of sarcasm? The answer eluded her.
Isabella, unable to hold back her thoughts, burst out, “I’ve had a glimpse of the divorce settlement, and Alex has been more than magnanimous. It's uncommon to find a man so willing to part with his wealth. Considering they've only been wed for a year, and Ava hasn't exactly made significant contributions to the Mitchell family, so…”
“What do you deem as a contribution, Miss Harrington?” Mia interjected, her brow furrowed in evident displeasure. “Since when is the value of a marriage gauged by monetary input? Do you perceive marriage as a profession where you're compensated for your efforts? Do you view Ava as merely a nanny?”
Caught off guard, Isabella scrambled to clarify, “That’s not what I intended to imply.”
“I'm aware that's not what you intended,” Mia retorted swiftly, her lips curling into a smile. “Being a heiress yourself, you surely wouldn’t object if your future spouse granted his ex-wife half of his assets. After all, your love for my son isn't rooted in his wealth. Even if he were penniless, you'd still choose to marry him, wouldn't you?”
Isabella was rendered speechless, and Mia pressed on, “What seems to be the problem, Miss Harrington? Are you more interested in my son's fortune rather than the man himself?”
“No, no, no,” Isabella quickly reassured her. “It's the man I adore. I'd love him even if he were destitute. It's just that I’m unfamiliar with the complexities of divorce settlements, having never been married myself.”
“It's hardly surprising that Miss Harrington fails to comprehend the bond between Ava and Alex. They've shared a decade of their lives together. It's as if they've grown up side by side. Half of Alex's wealth is inconsequential – even if they were to divorce, they'd remain akin to siblings, maintaining contact. Should Ava encounter any difficulties, Alex would undoubtedly be there to support her.”
Mia's words flowed with an ease that starkly contrasted Isabella's flustered expression."
Ava will likely lead her own life post-divorce," Isabella ventured.
"But they won't sever their ties completely. Take you and Alex as an example – despite his marriage to Ava, he still keeps you within his circle. So, who's to say he won't maintain contact with Ava if he were to marry you?" Mia countered.
Isabella's expression soured, the sting of Mia's sarcasm not lost on her. Mia had never intended to accept her from the outset. It was all an act.
Ava finally understood Mia's strategy. She had initially buttered up Isabella, only to later confront her with the harsh reality.
Indeed, it was a masterstroke. Ava realized her own reaction had been premature, having impulsively doused Isabella with water.
"What are you insinuating with this talk of Alex and me being entangled? We're a couple."
"A couple?" Mia scoffed at the notion. "Is your name etched on the marriage certificate alongside his?"
Isabella's fists tightened, "But Alex and I were in love first."
"Does being the first grant you the audacity to brazenly play the role of the other woman?" Mia decided to cut to the chase, unapologetically labeling her 'the other woman'.
"I am not the other woman!" Isabella retorted vehemently. "If there's anyone to blame for that, it's Ava. If it weren't for her, I would have been the one married to Alex!"
