Chapter Five

Ava's POV

Sighting Ethan from the staircase, I couldn't even mask my resentment for him, no matter how much I tried.

“What are you doing here?” I asked sternly, but not to the point where he'd swallow whatever he came to say.

His demeanour was the calmest I'd seen in weeks.

“Here me out first, will you?” He spoke up so calmly with hints of pain in his voice. “I've been calling you, but I got no response. That's the reason I'm here.”

“You're here because you care?” I raised a brow at him, inwardly surprised at how long it took for him to start experiencing hell in Ivana’s hands.

Truth be told, I couldn't help but pity him. However, there was no way I was going to show any sign of vulnerability, so he wouldn't mock me again.

“I'm sorry–”

“Sorry?” I didn't let him finish. “You let Ivana turn you away so easily, and after everything you've done, you think, calling me multiple times and finally standing here to say sorry, will fix everything?” I raised my voice slightly at him, finding it really difficult to contain my emotions.

He didn't move. He just stood there like a lost soul, and even though I wanted to be mad, I just couldn't help but notice the pain in his eyes. What exactly was going on?

“Can you at least hear me out?” He pleaded quietly, slowly gesturing for Mrs Cordelia to leave us.

One nod in her direction and she was gone, but I wasn't to blink twice before his soft lips pressed hard against mine with so much force as though he were trying to push his way back into my life. I pushed him as hard as I could, but not just his body stood rigid. His emotions when he refused to let go stood rigid.

After I successfully landed a slap across his face, he parted from me.

“You don't hate me, yet Ava,” he said weakly, though with confidence.

“You had better left this place else–”

“Your sister left you a message. She said any partnership with Glint will cost your possible position and role in her company in the future. She said you'll permanently have nothing to do with the company or the remains of your father's wealth.”

I staggered backwards, not in so much shock as I was already heartbroken.

“I should have known…” I whispered.

“It's not like that, Ava, you have to–”

“You know, I really thought that you had realised what deep shit you've gotten yourself into and come back. At least, you're not married to her, yet, but then again, it felt fulfilling for you to work into my home pretending to regret what you did, kiss me and prove to me that you'd be nothing like Ivana's puppet! I must be so foolish for that–”

“Ava–”

“Don't call my name.”

“You are really–”

“Stop!” I exclaimed, making him swallow hard. It broke me to know that I couldn't believe him anymore or give him another chance since he always took advantage of the ones I gave to him in the past. “Tell Ivana that I'd do whatever I want, and she can wreck hell as much as she'd love to.”

“She's still your sister no matter what. She might have a better reason.”

“You dare cheat on me with her, stalk me, and here you are asking me to believe her just because she sent you. You should be ashamed of yourself, Ethan. Very ashamed,” I spat. “Now get out!”

“You won't believe me, but I hope your hatred doesn't blind you forever,” I said wearily before leaving.

I ran back upstairs, thinking about his level of audacity, shamelessness, and ruthlessness. I had been tricked into believing that he could change again, and this time was going to be the last time.

I picked the envelope and noticed how light it felt in my hands. Just then, something hit me. How was Ivana able to know about the invitation in the first place? She had taken everything I owned and had worked hard for, so why was she interested in this mysterious offer to start with?

Sighing, I took out the documents. At first, it wasn't far from the ordinary. An annual salary of five hundred thousand dollars, an annual bonus of fifty to one hundred percent of my base salary, catchy allowances, which would all increase after the first two years of working for the company. But then again, there was a small note that had the same seal on the box from Ivana.

I swallowed hard before deciding to open the one from Glint. ‘We hope you choose to work with us, Miss Ava. A lot of benefits await you, and this phase just began. Stay tuned!’ The note read.

I couldn't help but blush slightly over it. Recalling Ivana's hopes to make me turn down the offer as well as their hospitality and overall working ethic, I replied to their email, accepting the position they had offered me as the Chief Financial Officer.

Just as I was about to go to bed, Cordelia knocked again, with a smaller box this time.

“Ivana sent it?”

“I have no idea. I was doing the last house check when I saw it at the front door. Whoever sent it knows it's your home, so it was meant for you.”

“Alright,” I sighed, rising to my feet to check out the boxes. “Why do you think that Ivana would send this one now when I was supposed to get it the day my father died?” I asked out of the blue while opening the box.

I watched as she just shrugged, perhaps, pondering on the question.

“H-how is that possible?” She stammered when the box turned out to be empty. “She had assured me that it was important, which was why she asked me to leave your sick father that day,” she panicked as my expression hardened.

For the first time, it hit me. My father's door was locked from the inside, and he had been bedridden for months, so how was he able to lock his door all of a sudden? Also, although there was a fire outbreak, it wasn't serious.

Could it be that Ivana…