Ava’s POV
The feeling of having your heart completely shattered isn’t that romantic pain described in novels. It’s a real, physical agony in your chest, like soone taking an iron hamr and rcilessly beating you from within. This betrayal wasn’t so spur-of-the-mont thing. This was deliberate, repeated deception. What destroyed most? His complete unwillingness to trust . After all our ti together, he’d rather believe so blurry photos taken by that woman than ask directly about the truth.
He didn’t even have the balls to break up with first. He just went and screwed soone else behind my back, tossing aside like garbage. What the hell was I to him? So disposable plaything he could just replace whenever?
I slamd the door with all my strength, making the entire doorfra shake violently. Then, like a puppet with cut strings, I slid down against it until I hit the floor, my legs completely unable to support my weight.
When the tears started, I tried to keep it together, but I totally lost it within seconds. I buried my face in my knees and let out these ugly, gut-wrenching sobs that didn’t even sound like —the kind of crying that tear from the depths of my soul. Ti beca a complete blur; could’ve been ten minutes, could’ve been an hour, I had no clue anymore.
My chest felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed with a knife, every breath bringing sharp pain. My face was covered with a mixture of tears and snot, hiccuping constantly, my throat raw from crying. I remained curled up by the door, resembling an abandoned child.
Feeling the cold from the floor seeping into my bones, I dragged my exhausted body to the couch, wallowing in self-pity.
The living room was dark, with only street lights casting weak beams through the balcony windows. Suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of keys, followed by my mother’s high heels on the entryway carpet.
"Ava? Why are the lights off—" her voice cut off abruptly.
With the door wide open, the hallway light lit up what a hot ss I was. Mom’s figure just stopped dead in the doorway, briefcase in hand, wearing her suit with perfect makeup that couldn’t hide how beat she looked.
"Oh God..." she imdiately dropped everything, kicked off her high heels, and rushed to my side.
Mom didn’t ask any questions. She simply sat beside and pulled into her embrace just like she used to when I was sick as a child. She slled of faint perfu and the weariness of a long workday, yet she was incredibly warm. I curled into her arms, seeking comfort in her familiar warmth.
She rocked gently, one hand stroking my ssy hair, the other patting my back. She didn’t press for answers, just quietly stayed with while I cried. I could feel her chin resting on the top of my head, occasionally releasing a soft sigh.
After ages of crying, the waterworks finally began to slow down, though my voice was now hoarse. "Mom, aren’t you going to ask what happened?"
Mom was silent for a few seconds, then answered with her signature caustic tone. "Besides a man, I can’t imagine what else could reduce my strong, independent daughter to this sorry state. Your current makeup would be perfect for a horror film, sweetheart."
Despite her sharp words, I knew she was trying to make feel better. I hugged her tighter, feeling her place a gentle kiss on the top of my head.
"Want to curse out that bastard? I’m quite skilled at it," she offered.
"You don’t even know exactly what happened. How can you curse him accurately?" I challenged.
Mom gently wiped the tear tracks and smudged mascara from my face with a tissue."Darling, I’ve been alive long enough to have seen every trick n can play. Let guess—besides cheating, what else could it be? Two-timing? Emotional betrayal? Or playing with multiple won simultaneously?"
I couldn’t help but give a bitter laugh."You could add dostic violence, gambling, drugs, alcoholism..." My voice gradually faded as I suddenly realized that Joseph was actually slightly better than those true scumbags.
"If you’ve actually fallen for that kind of garbage, it ans I’ve completely failed at teaching you how to identify quality n. I should reconsider my educational thods," Mom said with a serious face.
I playfully punched her arm."Mom! Can’t you comfort normally? Give so warm maternal love?"
"You know I’m showing trendous restraint by not saying ’I warned you all n are unreliable,’ right? This is already pushing the limits of my patience," she replied.
I rolled my eyes, but finally cracked a small smile."Well, now I know where I get my sassy mouth from. Thanks for the DNA, Mom."
"That’s called having personality and a sense of humor about life, " she corrected . "And it’s a survival skill."
"Are you fishing for complints about being a cool mom?" I asked.
"I already am the coolest mom. Look at my achievents—raising you to be this independent and excellent, maintaining a successful career myself. My only mistake was not providing enough training in identifying jerks. But that can be redied."
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry."Wait, are we discussing my emotional trauma or praising your parenting achievents?"
Mom stood up and walked elegantly toward the kitchen."Both, of course. But first, we need professional equipnt."
She took out a bottle of Dom Pérignon from the refrigerator, the expensive champagne she only opened for special occasions.
"Heartbreak requires proper ceremony," she said while opening the bottle. "Cheap alcohol doesn’t match your current level of pain."
I told her the whole story about Joseph’s cheating—from noticing his cold attitude, to catching him in bed with Sophia, and him admitting today that it wasn’t just a one-ti thing. While telling the story, I cried again, but my emotions weren’t as intense as before.
After hearing everything, Mom nodded thoughtfully."So that’s why you’ve been distracted and barely eating lately. I knew my daughter wouldn’t turn into a zombie without good reason."
I nodded guiltily, but wouldn’t dare ntion the threatening letters. Mom was worried enough already.
"So now the question is," Mom put down her glass and looked at with the serious expression, "are you planning to forgive that bastard?"
"Absolutely not," I said without hesitation. "At least not now. I hate him. I hate that he deceived , hate that he didn’t trust , and hate even more that he made look like a fool."
Mom nodded with satisfaction."Good. I have sothing to tell you, Ava."
"I got a job offer from a top pharma company far from Harbor Bay—better pay, better opportunities. They headhunted because of my successful project here. I’ve been thinking about taking it."
My heart suddenly skipped a beat."Mom, this... isn’t this rather sudden?"
"I know it’s sudden, and I haven’t made my final decision. They said the offer remains open, so I can take my ti considering it," Odelia said gently. "What I want to say is, if you’re unhappy here, if this place causes you too much pain, we can start over together. New city, new environnt, completely leave these troubles behind."
I felt a wave of panic, but before I could respond, the doorbell rang.
Odelia checked the ti and smiled mysteriously."I think experts more skilled at comforting heartbroken girls than have arrived."
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