Chapter 30 

-Ava’s POV- 

  

The room erupted into a stunned silence. Dylan’s words hung in the air, each syllable slamming into the crowd with a force that felt almost physical. For a second, no one breathed. No one moved. 

Grayson growled beside me while my breath hitched. The shame, the shock, and the betrayal all boiled up, mixing with the anger that had been simmering since this nightmare began. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, facing Dylan 

“How dare you?” My voice was shaking, but I didn’t care. I was past caring 

Dylan just smiled, but there was no humor in it. It was a cruel, mocking smile, designed to hurt. “Are you going to deny i 

Deny it? Was he serious? 

“You want to do this right here? Fine. Let’s do it.” My voice was rising now, the rage bubbling over, past arry facade of control “Should we start with the fact that for the six months I was with you, you used to hit me? 

A wave of murmurs swept through the room like a gust of wind, people whispering exchanging glances. Dylan’s face darkened, his smile slipping. He hadn’t expected this. No, not from me. I was supposed to be the quiet, perfect little Ava, the woman who sat down when she was told, who didn’t fight back. 

But I wasn’t going to be woman anymore. 

“If I said the wrong thing, if I breathed the wrong way, there was either a slap or a punch, and I took it” My voice wavered for a second, but I powered through. “I concealed it with makeup. I hid the bruises with scarves, because my parents raised me to never show anything less than perfection.” 

I paused for breath, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn’t bring myself to look at Grayson. Not yet 

“You all heard that I left him,” I continued, louder now, my gaze sweeping the crowd. “But you want to know the real reason? It wasn’t the arguments or abuse or any of that. I would’ve stuck it out, so no one would see the cracks. But then he went and cheated on me with her and he has the effrontery to bring her here.” 

All eyes turned to Crystal, who suddenly looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor. 

Good. 

“And if any of you need proof, I have a video,” I added, my voice cold, unforgiving. “A nice little video taken right in the bedroom I shared with him.” I tapped my temple like I had just remembered something. “Oh, and did I mention? She’s pregnant.” 

The room went deadly silent. You could’ve heard a pin drop. Dylan took a step toward me, his face a mask of fury, but I didn’t flinch. 

“If you take another step, I’ll fight you.” My voice was steely, filled with a conviction I hadn’t known I possessed. 

He stopped, glaring at me like I was the enemy. And in his eyes, I probably was. But not this time. Not anymore. 

“What? You don’t have anything to say now?” I spat. “You want to hit me so I’ll shut up? Well, you can’t do that anymore. Screw you for being a lying, cheating, abusive bastard.” 

There was a proud smile on Damien’s face as I finished, but my mother’s cold voice finally cut through the tension, “After all the years I raised you to be something worthy, you ended up as nothing but a disappointment.” 

Her words hurt, deeper than I expected. But instead of letting them crush me, they only fueled my anger. I turned on her. 

 

“I have had it with your ‘how I raised you bullshit. Say it to me one more time and I swear, I’ll make you lose those pearls, and not in a nice way.” 

The gasps that followed were louder than anything I had ever heard from this crowd. My mother’s eyes widened, shocked, as if she couldn’t believe her perfect daughter had spoken to her like that. My father stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. 

“Ava Lilian Pierce, how dare you speak to your mother like that?” 

“I thought I wasn’t a Pierce anymore,” I mocked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. 

The alcohol had clearly kicked in. Somewhere deep down, I knew I shouldn’t be saying these things. But it felt good. It felt so damn good to finally say what had been buried for years. I still couldn’t look at Grayson, though. I couldn’t face the fury that would be in his eyes. 

Dylan was silent now, watching me like I was someone he didn’t even recognize. 

“And you know what? Screw you, father, in all seven languages you forced me to learn as a kid!” I pointed at my mother, my anger burning hotter. “And screw you for taking away my childhood!” 

Then I turned to Dylan. “And screw you for everything. Just… screw you.” 

Finally, my gaze found Crystal. “And screw you for being a slut.” 

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, but I wasn’t finished. My finger shot out, pointing at random people in the room, the ones who had been watching me with judgmental eyes all night. 

“And screw you! And you! All of you, judging me like you’re any better!” My eyes landed on Rickon, and through the haze of alcohol. I managed a shaky laugh. “Oh, not you, Rickon. It’s a beautiful ball, and I’m sorry for ruining it.” 

Rickon grinned, raising his glass toward me. “By all means, continue.” 

I couldn’t help but laugh. I had no idea what I was even doing anymore. “I’m done,” I said, waving my hand dismissively. “I’m so done with seeking your approval, doing what you all want. And for the record, I’m marrying Grayson Blackwood in two weeks, and you know what? Most of you aren’t invited!” 

“I think you’ve made your point,” came a familiar voice, smooth and low. Grayson. He sounded… amused? 

I turned, and before I knew what was happening, he was at my side, pulling me toward him, leading me out of the room. My heart was racing, my mind spinning, and I felt like I might throw up, but at the same time, I had never felt more alive. 

Before I knew it, I was laughing. 

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Grayson said, his voice snapping me back to reality. 

I looked up at him, finally forcing myself to meet his gaze, terrified of what I would see. Anger, disappointment, disgust…. But no. His gray eyes were watching me with something else entirely–something that made my heart skip a beat. 

Like I was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. 

“I’m sorry I embarrassed you,” I whispered, my voice suddenly small, like the bravado had drained out of me all at once. 

A tiny smile curved his lips. He was even more beautiful than usual when he smiled like that. My heart pounded, my breath catching in my throat. Stop it, Ava. Stop thinking about him like that. 

“You didn’t embarrass me.” His voice was calm, soothing. “You stood up for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that.” 

For a second, we just stood there, staring at each other. And in that moment, I had never seen a more beautiful man in my entire life. 

 

Then the nausea hit me hard. My stomach lurched, and before I could stop it, I was leaning forward, throwing up. 

Grayson reacted instantly, holding my hair back, his hand gentle on my shoulder. 

“Let’s get you home,” he whispered softly. 

100% 

As the world tilted around me, everything, became a blur–a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds crashing together until I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began. All I could think was how Grayson had stood there, calm and steady, while everything else fell apart. I closed my eyes, surrendering, to the dizzying sensation, letting myself fall under. 

The next time my eyes fluttered open, it was to the soft embrace of something warm. I felt myself being lifted gently, cradled as though I were precious. A sigh escaped my lips as I buried my head against the source of that delicious scent filling my senses–a mix of cedar and something distinct that I couldn’t place. For a moment, everything felt right, as if the chaos outside had ceased to exist. 

But then that lightness faded, and I felt my body sinking into something soft, plush. I blinked slowly, the light too bright, the world still spinning. When my gaze focused, I found Grayson’s face hovering over me. 

“I like your eyes,” I murmured, a smile breaking through my haze. “They’re so gray.” The words slipped out before I could stop them, the honesty of the moment cutting through the fog. 

Then, as if a wave had washed over me, I closed my eyes again, surrendering to the heaviness pulling me under once more. I curled my body around whatever softness I could find, seeking comfort in the warmth that enveloped me. 

Suddenly, I heard him whisper, “Maybe you are her.” The words resonated in the depths of my mind, but the meaning slipped away like sand through my fingers, lost to the darkness creeping in. 

Then another voice pierced the quiet, distant yet achingly near at the same time. It had a rhythmic quality, almost soothing, “Ava.” 

I hummed in response, instinctively snuggling deeper into the soft surface beneath me, yearning to escape. 

“Ava,” the voice came again, sharper, more insistent. “You need to find me because time is running out.”