Chapter 2

I did the math.

I earned $50,000 a month, not counting performance bonuses, annual bonuses, and stock. Altogether, nearly $30 million was under Ava’s control.

Ava herself earned only $8,000 a month. Other than that, she had nothing.

Yet she acted like a multimillionaire, casually buying purses that cost more than $100,000 and all kinds of luxury goods.

And me?

I had nothing.

My watch and wedding ring were locked away. If I wanted to wear them, I had to submit an application explaining the occasion.

According to Ava, I attended too many business dinners and drank with clients every night.

“There’s no need for that,” she’d said. “Eating at home is healthier.”

She also insisted I didn’t need to wear a watch or a ring.

“Simple is best.”

She had sounded so certain when she talked about how beautiful simplicity was that I hadn’t argued. At the time, I was always busy, and having things on my hands really was inconvenient.

But looking back, I realized she had been manipulating me the entire time.

I took a deep breath, straightened myself up, and headed for the safe.

Ava followed behind me.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

“There’s a press conference the day after tomorrow. I need to get a watch to go with my outfit.”

But when I entered the combination, the safe rejected it.

I turned to her.

“You changed the password?”

“Yes. If you need anything, just ask me. I changed every password in the house.”

My anger flared.

“Who gave you the right? That safe belongs to me. I set the password, and I bought everything inside. What right do you have to change it?”

“Starting today, I won’t let you control a single cent of my property. Deal with it.”

Ava looked at me with complete calm.

“Darling, you’re exhausted. Is work stressing you out? You gave me authorization in the first place. Why are you suddenly taking it back? Did someone tell you something?”

She reached out and touched my head.

I slapped her hand away.

“Don’t touch me. You feel like a stranger.”

Ava stared at the red mark on the back of her hand. There was a warning in her voice when she spoke again.

“Baby, if you behave, we won’t have any problems. But if you refuse to listen, I’ll punish you.”

I was furious.

“Open the safe. I’m taking my watch.”

“No. Remember to submit an application.”

I took a deep breath and raised my hand to hit the safe, but Ava grabbed my wrist.

“Ethan, you’re emotionally unstable. You shouldn’t handle our family’s shared assets anymore. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. If you need money, just apply for it.”

I laughed in disbelief.

“You think I can’t do anything to you?”

She smiled.

“Baby, you’re overthinking things. Go get some sleep.”

Ava was completely unafraid.

She probably didn’t believe I would actually divorce her.

And there was no question that everything inside the safe was gone.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned around and walked out.

The moment I reached the lobby, she called me.

“Are you going to the apartment downtown? Too bad. I already sold it.”

I stopped in my tracks and looked up at the building.

Ava stood by the window of our luxury apartment, smiling down at me.

“Come back. It’s getting late!”

I clenched my fists.

I never imagined she would dare sell my apartment.

“Ava, forging a signature is illegal!”

“We’ll see how this ends!”

I had my lawyer draft the divorce papers and sent them to her. Then I got into my car and drove away without hesitation.

Ava kept calling, but I didn’t answer.

I didn’t want to speak to her.

Time was running out. Since we had already torn off the mask, there was no reason to show her mercy.