Chapter 3

Twenty minutes later.

A red convertible screeched to a halt outside the bar, turning heads as its engine purred to silence.

"Sweetie, what happened?" Lila jumped out, her black leather jacket gleaming under the streetlights as she rushed to open the passenger door.

"In all these years, no matter how heated your fights with Owen got, you've never once mentioned divorce."

Avery felt utterly drained, "Let's talk in the car. First, back to your villa."

"Okay. "

During the drive to Lila's hillside villa, Avery finally revealed everything.

By the time they got back to Lila’s villa, Lila's face had flushed crimson with rage.

"Owen dared to treat you like that?" she exploded, "When you met him, he was just a poor nobody! If you hadn't helped him start his business, he wouldn't have the empire he has today!"

She paced angrily across the floor. "And that scheming sister of yours, Chloe—ever since she and her mother moved into your family home, they've been targeting you, obviously plotting to get their hands on your family fortune!"

As Lila grew increasingly worked up, Avery handed her an iced coffee.

"Calm down. Bottom line, I'm divorcing him, the sooner the better."

The words hung in the air as Avery paused, feeling as if the years of marriage had been nothing but a dream.

Years ago, Owen had taken a knife to his back protecting her from thugs, leaving an ugly scar.

Back then, he'd sworn to be with her forever.

Now they were headed for divorce.

"Finally came to your senses. Marriage is a tomb," Lila said, patting her shoulder. "Only fools dig a hole and bury themselves in it!"

Avery managed a small smile. "You're right, Lila."

Perhaps twenty years of shared history had kept her hanging on far too long.

Now it was time to let go.

"Darling, you're a genius! When I said fools earlier, I definitely wasn't including you!" Lila cupped Avery's face between her palms. "Now that you're divorcing him, you won't be wasting that brilliant mind of yours anymore, right?"

Avery couldn't respond with her cheeks squished together like that.

Lila's eyes sparkled with excitement. "You have no idea—all these years, people in the hacker alliance keep asking about you. When they hear you're back, they'll go crazy!"

She immediately opened her laptop and began typing messages.

Avery rubbed her reddened cheeks. "You're exaggerating, Lila."

"I am not!" Lila declared proudly. "After I announce this good news, the first mission I'm putting out is to attack Owen's company!"

Her typing grew more aggressive. "And that Chloe—seducing her own brother-in-law? Son of a bitch!"

"I'll have someone dig up all their scandals and release everything. They'll be furious!"

Avery looked at her friend seriously. "Lila, thank you for always standing by my side."

Ten years ago, after Avery's mother died and her father remarried, her life had become difficult.

She'd even been sent to the countryside to live with her grandmother. After her grandmother's death, she had no family left.

Now, Lila was the only family she had.

"Don't be so formal with me. Remember when we were kids? You helped me when I was being bullied," Lila said, smiling as she ruffled Avery's hair. "You should take a hot shower—relax and forget all your troubles, Avery."

Avery nodded. "Good idea."

The smoke and alcohol smell from the bar was making her uncomfortable.

Upstairs in the bathroom, Avery removed her clothes and saw the intimate marks covering her body.

Though she'd been drugged last night, her body remembered the sensations that stranger had given her.

Sensual and dangerous.

The pleasure she'd experienced was something she had never felt in all these years.

In fact, she and Owen had never been intimate in all their years together. She'd initiated a few times, but Owen always used religious beliefs as an excuse, saying "the time wasn't right."

So he could have sex with Chloe when he was drunk?

How ironic.

Half an hour later, Avery came to the living room wrapped in a towel, the marks on her skin still visible.

"Darling, look at you! Finally found yourself a lover," Lila said, eyeing her with shock before swallowing hard. "I can see it was one crazy sex night."

Avery shook her head. "Chloe drugged me, and I accidentally slept with a male model."

She briefly explained what happened the previous night.

Learning the truth, Lila's eyes reddened with anger. "That bitch Chloe! How could she do something like that? I'm going to beat her up!"

Avery grabbed her wrist. "Not yet. We need to find evidence first."

At the bar earlier, Chloe had been so arrogant precisely because she knew they couldn't prove anything.

Lila angrily ground her teeth. "I can't let that slut get away with this. I need to think of something to teach her a lesson!"

She went back to her keyboard. "I'll post a bounty to find dirt on her!"

Avery patted her shoulder. "I'll get my revenge. But first, I need you to find someone."

Lila looked puzzled. "Who?"

"The man I slept with last night. He should be a male model."

Avery touched her neck. "When I was showering, I couldn't find my necklace. It must be at his place."

Lila nodded. "Got it. I'll check with the hotel and wipe the security footage clean while I'm at it."

Then she looked Avery up and down. "So how was the model's sexual technique?"

"Not bad."

Avery pressed a finger against Lila's forehead, pushing her back. "If you won't help, I'll do it myself."

Lila laughed and hugged her. "Come on, just kidding! You finally smiled. I'll handle it—no need for you to get involved in such a small matter!"

"Good. Thanks, Lila."

Avery relaxed against her. "One more thing—I want to move my things out this afternoon."

"Sure, I'll go with you after your nap."

Lila looked up at her friend. "Darling, you're really leaving Owen this time? No going back?"

After all, over the years, she'd witnessed them break up and reconcile countless times.

"No going back," Avery said, looking out the window. "You know I don't say 'divorce' lightly."

Lila paused, then smiled. "Of course. When you actually make a decision, nobody can change your mind."

That afternoon, they drove to Flora Villa to pack up Avery's belongings. After finishing, she met the butler downstairs.

"Mrs. Walker, what are you doing?" he asked, confused.

Avery handed him the divorce agreement. "Please give this to Owen. Everything else in my room can be thrown away."

With that, she left with Lila without looking back.

On the drive back, Avery remained silent. Though she had given up on Owen, letting go of so many years of feelings was still painful, but she didn't cry.

"Honey, the fastest cure for heartbreak is starting a new relationship," Lila said, winking at her. "Darling, there's a gala tomorrow night with lots of handsome men who are a thousand times better than Owen!"

But Avery still wasn't in the mood. "You go. I'm too tired."

Lila, however, wouldn't take no for an answer. "You're a young, beautiful, wealthy woman—of course you should enjoy yourself!"

Her eyes gleamed as she played her trump card. "I heard Matteo Ferrari just returned to the country and will be there."

"He's supposedly Country A's most mysterious man, in the top three of the wealthy list, with access to many resources!"

"Sweetie, doesn't your company need to secure that design project from his firm? If you could negotiate with him directly, your chances of success would definitely increase!"

Lila knew Avery was a career-driven woman, especially when it came to fashion design—she never refused opportunities.

Sure enough, after thinking it over, Avery said, "Alright, I'll go."

According to rumors, Matteo was a ruthless man. Some said he once had someone who offended him buried alive, suffocating to death.

Was it true?

She couldn't help but feel curious about this legendary Matteo.