Chapter 3

Ava's POV:

When I got to the hospital, the hallway was chaos.

The nurses at the station were on the phone, security guards were running toward the patient rooms.

I rushed over and pushed open the door to the room.

Glass was shattered all over the floor.

The IV bottle had smashed, medicine pooling everywhere.

Everything from the bedside table had been swept onto the floor, the blanket torn off and thrown in the corner.

Mason was curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees, shaking all over.

Her wrists were wrapped in gauze, with blood seeping through.

"Mason!" I rushed over, crouched down and hugged her. "What's wrong? Tell me, what happened?"

She looked up, eyes red and swollen, face covered in tear stains.

"Ava..." Her voice was hoarse, like she'd cried herself raw. "I saw the news... I saw that woman throw water at you... I saw her cursing at you..."

My heart clenched hard.

"Ava, it's all my fault!" She grabbed my sleeve, fingers white from gripping so tight. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have married that bastard! You wouldn't be called a mistress! It's all because of me that you're living like this..."

"No, it's not your fault..." I held her tight, tears finally falling. "Mason, it's not your fault..."

"I don't want treatment anymore!" She started crying out, voice sharp. "I don't want to drag you down anymore! Ava, just let me die! If I die, you'll be free!"

"Don't say that!" I held her tighter, my voice shaking too. "Listen, Mason, you're my only family left. If you dare die, I won't be able to live either."

She collapsed against my shoulder, sobbing and shaking.

I held her, tears streaming down my face.

The room went quiet, just our muffled crying.

The nurse stood at the door, didn't come in.

After a long time, I slowly let go, cupped her face, and wiped away her tears with my thumbs.

"Mason, just hang on a little longer." I looked at her, voice soft but firm. "Less than a month left, and I'll have that money. Then we'll leave here, leave John, go somewhere no one knows us. I'll get you treatment, get you back in school, give you a good life. Do you trust me?"

She looked at me, tears still flowing, but nodded.

"I trust you."

I hugged her and whispered in her ear: "Then just hang on a little longer. Soon I'll take you far away from here."

I sat with her for a while, waited until she calmed down, then got up to get her medicine.

The pharmacy was on the first floor, past the maternity ward.

The hallway was busy with people, pregnant women with big bellies walking slowly with family support, happy smiles on their faces.

I thought again of the baby I'd aborted a few days ago, felt a sharp pain in my chest, lowered my head, and walked faster.

Turning the corner, I heard a familiar voice.

"John, when are you actually going to marry me? You can't let our child be born illegitimate, right?"

My whole body froze. I instinctively turned to leave.

But it was too late.

John looked up, his gaze cutting across the hallway, landing on me.

Joanna saw me too.

She leaned against John, one hand on her flat stomach, a challenging smile on her face.

"Ms. Davis?" She drew out the words, voice sweet. "What a coincidence? You're at the hospital too?"

I didn't say anything, tried to walk past them.

"Stop."

John's voice came from behind me.

I stopped but didn't turn around.

He walked in front of me, looked down at me.

"Perfect timing, I need to tell you something." His tone was casual. "Joanna's pregnant. She'll be moving into the house in a few days."

My fingers tightened slightly. I didn't speak.

"Didn't you say you didn't want to be a secretary anymore?" He paused. "I can agree to let you quit. But you need to stay home and take care of Joanna."

I looked up at him, somewhat in disbelief: "You mean... you want me to be her nanny?"