Chapter 3Her Grand Show, My Blaze

I stared at her.

This was the woman I had protected and cherished for three years, the woman whose favorite shampoo brand I still memorized. And here she was, in front of the city's most prominent investors, smashing a glass to defend an assistant who had been with her for less than a month.

A soft chuckle escaped me.

"Ava, are you sure you want to make a scene here?"

"You started this!" she hissed, her teeth clenched. "You will apologize to Tristan. Right now, in front of everyone!"

An apology.

While I was lying in a hospital bed with internal bleeding, she was setting off fireworks for him. And now, she wanted me to apologize.

"Ava, you are the one who needs to apologize today."

"Me?" Ava let out a mocking laugh. "Jack, you just burned thirty million dollars worth of contracts and ruined a summit I prepared for six months. And you expect me to apologize?"

She looked me up and down, as if examining an ungrateful stranger.

Tristan immediately put on a display of fragile vulnerability, tugging gently at Ava's sleeve.

"Ava, it’s fine... it’s my fault. Mr. Ashford, I’m sorry. Please don't be angry."

He kept his head low, his shoulders trembling slightly as tears pooled in his eyes.

"Quite the actor, aren’t you, Tristan?" I said.

Tristan snapped his head up, his expression instantly shifting to wounded innocence.

"Mr. Ashford, I’m a diagnosed depression patient who has been with this company for barely a month. Your constant targeting... I really can’t take much more of this."

As he spoke, real tears began to stream down his cheeks.

The whispers in the crowd grew louder.

"Ava’s husband has a terrible temper."

"I heard the assistant is sick... why is he bullying him like that?"

"Well, that's what happens when a guy lives off his wife for too long. He gets insecure."

I didn't look at them. I kept my eyes on Ava.

"Ava, do you hear that? Everyone thinks I’m the one picking on your little assistant."

Ava’s lips curled into a cold, contemptuous sneer.

"Jack, you aren't just insecure from living off me. You’ve gotten so used to it that you actually think you’re someone important."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word felt like a blade. The crowd chuckled in agreement.

Despite the sharp pain in my stomach, I smiled.

"Good."

I gestured to Justin, who handed me another document.

I slammed the paper onto the podium.

"Tristan, you are fired."

Tristan let out a sharp laugh. "Mr. Ashford, you’re firing me? You don't have the authority."

"Whether I do or don't," I looked at Ava, "is up to her."

Every eye in the room turned to Ava.

She stared back at me, her eyes locking onto mine for three long seconds.

Then, under the watchful gaze of the entire room, she slowly reached out, picked up the paper, and tore it in half.

The shredded pieces drifted to the floor.

"Jack," her voice was like ice. "Tristan’s employment is none of your business. In this company, I make the decisions."

"Who are you? You’re just my husband."

A mocking smile touched her lips. "I let you come today out of respect. Don’t push your luck."

A collective gasp echoed through the room.

Tristan kept his head lowered, his shoulders shaking, but I caught the smug, victorious grin stretching across his face.

Looking at this woman who had just publicly stripped away the last shred of my dignity, the pain in my stomach intensified, yet my smile only widened.

"Excellent, Ava. Very well."

Without another word, I turned and walked off the stage.

Behind me, Ava was already smoothly explaining to the investors, "Apologies for the distraction, everyone. Just a minor domestic dispute. The summit will proceed as planned."

Her tone shifted back to professional efficiency so quickly, as if the entire incident had been nothing more than a minor, irritating blip.

And I was barely even that.

As I reached the corridor outside, the frantic click of high heels sounded behind me.

Ava caught up, grabbing my arm with a tight grip.

"Jack, have you had your fun today? Just tell me what you want. Name your price."

Name your price.

She wasn't trying to resolve things. She was dismissing me like a pet throwing a tantrum.

"I don't want your money, Ava. I want a divorce."

Ava froze for a split second.

Then, she laughed. It was a laugh of disbelief, mockery, and ultimately, relief.

"A divorce? Are you serious, Jack?"

"Completely."

"Fine."

She let go of my arm, shaking me off as if I were a piece of dirty laundry.

"I’ve been waiting for you to say that for a long time."

She pulled out her phone and dialed her lawyer right in front of me.

"Robert, draft a divorce agreement and have it delivered to my place tonight."

"Yes, Jack leaves with nothing. No house, no car, no savings. If he refuses to sign, we’ll see him in court."

She hung up and looked down at me coldly.

"Jack, don’t think for a second that today’s stunt will make me regret this. If anything, you’ve saved me a payout and a very awkward conversation."

"I can’t wait to get you out of my life."

"Oh, and make sure your things are out of my house by tonight."

With that, she took Tristan’s arm and walked away without looking back.