Chapter 4 Picking up the pieces

Ava never thought rock bottom would look like this.

Ava stood in the doorway of her new "apartment", gazing around at the drab, rundown space. The air was stale and musty, the paint on the walls was peeling, and the ceiling fan creaked and groaned like it was on its last spin. It was a far cry from the luxurious penthouse she used to call home.

She sighed, feeling a pang of sadness and regret. The penthouse was gone, lost to her ex-husband's deceit and greed. The black credit card, once her ticket to a life of luxury, was now frozen, useless to her. Even her clothes, once a symbol of her status and style, had to be sold off just to afford this dingy little apartment.

Ava's eyes wandered around the small, cluttered space, taking in the second-hand furniture and the faded curtains. It was a humble, unglamorous life, but it was hers now.

Lucas did this.

Not only did he divorce her in the most humiliating way possible, but he made sure she had nothing to fall back on. No money, no connections, and worst of all-no reputation. Ava had nothing on her to survive and she can't get a good job at the moment.

She sat down on the lumpy mattress, her body aching from exhaustion.

For the first time in years, she had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

And that scared the hell out of her.

Now reality hit her.

Ava spent the next few days job hunting.

Her inbox was filled with rejection emails, and the few places she managed to get interviews with? They never called back.

It didn't take a genius to figure out why.

Lucas had poisoned her name everywhere.

The moment someone googled "Ava Sinclair," they saw the headlines:

"Billionaire's Ex-Wife Caught in Scandal-Did She Cheat First?"

"Ava Sinclair's Fall from Grace: From Power Couple to Persona Non Grata."

"Once a Socialite, Now a Scandal-Who Will Hire Ava Sinclair?"

She gritted her teeth and kept trying. Pride wouldn't pay the bills.

Finally, she found a marketing assistant position at a small firm.

The pay was garbage, but she didn't have the luxury of being picky.

Ava showed up on her first day wearing a thrift-store blazer and the best heels she had left.

She refused to look defeated.

Her new boss, Michael Reed, was a walking HR violation.

From the moment she walked into his office, she could feel his eyes dragging over her body.

"You're overqualified for this job," he mused, leaning back in his chair.

Ava forced a polite smile. "I just need a fresh start."

Michael smirked. "I like that. Hardworking. Determined." His gaze lingered. "We'll see how you do here, Ava."

She should have walked out right then.

But she needed the job.

So, she stayed.

By the end of the first week, Ava was convinced that Michael hired her just to make her life hell.

Her job title was Marketing Assistant, but somehow, she was also:

His personal coffee runner.

His errand girl.

His wife's last-minute reservation fixer.

Oh, and he didn't even pay her on time.

"Accounting must've messed up," he said every damn week, flashing that same slimy smile.

Ava trudged through her day, exhaustion weighing her down. When night finally fell, she collapsed onto her mattress, her stomach growling with hunger. She hadn't eaten all day.

Her hand without thinking reached her phone, but then she remembered - there was no one to call. No one to share her day with, no one to listen to her troubles.

Her fingers drifted to an old photo on her phone. The screen flickered to life, showing a picture of her snuggled up on the couch, wearing Lucas's shirt. Her head rested on his lap, his fingers tangled in her hair. A lazy smile spread across his face.

Ava's eyes lingered on the photo, memories flooding back. She could almost feel Lucas's gentle touch, his warm breath on her skin. Her heart ached, missing the comfort and love they once shared.

"I'll always take care of you, Ava."

She could still hear his voice, the promise in it.

"You'll never have to struggle as long as I'm here."

Ava squeezed her eyes shut, her throat burning with unshed tears. It was all just a sick joke. Lucas hadn't just left her to struggle - he'd made sure she hit rock bottom.

The memories of their life together, the love they shared, it all felt like a lie now. Ava's heart felt like it had been ripped apart, leaving her with a gaping hole that could never be filled.

Ava woke up the next morning feeling empty, like a part of her had died. She went through the motions of getting ready, but her heart wasn't in it.

As she poured herself a cup of coffee, she turned on the TV to catch the morning news. And that's when she saw him - Lucas, standing in front of a microphone, a smug smile spreading across his face.

Ava's numbness vanished in an instant, replaced by a burning rage. What was he doing now?

Lucas.

Standing next to Charlotte.

Smiling.

"Billionaire Lucas Haya's steps out with Charlotte Sinclair -are they New York's next power couple?"

The screen flashed photos of them at a gala, Charlotte clinging to his arm like she already replaced Ava.

Ava's stomach twisted.

Charlotte.

Her own sister.

Lucas had destroyed her, and now he was out in the world, living his best life with the one person who should have had her back.

She gripped her phone so tight her knuckles turned white.

No.

Lucas didn't get to ruin her and walk away unscathed.

He thought she was finished?

He was dead wrong.

Ava wasn't just going to survive.

She was going to make him pay.

And she knew exactly where to start.

Ava's eyes were still glued to the TV, her mind racing with anger and hurt. But then, as if the universe was listening to her thoughts, her phone buzzed.

She glanced down at the screen, her heart skipping a beat.

Unknown Number: I told you Lucas wasn't done. But neither am I. You want to take him down? I can help you.

Ava's pulse surged. Who the hell was this? And how did they know what she was planning? She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that someone out there was watching her, waiting for her to make a move.

One thing was certain-she wasn't alone in this fight. And that changed everything.

Ava's fingers hovered over the keyboard, her mind racing with questions. Who was this mysterious ally? And what did they have planned for Lucas?

Just as she was about to respond, another text came through: Meet me at the coffee shop on 5th and Main at 2 pm. Come alone.

Ava's heart was racing now. Who was she about to meet? And what did they have in store for her? She looked at the clock on her phone - 1:45 pm. She had 15 minutes to decide what to do next...