Hey! Ex-husband, You are the loser after all

Ava Sinclair adjusted her champagne flute and tried to ignore the weight of the stares aimed at her from across the ballroom. She'd spent the past hour smiling through clenched teeth, nodding politely as strangers commented on her emerald-green gown, her glowing skin, or her perfect life. "Mrs. Hayes, you and Lucas are such a power couple. What's your secret?"

The secret was that Lucas had barely spoken to her in weeks. The secret was that every time he touched her now, it felt rehearsed, like an actor hitting his marks.

"Excuse me," Ava murmured, cutting the conversation short with a polished smile. She stepped away from the crowd and headed toward the terrace.

Outside, the air was cool and sharp. The city sparkled below her, the lights blurred by the tears she refused to let fall. Tonight, everything felt off, even more than usual. Lucas hadn't greeted her when she arrived at the gala. In fact, she hadn't seen him since the limo ride here, where his silence had been deafening.

Her phone buzzed in her clutch, and she pulled it out, half-expecting another text from Charlotte. Where are you? Why aren't you smiling more? Ava's sister had a way of turning even genuine concern into thinly veiled criticism.

Instead, the screen displayed a photo of her and Lucas from last year-beaming, hand in hand, the picture of marital bliss. The headline below made her stomach churn.

"Sources Say Trouble in Paradise for Billionaire Lucas Hayes and Wife Ava."

"Great," she muttered, shoving the phone back into her bag. She wasn't sure which hurt more-seeing the headline or knowing it wasn't entirely wrong.

"Ava."

The familiar voice sent a shiver down her spine. She turned to find Lucas standing in the doorway, his sharp tuxedo emphasizing the chiseled lines of his face. His dark hair was perfectly in place, his expression unreadable.

"You disappeared," he said, stepping closer.

"Just needed some air," she replied, keeping her tone light. She wasn't about to let him see how rattled she felt.

"Come inside."

"Why? So I can smile for the cameras while you pretend we're still in love?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't respond right away. Instead, he looked at her like he was weighing something, deciding whether to speak.

"What is it, Lucas?" she pressed, her voice laced with frustration. But he just stood there, his back to her, his shoulders squared like a fortress. Then, without a word, he turned and disappeared into the darkness of the house, leaving her alone with only the echo of her own question.

As soon as Ava walked into the ballroom, the atmosphere changed. The chatter died down, and people's eyes flicked nervously in her direction, like they'd been caught staring. The air was thick with tension, and Ava could feel the weight of everyone's gaze, even when they pretended not to be looking.

She found Lucas standing at the center of the room, holding a microphone.

Her stomach dropped.

"Thank you all for being here tonight," he began, his voice steady and commanding. "Your support for the Hayes Foundation means the world to me. To both of us." He glanced toward Ava, but there was no warmth in his eyes, no trace of the man who once kissed her forehead every morning.

"Before we continue, I have an announcement to make," Lucas said.

Ava's heart hammered in her chest.

"I wanted you to hear this directly from me. Ava and I have decided to separate."

The words hit her like a slap. The room spun, the soft hum of murmured shock deafening. She felt every eye on her, every whisper slicing into her like a blade.

She managed to stay rooted in place, her expression frozen in practiced composure. Inside, she was unraveling.

Lucas handed the microphone off and stepped down, walking past her without a glance. Ava felt her breath hitch, her throat tightening with the weight of a thousand unspoken words.

---

Fifteen minutes later, Ava was huddled in the back of a cab, her gown bunched awkwardly around her knees. She stared out the window as the city blurred past, the driver's radio buzzing softly with chatter.

"You alright, ma'am?" the driver asked, his voice tinged with concern.

She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. How could she explain the humiliation, the betrayal, the raw ache clawing at her chest?

"Just drive," she said finally, her voice barely audible.

The cab pulled up to the townhouse she had once called home. She stepped inside, the cold silence swallowing her whole. The staff had been dismissed for the evening, leaving the place eerily quiet.

Ava sank onto the edge of the bed, her fingers trembling as she unzipped her clutch. The photo of her and Lucas stared back at her from the screen. She swiped it away, but the sting of it lingered.

How had it come to this?

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from Charlotte.

Saw the announcement. Call me.

Ava let out a bitter laugh. Of course, Charlotte would reach out now. The timing was too perfect to be anything but calculated.

She tossed the phone onto the bed and leaned back, her head hitting the pillows. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but she wouldn't cry. Not for Lucas. Not for anyone.

---

Somewhere across the city, Lucas sat in his penthouse office, staring out at the skyline. His tie was loosened, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar. A half-empty glass of whiskey sat on the desk in front of him.

He replayed the look on Ava's face when he'd made the announcement. The shock, the hurt. He hated himself for it.

But it had to be done.

Protecting her meant pushing her away, a painful necessity that shredded his heart. Every fiber of his being screamed to hold her close, to keep her safe within his arms.

But he knew that would only put her in greater danger. So he steeled himself, donning a mask of indifference, and forced himself to push her away. The thought of living without her was unbearable, but he'd rather die than see her harmed.

He couldn't get her out of his head - the way she'd stood there, frozen like a deer in headlights, the spotlight beating down on her like a drum. It was like he'd snapped a photo of that moment, and now it was stuck on repeat in his brain. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face, pale and scared, with those big eyes that seemed to bore into his soul.

"Damn it," he growled, slamming the glass down and tossing back the last of the whiskey. The liquor seared his throat, but it was nothing compared to the acid eating away at his gut. He'd just made a choice, one that would haunt him for the rest of his life. And now, all he could do was stand there, waiting for the fallout.

He thought of her, standing alone in the darkness, and his chest twisted into a knot. What had he done? What had he just done?

Chapter 2 – Betrayal and Humiliation

Ava barely registered the flashing cameras or the low murmurs turning into full-blown whispers around her. The words still echoed in her head, sharp and unforgiving.

"Effective immediately, Ava Sinclair and I have decided to separate. We ask for privacy during this transition."

Lucas's voice had been calm. Too calm. No hesitation. No regret. Like he hadn't just ripped her world apart in front of hundreds of people.

Her fingers trembled as she gripped the edge of the nearest table, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn't real. It couldn't be.

Ava's world had just been turned upside down. Her husband-the man she'd loved and trusted with every fiber of her being-had just announced their separation to the entire city. And the worst part? He hadn't even warned her. No heads-up, no hint, no nothing.

Just a public declaration that their marriage was over. Ava felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was sit there, her mind reeling with questions.

Why had he done it? Why hadn't he told her? And what was she supposed to do now?

The room spun for a second before she forced herself to take a slow, steady breath. No. She wasn't going to break. Not here.

Ava pushed through the crowd, ignoring the stares, the pitying glances, the reporters already scrambling for their cameras. The whispers followed her, slicing into her like knives.

"Did you know about this?"

"She looks blindsided."

"Poor thing. And at a gala? That's brutal."

She spotted him near the entrance, speaking to a few business associates, looking completely unaffected. As if he hadn't just publicly discarded her like an accessory gone out of style.

Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she closed the distance between them. She barely registered the murmurs that followed.

"Lucas!"

He turned, blue eyes flickering with something unreadable before he schooled his expression. "Ava, not here."

"Not here?" Her voice rose, her anger barely leashed. "Then where, Lucas? When exactly were you planning to tell me that my marriage was over?"

A few nearby guests stilled, pretending not to listen-but it was too late. The scandal was already unfolding.

Lucas exhaled, jaw tight. "I'll explain later."

Ava let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Later? You just blindsided me in front of the entire damn city, and you think I'll just wait for an explanation?"

Before he could answer, another voice chimed in, smooth and laced with amusement.

"Oh, Ava. Causing a scene already?"

Her stomach clenched.

She didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Charlotte.

Ava forced herself to breathe, to keep her expression neutral as she turned to face her sister. Charlotte stood there, too put together, too smug, sipping champagne like she was enjoying the show.

"Stay out of this, Charlotte," Ava said, voice cold.

Charlotte arched a brow, feigning innocence. "I'm just concerned. It's all so tragic, really. Your perfect marriage crumbling in front of everyone." She sighed, shaking her head. "And those rumors..."

Ava's pulse spiked. "What rumors?"

Charlotte's smile widened. "Oh, you haven't heard?" She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with something too calculated to be genuine. "The media is buzzing with stories about your affair."

Ava stiffened. "You're lying."

Charlotte shrugged. "Am I?"

Ava's hands trembled as she yanked out her phone, unlocking it in one quick motion. Notifications flooded the screen.

Headlines flashed before her eyes:

Ava Sinclair: The Billionaire's Wife with a Secret Lover?

Inside the Scandal: Did Ava Cheat First?

Sources Say Lucas Sinclair Endured His Wife's Betrayal for Years!

Her stomach twisted.

This wasn't just a random rumor. It was planted. Spun so perfectly that it painted Lucas as the victim and her as the villain.

Ava's grip tightened around the phone as she looked up at her sister, rage bubbling beneath her skin. "You did this."

Charlotte took a slow sip of her drink. "Come on, Ava. You know how the game works. If you don't control the narrative, someone else will. Consider this... payback."

Ava's breath came faster, her mind racing. Payback?

Charlotte had always been ruthless, but this? This was war.

Ava was still reeling from her sister's shocking betrayal. She hadn't even had a chance to wrap her head around it before Lucas spoke up. His voice was like a knife, slicing through the thick tension in the room.

"What's going on here?" Lucas asked, his eyes scanning the room. Ava's sister looked guilty, avoiding eye contact with everyone. Ava just felt numb, like she'd been punched in the gut.

Lucas's question hung in the air, waiting for an answer. But nobody seemed willing to provide one. The room was silent, except for the sound of Lucas's shoes echoing off the floor as he walked closer to Ava.

"Someone need to tell me what's going on," Lucas pressed, his voice firm but controlled. Ava's sister finally spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Ava. I didn't mean to hurt you." But the damage was already done.

"Enough."

Ava turned back to him, waiting-hoping-for him to say something, to defend her. To tell the world that none of this was true.

To at least look at her and say something.

But instead, he pulled out a crisp white envelope and held it out to her.

"Ava, this is for you."

She didn't take it. Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear. "What is that?"

Lucas met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Divorce papers."

The words hit like a slap.

Ava inhaled sharply, her nails digging into her palm. "You can't be serious."

But he was. Completely. Utterly. Serious.

Her world tilted.

He wasn't just leaving her.

He was erasing her.

The whispers grew louder, but all Ava could hear was the rush of blood in her ears.

Charlotte smirked. Lucas stared at her with that same detached expression.

And that's when it hit her.

She had lost.

No.

No, she hadn't.

Lucas wanted to destroy her?

Charlotte wanted to humiliate her?

Fine.

But they had no idea who they were dealing with.

Ava straightened her shoulders, her grip on the phone tightening. She felt her mask slip into place, the cold, ruthless composure she had honed over years in the business world.

She wouldn't cry. Not here. Not ever.

Slowly, she took the envelope from Lucas, her fingers steady.

She met his gaze-calm, unreadable.

And then she smiled.

Not a warm smile. Not a defeated one.

A smile that made even Charlotte's smirk falter.

"Thank you, Lucas," Ava said smoothly, her voice laced with something dangerous.

"For making this easier than I thought."

Lucas's brows furrowed slightly, like he hadn't expected that reaction.

Good.

Let him wonder. Let both of them wonder.

Because if they thought this was the end of Ava Sinclair, they were dead wrong.

This wasn't just a divorce.

This was the beginning of their downfall.

And Ava?

She was going to make them regret underestimating her.

As Ava walks away, her phone vibrates. A message from an unknown number pops up.

"I have information on Lucas. You're going to want to see this."

Ava's pulse spikes.

Oh.

Now things were getting interesting.

Chapter 3 – From Wealth to Nothing

Ava stood in the middle of the penthouse, staring at the bank notification on her phone.

"ACCOUNT FROZEN."

Her stomach clenched as she refreshed the screen. The result was the same.

Her credit cards-declined.

Her assets-locked.

Her financial access-completely cut off.

Ava's breath came in short, uneven bursts. She scrolled through her banking app, trying every account she had tied to Sinclair Enterprises. Nothing.

Everything was gone.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. This had to be a mistake.

She quickly dialed her bank, her fingers shaking. The call connected after three rings.

"Good evening, Mrs. Sinclair. How can I assist you?"

Relief flooded her. "Yes, I'm having trouble accessing my accounts. There must be some kind of-"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Your accounts have been frozen under direct authorization from the primary account holder."

Ava's grip tightened around the phone. "Primary account holder?"

"Mr. Lucas Grey."

Her blood ran cold.

Of course. Of course, it was him.

She forced her voice to stay even. "This must be a mistake. Can you override it?"

"I'm afraid not, ma'am. You'll need to speak directly with Mr. Lucas."

Ava swallowed hard. "Right. Thanks."

She ended the call, her pulse hammering.

Lucas had cut her off completely.

Her hands curled into fists. He didn't just want a divorce-he wanted to ruin her.

Her gaze flicked to the closet, filled with designer gowns, handbags worth thousands, and jewelry sets gifted to her during their marriage. A collection of things that no longer belonged to her.

Because none of this was hers. Not really.

Lucas had made sure of that.

Ava clenched her jaw. No. She wasn't going to panic. Not yet.

She still had her personal savings account, the one she had kept separate from their joint finances. It wasn't much-certainly nothing compared to what she had been used to-but it was something.

She pulled up the banking app, holding her breath as she checked the balance.

$15,742.

A lump formed in her throat.

Just days ago, she had access to millions. Now, she had barely enough to survive for a few months.

Ava exhaled shakily. Okay. She could work with this.

Her phone buzzed.

Charlotte.

Ava's lip curled in disgust as she declined the call.

Not now. Not ever.

She needed to talk to Lucas.

She dialed his number, her fingers pressing harder than necessary against the screen.

Straight to voicemail.

She tried again. Nothing.

Her chest tightened as she sent a text instead.

Ava: Lucas, I need to talk to you. Please call me back.

No response.

Ava: What the hell is going on? You froze my accounts?

Minutes passed. Nothing.

She gritted her teeth. Fine. If he wouldn't answer, she would go to him.

Ava grabbed her purse and stormed out of the penthouse.

Thrown Out

She barely made it to the elevator when she spotted the building's head of security waiting by the lobby entrance.

He shifted uncomfortably when he saw her.

"Ava," he started, looking almost apologetic.

A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. "What?"

He hesitated before finally sighing. "Mr. Lucas has requested that you vacate the penthouse. Immediately."

Ava's fingers clenched around her purse. "He said what?"

The security guard avoided her gaze. "I'm sorry, but we've been instructed to escort you out."

Her pulse spiked. Lucas had planned this.

He hadn't just frozen her out financially-he was physically kicking her out of their home.

Rage bubbled inside her. "I have nowhere else to go."

The guard shifted uncomfortably. "I... I can give you a few minutes to pack a bag."

Ava forced herself to take a breath. Breaking down wouldn't help.

"Fine," she bit out.

She turned sharply and walked back inside.

Her hands shook as she yanked open her closet. She didn't have time to take everything. Just essentials.

She grabbed a suitcase, stuffing it with basic clothes, a few pairs of shoes, and the jewelry that wasn't under Sinclair Enterprises' name.

Everything else?

Left behind.

When she wheeled her suitcase back to the lobby, the guard sighed in relief. "I'm really sorry about this, Ava."

Ava locked eyes with him, her face cold as ice. "No, you're not," she said, her voice firm. Then she turned and walked away, leaving behind the life she once knew.

She checked into a hotel downtown, a small but modern room with a queen-sized bed and a desk. It wasn't much, but it was hers.

Ava sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at her phone. Still no response from Lucas. She felt a pang of frustration and worry.

She turned on the news, hoping to distract herself from her thoughts. But as she scrolled through the channels, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat.

It was a news report about her husband's announcement, and the separation that would change her life forever. Ava felt like she'd been punched in the gut all over again.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone. Still no response from Lucas.

She turned on the news, needing to distract herself.

And that was when she saw it.

Her face.

Plastered across every major news station.

"AVA SINCLAIR'S SECRET AFFAIR-DID SHE CHEAT FIRST?"

Her heart stopped.

She grabbed the remote, turning up the volume.

"Sources claim Ava Hayas marriage to billionaire Lucas Hayas ended due to infidelity on her part. While Mr. Lucas has remained silent, insiders suggest he tolerated her alleged affair for years before finally ending the relationship."

The screen switched to surveillance footage of her at a restaurant-laughing over dinner with Adrian Blackwell.

Ava's stomach twisted.

Adrian was a business rival of Lucas Hayas. They had met a few times to discuss potential investments, but there had never been anything romantic between them.

But the media had spun it into a full-blown affair.

The next segment showed photos of her at a hotel weeks ago-the same hotel she had used for a business meeting.

The caption underneath? "Ava Sinclair spotted sneaking into a luxury hotel-was she meeting her mystery lover?"

Ava's hands trembled as she scrolled through her phone. Her inbox was flooded with messages.

Some from people she had thought were friends.

"Ava, I can't believe you'd do this to Lucas."

"WTF, Ava? Were you really cheating this whole time?"

"I guess the money wasn't enough for you, huh?"

Her vision blurred as she pulled up her email.

And that's when she saw the worst of it.

Job offers-retracted.

Business meetings-canceled.

Doors that were once wide open-now slammed shut.

No company would hire her.

Her reputation was in tatters.

Lucas hadn't just taken her money. He had taken her name.

Ava clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay calm.

She refused to cry.

She refused to break.

But one thing was clear.

Lucas wanted to destroy her.

And now?

She was going to return the favor.

Ava's phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: You're not the only one Lucas has screwed over. Meet me tomorrow. I have proof that will destroy him.

Ava's pulse spiked.

This wasn't over.

This was just the beginning.