Chapter 100

LIAM

I sat in my room, staring at the clothes scattered across the bed, but I couldn’t focus. Everything seemed to blur together, and my mind was somewhere else—on her. No matter how hard I tried to shove the memories aside, they kept coming back, stronger, clearer, more painful.

Ava.

I squeezed my eyes shut, the image of her tear-streaked face flashing behind my lids. I had thrown her out, pushed her away when things were finally beginning to look all right in our lives, all because of that damn contract John had shown me. I couldn’t stop replaying that moment in my head—her voice cracking, pleading, trying to explain, but I hadn’t listened. I couldn’t. I was too angry, too blindsided by what John had revealed.

I’d been so sure. So damn sure that what Uncle John told me was the truth. He’d shown me the contract, after all—proof that Ava had only married me for money. I could still hear his voice, dripping with concern, warning me about her greed. The paper had her signature on i