chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ava looked at the enormous bedroom where she had spent every cold night alone for three years and sneered in self-depreciation.

She had thought that marrying one of the most sought-after bachelors in the entire capital would be her greatest achievement, but she never imagined that it would be the beginning of her most miserable life.

For the past three years, although this was their matrimonial home, the man had only shown up a number of times, only to ridicule her or when he was bringing his women home.

But his family could come almost every single day to shame her and embarrass her. She had been turned from the young mistress of the Grayson family into an unwanted wild dog.

Ava woke up in a daze, she looked at the reminder on her phone and realized that it was three years ago on a day like this that they tied the note.

That day, three years ago had been the most hopeful day of her life, but three years later, it had only turned into a nightmare that bound her and refused to let her go.

They had met through an arranged marriage. Jason’s grandfather seemed to be very fond of her and the moment he had seen her, he decided that his grandson would marry no one but her. Jason tried to protest but he had no choice, as he either married her or he lost the right to inherit Grayson's family heirloom.

Although Ava was the eldest daughter of the West family, no one was particularly nice to her, especially her father and his step-wife.

She lived like an orphan in her own home ever since her mother died, and she had no say in anything, even if that thing had anything to do with her long-life happiness.

But she had been used to that life. When she was told that she was going to marry the Young Master of the Grayson family, for the first time in a long while, her face showed a hint of excitement. She had seen the Young Master of the Grayson family once, and she did not hesitate to accept the proposal.

What she had not expected was that she was only being transferred from one hellhole to another, and by the time she realized, it was already too late.

Ava looked at their photo had been in the same spot for three years and felt her eyes become wet. She knew that she could not have indulged it but she could not control her heart.

Every single day that the man did not come home, it only made her more determined to win him over. The more hopes she had, the more she fell for him. Although she knew that there was no chance between them, and she could have even taken the initiative to ask for a divorce, since she knew that the man would be more than happy to grant her that, she could not bring herself to say it.

As she looked at her haggard face in the mirror, a painful tear rolled down her cheek. For a man and a marriage that could never work, she had become unrecognizable even to herself.

Ava wiped the tears off her face. Although she was hurting, and a voice in her head was telling her to just give up and walk away, she had nowhere to go. The moment she divorced Jason, she would have nowhere else to go, because she was certain that the West family would never accept her back.

She could only continue to hope that one day, things would get better and the man would finally see her value, and maybe… just maybe treat her as his wife.

Ava went downstairs, and as always, she prepared breakfast and placed it on the table. The butler looked at her with pity in his eyes. All the servants were looking at her with scornful eyes and they did not have any regard for her.

“Mrs. Grayson, you don’t have to do this anymore.” The butler said. He had watched how Ava had been preparing every meal for the last three years, and he felt sad in his heart.

But every single day, she ended up disappointed. It was either eaten by the servants or the Graysons could come and make fun of it before throwing it in Ava’s face.

Ava looked at the kind-hearted butler and smiled warmly. Although she did not have a mother to teach her how to be a great wife to her husband, she knew that it was her responsibility to make sure that her husband was well taken care of.

“Uncle Sam, you know that it is my responsibility to do this. I did not have a choice the moment I signed my name on that marriage certificate.”

The butler, whom Ava had always called Uncle Sam, did not feel good when he heard that.

Everyone thought that Ava was undeserving of being Mrs. Grayson, but he saw different. This girl was very polite and respectful, and if the Young Master had given her a chance, they would have made one hell of a family.

But now…

Remembering that a certain woman had already returned to the country, he looked at Ava even more pitifully.

He had tried his best to tell her to leave for the last three years, but now he could only sigh and hope that the girl would not do something she would regret.

After setting the table, Ava headed to the master bedroom. Since today was their wedding anniversary, maybe putting on one last fight wouldn’t be bad. Who knows, maybe the man’s heart would soften and he might come home.

Ava took a quick shower and put on a blue body-hugging dress. All the dresses in the closet were all bought by Jason and they almost looked the same. Ava figured that maybe it was what he liked that was why he had bought so many of them.

She stood in front of the mirror and stared at herself. She was a natural beauty but because of everything she had endured, her face became haggard and she looked ten years older than her age.

She did not know how to apply make-up, but to look presentable, she splashed some foundation on her face before she left.

“Mrs. Grayson, are you going somewhere? Do you need me to prepare the car for you?” the Butler asked when he saw Ava heading downstairs.

Ava looked at him and nodded with a slight smile on her face, “Yes, please, Uncle Tom. Today is our wedding anniversary and I want to bring breakfast to my husband.”

Tom did not say anything when he heard that. He only stared at her with a more worried look on his face.

“Should I inform the Young Master that you are heading over?”

“No need. I want it to be a surprise.”

The moment Ava left with her well-prepared breakfast; the maids started mocking her as they whispered in smaller voices.

“Look at her. She is so full of herself. She really thinks that the Young Master will take a second look at her if she personally sends him breakfast?”

“I wonder what the old man was thinking, finding such a dumb woman for his grandson.”

“I bet the drama that is going to be in the office is going to be superb. Too bad there is no live stream.”

…

Ava entered the car and headed to Grayson Group of Companies. It had been long since the last time she went over, and her palms were sweating.

She did not know why she was nervous, but she needed to do something. She felt like if she stayed in the house on such an important day, she might end up losing her mind.

Although she knew that the probability of being thrown out was very high, she had nothing to lose.

“We are here.” the driver said in a cold voice.

Ava did not mind his attitude. She had long gotten used to their disdain. There were only two people who were kind to her in the whole Grayson family, and that was the old man and the butler.

Ava took her well-packaged breakfast and headed to the lift. Her heart was thumping hard and she did not even know why she was nervous.

She reached the top floor but before she entered, the secretary stopped her. She looked at her up and down before she sneered in disdain.

Although she knew who Ava was, she still pretended to not know her.

She asked in a sarcastic voice, “Who are you?”

“I am here to bring breakfast to my husband.”

“I am sorry, I don’t know who you are and besides, my boss is not married.” The secretary said.

“Just call him and tell him that Ava is here, I am sure that he will let me in,” Ava said politely.

“I am sorry but my boss is kind of busy right now. I don’t want to disrupt his time with his girlfriend.”

“What did you just say?” Ava was shocked.

Although she knew that Jason had lots of women he was fooling around with, she never imagined that he would have the audacity to bring them to his office.

Ava felt her heart break and her eyes teared up. She knew that she should not care, but her heart could not just listen.

She looked at the secretary and stubbornly said, “Today is our wedding anniversary and I just want to bring my husband breakfast. I will leave the moment I drop this off.”

The secretary sneered. She was about to say something but she changed her mind in the end.

“Sure, don’t say that I did not warn you.”

Ava walked to the door and hesitated whether she should enter or not. Jason was probably busy with his girlfriend and if she just barged in, she might make him angry.

It was only for a split second before she knocked on the door and pushed it open.

Ava expected Jason to lash out at her the moment he saw her, but what greeted her eyes made her frozen in place, her face turning pale.