Richard picked up the phone, and instantly, his face darkened. "What's wrong, baby?" I asked teasingly after he dropped the call, but he ignored me, focusing on tapping on his phone. "Babe," I called out again, but the look he gave me made me shiver in fear. "Ava, can you explain what this is?" he said, throwing his phone onto the bed. "What is it?" I asked, but he jerked his head away, his shoulders stiffening, and his fists clenching at his sides—a silent rebuke that spoke louder than words. My heart raced, and my breath caught in my throat as a jumble of thoughts swirled in my head. My hand hesitated, hovering over the phone as if it might bite me. I looked up at Richard. His face twisted in a snarl, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity as he watched me. "Pick up the phone," he spat out, his voice low and menacing. Just his expression alone made me snatch the phone up quickly. The image on the screen made my heart race. It was a picture of me—or rather, the previ
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