I WAS A USELESS SON-IN-LAW, NOW I DECIDE FATE

Ethan Gavins?

Not expecting the twist, Sofia staggered backward, her spine pressing against the cold wall of the doorway. Her breath caught. She had never seen this Edward before. This was not the man who cried into his hands after his father’s verdict, not the husband who scraped together coins for meal. This Edward stood with his jaw locked, his eyes empty and dark as a winter well.

A second ago, she had tasted victory. His chin had trembled. His lips had parted in that familiar pre-sob wobble. She had leaned in, savoring the moment she would finally hear him beg.

But then the trembling stopped.

Now he looked at her like she was nothing. Like she was the one who should be afraid. A cold shiver raced down her spine, not the theatrical kind, but the bone-deep kind that made her stomach clench. Before she could smother her fear and craft the next blow, Edward twisted the doorknob, yanked the door open, and slammed it shut with a crack that echoed through the foyer. He was gone.

Sofia stood alone as the staffs and onlookers scattered, the drama finishing too early and opposite of what she has planned

Through gritted teeth, she whispered, “Edward, you humiliated me. You will pay dearly.”

Edward pushed open the bedroom door. Their bedroom. His and Ava’s for one year now. When his father, Caleb, disinherited him twelve months ago, this mansion was the only thing left in his name. He had bought it for Sofia. Irony had a cruel laugh. He had missed his first wedding anniversary with Ava, trapped on a job site three states away, the only work that kept them fed. Tonight was supposed to be their real anniversary. Candlelight. Her laugh. A second chance.

Instead, the room smelled of silence and her missing perfume.

He searched his memory like a man flipping through a photo album that had been soaked in water, but blurred images, half-truths. Sofia had always treated him with warm and soft words. She had never hinted at another man. And Ava? She had kissed his forehead every morning, held his hand in the grocery store, fallen asleep on his chest during cheap movies. Had the signs been there? Had he been too tired to see them? Too busy earning scraps to notice the slow fade?

Now they had spoken their minds. And their minds had spoken a name he wasn’t ready to hear … divorce.

***

The alarm beeped. Once, twice and a third time, insistent and annoying.

Edward jolted upright then sat on the floor. He had fallen asleep on the hard tiles, still in last night's clothes, back against the footboard. His neck ached. His eyes were dry.

Around him, the room was empty. No trace of Ava, no tossed blanket on her side, no wet towel from her evening shower, no imprint of her head on the pillow.

It was obvious She had spent the night with him.

Fresh anger rose from his gut, hot and acidic. His jaw tightened until his beard itched against his skin. He pushed himself off the floor, when the alarm wouldn't give up, crossed to the bedstand, and slammed his palm down on the alarm, then the beeping died.

He walked to the sitting room.

Sofia sat on the velvet chaise, one leg crossed over the other, a crystal cup pressed to her lips. Beside her, on the side table, stood a bottle. He didn’t need to see the label. He knew the deep green glass, the gold foil. The same brand of champagne they had opened when he married Ava, When he closed on his first deal. What they use for celebrations When he was still someone. It had been months such expensive champagne was seen in the house the mystery man was even bringing gifts to the house already.

She was celebrating.

“Good morning, Mum,” he said. His voice came out low and even like a rope pulled tight over fire.

Sofia stared straight through him. He might have been a curtain. A ghost. A piece of furniture she had decided to sell as she acted as though she was alone.

He swallowed the anger down like broken glass. “Ava spent the night outside. She didn’t come home…”

“Poor man.” She didn’t yell. She sliced the words like a scalpel. “You do not have the right to ask questions. Get ready to sign the divorce papers. I will not allow you to ruin my daughter’s life. Never.”

Her eyes could have drilled through stone.

Immediately the front door cracked open.

Ava stepped in wearing a gown that caught the morning light like liquid silver. Edward recognized it immediately, the designer dress. The one he had delivered last night.

“Mum!” Ava squealed, rushing past Edward without a glance, her heels clicking a frantic rhythm. She threw herself onto the sofa beside Sofia. “He treated me so well. Last night was the best night of my life.”

“Oh, my dear.” Sofia pulled her close, stroking her hair. “I told you. But you kept saying, ‘I’m married, I’m married.’ Look at you. One night with him, and you’re glowing.” She lifted the hem of Ava’s sleeve. “Goodness. This dress. It’s a limited edition, isn’t it? Not so many people have it yet, and here you are, wearing one right now.”

“Yes, Mum.” Ava’s voice was breathless, and giddy. “The meal, the room, everything was exquisite, Mum. You should have seen it.”

She still hadn’t looked at Edward. Or maybe she had chosen not to.

His palms curled into fists at his sides. His knuckles went white. He cleared his throat once, sharp and deliberate.

Ava jumped. Her hand flew to her chest. Her eyes finally found him, wide with fright. She truly didn't know he was there.

“At least,” Edward said, each word carved from ice, “you could have waited until we were divorced before throwing yourself at another man.”

Slap.

Sofia’s hand connected with Edward’s left cheek before he could blink. The crack of it rang through the sitting room. His head snapped sideways. A hot sting bloomed across his skin.

“How dare you speak to my daughter that way, you poor thing.” Her voice was low, venomous, satisfied. “Do you know the kind of man she just dined with? You could never compare to him. Not now. Not ever.”

“I know this is your doing.” Edward’s face still burned, but he didn’t touch his cheek. He didn’t flinch. “You pushed her into this. She never wanted it.”

The slap had landed on his face. But the real wound, the one that made it hard to breathe, was inside his chest. A tearing. A hollowing. As far as his heart was concerned, she had hit that instead.

He stepped past Sofia and grabbed Ava’s hands. They were cold. Her fancy ring dug into his palms his heart pound a bit more realizing she wasn't putting on their wedding ring.

But he shove that aside “Do you truly want this?” he asked. His voice cracked on the last word. “Tell me, Ava. And I promise I will never disturb you again if this is what you want.”

Before Ava could answer, Sofia wedged herself between them, shoving Edward back. “It’s not about what she wants, Edward. The truth is, she is with someone else now. Someone wealthy enough to take care of her. Ethan is better with her than you are. He has everything that you’ve lost.”

Ethan.

Edward’s mouth fell open. His hands dropped to his sides. For a moment, the room tilted.

“Ethan Gavins? The one we all know or another one” his eyes sweep between Sofia and Ava as he pray inwardly for it to be another Ethan.