Chapter 5
The next day, Brandon took Bianca and Caleb to the funeral home, only to be told that Bella’s ashes had already been
collected by me.
He frowned deeply.
“What the hell is Ava doing now? First, she cremated Bella ahead of schedule, and now she’s running around with the
ashes?”
“I used to think she was at least a loving mother. Turns out she’s gone completely mad-ruining her own daughter’s
funeral just to spite me!”
He immediately tried calling me, but the call was cut off.
Face darkening, Brandon turned to his assistant.
“She’s probably hiding at home. Go bring her here. And tell her this-my patience has limits. If she keeps this up, I won’t
allow Bella to be buried in the Whitmore family’s family burial plot!”
But just moments later, the assistant came running back, pale-faced and breathless.
“Mr. Whitmore, bad news. The gatekeeper said Ms. Sinclair hasn’t come back since she left yesterday. She also left you
this…”
He handed over a divorce agreement.
Brandon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Ava wants a divorce? On what grounds?!”
Bianca leaned in, unable to hide her excitement.
“That’s wonderful, Brandon! She’s finally out of your life. You should sign it right away and bring me and Caleb home
officially-”
Unexpectedly, Brandon, who had always been gentle with her, turned cold in an instant.
“Bianca, I did promise you that Caleb would be my sole heir. That was my way of compensating you for not giving you a
title. But I never said I’d marry you.”
“Ava will always be the wife I chose. You-at best-are my mistress. Let’s not sugarcoat it. You’re the other woman. Know
your place.”
Bianca’s face drained of color. She bit her lip, looking pitiful.
“Brandon, you misunderstood… I just felt that Ava was overreacting over a minor issue and making a scene. It made you
look bad, and I hated seeing that. That’s all.”
“You know how prideful she is. With women like her, if you ever bow your head, she’ll take control forever. I thought if you divorced her and married me instead, maybe she’d get jealous and come running back…”
Chapter 5
5.00%
Online Party & Chat
“Enough, Bianca,” Brandon cut her off coldly. “Just because I’ve spoiled you doesn’t mean I’m a fool. Stop your little tricks.
If you push me, I’ll make you and Caleb move out-and reconsider who inherits what.”
Bianca opened her mouth but didn’t dare speak further. Still, her eyes gleamed with jealousy.
After all, a man’s promises could change far too easily.
Brandon, on the other hand, felt a growing restlessness in his chest.
Bianca had always spoken kindly about me in front of him, yet the moment she saw divorce papers, her true nature was
revealed.
He realized he’d spoiled her too much. Let her think she had a chance. Let her get bold.
He could’ve taken her with him now-but instead, he said indifferently,
“I’m going to find Ava. You and Caleb can take a cab back.”
He had his assistant cancel the funeral and drove off without looking back at Bianca and Caleb behind him.
On the road, Brandon floored the gas pedal. His mind was strangely in chaos.
He couldn’t shake the image from last night-Ava on her knees, picking up powdered fragments of the broken bracelet,
her hand crushed under Bianca’s heel.
He knew Caleb had done it on purpose.
And he knew Bianca only made him do it out of spite.
But he also had an image to maintain-as a father, he couldn’t show favoritism. Not in front of the child.
And yet, something inside him still burned.
He was furious-not just at me for hitting Bianca, which had left him unable to defend her-but even more at my pathetic, humiliating behavior as I got down on my knees just to gather the shards of that shattered bracelet.
Back then, he hadn’t understood why when he ordered someone to destroy my uterus, he couldn’t bring himself to stay in the living room.
But now, the panic in his chest made everything clear.
There was no such thing as choosing between left or right.
No weighing between one woman and the other.
From the beginning, the only one he had ever loved was me.
That was why it made his blood boil to see me on my knees, injured and humiliated.
I was his wife.
When had I ever looked so broken?
Chapter 5
5.00%
Online Party & Chat
Still, Brandon remained arrogantly confident. He didn’t believe I’d really leave him.
We’d been married for years. We’d fought plenty, but I’d never had the heart to truly walk away.
“Ava… I know you’re just angry. You probably went out to clear your head. You’re hiding at home, crying by yourself, aren’t
you? Don’t worry. I’ll bring you back…”
In his mind, I had no family left.
Without him, I had no place to go.
But the moment he walked through the door, he realized how wrong he had been.
This wasn’t a tantrum.
The divorce agreement wasn’t for show.
Everything that belonged to me-and to Bella-was gone.
I had really left.
Brandon stood there in stunned silence, completely at a loss for what to do.
His phone buzzed. A message from Bianca:
“Brandon, Caleb and I are home. Where are you? I made your favorite dishes.”
I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I won’t say things like that again. I’m worried too since Ms. Sinclair’s missing. Brandon,
please don’t shut me out. Let me be there for you…”
Brandon’s heart softened.
Bianca may have her ambitions, but she had always seemed kind.
He’d been too harsh earlier.
He went upstairs, intending to apologize.
Just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard Caleb’s voice from inside, complaining loudly,
“Mom, is Dad coming home soon? I need to wash my hands again so I don’t stink up the room.”
“That bracelet made from that little brat’s bones smells so gross. I washed my hands so many times and the stink’s still
there. Good thing you crushed it. That bad woman’s crying face was so ugly-so funny, too.”
Chapter 5
Online Party & Chat
5.00%
