Ava’s POV

As I stood in Holly’s hospital room, still rattled from the confrontation with my father and stepmother, a strange chill clung to my skin. Something wasn’t adding up.

I glanced at Holly, her face filled with concern, and tried to shake off the feeling, focusing instead on her. But just as I was about to sit, Holly’s hesitant voice broke the silence.

“Ava… there’s something I need to tell you,” she whispered, eyes darting to the door as if expecting someone to overhear.

“What is it, Olly?” I asked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

She took a shaky breath. “I overheard something… something our father's wife said. I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or if it was real, but I think—she said something like, ‘If he didn't do what he did, their mother would still be alive and I wouldn’t be married to him.’ I—” Holly shook her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. “I can’t be sure it’s exactly what she said, but… it sounded like that.”

A rush of anger surged through me, but I kept my face neutral for Holly’s sake. If she had something to do with our mother’s death—or had influenced our father to do something terrible—I would find out. But Holly was already so fragile, and I couldn’t add to her stress.

“Don’t worry about it, okay?” I whispered, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Get some rest. I’ll talk to the doctor next week about bringing you home for Thanksgiving. It’ll be like old times—just the two of us.”

Holly’s expression softened, and she nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I’d like that.”

We spent the next half hour laughing and reminiscing, a much-needed break from the whirlwind that had become my life. For a brief moment, everything felt normal. But then, the spell was broken by the shrill ring of my phone. I frowned, glancing down at the screen.

“Mrs. Miller,” it read, and my heart sank.

Mrs. Miller was not someone I ever wanted to talk to, let alone see. The woman despised me, blaming me for taking her husband away and for every misfortune she could pin on me. But now, there was no way out.

With a sigh, I answered. “Hello, Mrs. Miller.”

“Ava,” she snapped, her voice as cold and sharp as a blade. “I want you at my house. Now.”

I swallowed back my irritation, forcing myself to stay calm. “I’m with my sister at the hospital. Surely whatever this is can wait.”

There was a pause, then her voice dropped to a menacing tone. “You will be here in less than an hour, Ava. Or prepare to face my wrath for the rest of your life.”

I rolled my eyes, though she couldn’t see it. Her wrath was nothing new to me. Still, she sounded unusually insistent. I couldn’t ignore it.

I ended the call, turning back to Holly. “I have to go, Olly,” I said gently, brushing a hand over her forehead. “I’ll come back soon, okay?”

She nodded, squeezing my hand in understanding. I shot a quick message to Rose, my assistant, instructing her to meet me at the hospital. There was no way I was going to that mansion alone—not with the wolves waiting inside. They would devour me if I let my guard down.

Rose arrived promptly, and together with the driver, we made our way to the Miller mansion.

The ride was filled with memories, flashes of the life I’d once shared with Richard. The laughter, the whispered promises. Now, the mansion stood as a monument to what had been lost—a place of laughter turned bitter and cold.

As we pulled up to the sprawling estate, I felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with dread. The towering iron gates loomed over us, a silent reminder of the family’s power and wealth. I took a deep breath, bracing myself as we stepped out.

Inside, the house was as cold and foreboding as ever, the grand staircase leading up to rooms I used to know by heart. Rose stayed close, her presence grounding me as we made our way to the sitting room, where I found Orion, his mother, and—of course—Chloe, lounging with the smug satisfaction of someone who knew she belonged here more than I did.

Mrs. Miller’s gaze landed on Rose, and her lips twisted in disapproval. “This is a family meeting,” she sneered. “Your assistant can wait outside.”

I glanced from Chloe to Mrs. Miller, forcing a neutral expression as I replied, “If Orion can bring his ‘assistant,’”—I said the word with a pointed glance at Chloe—“then I’ll keep mine. Besides, Chloe isn’t family either.”

A tense silence followed, broken by a dry laugh from Orion’s mother. “Oh, Ava,” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. “Not only did you steal my husband after my son refused to marry a beggar like you, but you’ve clawed your way back into this family even after his death. Now, you think you can just stay and continue clawing? We won’t tolerate a parasite like you clinging to us any longer.”

I held her gaze, my face an impassive mask. Years of being in this family had taught me one thing—never show weakness. “You didn’t call me here to trade insults, Mrs. Miller. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.”

Orion’s voice cut through the air, his tone icy. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at my mother, Ava. You think you’ve suffered? You have no idea what she’s endured because of you.”

I felt my patience snapping. “Endured?” I repeated, my voice calm but sharp. “My marriage to Richard is what should be called ‘endurance’, all thanks to a certain someone.”

Mrs. Miller’s face turned a shade of red I’d rarely seen, and Chloe smirked, her eyes dancing with malice. Orion, watching the entire exchange with thinly veiled amusement, seemed to revel in my discomfort.

I had enough. Rising from my seat, I turned to leave, ignoring the barrage of insults they flung my way. But then, Mrs. Miller’s voice sliced through the air, halting me mid-step.

“There’s a glitch in the will.”

The words hit me like a slap. I turned back, my heartbeat accelerating, but I forced myself to maintain my composure. “A glitch?”

Mrs. Miller’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she continued. “You thought you were the center of everything, didn’t you? The young grieving widow, the sole inheritor. But there’s more to it than you know, Ava. The lawyers… they discovered something.”

I felt Rose shift beside me, her presence a steadying force. I could sense the trap they were setting, the thrill they derived from the possibility that my world might crumble in this room. But I wasn’t about to give them that satisfaction.

“What are you trying to say?” I demanded, my voice as steady as I could manage.

Orion leaned back, a smug grin spreading across his face. “It means, dear Ava, that you’re not as untouchable as you think.”

My chest tightened, the weight of their glares pressing down on me. But I refused to show fear. “Whatever it is, I’ll deal with it. And if this is your idea of a power play, I suggest you try harder.”

I turned to leave, but Mrs. Miller’s voice rang out, dark and threatening. “Oh, believe me, Ava. We’re just getting started.”