Part 3Awakened: The Other Woman

I glanced at my bandaged hand and laughed bitterly at my own foolishness. In the rearview mirror, I could see him staring at his phone, a faint smile on his lips.

It wasn't until I pulled up in front of a high-end jewelry store that he finally looked up. His expression immediately soured. He got out and blocked my way, his face a mask of annoyance.

"Ava, I told you, we'll talk about this later. Why are you pushing me like this?"

"Jessica and I only have the license; we're not having a wedding. No one even knows. Once things calm down, we'll get a quiet divorce."

He was cut off by a cheerful voice. "Declan, honey, look! Isn't this diamond ring beautiful?"

Jessica stood there, wearing a one-carat diamond ring, holding her hand up for him to admire.

Declan's scowl vanished, replaced by a warm smile. "Anything you like is beautiful, Jessica."

"Our wedding is in five days. Can I buy this for my wedding ring?"

My feet stopped moving. I saw Declan look away, a flicker of discomfort on his face. He was a liar, through and through. But it didn't matter. My own wedding was also in five days. It seemed we really were going our separate ways.

A salesperson brought over the rings Kian had ordered. They were presented on a velvet tray—a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind pink diamond that glittered under the lights.

Jessica’s eyes locked onto the ring on my finger, her expression turning greedy. "Ava, I love that ring. Can I try it on?"

The salesperson interjected apologetically. "I'm sorry, miss, but that ring has already been reserved. Perhaps you'd like to see something else."

Jessica's eyes instantly filled with tears. "Ava, did you know our wedding was in five days? Are you doing this on purpose, conspiring with the staff to make things difficult for me?"

"I love this ring so much. I just want to feel like a bride. Can't you just let me have this one thing?"

"No. My wedding is also in five days."

Declan's face was a thundercloud. "Ava, what the hell is wrong with you? When did I ever say I was going to marry you?"

I frowned. "Don't be so dramatic, Declan. The man I'm marrying isn't you."

He let out a cold, harsh laugh. "After I've had you for eight years? Who else would want you?"

"Know your place, Ava. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're something special."

He lunged forward and roughly yanked the ring from my hand, scraping the skin from my knuckle. He then tried to slide it onto Jessica's finger, but it was too small.

"We'll take this one," he said to the salesperson. "Can you resize it? How much is it?"

The salesperson quietly quoted the price. Both Declan and Jessica blanched.

"Ava," Jessica sniffled, "even if you don't want Declan and me to get married, you don't have to be so cruel as to trick us into buying something so expensive."

Declan shook his head at me, his eyes full of disappointment. "Ava, I never knew you could be so vicious."

So, they try to steal my ring, can't afford it, and now it's my fault?

They stormed out. A moment later, my phone rang. It was Kian.

"Do you like the ring? Don't forget, you have a fitting for your wedding dress in a bit."

"Yes," I said, my voice soft. "I love it."

I drove to the bridal boutique Kian had recommended. As I walked in, I saw Jessica stroking an off-the-shoulder gown.

"Excuse me, miss," a consultant said politely, "but this gown has been reserved."

"I want this one," Jessica insisted. "Call the person who reserved it. I'm willing to pay ten percent more."

When the consultant saw me, her face lit up. "Ah, the lady herself has arrived. Perhaps you'd like to discuss it with her directly?"

Jessica's eyes flashed with anger and resentment when she saw me. "Ava, why do you keep following me, trying to ruin everything? First the ring, now my dress…"

Declan, standing beside her, scowled. "Ava, you say you're done with me, but then you show up with a ring and a dress, trying to force my hand. You're unbelievable. So two-faced."

"Even if you crash my wedding, I won't give you a second look. Give the dress and the ring to Jessica!"

I let out a small laugh. "Who said I was marrying you? You're not the only man in the world."

"What, you can't afford a ring and a dress, so you want me to just hand them over?"

Declan's face turned a mottled shade of red and white. Jessica covered her face and ran out. "Declan, if you've already bought her a ring and a dress, then I'm the one who's not wanted. I'll just go…"

"Ava!" Declan roared, his face contorted with rage. He grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby table and charged at the dress. "You want to force me into marriage? You want to make Jessica cry?"

"You want a wedding? Let's see what you wear now!"

This dress was a custom creation. Kian had commissioned a top designer from Milan to work overtime to finish it. I tried to stop him, but he shoved me to the ground. The sharp point of the scissors grazed my other hand, drawing blood.

He was like a man possessed, shredding the beautiful gown into a pile of ruined silk. Still not satisfied, he stomped on the remains.

"You want to marry me, Ava? In your dreams!"

"If you dare show up and ruin my wedding in five days, you'll end up just like this dress!"

With that, he stormed out, chasing after Jessica without a second glance at me. The consultant stood by, her face pale, frantically making a phone call.

In my daze, my phone rang again. It was Kian.

"Are you hurt? Don't worry about the dress. I'll have my legal team handle it."

"I'm so sorry…"