Chapter 22

Ethan’s Pov

“Absolutely not,” I decided immediately. There was no way I would divorce Ava before the contract stipulated that it was time to do so. It would hurt Ava, she would ask why I wanted a divorce. And then, I shuddered at the thought, if she found out I was divorcing her for Sarah of all people -

She would be devastated. It would be the ultimate betrayal.

Mars glared at me, “You need to do something then!” He rose from his chair, puffing out his chest to be assertive.

I stared him down, my own gaze intense and fiery. He was smart enough to look away and back down before I continued speaking.

“I will,” I growled. “But for now, we have to refrain from making any rash decisions like the suggestion of divorcing my wife.”

Mars looked a little ashamed as I put emphasis on the word wife, as though he forgot who Ava actually was to me.

But who was she to me outside of the contract? The lines started to blur somewhere, and I couldn’t be sure of what my feelings for her were. I knew I developed a strong fondness for her. I knew I enjoyed her company. Would someone consider that a friendship or more?

It wasn’t love, it couldn’t be. Not yet, anyways. Maybe one day, though. I dismissed the thoughts and trembled.

I tried to shake the strange feeling rising in my heart. One thing I did know, I wasn’t leaving Ava.

I had to figure something else out to help Mars and Olivia and take down Andrew in the process.

Ava’s Pov

I was still in bed. I couldn’t fall asleep even though I was so tired from the weekend’s events. Sarah’s actions and then the whole fiasco at the auction made me mentally exhausted. I was glad to be away from all the fuss.

My mind was too active to sleep.

I scrolled through social media on my phone hoping that would tire me out in some way. I mindlessly swiped through articles until I came across something that made me jump from my skin.

A photo of Ethan and I kissing.

I clicked on the post and there was a short description about the necklace at the auction. The photo was taken at the end of the event right after he announced that I was his wife. At the moment when he gave me the ten million dollar necklace. That was mentioned in the post as well.

My heart was thumping against my ribcage. I forgot that Ethan was such an important figure. Of course, he would have his pictures taken, but for some reason I thought we were safe from reporters at the gala.

I scrolled through the comments of the post, a little scared to see what everyone’s opinions of me would be. Before, our relationship was only speculated in the media and never verified. Now, everyone knows.

A lot of the comments were positive, much to my relief. Most people were saying that I was so lucky to marry such a rich alpha. Others were complimenting my dress and my looks.

The compliments were unexpected and made me giggle like a little schoolgirl.

However, with the good comes the bad.

I scrolled further down and there was another article about Ethan and I linked it. This one, though, did not paint us in such a good light.

Instead of a picture, a video of Ethan jumping into the pool to save me was linked. It showed him stripping off his suit jacket and shoes as he dove in to pull me out of the water. Sarah could be seen splashing in the pool a few feet away struggling.

Half of the comments were still positive on this post. Though, most of them were girls ogling at Ethan’s bravery and heroism.

I can’t lie, I was also gushing a little over the way he saved me without any thought.

The other half of the comments, however, were some of Sarah’s fans. She had such an active online fanbase, that it only made sense for them to find this video and have issues with it.

“She pushed Sarah into the pool! What a brat!” One girl commented.

“What is she trying to prove? She looks like a wet cat when she’s getting pulled out of the water LOL!” Was another comment.

I rolled my eyes, did they really believe Sarah was such an angel?

There were a lot of arguments breaking out between people who believed that Sarah was in the wrong and people who believed I was in the wrong in the comments. ‘Team Sarah’ versus ‘Team Ava’ was a trending topic on a few other media platforms.

I tried to ignore the comments and kept scrolling through multiple pictures and edits of Ethan and I. My favorite one was the video of Ethan diving into the water overlaid with a song about needing a hero.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or be embarrassed by all the attention we were getting together. It just seemed so sudden and silly.

I suppose that’s how life is when you’re married to a rich alpha CEO. Even if it was just a substitute marriage-though no one but Ethan and I know that.

The next morning, I was walking to work since the weather was so nice. I wanted to enjoy some time in the morning sun before working all day.

When I got to the shop, a large group was huddling around the doors. They were being so rambunctious that at first, I thought it was a protest.

Curious, I approached the group. As soon as I got to the very edge of the crowd, one girl shouted out my name and everyone dispersed to let me through.

The crowd split into two groups. One side had signs that read, ‘Ava the hero!’ and ‘Ava Velasco is my Luna!’. The other side, though, had very different posters.

‘Sarah deserves better!’

‘Ava is a brat!’

‘Ava pushed Sarah!’

There was a fan and antifan war right in front of my shop. I wanted to groan and tell them all to go home, but I felt like that would be rude. I didn’t want to hurt their feelings after they went to all the trouble to make the signs and come see me.

“Hi everyone,” I waved awkwardly, not sure how I was supposed to handle the situation. Surely this would be bad for business.

The side that was there to support me waved and cheered. The other side booed.

I was getting overwhelmed by their presence and decided I just needed to ask them to either come in and order some pastries and desserts, or they would need to leave.

“Thank you all for coming here to show support for my business,” I smiled, though I was only looking at the side of the group who liked me. “However, this gathering is going to make it hard for customers to come in and make their purchases.”

A few girls whined a little and asked if we could get a picture together before they left. I didn’t have it in my heart to tell them no.

“Okay,” I relented. “As long as it’s quick so I can get to work.”

I posed for one or two pictures. They were awkward for me. I didn’t know what to do with my arms or if I needed to smile or keep a straight face. I tried to think back on what idols usually do in these pictures, but I was no idol. Just a wolfless girl who worked in a pastry shop.

I was talking to one of the fans from my side and bidding them goodbye when I felt a sharp tapping on my shoulder.

I turned, thinking it was another fan asking for a picture or autograph, but a cold liquid splashed over my head and face. Ice fell from my hair onto my shirt and made me shiver.

Someone threw their iced coffee in my face!