Chapter 6: Explanation? Dream On

When they arrived at Regal Estates, Joshua suddenly grabbed Ava's hand and yanked her out of the car.

Ava was worried about the two kids. Although she knew Finn was capable of taking Cleo on the plane and finding Ryan once they got to Astoria, she still couldn't help worrying - after all, they were only five years old.

Lost in thought, she was caught off guard by Joshua's pull and nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, she grabbed the car door frame to keep her balance. She glared at Joshua, her eyes full of anger. "Let go of me, I can walk by myself!"

Of course Joshua ignored her words. Instead, he gripped her even harder and dragged her toward the house.

He threw Ava onto the carpet without mercy. Before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her chin. Her chin was grabbed, forcing her to lift her head. Joshua's handsome face was right in front of her.

"You'll stay here and think about what you've done. When you're ready to talk, then you'll get food." Joshua's cold voice sounded like a demon from hell, echoing in her ears.

A chill ran down Ava's spine. She clenched her fists tightly. Talk? In his dreams.

"Never."

Joshua let out a cold laugh.

"I hope in a few days you'll still be this tough."

Joshua threw out these harsh words and slammed the door as he left.

Ava panicked and reached for her pocket, only to realize he had taken her phone. She rushed toward the door.

The door shut mercilessly in her face.

Ava was furious. "Joshua, give me back my phone! Are you crazy?!"

Without her phone, she couldn't contact Finn and Cleo, couldn't confirm they were safe. Ava was frantic with worry. She kicked the door, but it didn't budge!

The room was on the third floor. Ava looked at the height - jumping down would probably kill her. But Joshua had locked the door from the outside, and she couldn't open it at all.

Ava quickly searched the room. This was the room she and Joshua had lived in after they got married. Not much had changed in the room, making it feel both familiar and strange. She remembered there was a spare key somewhere in the room.

Clinging to this hope, Ava searched through every drawer in the entire room, but couldn't find a single key.

Ava slumped against the wall in defeat, hugged her knees, and slid down to sit on the floor, wondering whether Finn and Cleo had safely boarded the plane.

Without her phone, she couldn't contact them. The anxiety and worry made every single minute feel like torture.

Three long hours passed like this. The clock on the wall showed twelve o'clock - lunchtime - but no one brought her food.

Ava had gotten up in a rush this morning. She'd made food for the kids but only had a couple of bites herself. By now, she was starving.

Just then, footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway, getting closer and closer. Ava straightened up suddenly. She'd always had good hearing - someone was coming.

There was a knock on the door, and a sweet female voice called out affectionately from outside, "Joshua."

That voice... Mia!

"Joshua, are you there?"

Ava's mind raced. She kept quiet, then walked a few steps on the floor, deliberately making soft footsteps to hint to the person outside that someone was inside. Then Ava held her breath and stood against the wall corner.

"Joshua, are you in there?"

"..."

"Joshua, I'm coming in?"

Mia was delighted. Joshua didn't refuse. Before, he had never allowed her to enter this room. Even the servants rarely went in, and when they cleaned, they weren't allowed to disturb anything inside.

Today Joshua didn't refuse. A sweet smile curved at the corners of Mia's mouth.

She would soon enter the room she'd been dreaming of. Mia's heart couldn't help but beat faster. She pulled down her collar, showing off her delicate collarbones, touched up her carefully styled curls, and opened the door.

Just as she thought she was about to see Joshua...

Ava struck her with a chop to the neck, catching her completely off guard. She immediately passed out.

However, Ava didn't hit her too hard - Mia would wake up in less than an hour.

The fact that Mia had come upstairs looking for Joshua meant Joshua wasn't downstairs. With this thought, Ava raced downstairs.

She rushed in one breath to the entrance. The front door was right in front of her. Ava's eyes filled with hope as she reached out and grabbed the door handle.

"Where are you going?"