The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 19

-Ava’ POV-

“Really? That’s how you’re going to play this? You’re going to stoop so low just to make sure I don’t get a job?” I yelled, storming

into my mother’s office, my heels slamming against the cold marble floors. The pit of anger that had been dimering inside me for hours finall The nurse, Gloria, who had tried to stop me when I asked if my her face pale. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Pierce. I told her you were

other was available, darted out of the office behind me. sy

I didn’t bother looking at her. “Gloria,” I snapped, my voice shaking with barely-noveldrama

contained rage. “I like you a lot, but don’t piss me off right now. I want to talk to my mother.”

Gloria stammered, unsure whether to stand her ground or leave, but my mother saved her from further discomfort. Without looking up from

I stood there, my fists clenched, watching as Gloria hastily exited shutting the door softly behind her. The moment we were alone, my moth

desk.

The silence that followed felt like a taunt.

“Really, Ava?” She finally spoke, her voice as cold as ice. “After everything I did to train you, to mold you into something respectable, you ch 1 felt the sting of her words but refused to back down. “I’m not a dog, mother.” I hissed, my throat tightening. “And having me blacklisted so Her sharp gaze snapped to mine. “Watch your tone,” she warned, her voice still controlled, but now there was an edge. The real Evelyn Pie I almost laughed at how predictable she was. “That’s all you care about, isn’t it? Your perfect image. Do you even know that Dylan hits me? For a second, a flicker of something passed through her eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. “And you think jumping from Dylan to Graysor let out a bitter snort. “I don’t even know why I’m trying to talk to you. You’re not listening. You never do.” My voice cracked, but I stood my gr with father. Done with both of you dictating my life.”

My mother’s gaze hardened. “Is that so? You’ve decided to spread your wings?” Her voice was chillingly calm, calculated, “Tell me, Ava, wh

I tried not to let her words get to me, but she had always known how to twist the knife just enough to draw blood. “Retract the calls I said firm blocking every opportunity I have just because I left

my abusive, cheating husband? What does that say about you?”

Her face remained emotionless. “You should have come to the compound yesterday, as I asked. You chose to ignore me. This is your punis big or small. No one will hire you.”

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I felt my chest tighten as her words sank in. She wasn’t bluffing. Evelyn Pierce never bluffed. I wanted to fight back, to scream at her, but so like a noose.

“You know your father and I have done everything to make you someone worthy of the Pierce name, even with your…… latency,” She empha

I clenched my jaw, swallowing down the bitterness. She was doing what she always did–

finding ways to hurt me with her words. But I stood still, refusing to let her see how much it affected me.

She continued, her voice icy and detached. “Your father has made it clear. If you continue to associate with him, you’ll be disowned. As of th Those words hit me harder than I’d expected. For a moment, I felt the sting of tears in my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t give her “You can’t keep up that perfect image forever,” I said, my voice shaking but strong. “One day, it’s going to crack open, when it does, the who Her eyes narrowed, green like one of the colors mine changed to but filled with something colder, harsher. “Leave.”

“It’ll happen sooner than you think,” I whispered before opening the door and walking out.

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