CHAPTER 3

Ava stood frozen at the entrance of the mansion as every pair of eyes in the grand foyer settled on her.

Judging.

Measuring.

Dismissing.

The elegant woman standing before her looked to be in her late fifties. She wore an emerald silk dress that probably cost more than Ava earned in a year. Her perfectly styled hair and diamond jewelry reflected the prestige of the Blackwood family.

"So?" the woman repeated, her voice sharp. "Have you suddenly lost the ability to speak?"

Before Ava could answer, Damien stepped beside her.

"Mother."

His tone was calm but firm.

"This is Ava Hart."

"So I've heard."

The woman crossed her arms.

"I expected better."

Ava bit the inside of her cheek.

She had dealt with rude customers before.

She could deal with one more.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Blackwood."

The older woman didn't return the greeting.

Instead, she looked Ava up and down once again.

"A waitress."

Ava blinked.

"You investigated me?"

Mrs. Blackwood gave a humorless smile.

"I always investigate women who suddenly appear beside my son."

"I'm no longer a waitress."

"Because you lost your job."

A heavy silence followed.

Ava's cheeks burned.

Damien finally spoke.

"That's enough."

His mother turned toward him.

"You expect me to welcome a complete stranger into this family?"

"I expect you to respect my decision."

"And since when have you made decisions without consulting me?"

"Since I became CEO."

The words landed like ice.

Mrs. Blackwood's expression darkened.

For a moment, Ava thought the argument would continue.

Instead, another voice interrupted.

"Brother."

A tall young man descended the staircase with an amused grin.

Unlike Damien, his smile was warm and effortless.

His light brown hair was slightly messy, giving him a relaxed appearance.

"So this is my future sister-in-law?"

He extended a hand toward Ava.

"I'm Lucas Blackwood."

She shook it.

"Ava."

"It's nice to finally meet someone capable of making my brother nervous."

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not nervous."

Lucas laughed.

"Sure."

For the first time since arriving, Ava almost smiled.

At least one member of this family seemed normal.

Dinner was held in a formal dining room that looked more like a royal banquet hall.

A chandelier sparkled overhead.

A table long enough for twenty people sat in the center of the room.

Crystal glasses.

Silver cutlery.

Everything screamed wealth.

Ava felt completely out of place.

The servants placed dish after dish before them.

She barely touched her food.

Mrs. Blackwood noticed immediately.

"Not hungry?"

"I am."

"Then eat."

Ava picked up her fork.

Across the table, Damien silently continued eating.

Apparently, family dinners were always this uncomfortable.

"So," Mrs. Blackwood began.

"When exactly did you two meet?"

Ava glanced at Damien.

He answered smoothly.

"Several months ago."

"Oh?"

"And why have we never heard of her?"

"I value privacy."

His mother smiled knowingly.

"No."

"You value control."

Lucas cleared his throat.

"Mother..."

She ignored him.

"What does your family do, Miss Hart?"

Ava placed her fork down.

"My father passed away years ago."

Mrs. Blackwood showed no sympathy.

"And your mother?"

"She's recovering from surgery."

"I see."

Another pause.

"So you have no family connections."

"No."

"No inheritance."

"No social standing."

"No business background."

Every sentence felt like another slap.

Finally, Ava looked directly at her.

"No."

Mrs. Blackwood leaned back in her chair.

"Interesting."

Ava forced herself to remain calm.

"You seem disappointed."

"I simply fail to understand what my son sees in you."

Before Ava could answer, Damien calmly put down his glass.

"I chose her."

His voice carried effortlessly through the room.

"That should be enough."

His mother looked furious.

"It isn't."

"It has to be."

After dinner, Ava escaped into the mansion's enormous garden.

The cool evening air helped ease the tension in her chest.

She wandered along a stone pathway lined with roses until she reached a marble fountain.

"What are you doing out here?"

She turned.

Lucas approached with two cups of coffee.

"I figured you could use one."

She accepted it gratefully.

"Thanks."

He leaned against the fountain.

"My family can be... intense."

"That's one way to describe them."

He laughed.

"Mother has always wanted Damien to marry someone from another wealthy family."

"I guessed."

"She had candidates picked out years ago."

Ava sighed.

"I'm beginning to think I should run while I still can."

Lucas studied her.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"Do you actually love my brother?"

Her grip tightened around the cup.

What could she possibly say?

No.

She barely knew him.

"We're still getting to know each other."

Lucas smiled knowingly.

"A diplomatic answer."

"I've had practice."

"Well..."

He lowered his voice.

"Whether you love him or not..."

"...you're the first woman he's ever brought home."

Ava frowned.

"Seriously?"

Lucas nodded.

"My brother doesn't date."

"At all?"

"No."

"Then why is he suddenly getting married?"

Lucas's smile faded.

"I wish I knew."

Meanwhile...

Inside Damien's private study...

Mrs. Blackwood slammed the door shut behind her.

"You've embarrassed this family."

Damien remained seated behind his desk.

"I disagree."

"You could marry any woman in this country."

"I know."

"Instead, you choose a poor waitress."

"Ava is more than qualified."

"For what?"

"My wife."

His mother scoffed.

"You barely know her."

"I know enough."

Mrs. Blackwood narrowed her eyes.

"There must be another reason."

Damien remained silent.

"I knew it."

She stepped closer.

"This marriage has nothing to do with love."

He met her gaze.

"It doesn't."

"I knew it."

"So stop trying to interfere."

"I won't."

Her expression hardened.

"I'll find out exactly who Ava Hart is."

Damien stood.

When he spoke again, his voice was colder than ice.

"If anyone harms her..."

"...they answer to me."

Even his own mother hesitated.

She had seen that look before.

It was the same expression Damien wore just before destroying his business rivals.

Without another word, she left the study.

The door clicked shut.

Damien walked to the window overlooking the gardens.

Below, he spotted Ava laughing softly at something Lucas had said.

For the first time in years...

A faint smile almost reached his lips.

Almost.

But neither of them noticed the woman watching from the mansion's second-floor balcony.

Her manicured nails dug into the railing as hatred burned in her eyes.

"So..."

she whispered.

"That's the woman who stole my place."

She pulled out her phone.

"It's time to come home."

On the other end of the line, a familiar female voice answered.

"I'm booking the next flight."

A slow smile spread across the woman's face.

"Good."

"Damien Blackwood is about to remember who he truly belongs with."

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