I’ll Marry His Rival and Burn His Empire to Ash Chapter 17

I’ll Marry His Rival and Burn His Empire to Ash Chapter 17

After Ethan silenced all my mother’s objections with a single sentence, we didn’t stay long at the Monroe house.

On the way to visit Chloe at the hospital, I received a call from my lawyer. Jackson had been released on bail, but Savannah-Claire wasn’t so lucky. The evidence from my hidden camera was conclusive. She was being held on suspicion of intentionally harming a minor, which effectively ended her dream of becoming Mrs. Devereaux.

The hospital corridor smelled of disinfectant. Ethan’s arm was steady around me, his warmth a firm anchor through the thin fabric of my clothes.

Just as we were about to turn into Chloe’s ward, a familiar figure rushed from the end of the hall.

It was Jackson.

His expensive suit was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, his face drawn with exhaustion. His gaze locked onto me, and when he saw my arm looped through Ethan’s, fury ignited in his eyes.

“Ava!”

He reached me in a few strides and grabbed my wrist, yanking me away from Ethan. The familiar, violent force made my stomach churn.

“What do you think you’re doing, holding his arm?” he growled, his eyes red. “You’re still Mrs. Devereaux. Have you no shame, carrying on with another man in public?”

Before I could speak, a stronger arm came around me, pulling me back to safety.

Ethan shielded me behind him. He was half a head taller than Jackson, and he looked down at him with eyes as cold as a winter lake.

“Mr. Devereaux, I believe you’re mistaken. Ava is Mrs. Blackwood now. My wife. There is nothing wrong with her holding her husband’s arm.”

“Shut up!” Jackson was like an enraged bull. His assistant hurried after him, whispering urgently, “Sir, that’s Ethan Blackwood…”

“I don’t care who he is!” Jackson shoved the assistant away. His attention was fixed on me, his tone a command. “Ava, come back with me! Stop this childish tantrum. I already tore up those divorce papers!”

Looking at his face, twisted by anger and arrogance, I found it almost funny.

“Go back?” I spoke coldly, my voice perfectly calm. “Are you sure? Aren’t you afraid Savannah-Claire will be angry? Oh, I forgot.” I paused deliberately. “She’s still at the police station. She can’t go back for now.”

I saw Jackson’s face turn deathly pale.

“She deserves it,” I continued, each word a blade of ice. “Prison is too light for what she did. Death wouldn’t be enough.”

“I didn’t know! Ava, I swear I didn’t know she would do that!” Jackson argued anxiously, trying to grab me again. Ethan blocked him completely. “I never intended to hurt you, and I never intended to hurt Chloe!”

He looked as if he was about to cry, his voice carrying a ridiculous note of grievance. “I only locked her in the kennel to scare her! I never thought it would…”

I laughed.

The sound was light, but it cut off Jackson’s defense as if he’d been slapped.

I met his stunned gaze and asked softly, “You never thought?”