His Donna Was Never Legally His Chapter 16

His Donna Was Never Legally His Chapter 16

Ava went upstairs in a daze and didn’t come back to herself until her parents asked if she was all right.

Ever since she had arrived in Melbourne covered in injuries, they had kept a close eye on her.

Ava smiled and reassured them before returning to her room and collapsing onto the bed.

The blond young man was actually Rafael, the young artist she had admired for years.

There had never been any photographs of him online, but his self-portrait was widely known.

Ava searched for it on Google and stared silently at the screen.

The portrait was so abstract that it looked like something inspired by Van Gogh.

There was no way anyone could have connected it to Rafael himself.

She couldn’t help laughing.

Just then, her attorney called.

“I’m sorry. He found out anyway.’

Ava pressed her lips together.

“Matteo has too much power. He was bound to find out sooner or later.”

[She just hadn’t expected Matteo to come after her again, much less looking so broken.]

[She had assumed that once Matteo learned their marriage certificate was invalid, he would stop harassing

her because he already had Mia and their child.]

Her attorney had accepted a large sum of money from Ava, but he still felt guilty for exposing her

whereabouts.

Ava comforted him.

“Even with all his power, he can’t do anything to me in Melbourne.”

“And you saved my life, didn’t you?”

After a brief silence, the attorney told her everything Matteo had done since she left.

“Mr. Moretti searched along the Hudson River for you every day like a madman. He nearly beat everyone

who mistreated you to death, and he sent Mia to a secure psychiatric facility…”

After ending the call, Ava sat beside the bed for a long time.

She gave a cold laugh.

Matteo always tried to fix things after the damage was done, but nothing he offered could erase what he had already put her through

[She had stopped loving him long ago, and she would never go back.]

The next day, Ava went to work as usual.

She hadn’t slept well, so she had to use foundation to barely conceal the dark circles beneath her eyes.

The gallery was quiet enough to make anyone sleepy.

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to the main exhibition hall?”

Ava looked up and met a pair of smiling green eyes.

Rafael wore a soft cream-colored sweater, his expression warm and gentle.

She froze for a moment, then smiled.

“Would you like me to show you the way, famous artist?”

Rafael smiled and nodded.

“It would be my pleasure.”

Ava laughed, and even her steps felt lighter.

She stood and led him toward the exhibition hall.

She looked slightly embarrassed.

“I can’t believe you were Rafael this whole time. I spent so long praising you to your face. That’s humiliating.”

Rafael chuckled.

“I’m happy you like me.”

Ava blinked.

“I only like your paintings.”

Rafael lowered his gaze, and his expression dimmed.

“I thought we were friends.”

Ava laughed and patted his shoulder.

==

“was teasing you. I like you as a person too.”

Visitors stood quietly before their favorite paintings, admiring the artwork.

Rafael stopped walking and looked at her seriously.

“Really?”

Confused, Ava stopped and met his gaze.

Rafael pressed again.

“You like me too?”

The atmosphere between them suddenly changed.

Ava tightened her fingers and looked away first.

Rafael pressed his lips together, disappointment crossing his face.

“I’ll buy every painting on this wall.”

A voice thick with restrained anger suddenly came from behind them.

The declaration immediately drew everyone’s attention, including Ava’s.

Matteo stood there, his stubborn gaze locked on her.

“Send them all to this lady.”