At a party, my fiancée Ava’s ex lost a stupid game. His penalty: pick someone of the opposite sex to act out their “wedding night.” Everyone watched as he walked straight to Ava. “Ava,” he said with fake sincerity, “I heard you’re getting engaged. Let me have one last perfect memory with you. Please?” Ava’s eyes softened—that lovesick look I hated—and she began to stand. I tossed the engagement ring onto the table. It clattered, silencing the room. “Choose carefully,” I said, my voice low. “Him, or the entire Chen family fortune.” Ava froze. Her ex, Leo, glared at me. “It’s just a game. What’s your problem?” he sneered. “Not even married and this possessive? You’ll probably cage her later.” She believed him. Turning to me with contempt, she said, “It’s a joke, John. This is the 21st century. Drop the patriarchal act.” I watched quietly as they disappeared into the private lounge. Then I called my contact. “If she treats our marriage like a game,” I said, “then the Chen family’s easy ride ends now.” 1. Ava emerged from the lounge, her clothes disheveled, just as I ended the call. Her lipstick was smudged, a faint trace of blood on her lower lip that spoke of a frantic, passionate struggle. Our eyes met, and she flinched. A moment later, her familiar perfume filled the air as she walked toward me. "John, it was just a game. Leo had to pick someone, and he chose me. Don't be so sensitive." My gaze drifted to her neck, and she instinctively turned away. "We... we just went through the motions. It's a mosquito bite." "A mosquito bite?" I scoffed. "Must be a whole swarm of them in there. They seem to have left their stamps all over your neck." Ava’s lip trembled. "Stop being such a sarcastic asshole! Leo doesn't know the other girls here. I was just helping him out as a friend. What's the big deal?" Before she could continue, Leo sauntered out of the room, buttoning his shirt. "It was just a game, Mr. Astor," he said with a smug grin. "If you're worried, just have Ava take a morning-after pill." He held a small box out to me, his eyes gleaming with provocation. "It is a shame, though," he added, his voice dropping. "The pill can be rough on a woman's body." Ava snatched the box from his hand, her eyes flashing with disgust as she looked at me. "Why would he care about my health? He only cares about the precious little membrane down there. Fine! I'll go to a clinic tomorrow and have it surgically replaced, how's that?" Leo's laughter filled the suite. He was triumphant. The other guests, seeing my cold silence, started looking at me with disdain, as if I were the one in the wrong. Looking at Ava’s defiant face, I felt like I was seeing a stranger. Five years ago, she had knelt before me, begging me to pay for her college tuition so she could escape her misogynistic family. "Mr. Astor," she'd cried, "I'll do anything you ask, just please help me get my education." At the time, my family was pushing an endless parade of socialites on me for an arranged marriage. She became my convenient excuse, a shield. But over time, I fell for her. I fell hard. I poured millions into her dream of becoming an actress, pulling every string I had to shield her from the filth of the industry and propel her to A-list stardom. She dared to pull a stunt like this with Leo because she was sure I’d clean up her mess, just like I always had. I had given her everything. This was how she repaid me. "We're not even engaged yet, John," she snapped, seeing the look on my face. "I'll take the pill, I'll get the surgery, whatever. Stop looking at me like you're at a funeral. You're killing the mood." The arrogance rolled off her in waves. I ignored her and answered a call. She ripped the phone from my hand and smashed it on the floor. The screen spiderwebbed into a thousand pieces. My eye twitched. "Our engagement party is in one week," she hissed. "It's being live-streamed globally. The whole world sees us as the perfect couple. Are you really going to start drama with me now?" "The perfect couple?" I sneered, my eyes flicking from Leo back to her. "Did you think about that when you were getting off with him in the other room?" Ava winced, hating that I'd said it so bluntly. "It was just a game, you—" "Enough." I cut her off and took a sip of my wine. "The Astor family doesn't need a wife who entertains old lovers on the side." Her face flushed with rage. Before she could retort, the door opened. Her agent stood there, looking panicked. "Mr. Astor, I'm so sorry, Ava has a last-minute magazine shoot—" His eyes landed on the love bites covering her neck, and his pupils shrank. He fumbled in his bag for a compact and rushed forward, his hands shaking as he tried to cover the marks. "Mr. Astor," he pleaded, his voice cracking, "I know you and Ava are getting engaged, but… but she can't take this kind of abuse. I don't know if I can even cover this up…" "What does he have to do with it?" Leo shoved the agent aside, then wrapped a possessive arm around Ava's waist. "I'm Ava's first love. Who the hell is John Astor?" The agent's face went slack with shock. Ava, however, didn't seem to care. "You can go," she said to her agent. "I'll—" Leo cut her off by kissing her, hard. "Baby," he purred, "why is your agent a man? It makes me jealous." He looked at me, his voice high with victory. "Mr. Astor, you seem to enjoy pairing your fiancée up with other men. Maybe you secretly wanted her to get seduced, just so you could play the victim? Tsk, tsk." SMACK! The agent, trembling with rage, slapped Leo across the face. I had hand-picked this man for Ava; he knew better than anyone that her entire career was a gift from me. Ava gasped and cradled Leo’s face, then turned on the agent with murder in her eyes. "You dare touch him? Do you have a death wish?" The sight of them made me sick. I set down my glass. "That's enough," I said calmly to the agent. "Don't dirty your hands." "Are you doing this on purpose, John?" Ava shrieked. "Apologize to Leo! Now!" Leo. She was already calling him by his first name. "You think you can get away with this?" Leo clutched his cheek, his face a mask of fury as he pointed at me. "Fine! See if I don't ruin your precious engagement party!" He stormed out, slamming the door behind him. 2. The moment Leo was gone, Ava grabbed a heavy glass ashtray from the table and hurled it at my head. "John Astor, if anything happens to Leo, I will kill you!" I stared into her hate-filled eyes, a cold knot tightening in my stomach. This was the woman I had loved for five years. All my devotion, all my sacrifice, meant nothing next to her first love. Blood trickled down my forehead. Between the blood and the shattered phone on the floor, I felt every last feeling I had for her die. The agent shakily offered me his phone. "Mr... Mr. Astor, the paparazzi got shots of Miss Chen running out after Mr. Carter. What should we do?" I glanced at the screen. "What does it have to do with me?" This time, I wasn't cleaning up her mess. When I arrived home, I found Ava and her father sitting in my living room. "John, my boy," her father began, his smile oily. "I heard you and my Ava had a little spat?" I calmly placed the diamond ring on the coffee table. "We didn't have a spat," I said. "I'm informing her that the engagement is canceled." Her father's smile vanished. He staggered back a step. "But… marriage isn't a child's game! Did you see those headlines about Ava? It's all lies! My daughter would never do such a thing." I looked at Ava with cold contempt. "Your daughter has already found herself a new sugar daddy." Her father stared at her. "What is he talking about?" Seeing her silent, I let out another humorless laugh. "Why are you playing mute now? Or should I help you two lovebirds find a way to be together? Your daughter screws her ex-lover in front of her fiancé. Since you're so madly in love, who am I to stand in your way?" Ava's face darkened with anger. "Is that all you can do, John? Make sarcastic remarks? Who the hell do you think you are?" Five years ago, she knelt at my feet, desperate to escape her family and make something of herself. I was captivated by the fire in her stubborn eyes. I thought, over time, that my love could soften that fire into warmth. For five years, I lifted her up, building an entire kingdom for her in the entertainment world. I finally understood. Some people's hearts are made of stone. I had handed her my world on a platter, and in return, she just found new ways to stomp on it. "Mr. Astor, this was all her doing! It has nothing to do with the Chen family!" her father blurted, just as I knew he would. He knew exactly which side his bread was buttered on. "Please, she's young and foolish. Give her one more chance…" He wasn't about to give back all the benefits my family had bestowed upon his. "That's enough, Dad," Ava interrupted, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the bedroom, locking the door. "John, it was one stupid mistake. Was it really necessary to have me crucified online? Are you trying to get me canceled?" What? She thought I was the one who leaked the story to the press? The audacity was breathtaking. I had to laugh. "You created this disaster. What does it have to do with me?" "Who else would dare post negative stories about me if not for you?" I raised an eyebrow. "So, you do know that you only have a clean record because of me? Then what are you to me now? Why should I be responsible for cleaning up the messes you make?" The color drained from her face. Just then, her phone rang, saving her from having to answer. "Hello? Leo… what?! I'll be right there!" Her eyes shot to me, filled with a renewed hatred. "Calm down! The only person I've ever wanted to marry is you!" She hung up, ripped the engagement ring I had given her off her finger, and threw it at my face with all her might. The sharp edge of the diamond sliced across my cheek, leaving a deep, bloody gash. Her eyes were red with panic. "John, Leo is threatening to jump off a building because of our engagement! If you have any decency left, you'll let him go!" 3. I watched her sprint out the door, and I found the situation absurdly funny. So, she could feel panic. She could lose control over someone. A sharp pain lanced through my chest, and my throat felt tight. I held the ring up in front of her father's face. "As you can see, she has agreed to cancel the engagement. Please leave." He started to protest, but when I told him I would sever all business ties with his company if he didn't leave immediately, he turned and fled without another word. The next morning, I found a small digital camera on my doorstep. I recognized it as Ava's. My curiosity got the better of me, and I picked it up. The moment I pressed play, the screen filled with a sickening image of blood and matted fur. I recognized him instantly. It was the puppy my mother had given me before she died. The last living piece of her I had left. The video showed my sweet, gentle Lucky howling in agony, his once-white fur stained crimson. My heart felt like it was being shredded. Blood roared in my ears. With trembling hands, I dialed Ava's number. "Ava, where is Lucky?! What did you do to him?!" Her voice was dismissive. "What? Don't you like the gift I sent you?" I forced myself to stay calm. "Where. Is. Lucky?" A cold laugh echoed down the line. "So you do have feelings. What a shame I can't see your face right now. It must be hilarious." "Ava, you better pray that dog is alive," I growled, "or I will make you wish you were never born!" She cackled as if I'd told the funniest joke in the world. "You still think you're the king of New York? You think I'm scared of you anymore? Let me tell you, John, this is what you get for messing with Leo!" My face was a grim mask as I told my assistant to drive me to the Chen residence. He stood there, hesitating, a worried look on his face. "Spit it out," I said, rubbing my temples. "Miss Sterling called earlier," he said quietly. "She hopes you won't do anything rash. She wants you to reconsider the engagement." "The Astor and Sterling families are the two biggest players in this city. A merger through marriage is the logical choice. What's her issue with it?" The assistant paused. "Perhaps… Miss Sterling doesn't want a marriage based purely on business. You know she's been in love with you for a long time. She thinks you should look at people other than Miss Chen." I sighed. "Tell her I'll think about it." The next sound I heard was the deafening screech of tires. A massive truck, seemingly out of control, slammed into us from the side. CRUNCH! Our car was thrown several meters, rolling over once before coming to a stop. The taste of blood filled my mouth. My vision swam. The agony racking my body was so intense I nearly passed out. Through the shattered windshield, I saw Leo walking towards me, carrying a bundle of red. A faint, dying whimper told me it was Lucky. "Little bastard's tough," Leo sneered. "Still breathing after all that." Lucky! I tried to move, to get out, but my legs were pinned. Every movement sent waves of excruciating pain through me. "Let him go…" I gasped. "Let him go?" Leo laughed. He stomped on the hand I'd managed to stretch out of the broken window, grinding it into the asphalt. "You clung to Ava for five years. Why didn't you let us go?" He lifted his arm and brutally slammed Lucky onto the ground. The little dog let out a choked cry and went limp, a broken heap of fur and blood. "LEO!" I roared, my vision turning red, blood spilling from my lips. "That was my mother's—" "I don't care if it belonged to God himself!" he spat. He crouched down and wrapped his hands around my neck, squeezing with all his might. "You think Ava ever loved you? You were her ATM! A walking wallet! The only person she will ever marry is me!" His excitement grew with every word. "You're just a pathetic loser who licked her boots! A piece of trash! Your money, your family, it was all just a stepping stone for our love!" "John, you love her so much, right? Then die for her today!" His eyes shone with a feverish glee. He picked up a brick from the debris on the road and raised it high above my head.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "388448", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel