CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE WAS NEVER HIS
Noah stared at the papers.
Then he looked again.
And again.
His hands began to shake.
"What the hell is this?"
Ava calmly took a sip of water.
"The deed."
Diane stepped closer.
"What deed?"
"The deed showing that this house belongs to me."
Claire's face immediately lost color.
Noah laughed nervously.
"That's impossible."
Ava raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
She pulled out another document.
"My grandmother left me this property six years before we got married."
Noah flipped through page after page.
Every document carried the same name.
AVA THOMPSON.
Only Ava.
Noah's confidence disappeared.
"You never told me."
"You never asked."
Diane snatched the papers.
"This has to be fake."
Ava smiled.
"Feel free to call the county office."
Silence filled the room.
Claire slowly lowered herself into a chair.
"Wait..."
She looked at Noah.
"You told me the house was yours."
Noah swallowed hard.
"I thought it was."
"You thought?" Claire asked.
Ava almost laughed.
For years Noah had acted like king of the castle.
The problem?
The castle had never belonged to him.
Diane slammed the folder shut.
"Fine. The house is yours."
Ava nodded.
"Correct."
"But Claire is still staying."
Ava looked directly at her.
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"I mean she leaves tonight."
Claire stood up.
"Noah?"
For the first time, Noah had no answer.
Ava walked toward the front door and opened it.
"Take your bags."
"You can't do this!" Diane shouted.
Ava's voice turned icy.
"I absolutely can."
Then she revealed another surprise.
"And tomorrow morning my lawyer will file for divorce."
Noah's knees nearly buckled.
"What?"
Ava smiled.
May you like
"We're done."
END OF CHAPTER 2.
