---- Chapter 14 Ava was at the local farmers market, picking out fresh peaches for a new tart recipe. Leo was happily chattering to Danny, who was patiently explaining the difference between a freestone and a clingstone peach. Suddenly, Chloe appeared, Maya in tow. Maya was holding a half-eaten ice cream cone. "Well, well, if it isn't little Miss Homewrecker Junior," Chloe said loudly, sneering at Ava. Annoyance. Anger. Immediate provocation. Ava ignored the jibe about her, but her eyes narrowed at the insult to Leo, who flinched. "Chloe," Ava said, her voice dangerously calm. "If you're looking for your dignity, | think you dropped it somewhere back in Austin, along with your credibility." Sarcasm. Defiance. Counter-provocation. Chloe's eyes darted around. She spotted Mark approaching from the other end of the market. Her demeanor changed instantly. Tears welled in her eyes. "Ava! Please! Stop threatening me! | just came to buy some vegetables!" Manipulation. Disgust. A performance of victimhood. Maya, on cue, sat down hard on the ground, dropping her ice ---- cream. She began to wail. "She pushed me! Ava's mean son pushed me! My ice cream! Waaah!" Disgust. Coached manipulation. Mark rushed over, his face a mask of fury. He didn't ask questions. He didn't look for context. He shoved Ava hard. She stumbled back, Danny catching her before she fell. Mark then roughly pushed Leo, who yelped in fear. "You little brat!" Mark snarled at Leo. "Picking on a little girl! Just like your mother!" Anger. Injustice. Physical aggression. Ava was momentarily stunned by his violence towards Leo. Shock. Anger. This was a new low, even for him. Mark glared at Ava, then at Leo, his voice filled with venom. "You're both evil! Just evil! | don't want you! | don't want either of you! You're nothing to me!" Extreme anger. Final rejection. Internally, Mark felt a surge of righteousness. He was teaching them a lesson. This was tough love. They needed to learn. They were out of control. His harsh actions were necessary to "correct" their bad behavior. Self-deception. Misplaced righteousness. ---- "This is it, Ava," Mark declared, his voice trembling with rage. "Any empathy | had left for you, for him, it's gone. Dead." Coldness. Finality. He was severing the last emotional tie, or so he thought. Mark then turned, scooped up a "sobbing" Maya, and put a comforting arm around Chloe. "Come on, sweethearts. Let's get away from these horrible people." He walked away, pointedly ignoring Leo's terrified whimpers. Abandonment. Callousness. Ava watched him go, and something inside her snapped. The years of abuse, the gaslighting, the betrayals, his attack on her son.. She strode after them. She grabbed Chloe by the arm, spinning her around. And she slapped her. Hard. Then she kicked Chloe in the shin. "Stay away from my son, you manipulative witch!" Ava screamed. "I will not let you or him hurt Leo again!" Fury. Defiance. Physical aggression. A refusal to be victimized. Mark whirled around, his eyes wide with shock. "Ava! Have you gone mad? You're barbaric!" Shock. Anger. He couldn't believe Ava was fighting back like this. ---- Ava advanced on him. "Barbaric? You attack my child, you allow this creature to torment us for years, and *I'm* barbaric? No, Mark. I'm done being your punching bag. You want a fight? You've got one." Defiance. Self-assertion. Mark backed away, genuinely scared now. This wasn't the Ava he knew. "You're... you're just upset because I'm happy with Chloe! You were always ungrateful for everything | gave you!" Repetition of past claims. Frustration. Ava laughed, a raw, painful sound. "Ungrateful? Happy? Mark, you are a pathetic, self-absorbed excuse for a man. If you truly believe I've wronged you, if you think Chloe is such a victim, then call the police. File charges. Otherwise, shut your mouth and get out of my life!" Exhaustion. Challenge. A demand for accountability, not just empty accusations.