---- Chapter 8 Ava stumbled back to her car, her body aching, her heart shattered. She drove to the house - *their* house, the one Mark now fully occupied with Chloe. The front door was locked. She tried her key. It didn't work. He'd changed the locks. Frustration. Powerlessness. Complete exclusion. She called the police. "My ex-husband has taken my son. He's making false accusations." An officer arrived, listened patiently, but his words offered little comfort. "Ma'am, this sounds like a domestic dispute, a custody issue. Unless you have a court order, or there's evidence of immediate danger to the child, our hands are tied. You'll need to go through family court." Frustration. Legal helplessness. Mark called. His voice was cold, triumphant. "Leo is fine. He's with me and Chloe. He'll stay with us until you agree to cater Chloe's party and publicly apologize for your behavior at the park." Coercion. Anger. He was using Leo as a bargaining chip. ---- Ava sank to her knees on the porch. "Mark, please. Don't do this. He's my son. Just bring him back." Desperation. Anguish. She almost collapsed. Mark's voice softened for a fraction of a second. "Ava..." Then she heard Chloe in the background, "Don't listen to her, Mark. She's trying to manipulate you. Be strong." His resolve hardened instantly. "You heard Chloe. My decision is final. You know what you have to do." He pushed her out of his mind, out of Leo's life, and closed the door on any hope. He hung up. The next few days were a living hell. Chloe, true to her cruel nature, sent Ava short video clips. Leo, looking miserable, refusing to eat the food Chloe prepared. Leo, crying in a strange room, asking for his mommy. Leo, with Maya snatching his toys, while Chloe looked on, smiling. Anguish. Helplessness. Rage. Ava's physical pain was nothing compared to the psychological torment. She barely ate, barely slept. Meanwhile, the gossip blogs and social media were buzzing. "#MarkAndChloe #PowerCouple #BabyOnBoard" "Architect Mark Thompson and Lifestyle Guru Chloe Davis Announce Pregnancy and Upcoming Lifestyle Venture Launch!" Financial details of their extravagant party plans were leaked. ---- Irony. Disgust. The world saw a happy couple, while Ava lived a nightmare. Then, the unthinkable happened. A news alert flashed on Ava's phone. "Child Injured in Attack at City Park Playground - Suspect, Disgruntled Ex-Employee of Thompson Architects, Apprehended." A video, shaky and horrifying, showed a man lunging at a group of children. Leo. Leo was there, with Maya. The man had a knife. He stabbed Maya in the arm as she tried to run. Then he grabbed Leo. Horror. Fear. Urgency. The video, which quickly went viral, showed what happened next. Mark, who had been nearby with Chloe, rushed over. He didn't go to Leo, who was struggling with the attacker. He went straight to Maya, shielding her, pulling her away, while Chloe screamed. Leo was left alone with the attacker for crucial seconds before park security finally intervened. Shock. Profound betrayal. Disgust. The hot topic online was Mark's "heroism" in saving Maya. No one seemed to notice his abandonment of Leo. Ava raced to the hospital. ---- Mark was there, with a distraught Chloe. He saw Ava and his face twisted with renewed blame. "This is your fault, Ava! If you hadn't upset me, if you hadn't been so difficult, | wouldn't have brought the kids to that park! That man, he was fired because of the financial strain *your* sale of shares caused! This is all on you! | owe Chloe and her child my protection!" Injustice. Frustration. Disbelief. He still blamed her, even now. Ava was too overwhelmed by pain and anguish to respond. Her chest felt like it was caving in. All she could think about was Leo. Was he okay? Chloe, ever the actress, dabbed her eyes. "Oh, Mark, don't blame Ava. She's worried too. It's just... a terrible tragedy. My poor Maya... and Leo..." Her voice was full of false concern, a subtle pressure on Mark. Mark took Chloe's hand. "You're right, honey. We need to focus on the positive. The doctors say Maya will be fine. And... this whole ordeal... it's made me realize. We need to move forward. Ava, | want the divorce finalized. Immediately." Impatience from Mark. Irony. He wanted to formalize their split while their son's fate was unknown. Just then, a doctor came out. "Mr. Thompson? Ms. Rodriguez?" Ava's heart stopped. "Leo is stable. The attacker didn't manage to... the knife didn't ---- penetrate deeply. He has some cuts, he's in shock, but he's going to be okay." Relief. So immense, so overwhelming, Ava's legs gave out. She sank to the floor, sobbing, tears of gratitude and terror pouring out The next day, they were at the courthouse again. The divorce was expedited due to "extreme circumstances." As soon as the papers were signed, Mark rushed Chloe to a justice of the peace. They were married in a quick ceremony, which was, of course, leaked to the press. "Thompson and Davis: A Love Story Forged in Crisis!" Finality. Bitter irony. Before they left the courthouse, Mark turned to Ava. "Chloe and | are having our launch party slash wedding reception next week. You and Leo are not to come near it. I've already given security your photos." Dismissal. Control. Ava just looked at him, her eyes empty. "Okay." Indifference. Finality. She was done. Mark, despite everything, still seemed to believe in his own fantasy. "This doesn't mean it's over for us, Ava. Not really. Once Chloe's brand is launched, and the baby is born... things will change. We can get remarried then. This is just... a detour." ---- Delusion. Irony. His self-deception was bottomless. Ava started to say, "Mark, | will never..." But he cut her off. "Gotta go! Paparazzi are waiting. Chloe wants some 'happy couple' shots." He hurried away, Chloe beaming on his arm. Dismissal. Humiliation. For the next week, Mark didn't visit Leo in the hospital once. He was too busy with wedding preparations and his "lifestyle venture" launch. Neglect. Callousness. Ava sat by Leo's hospital bed, watching him sleep. She took out her phone. She had the screen recordings of Chloe's DMs. She had copies of Mark's financials, showing him siphoning firm money to Chloe's failing brand. She had witness statements from the park about Chloe's "fall." She sent it all to a respected investigative journalist she knew. Then, she transferred her remaining liquid assets and the proceeds from the house sale (their agreement stipulated her share upon divorce) to an account Danny Chen, her childhood best friend, had helped her set up. He'd recently moved back to Austin. Revenge. Finality. The day Leo was discharged, Ava didn't take him home. ---- She took him to the train station. They boarded a train heading out of Texas, towards the small Hill Country town where Danny lived. She sent one final text to Mark: "Goodbye. Don't try to find us." Then she blocked his number and threw the SIM card away. Escape. A new beginning. Severance.