Chapter 3 Tricked by Ava

• After Damon dropped Silvia off at the mansion, he instructed the driver to head directly to the office.
• As he walked, Damon's thoughts drifted back to what Silvia had said. Although he had convinced himself that Ava had died five years ago, an unsettling feeling of anxiety crept into his mind.
• He strode purposefully out of the elevator. Damon was determined to dispel his doubts, therefore, he summoned his assistant into his office as soon as he arrived.
• With a deep, magnetic voice, he ordered, "Check if a woman named Ava died in childbirth five years ago at Bellflower Hospital."
• Damon's voice was as cold as ice. An unshakable gloom shrouded his chiseled face.
• Could it be true? That woman is alive, and she has deceived me.
• His already cold face turned frosty at the thought that a woman might have been playing him. The surrounding atmosphere seemed to drop several degrees.
• Dave Feron was stunned by the expression on his boss's face.
• Hadn't Madam passed away in childbirth five years ago?
• I distinctly remembered that boss was absolutely convinced she was dead. That incident took place five years ago; why is he suddenly investigating?
• Has anything happened to boss today?
• "Yes, Mr. Lindon," Dave responded, setting aside his own doubts.
• Damon walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window. He gazed out at the towering buildings and the bustling crowds below, which looked like ants.
• His face remained expressionless and cold.
• Suddenly, he let out a cold smile.
• "Ava, let's see if you truly have what it takes to trick me."
• ...
• Before long, Dave knocked on the door and walked in. He stood respectfully by Damon's side and reported truthfully.
• "I checked, boss. There was indeed a woman named Ava Mitchell who died in childbirth at the hospital five years ago."
• Upon hearing those words, even Damon himself didn't realize that his eyes instantly darkened, a strange sense of disappointment washing over him.
• Dave noticed a change in his boss's expression. He cursed himself inwardly for not delivering the news more carefully.
• He quickly added, "However, when I showed them Madam's photo, they said it wasn't her. I had confirmed it several times, and they said there hasn't been a beautiful woman who has received treatment at their hospital in the past few years, let alone one who died in childbirth."
• As Dave finished speaking, Damon shot him a sharp glance. His voice was icy and menacing as he declared, "Report like that again, and you'll be sent to Nespiyca to mine."
• Dave shivered all over. A wave of fear washed over him.
• Joke aside, Nespiyca was a desolate place—a barren wasteland. Going there would mean a fate worse than death.
• He remembered his previous assistant, who had been punished and sent there. Within a year, the scorching sun turned his skin as black as coal, making him unrecognizable when he saw him.
• The mere thought made Dave break out with goosebumps. He quickly nodded and replied, "Understood, Mr. Lindon."
• Then he retreated from the office.
• Left alone in his office, Damon was consumed by anger. A sinister expression twisted his sharply defined face.
• Indeed, he had been played by Ava!
• That woman was truly audacious. How had he not seen her true colors before?
• Damon sneered coldly. One thing was certain now, that woman was dead meat!
• ...
• Springhill.
• After settling her son, Ava decided to visit her mother's grave.
• Zeke was napping after lunch. She wrapped herself up tightly and headed out.
• Passing a flower shop, she bought a bouquet of her mother's favorite lilies and headed to the cemetery with a heavy heart.
• Ava felt a pang of sorrow when she saw the overgrown weeds around the grave. Her heartless father had driven her and her mother out long ago for the sake of another woman and her daughter.
• If her mother hadn't saved Damon's grandmother's life back then, who knows how much worse off they would have been?
• Ava's thoughts wandered. Tears filled her eyes as she bowed at the grave. She said, "Mom, it's my fault for not visiting you in years."
• She repented of her sin and bowed repeatedly. Ava poured out her heart, sharing the hardships of the past few years and promising to bring Zeke next time.
• After cleaning up the weeds, Ava realized it was time for Zeke to wake up. She said her goodbyes and prepared to leave.
• Suddenly, a group of men in black suits and sunglasses approached her.
• Sensing danger, Ava tried to run. More men appeared, and they blocked her path.
• "Madam, please come with us," Dave said. He removed his sunglasses and offered a polite smile.
• Seeing his familiar face, Ava felt a sense of devastation. They had found her despite her caution.
• "Who are you? Why should I go with you?" Ava composed herself and asked calmly.
• "Mrs. Lindon, please come with us. We're just a bunch of rough men, and we wouldn't want to hurt you," Dave said, his expression blank.
• Internally, he felt a pang of sympathy for Ava. After all, she was a remarkable woman, as she was the first person to ever outsmart Damon.
• "Sorry, you must have the wrong person," Ava insisted, attempting one last escape.
• If she fell into Damon's hands, she wouldn't come out unscathed! She had Zeke to think about and couldn't afford to risk her life.
• A man in black blocked her attempt to slip away as she finished speaking.
• "Madam, we don't mind tying you up, but we hope you won't mind either," Dave said flatly.
• As there was no way out, Ava reluctantly gave up her resistance.
• Burly bodyguards surrounded and flanked her, slowly escorting her to a luxury car. Before long, they arrived at their destination.
• Looking at the unfamiliar yet luxurious mansion, Ava felt a twinge of doubt, as she didn't know Damon owned this place.
• Then again, given her timid and submissive nature back then, it wasn't surprising she knew little about his life.
• Dave led the way. Ava was being pushed and stumbled along behind.
• They stopped at the study on the second floor. Dave knocked. A deep, magnetic voice said, "Come in."
• Dave opened the door and motioned for Ava to enter.
• Hearing that familiar voice, Ava felt a wave of dread wash over her.
• This was it. Her doom awaited. She wore a soured expression as she clung to the doorframe, desperately refusing to go in.