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Novel Catalog
Chapter_20
An Excellent Opportunity
As I glanced at the phone, its incessant ringing seemed almost deliberate. The timing was too perfect—Ivanna had called just after Matthew left, no doubt after he’d briefed her on the situation. My stomach tightened as I pressed accept. I knew what this call was about.
“Hello, Ivanna,” I said, trying to mask my emotions, though a sharp edge lingered in my voice.
“What are you up to? Is Ava okay?” Ivanna’s cheerful tone was almost sickening. Of course, she was in high spirits. After all, the argument between Matthew and me must have been a great opportunity for her.
I couldn’t help the sarcasm that slipped through as I responded, “Seems like you’re free to call me so early in the morning. How nice of you.”
Ivanna chuckled lightly. “Well, I’m not a robot. Even I need to recharge!” She laughed, as if the situation didn’t matter at all. “Let’s go out.”
I hesitated for a moment, but then the opportunity to confront her in person felt too good to pass up. It might be the perfect chance to dig deeper into her role in all this.
“I’ll bring Ava. She’s not at school yet, so we’re just playing at home,” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual, as though I wasn’t feeling a storm of emotions inside.
“Oh? That’s great! Bring her along, and I’ll spoil her a little. I didn’t talk to her much last time because I could tell you weren’t in the best mood,” Ivanna teased, her voice sweet but with an edge that grated on my nerves.
I weighed the decision quickly. I wasn’t one to pass up a chance like this, especially not when it could help me get closer to the truth. “Sure, I don’t care where we go as long as I can relax for a bit. Can I come to your place? I’ve never been there, and you’ve been hiding it from me. What if something happened to you? I wouldn’t be able to find you.”
I said the words lightheartedly, trying to sound casual, but I could tell from the moment they left my mouth that Ivanna’s response would reveal something important.
There was a brief silence on the other end, a hesitation I could sense even over the phone. I pressed further. “Is this a bad time?”
“What do you mean? Even if I had a man over, I’d kick him out so you can come over,” Ivanna replied, dismissing the question. “All right then, stay put, and I’ll pick you and Ava up later. I’ll be there soon.”
The call ended, and I stood there for a moment, holding Ava in my arms, a heavy weight settling on my chest. I longed for a life where none of this had happened, where I didn’t have to question everything and wonder how far Matthew and Ivanna had gone. The painful reality was that Ava had been hurt in the process, and I was no closer to the answers I needed.
I looked down at my daughter, her swollen lips still a painful reminder of last night’s incident. “Does it still hurt?” I asked softly.
Ava shook her head and, in her innocent way, consoled me. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. And Daddy said he didn’t mean it.”
I choked on the lump in my throat. How wonderful it must be to have the innocence of a child, unable to see the darkness lurking around her.
Two hours later, Ivanna’s car pulled up outside, and I went downstairs to meet her. I had kept the two spare keys I had copied just for moments like this—moments when I needed to gather more information, to know where she lived and who she was really hiding behind that smile.
When I saw her apartment for the first time, I was taken aback. Ivanna lived in one of the most well-known upscale neighborhoods in Foswood, in Amethyst Apartments. I recognized the name immediately—this was a high-end area with some of the best schools in the province, including Sunnydale Institute, which I had been eyeing for Ava.
I couldn’t help myself. “Ivanna, I didn’t expect you to live here. I’ve been eyeing this place for a while,” I said sincerely, my earlier resentment temporarily forgotten.
“You’ve got your sights set on Sunnydale, haven’t you?” Ivanna replied quickly, as if she’d anticipated my thoughts. “It’s not easy, but when Ava starts school, you can let her stay with me. We’ll go to Sunnydale together.”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Was she implying she would take Ava away from me? I froze, my heart racing at the thought. Could she be trying to steal my daughter?
As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, Ivanna reached for Ava, her eyes catching sight of a bruise on my daughter’s hips. “Hey, how did this happen?” she asked, feigning surprise as she gestured toward Ava’s lips. “I don’t remember seeing this injury on her last time we met either!”
I stiffened, my protective instincts kicking in. “It was an accident,” I replied coldly, holding Ava close to me, refusing to let Ivanna get too close.
Ivanna’s smile faltered slightly at my distance, but she quickly recovered. She grabbed her bag and tossed the keys into it before leading me inside.
The apartment was beautiful, a stark contrast to my own humble living space. Elegant furniture, fresh flowers on the coffee table, and an overall sense of wealth and sophistication filled the room. It seemed that Ivanna had been living a life of luxury, while I had been scraping by, barely keeping things together.
Ava, oblivious to the tension, squealed in excitement. “Wow, Mommy, Aunt Ivanna’s place is so pretty!”
Her innocent joy twisted in my gut. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness. This was the life I could never afford, and all while Matthew’s betrayal hung over us. I followed them into the apartment, scanning every detail for any clue that might help me understand more about Ivanna—and the life she was trying to lure my daughter into.