Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

She wanted to cry, plead her case, shout her injustice to the world, but there he was, sitting with an expressionless face, his handsome features as unreadable as a stone, his gaze as cold as ice.

In the presence of his intimidating aura, she found herself speechless, too scared

to say a word. The evidence was stacked against her, undeniable and

overwhelming.

All she could do now was beg for mercy. Joy had once told her, never underestimate a man's guilt and pity; they could be your best defense if you played it right.

With this in mind, Yasmine swallowed her pride and bitterness, and with a heavy heart, she kneeled before Everett. "Mr. Everett, it was my fault..."

...

Everett didn't come home the entire night. Mateo, being just a kid, was easily convinced by Selena's excuse that his dad was busy, but Ava knew better.

Sensing something off, she quietly asked Selena what was happening. Selena, not wanting to burden Ava, tried to brush it off, but Ava cut in, "I'm not a child; you can't pull one over on me."

“Ma'am, if something's bothering you, please tell me. I'm worried about you keeping it all bottled up, especially with the baby on the way. You've only got a few months to go, you know."

Ava's gentle concern slowly warmed Selena's cold hands and feet. She pulled Ava to the sofa, leaning into her comforting embrace.

Selena rarely allowed herself to be vulnerable. "Ava, you're so good to me, just like a mother."

Selena had always been so strong. Despite her youth, she had endured so much, silently bearing her pain.

It was the first time Ava had seen her so vulnerable, and it made her heart skip a beat.

She sensed a storm brewing. She feared for Selena, but felt powerless to do much else. All she could do was hold her and offer reassurance, "Ma'am, you're too kind, but at your age, you're just like my daughter. Let me be your mom for a while, to look after you."

"No matter what happens, you've got Mateo, you've got me, the little one on thenoveldrama

way, your uncle, and your brother. We're all here for you."

Selena's eyes welled up, and she let herself cry in Ava's warm embrace.

She thought if her mother were here, she'd hold her just like this. Her mother wouldn't let anyone hurt her child, and she wouldn't let anyone harm Mateo, even if Everett wanted to cut ties.

The night turned to dawn, and dew dampened the flowers. The car rolled into the villa's driveway and stopped at the entrance. Alex glanced in the rearview mirror at the mam in the back seat, eyes closed and leaning against the leather.

He'd been awake all night, weariness etched on his face. But more than

tiredness, there was a deep, lingering gloom.

Whatever Yasmine had said during their meeting, it had left him in this state after leaving the interrogation room.

Alex couldn't predict how Everett would handle this mess. On one hand, there was his son; on the other, his savior.

As Alex hesitated to wake him, Everett slowly opened his dark eyes. He didn't immediately get out of the car. Instead, he gazed through the window at the master bedroom on the second floor.

After a long pause, he finally opened the car door, stepped out, and walked inside.