Chapter 144 Picking Up Ava
The phone call was from Ava’s teacher, informing me that Ava’s father had picked her up. It threw me off. Why on earth would Matthew suddenly decide to pick up Ava?
I hurriedly dialed Matthew’s number. The once familiar digits now felt strange and cold. It rang for a long time before he answered, his voice filled with tenderness.
“Honey!” €1
I was furious. “Matthew, what are you doing? Who asked you to pick Ava up?”
“Honey, calm down. I just missed our little girl. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her, and I couldn’t wait any longer!” His words sent shivers down my spine. Although he talked sweetly, there was a hidden menace to it.
Could he really miss our daughter?
“I’ve told you, don’t call me that. It disgusts me. Where are you?” My eyes were red with anger, and I shouted into the phone.
“It’s out of habit. You’ll always be my wife. That won’t change in this lifetime!” His tone was gentle, and I was sure it was deliberate. He said, “Relax, I’m at Snow World.”
After hanging up, I called my mother to let her know I’d pick up Ava myself. I didn’t want her to worry. Then I drove straight to
Snow World. 2
My daughter was everything to me. Although she called Matthew “Daddy,” he had lost his right to that title.
As I rushed into Snow World, I saw Matthew feeding Ava ice cream one spoonful at a time. Once upon a time, that would have been a scene that melted my heart.
Ava spotted me first, eager to get out of her chair and run to me. However, Matthew scooped her up. She squirmed in his arms, clearly reluctant.
“Mommy!”
I rushed over and grabbed Ava from Matthew’s arms, holding her tight. 2
Matthew looked at me with a smile on his face. “Why are you in such a hurry? She’s my daughter, too. Do you think I’d harm
her?”
I tried to restrain myself because I didn’t want Ava to see us arguing again. Ava clung to my neck as if she’d done something
wrong.
“Is it yummy?” I asked her in a gentle tone.
She looked at me with big, innocent eyes, assessing my expression. Then she licked her upper lip. It was clear she hadn’t had
enough.
Matthew stood up and pulled me into an embrace. “Our daughter hasn’t finished eating. She only had a spoonful of ice cream. Let me feed her some more!”
I clenched my fist and wished I could scream expletives at him. My eyes blazed like fire. In a low, seething voice, I asked, “Do you have any shame left?”
Suddenly, Matthew laughed, his eyes and brows crinkling with a peculiar playfulness. However, I knew there was a trace of scheming in that smile. It was this very smile that sent a chill down my spine.
