Alex's hand connected with Ava's face, sending her crashing to the floor. She cried out in pain as he loomed over her, his eyes blazing with fury.
"You filthy whore!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. "How dare you embarrass me like that?"
Ava cowered on the floor, her hands raised in a futile attempt to defend herself. She knew better than to fight back, knew that it would only make things worse.
Ava's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed up at Alex, her vision blurry from the pain. She could feel a warm trickle of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth, and her cheek throbbed with a dull ache.
Alex's face was twisted in a snarl, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. His chest heaved with ragged breaths, and his fists were clenched at his sides, as if he was struggling to contain his rage.
The room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two combatants. The air was thick with tension, and Ava could feel the weight of Alex's anger bearing down on her like a physical force.
Ava's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape route. But she knew it was futile. She was trapped, alone and defenseless against Alex's wrath.
As she gazed up at Alex, Ava felt a cold dread creeping up her spine. She knew that look, that tone. It was the precursor to something worse, something that would leave her broken and battered.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. Alex's face smoothed out, his eyes glinting with a cold calculation. He reached out a hand and hauled Ava to her feet, his grip like a vice around her wrist.
"Get yourself cleaned up," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "We have to go to the awards ceremony tonight."
Ava nodded, still feeling dazed and disoriented. She knew better than to argue with Alex when he was in this mood.
As she turned to stumble towards the bathroom, Ava caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Her eyes lingered on her reflection, taking in the damage. Her cheek was already starting to bruise, a deep purple hue that seemed to spread by the second. Her lip was cut, a thin line of blood trickling down her chin. She looked like she'd been put through a war.
She felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to well up. She blinked them back, knowing she couldn't afford to cry. Not now, not when she had to put on a perfect face for the awards ceremony.
Ava took a deep breath and turned away from the mirror. She made her way to the bathroom, her feet heavy with the weight of her emotions. She felt like she was drowning, suffocating under the pressure of her marriage.
As she entered the bathroom, Ava was hit with the bright glare of the fluorescent lights. She squinted, her eyes adjusting slowly to the light. She made her way to the sink, turning on the faucet to let the cool water wash over her battered face.
Ava closed her eyes, letting the water soothe her skin. She felt a sense of calm wash over her, a sense of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time. But it was short-lived, as the sound of Alex's voice cut through the silence.
"Ava, hurry up!" he yelled from the other room. "We don't have all night!"
Ava's eyes snapped open, and she felt a surge of anxiety. She knew she had to get moving, had to put on a perfect face for the ceremony. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.
As she walked out of the bathroom, Ava was greeted by the sight of her dressing room. It was a sprawling space filled with racks of designer clothes, shelves of expensive shoes, and a vanity table laden with makeup and beauty products.
Ava's personal stylist, Maria, was already waiting for her, a look of concern etched on her face. "Are you okay ma'am?" she asked, her voice low and gentle.
Ava shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. Maria nodded understandingly and began to work her magic. She expertly applied layers of foundation and concealer to cover up Ava's bruises, her hands moving with a gentle precision that belied the severity of the task.
As Maria worked, another makeup artist, Jasmine, began to style her hair, weaving a intricate pattern of braids and curls that showcased Ava's delicate features. The two women worked in tandem, transforming Ava from a battered wife to a stunning socialite.
Ava watched the transformation in the mirror, her eyes widening in amazement. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her – a woman with flawless skin, sparkling eyes, and a dazzling smile.
But despite the physical transformation, Ava couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness inside. She felt like she was living a lie,or was she actually living a lie? like she was trapped in a never-ending nightmare from which she couldn't awaken.
As Maria and Jasmine finished their work, Ava stood up, smoothing out her designer gown. It was a stunning creation of silk and satin, its intricate embroidery glinting in the light.
Ava took a deep breath, steeling herself for the ordeal ahead. She knew she had to put on a perfect facade, had to pretend that everything was fine. But as she walked out of the dressing room, Ava couldn't help but wonder how much longer she could keep up the charade.
As Ava walked out of the dressing room, she was greeted by the sight of her husband, Alex, standing in the foyer of their mansion. He was dressed in a tailored tuxedo, his eyes gleaming with a self-satisfied smile.
"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice dripping with condescension.
Ava nodded, her heart sinking. She knew that tonight was going to be a long night, a night of pretending to be the perfect wife.
As they walked out of the mansion,they were greeted by the sight of the limousine waiting for them. It was a sleek, black car, its interior gleaming with luxurious leather and crystal.
Alex opened the door for her, his eyes never leaving hers. Ava felt a shiver run down her spine as she stepped into the car, the cool air enveloping her like a shroud.
As the car pulled away from the mansion, Ava felt a sense of disconnection, a sense of being trapped in a world that wasn't hers. She knew that tonight was going to be a performance, a performance of perfection, of happiness, of love.
But as she glanced over at Alex, Ava felt a surge of anger, of resentment. She knew that she wasn't alone in this performance, that Alex was just as guilty of pretending to be something he wasn't.
The car ride was silent, the only sound the soft hum of the engine. Ava stared out the window, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery.
As they pulled up in front of the venue, She felt a surge of anxiety. She knew that this was it, the moment when they would have to put on their perfect faces and pretend to be the happy couple.
The limousine came to a stop, and Alex smiled at her, his eyes gleaming with a confident light. "Ready?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
Ava nodded, taking a deep breath.As they stepped out of the limousine, they were greeted by a sea of flashing cameras. The media was out in full force, eager to catch a glimpse of the perfect couple.
Ava smiled, her lips curving upward in a perfect arc. She waved at the cameras, her hand moving in a smooth, practiced motion.
Alex wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. He smiled at the cameras, his eyes gleaming with a confident light.
The media ate it up, snapping photos and shouting questions. Ava and Alex posed for a few minutes, smiling and waving at the cameras.
As they made their way into the venue, Ava felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had gotten through the first hurdle.
The venue was packed with people, all of them eager to catch a glimpse of the perfect couple. Ava and Alex made their way through the crowds, smiling and waving at the guests,making their way to their table.
As Ava and Alex reached their VIP table, Kate Ross- Alex mother looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Ava's appearance making her feel a surge of anxiety, knowing that Kate would be scrutinizing her every move.
"Ah, Ava, darling," Kate said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You look... lovely tonight."
Ava forced a smile, knowing that Kate's words were laced with venom. She took her seat next to Alex, trying to ignore the hostile glances from the rest of the Ross family.
Asher, Alex's younger brother, looked at her with a mixture of disdain and boredom. His wife, Ruby, sat beside him, her eyes fixed on Ava with a cold, mocking, calculating gaze.
Little Sam, Asher and Ruby's son and the only grandchild of the Ross family, looked at her with a curious expression, but Ava knew that he would soon learn to dislike her just like the rest of the family.
As the evening wore on, Ava felt like she was walking on eggshells, trying to avoid any confrontation with the Ross family. She knew that she had to keep up the act, had to pretend to be a happy member of the family.
But as she glanced around the table,she could see Alex receive a phone call anxiously and tension evident in his face as he immediately turned to his mother. "The attorneys are here."