Her Scent, His Sin

Liam was frozen to the spot, as if he couldn’t believe I was serious. He grabbed my arm again, his tone bordering on desperate. “Ava, don’t be like this. I just want to repay my mentor’s kindness, that’s all—”

“Repay his kindness?” I shook his hand off, my voice dripping with contempt.

“Do you think I’m a child? If you really wanted to honor him, you’d donate a building to the business school in his name. I’d fully support that. But look at what you brought home—she’s a poor excuse for a tribute.”

I pointed at Chloe, who flinched at my words. “Helpless? All alone? She’s far more calculating than she lets on. Anyone can play the victim. Besides, my home is not a charity!”

Liam’s face darkened, his embarrassment turning to anger. “Haven't you said enough, Ava!”

“Done? Not even close!” I scoffed, grabbing the Murano glass sculpture we had bought together in Italy from the coffee table and smashing it on the floor.

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room. “Liam, who gave you the nerve to bring another woman into our home?!”

The glass shattered near Chloe’s feet, and a sharp piece cut her delicate calf.

She let out a scream, “Ahh—!” and instinctively threw herself into Liam’s arms for protection. “Ava, why are you doing this to me?! I never meant to ruin your relationship. I was just joking around, like a friend!”

Before she could finish, the movers arrived at the door.

I waved them in. “Excuse me. Please take those two suitcases, and then clear out the study on the second floor. Especially all of his personal belongings in there.”

“Ava!” Liam grabbed my hand fiercely, his patience finally gone. “You’re going too far. Stop acting like a child!”

I snorted, finding it all hilarious. “Acting like a child? This isn't a game, Liam. I’m dead serious. We’re done.”

I walked over to Chloe and looked down at her. She was helplessly wiping away tears, looking pathetic, but I knew better.

I let out a small laugh and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Sweetheart, you have terrible taste in men.”

I straightened up, raising my voice to continue. “As for this apartment? It’s my favorite minimalist design. Who are you to criticize it? And you had the nerve to claim Liam would redecorate for you. Please. The only thing around here that needs work is your face.”

Her expression shifted from shock to horror. She stared at me, dumbfounded, while Liam shielded her behind him. “She’s just a kid, Ava. There’s no need to be so cruel.”

I pulled her ID out of her purse and glanced at it with disdain. “Twenty-eight. Hmm, two years younger than me. Quite the actress.”

I turned to Liam, my voice laced with sarcasm. “You know, you could do better at any dive bar.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off again, turning to the movers. “What are you waiting for? Start packing. And by the way, all those expensive suits in his closet—send them all to Goodwill.”

Liam, who had played the role of the perfect fiancé for ten years, had clearly never been on the receiving end of such humiliation. He took Chloe’s hand and rushed toward the door. “Chloe, let’s go. She just needs to cool off.”

The movers hesitated, looking confused. “So… should we still move the stuff?”

I took a deep breath. “Move it. All of it.”

I glanced down at my phone. The family group chat was still blowing up.

With a final, cold laugh, I kicked Liam out of the group and left one last message for everyone to see: "Final Review: Failed."