Chapter 50

Chapter 50:

Ava’s cheeks burned with pain, but it was nothing compared to the wave of shock and humiliation crashing over her. As the weight of what had just happened settled in, she stomped her foot and screamed,

“Fernanda! How dare you slap me!”

When Fernanda raised her hand again, Ava instinctively flinched and stepped back, no longer daring to lash out.

This time, Fernanda didn’t slap her. Instead, she grabbed Ava by the cheeks and shoved her back until she hit the rough bark of a nearby tree.

Wearing a backless gown, Ava winced as the bark scraped harshly against her exposed skin.

Fernanda loomed over her, eyes cold and unyielding.

“Do you even realize why I slapped you?” Her voice was sharp and frigid.

Ava opened her mouth to respond, but Fernanda’s grip left her too stunned and breathless to speak.

The throbbing pain in her face and the sting in her back brought tears to her eyes. They welled up, then spilled freely down her cheeks.

Fernanda leaned in closer, her voice low and deadly calm.

“Think carefully.”

Finally releasing her, Fernanda stepped back. Ava cradled her aching cheeks, flinching at even the slightest pressure.

Crossing her arms, Fernanda eyed her with withering contempt.

“Well? Care to confess what you’ve been scheming?”

Ava’s tear-streaked face twisted in defiance.

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“I did nothing wrong!” she snapped, her voice still full of the entitlement that had always shielded her from consequences.

“Still denying it? Must I spell it out for you?” Fernanda said with a sigh, pulling out her phone.

She tapped the screen, and a video began to play.

The audio and visuals hit Ava like a thunderclap—unfiltered, undeniable.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. She had never imagined Fernanda would uncover the truth, let alone confront her with solid proof.

How had she found out?

To most, the crash appeared to be nothing more than a common traffic incident—unfortunate but routine.

So why had Fernanda looked deeper? What had compelled her to investigate?

And more importantly—how much more did she know?

Importantly, how had she managed to trace it all back to her? A surge of panic washed over Ava, forcing her to avert her gaze, unable to face the damning video any longer.

As the video ended, Fernanda’s voice sliced through the silence.

“Are you ready to own up now?”

Ava instinctively wanted to deny everything, but the evidence was irrefutable. The words caught in her throat. She couldn’t speak. Leaning against the tree, her hands fidgeted nervously, her disheveled appearance betraying her anxiety.

A gentle breeze drifted by, mild and soft, yet it sent a shiver down her spine.

Her thoughts churned in a tangled, chaotic whirlwind, so muddled that even she didn’t know what she was trying to grasp.

It was her first time doing something wrong, and she had been caught before she could even cover her tracks.

The weight of it all pressed down on her, leaving her both terrified and infuriated.

After a few tense moments, Ava finally looked up at Fernanda. Her voice was tight, her tone direct.

“What do you want from me?”

Fernanda let out a derisive snort.

“You came here to demand compensation, didn’t you? So just tell me what you’re after.”

Fernanda smirked inwardly. The rich were always the same—jumping straight to assuming the other person wanted money the moment things turned sour.

In this world, money solved everything. And the Ross family had plenty of it. That kind of wealth gave Ava her arrogance. She thought she had Fernanda figured out—a small-town girl returning to Esaham, struggling to make her way. Erika had even said Fernanda didn’t own a single property. In a city like Esaham, having nothing meant you were nothing.

Naturally, Ava assumed Fernanda had come begging for money.

Fernanda’s voice was steady and composed.

“Your staged traffic accident made me miss the entrance exam for Esaham University—one of the best schools in the country. That kind of sabotage has done irreparable damage to my future. So I’m asking for fifty million dollars in compensation.”

Ava’s jaw dropped.

“Fifty million dollars? That’s extortion!”

“Extortion?” Fernanda tilted her head, unfazed. “You destroyed my future. Demanding fifty million in compensation is more than fair.”

Ava sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Do you seriously think you would have passed the exam? Don’t flatter yourself.”

Fernanda shrugged.

“If I had taken the exam, at least I would’ve had a chance of passing. But thanks to you, my chances are now zero. All I’m asking for is fifty million. That shouldn’t be a big deal for you.”

“Out of the question!” Ava snapped. “Fifty million is ridiculous. There’s no way I’m giving you that.”

Fernanda casually flipped her phone into the air and caught it.

“Fine. Let’s let the court decide, then.”

Ava lifted her chin, her tone sharp with arrogance.

“You won’t win in court. Here’s my offer—five million, and we settle this now.”

In Ava’s mind, five million was already far more than Fernanda deserved. To her, Fernanda was just a small-town girl who probably couldn’t even imagine what that kind of money looked like.

Fernanda said nothing. She swung her leg over her motorcycle, moving with quiet confidence.

Before starting the engine, she glanced over her shoulder.

“You know, I just had an idea. What if I send this video to someone else? Any guesses who it might be?”

Ava stiffened, her entire body locking up.

Fernanda snapped her fingers, feigning sudden inspiration.

“Bobby. That’s it. I’ll send it to my so-called fiancé, Bobby.”

The mention of Bobby made Ava shudder. Her knees nearly buckled.

“Don’t!” she blurted out, speaking before she could think. “You can’t send it to him.”

She couldn’t imagine Bobby’s reaction if he saw that video. He already didn’t think much of her—this would destroy whatever slim chance she still had.

“Why shouldn’t I?” Fernanda’s smile widened.

“The video’s mine. I can use it however I want. And I won’t stop at Bobby. I’ll make sure everyone sees it. Let the world witness the cold, ruthless side of the great Miss Ross. What do you think they’ll say?”

“You…” Ava stammered, her voice trembling.

“I’ve heard your family has a strict reputation,” Fernanda went on, her tone deceptively casual.

“What do you think your parents will say when they see this?”

With a snap of her fingers, Fernanda’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

“Oh, I’ve got it. Why not pay a visit to your parents right now? Let them handle this little issue for you. What do you think?”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and began strolling toward the Ross family villa.

Panic flashed in Ava’s eyes as she quickly grabbed Fernanda’s arm.

“Wait, don’t go in! I’ll agree to your terms. Fifty million. I’ll give it to you!”

Fear gripped Ava completely, her mind racing through the terrifying possibilities Fernanda had just laid out.

If Bobby saw the video, she’d lose her chance with him forever. And if anyone else saw it, her reputation would be in shambles—she’d never be able to face her social circle again.

When weighed against those consequences, fifty million seemed like a small price to pay.

Whether it was extortion or blackmail didn’t matter now—Ava knew she had no other choice.

She hadn’t seen it coming. Fernanda had found her greatest weakness and struck without mercy.

“If you’d agreed sooner, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time,” Fernanda said with a light chuckle, giving Ava a pat on the shoulder.

“I’m a forgiving person, though. You’ve got three days. I want fifty million in my account by then.”

With that, she swung back onto her motorcycle, flashing Ava a bright, confident smile.

“Goodbye, Miss Ross.”

As Fernanda sped off, Ava’s fury nearly choked her.

Her hands shook as she fumbled with her phone, tapping the screen several times before finally dialing a number.

“Spread the news even further!” she snapped, her voice venomous. “I’m sure Fernanda never even took that entrance exam.”

She ended the call and hurled her purse at a nearby tree in a fit of frustration.

“How dare you threaten me, Fernanda?” she seethed silently.

Ava swore to drag Fernanda into the public spotlight—mocked, humiliated, and ruined. She would make sure everyone believed that Fernanda was a fraud who had never taken the exam, a disgrace to the Morgan family.

Ideally, the Morgan and Harper families would become so fed up with her that they’d send Fernanda back to her humble beginnings. That would be the perfect ending.

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