Chapter 5

Avery watched Calvin kiss Britney, her heart breaking into pieces. The two sons she had poured her whole life into were now pushing Calvin toward another woman right in front of her. Calvin kissed Britney for a long time before finally pulling away, their lips parting slowly with a lingering trace of intimacy. Britney's cheeks flushed bright red as she looked down in embarrassment. "Sorry," Calvin said hoarsely, "I just lost my balance for a second." Then, he turned, putting on a stern face as he glared at Noah and Simon. "What's wrong with you two?" His tone sounded stern, but Avery knew him too well—he was happier about that kiss than anyone else. Calvin looked at Avery and explained, "It was just an accident. The kids were just being playful. Don't take it to heart." Avery calmly shook her head. "I don't mind." She really didn't mind because she was done with all three of them. After getting off the Ferris wheel, they went to watch the parade. The night was filled with laughter and music as colorful parade floats slowly rolled by. Suddenly, the horses pulling one of the floats were startled and bolted straight toward the crowd. "Watch out!" In the chaos, Avery saw Calvin and the boys rush to protect Britney, throwing themselves over her to shield her. Avery was left standing alone, shoved aside by the frantic crowd and thrown to the ground. "Ah!" Pain exploded through her as the horse's hooves crushed her ribs, and the float's wheels ran over her legs. She heard the sickening snap of her own bones breaking. Then, everything went black. ... When Avery woke again, the hospital room was eerily quiet. Avery struggled to sit up, cold sweat pouring down her back from the pain in her ribs and legs. She reached for her phone, wanting to check the time. The screen lit up. On the lock screen, a notification appeared for a new post from Britney. The photo showed Calvin and the two boys gathered around Britney's hospital bed. Calvin gently tucked in her blanket while Noah held a glass of water, and Simon offered her some medicine. The caption read, "It feels so good to be loved." Avery forced a crooked smile and set her phone down. Just then, a doctor came in, flipping through her chart. "Ms. Sterling, you've broken three ribs and fractured your left tibia. You'll need to stay under observation for a few days." He glanced around the room. "Where are your family members? We need a signature from your next of kin." Avery answered quietly, "I don't have any family." For days after, no one came to visit her room. The nurses looked at her with pity and sometimes secretly slipped her extra painkillers. It wasn't until the day she was discharged that Calvin finally showed up. "Britney's still shaken up, so she needed someone with her," he said casually. "How's your recovery? Do you need to stay longer? I can bring the kids by to help look after you." Avery shook her head. "No, you don't need to trouble yourselves." Calvin frowned. He remembered how Avery used to be happy for days, even if he spent just an hour with her. And now, she was turning him away? But he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he directed the driver to head to the upscale boutique downtown. Inside the boutique, under the bright lights, Calvin picked out dress after dress, holding each one up to her to check the fit. Avery thought maybe he was trying to make it up to her, so she said softly, "It's alright. I don't really like any of these..." "It doesn't matter whether you like it or not," Calvin cut her off. "Britney's birthday is coming up. I want a perfect custom gown made for her." He gave Avery a quick once-over. "You and Britney are about the same size, so I brought you to try things on." Avery let out a bitter laugh. She laughed at her own wishful thinking and at how Calvin always knew exactly how to hurt her the most. For the next three hours, she let herself be treated like a mannequin, changing into dress after dress for him. Finally, he settled on a mermaid gown covered in sparkling crystals. "This is the one." Back home, Calvin tossed her a paper bag. "Picked this up for you while I was at it." Avery glanced inside. It was the complimentary gift that came with Britney's designer dress—a plain black dress with a "Gift with Purchase" tag still attached. She took it and just said, "Thanks." Back in her room, Avery threw it straight into the trash.