Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 317

Chapter 317: Chapter 317 When the Heart Breaks, Home Holds

Ava’s POV

The feeling of having your heart completely shattered isn’t that romantic pain described in novels. It’s a real, physical agony in your chest, like someone taking an iron hammer and mercilessly beating you from within. This betrayal wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment thing. This was deliberate, repeated deception. What destroyed me most? His complete unwillingness to trust me. After all our time together, he’d rather believe some blurry photos taken by that woman than ask me directly about the truth.

He didn’t even have the balls to break up with me first. He just went and screwed someone else behind my back, tossing me aside like garbage. What the hell was I to him? Some disposable plaything he could just replace whenever?

I slammed the door with all my strength, making the entire doorframe shake violently. Then, like a puppet with cut strings, I slid down against it until I hit the floor, my legs completely unable to support my weight.

When the tears started, I tried to keep it together, but I totally lost it within seconds. I buried my face in my knees and let out these ugly, gut-wrenching sobs that didn’t even sound like me—the kind of crying that tear from the depths of my soul. Time became a complete blur; could’ve been ten minutes, could’ve been an hour, I had no clue anymore.

My chest felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed with a knife, every breath bringing sharp pain. My face was covered with a mixture of tears and snot, hiccuping constantly, my throat raw from crying. I remained curled up by the door, resembling an abandoned child.

Feeling the cold from the floor seeping into my bones, I dragged my exhausted body to the couch, wallowing in self-pity.

The living room was dark, with only street lights casting weak beams through the balcony windows. Suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of keys, followed by my mother’s high heels on the entryway carpet.

"Ava? Why are the lights off—" her voice cut off abruptly.

With the door wide open, the hallway light lit up what a hot mess I was. Mom’s figure just stopped dead in the doorway, briefcase in hand, wearing her suit with perfect makeup that couldn’t hide how beat she looked.

"Oh God..." she immediately dropped everything, kicked off her high heels, and rushed to my side.

Mom didn’t ask any questions. She simply sat beside me and pulled me into her embrace just like she used to when I was sick as a child. She smelled of faint perfume and the weariness of a long workday, yet she was incredibly warm. I curled into her arms, seeking comfort in her familiar warmth.

She rocked me gently, one hand stroking my messy hair, the other patting my back. She didn’t press for answers, just quietly stayed with me while I cried. I could feel her chin resting on the top of my head, occasionally releasing a soft sigh.

After ages of crying, the waterworks finally began to slow down, though my voice was now hoarse. "Mom, aren’t you going to ask what happened?"

Mom was silent for a few seconds, then answered with her signature caustic tone. "Besides a man, I can’t imagine what else could reduce my strong, independent daughter to this sorry state. Your current makeup would be perfect for a horror film, sweetheart."

Despite her sharp words, I knew she was trying to make me feel better. I hugged her tighter, feeling her place a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

"Want me to curse out that bastard? I’m quite skilled at it," she offered.

"You don’t even know exactly what happened. How can you curse him accurately?" I challenged.

Mom gently wiped the tear tracks and smudged mascara from my face with a tissue."Darling, I’ve been alive long enough to have seen every trick men can play. Let me guess—besides cheating, what else could it be? Two-timing? Emotional betrayal? Or playing with multiple women simultaneously?"

I couldn’t help but give a bitter laugh."You could add domestic violence, gambling, drugs, alcoholism..." My voice gradually faded as I suddenly realized that Joseph was actually slightly better than those true scumbags.

"If you’ve actually fallen for that kind of garbage, it means I’ve completely failed at teaching you how to identify quality men. I should reconsider my educational methods," Mom said with a serious face.

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