Avery's Game Of Revenge
Chapter 171: Gift and Punishment

Chapter 171: Gift and Punishment

Music Rec: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo

Archie let out a slow, humorless chuckle. He exhaled through his nose and then, methodically, began untangling the anklet from her ankle.

Panic flared in Avery’s chest.

"What are you doing?" she asked, but didn’t get a response.

Instead, Archie stood, walked to the door, and pulled it open. "Where’s the masseuse?"

Grace appeared instantly, bowing slightly. "Mr Hawthorne."

Archie held out the anklet. "Take this to Titus. Tell him I asked to destroy it."

Avery shot up from the table. "What?!" She rushed forward, making a futile attempt to get the anklet from him. "What are you doing? That’s mine! Sure, you gave it to me, but you don’t have a right to take it and destroy it without my permission."

Archie waved Grace off, shut the door back and turned.

"You’re right," he said smoothly. "But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you wear ’contaminated’ jewelry."

Avery’s stomach twisted, confusion etched on her brows. "What...?"

Wordlessly, Archie reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He turned the screen toward her, reveling in the way her breath caught in her throat as she read the headline.

He watched a myriad of emotions overtake her face, the already pale skin turning even paler.

"What do you have to say to that, huh?"

"That headline is totally misleading. Brian definitely didn’t propose!" Was all Avery could get out.

Archie hummed. "I know that," he stated, pointing at her ankle, "But he touched that, didn’t he? And he’s the one who found it. Not Alice."

Avery swallowed hard. "So you already knew? Then why?"

"Does it matter?" His lips curled into a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You lied to me."

Avery saw the unveiled anger in his gaze, the kind that sent a sharp pang of fear through her. "I didn’t mean to," she rushed out. "I just wanted to..."

"Again, it doesn’t matter what the reason is," he cut in. "You still lied. And you know what that means."

Her breath turned shallow.

No.

She couldn’t afford another punishment. Not when everything was finally starting to fall into place.

She reacted instantly.

Surging forward, she gripped the fabric of his shirt, desperation bleeding into her touch. His gorgeous face was set in sharp, cold lines, his eyes watching her with a predator’s gaze.

This wasn’t good. At all. She had to do something.

Then, an idea struck.

Flattening her palm against his chest, she slid it up, brushing against his collarbone, her touch light, teasing.

Archie stepped back, away from her, letting her hands hang in the air.

"Maybe," he murmured, "this would’ve worked before you lied the second time. But not now."

He leaned in, his breath fanning over her skin as his hands slid down her waist, stopping only when they framed her ass. Then, with a smirk, he whispered, "Lying wives get punished, Angel. Especially when the lies have to do with their goddamned ex."

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving her standing there, breathless and shaken.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Avery began pacing the room, her heart hammering as she tried to anticipate what kind of punishment he had in store for her this time. Would it be another restriction? A cruel game of manipulation? Her mind ran in circles, searching for a way to convince him to let her off easy. She had lied, and from his reaction just now, he must hate it so much. But she hadn’t meant to... had she?

She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Stupid," she muttered under her breath. "Why did I even lie in the first place?"

It had been instinct. A stupid, reckless instinct to protect what little freedom she had. But now, it had backfired, and she had no idea what awaited her.

Then she remembered his words.

"Lying wives get punished, Angel. Especially when the lies have to do with their goddamned ex."

Her stomach turned. Ex.

She almost gagged at the thought of Brian. The mere mention of his name left a bitter taste in her mouth. There was a time she had been blinded by him, but now? Now, he disgusted her.

The door swung open just then, snapping her from her thoughts.

An unfamiliar woman stepped inside, her expression neutral as she said, "We are waiting for you, Mrs Donovan."

Avery stiffened but followed her without question. She was led into a different room, where the entire team of attendants and the hair stylist from earlier was waiting. She sat stiffly through the process as they styled her hair, applied her makeup, and left her to step into the silk evening gown that felt like liquid against her skin.

She was trying to slip her shoes on when the door opened again, Archie stepping in this time.

Avery sucked in a breath at the sight of him.

Dressed in a black dress shirt and matching pants, he looked effortlessly commanding. His dark hair was styled back, giving him an even sharper, more ruthless edge. A sleek watch rested on one wrist, while a long coat hung off one arm. In his other hand, he held a small, elegant box.

Her throat went dry.

"Archie," she breathed.

He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling with amusement. The cold irritation from earlier was gone, replaced by something far more unsettling... pure, unshaken confidence.

For some reason, this look scared her more.

"Hi..." she said cautiously.

Instead of answering, he stepped closer, lifting the box slightly as he stopped in front of her.

"I have your gift and punishment here with me."

Avery rose to her feet, pushing the shoes away till further notice. She started to walk across the room to meet him when he held the hand holding his coat up, and took long strides to close the distance between them.

"A gift?" she asked, her voice a little softer than normal. Anything to ease his mood. "What’s in the box?"

"Yes, it’s your gift." Archie laughed as he opened the box, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "But why don’t you see what it is by yourself?"

Avery peered inside, her brows furrowing in confusion when she made out what it was.

"You got me panties?" she asked, staring at the black lace thong nestled inside.

"Not just any panties." Archie plucked them from the box, revealing a small, egg-shaped toy beneath them.

Oh, fuck...

"What is that?"

Archie raised a brow at the question, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You know what it is, Wife. You aren’t that innocent."

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