Husband With Benefits
Chapter 676: Tenterhooks

Chapter 676: Tenterhooks

Ava had been on tenterhooks all day waiting for Hannah to arrive. She’d even kept the cash ready, to entice her. Seeing the cash, Hannah would definitely not be able to resist it and let it go. She knew that woman this much! She was as greedy as a person could be.

But as the hours ticked by and the sun began to set, Ava felt a mix of disappointment and relief. Part of her was glad that Hannah hadn’t shown up—perhaps it meant that she wouldn’t have to deal with her after all. Maybe Hannah had decided to spare her? Or found some better target? But another part of her was worried. What if Hannah was just biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike? What if this was just the calm before the storm?

She tried to busy herself with small tasks, tidying up the already spotless living room, rearranging the flowers in the vase, but nothing could distract her from the nagging worry that gnawed at her. Every sound made her jump and she was on the edge.

Just as she was beginning to relax,the doorbell rang. Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Da*n it! It was almost time for Cai and Erasmi to return. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Hannah standing there—it was Cai, looking flustered.

"Cai? What happened?" She asked in concern.

"Mom, I need an ice pack. My teached sprained her ankle."

Ava stepped aside as Caius quickly raced into the house to get the ice pack. Shaking her head as s watched him almost stubbed his own toe in his hurry to get the pack, Ava looked at the bus curiously. Maybe she should go and meet this new teacher. After all, Cai had been singing her praised for a while now.

However, she’d only taken a few steps when she felt her blood run cold...From around the bus, Erasmi walked out, carrying someone in his arms.

For a moment, her mind couldn’t process what she was seeing. It was as if time had slowed down, and everything around her was moving in slow motion.

And then it hit her. It was disconcerting enough that Eramsi was carrying a woman like that. But what made her freeze in horror was that the woman in his arms was Hannah.

Ava’s heart plummeted, wave after wave of shock washing over her. She felt the blood drain from her face and her knees threatened to buckle under her. How was this possible? How could this be happening? Hannah, the woman she had been dreading to see all day, was now here—being carried into her home—by her own husband.

Unable to move or speak, she could only watch as Erasmi walked past her, carrying Hannah into the house. She pinched herself hoping against hope that she was in the middle of a nightmare. But as her eyes met het Hannah’s gloating stare, she knew it wasn’t. This was her worst nightmare come true.

Ava finally forced herself to move, her legs feeling like lead as she followed them inside. Her mind was a whirl of emotions—fear, confusion, disbelief. How had this happened? What was Hannah doing here, and why was Erasmi carrying her as if she was precious?

As she stepped into the living room, the scene before her only deepened her shock and horror. Cai was hovering over Hannah, concern etched on his young face, while Erasmi knelt in front of her, gently applying the ice pack to her swollen ankle.

And then she realized what it was that Cai had told her.His teacher had been hurt. Hannah was his class teacher? So, she’d already laid out a trap for her son and ensnared him. She remembered then, Erasmi had met her too. And he’d even praised the teacher for being level headed and a positive influence on Cai.

No one seemed to notice her standing there, rooted to the spot. She felt like an outsider, watching a scene unfold that she had no control over.

Suddenly, Hannah broke the silence, her voice smooth and almost sweet as she called out weakly," Mrs Frost. I am so sorry for coming into your home like this. I’m feeling a bit faint. Could you please bring me some water?"

For the first time, Ava felt helpless anger surge through her! The audacity of this woman. How could she barge into her home and have the gall to order her around as if she belonged here. For the first time, since Hannah had returned, Ava considered throwing caution to the wind and this woman out of her house. The fear that she in her heart was replaced by the urge to hurt her.

But in the next moment, she calmed herself. She needed to stay calm, to keep her composure for Cai’s sake. If she let Hannah provoke her now, it would only give the woman more power.

With a forced smile, Ava nodded, her voice steady though her hands trembled slightly. "Of course, I’ll get you some water." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she knew she had to play along—for now.

Returning to the living room, Ava handed the glass to Hannah, her expression neutral. "Here you go," she said, her voice devoid of the warmth she would usually offer a guest.

Seeing Erasmi and Cai like that had suddenly given her a jolt of clarity that she had not had in a while. She did not know why she’d been so foolish wanting to hide everything. But now she knew she had to fight back. Instead of making Hannah take the money and disappear, she had to get rid of the threat that Hannah brought with her.

Hannah took the glass with a gracious smile, though the smugness in her eyes remained. She took a sip and thanked her. But even that felt like a taunt to Ava. "Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here to help. It’s been such a long day. If it had not been for Erasmi, I don’t know what I would have done."

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