Avery I paced back and forth in my room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Clara had been secretive about her plan, and it was driving me crazy. I trusted her with my life, but the thought of her getting hurt was unbearable. She had already sacrificed so much for me.My phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence. I rushed to answer it, hoping it was Clara with some reassuring news."Avery, what's wrong?" Clara's cheerful voice greeted me."You didn't tell me what you had planned, I don’t know what those people might do to you!" I exclaimed, trying to keep my anxiety in check. "I've been worried sick."Clara chuckled. "Avery, stop getting unnecessary worries. Everything will be fine.""Where are you?" I demanded, my concern still evident."I just stepped out of a meeting with Sasha," Clara replied casually.My heart skipped a beat. "What? Clara, be careful. My stepmother is not foolish, and neither is Sasha."Clara's tone remained light. "Don't worry, Avery. At least Sasha didn
Ethan paced back and forth in his living room, his mind racing with thoughts of Clara's meeting with Sasha. He couldn't shake off the feeling of trying to know what they had planned, he needed to know what was happening and there was no way Clara just appeared for no reason, she was there because of Avery. He groaned and ran his hand through his hair, he could t help but think about the stupid charity event they had also, after the ruined drug launching, how could they think about organizing a charity event? The success of the charity event only added fuel to his anger."What did Clara discuss with Sasha?" Ethan muttered to himself, clenching his fists.He needed answers, and he needed them now. Ethan's eyes narrowed as he thought about Avery running to Nathaniel for help. The Montgomerys and Harts were becoming a thorn in his side. He hated Nathaniel for no reason, knowing the two women he once had been in love were after him, he snorted and grabbed the drink in front of him. Ethan
NathanielI sighed for what felt like the hundredth time as I tied my tie, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Why did I agree to this date with Sasha again? Oh right, it was part of the plan. Everything I need to do to please Avery and make sure the Montgomerys get a taste of their own medicine. Just as I was about to put on my jacket, I heard chuckling behind me. I turned to see Avery leaning against the doorframe, a mischievous grin spreading across her face."Hey, relax, Nathaniel," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "It's just one hour. You'll survive."I raised an eyebrow, furrowing my brows. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one stuck on a date with Sasha."Avery chuckled. "Sasha's not that bad, Nathaniel. And she's beautiful too."I moved closer to Avery, my gaze locking with hers. "I don't care about Sasha's beauty," I said, my voice low and husky. "The only beautiful woman I see is standing right in front of me."Avery's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, but I
Clara admired herself in the mirror, smacking her lips together in satisfaction. She loved her confident stride and radiant smile. She loved her dress and how formal she looked and to top it all up, she loved what she was about to do. It wasn’t that she was not worried of course she was, knowing that if she failed it was going to cause a lot of disasters but she didn’t let that deter her mood or her spirit, she believed she was going to help her friend get the justice she deserves, the Montgomery has caused more harm than good and it’s time they taste the piece of their own cake. Just as she turned to leave, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Avery. Clara hesitated, knowing Avery would be worried. She decided to ignore the call, not wanting to alarm her friend unnecessarily. "I'll fill you in later, Avery," she whispered, tucking the phone into her purse. She couldn’t help but smile as she stepped out of the house and sat in her car, Avery had always been the one to get wo
Avery I stood in front of Montgomery Pharmaceuticals, the sun setting behind the sleek glass building, casting a golden glow over the scene. The warm breeze carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the sound of chirping birds filled the air. Clara walked toward me, a radiant smile spreading across her face, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, and her steps were light and carefree.As she approached, we fell into easy conversation, laughing and reminiscing about old times. We talked about our favorite memories, our voices intertwining like the branches of the nearby trees. The tension in my shoulders began to ease, replaced by a sense of comfort and familiarity.Clara's smile was contagious, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear. We were lost in our own little world, oblivious to the dangers lurking in the shadows.But then, without warning, Sasha emerged from the darkness.Her eyes gleamed with malice, and her presence was like a cold w
The Montgomerys sat around the breakfast table, basking in the warmth and comfort of their family gathering. The sunlight streaming through the windows cast a golden glow, illuminating the fine china and crisp linens. Mr. Montgomery, his jovial smile a testament to his love for his family, turned to Sasha."Sasha, dear, how's everything going with Nathaniel? You two seem quite serious," he asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.Sasha's smile was radiant, her face aglow with happiness. "Everything's perfect, Father. Nathaniel's absolutely smitten. I'm sure he'll propose soon." Her voice was confident, her eyes sparkling with excitement even though she was lying. Mrs. Montgomery's eyes sparkled, her hands clasped together in delight. "Oh, that's wonderful! We'll finally have a wedding to plan. I've been dreaming of this day for years!" She turned to her husband, her expression conspiratorial. "Dear, we'll have to start making lists – venues, caterers, guest lists..."Mr. Montgomery
NathanielI settled into the couch, a triumphant grin spreading across my face as I watched the news. Montgomery Pharmaceuticals was finally getting its due. The screen displayed the company's plummeting stock prices and Sasha Montgomery's worried expression.Avery sitting beside me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Nathaniel, how did you do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I chuckled, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction. "Let's just say I have my sources," I replied, winking at her.”I told you that I won’t let anyone get implicated, so you see and you don’t have to worry anymore.” Avery's eyes widened. "You're amazing," she breathed. "I'm so proud of you."Clara, sitting on the other side of me, nodded in agreement. "We make a great team," she said, smiling.I chuckled and smiled at Clara, I love the fact tbat she will go to any extend for Avery. "Couldn't have done it without you, Clara. Your insight into the company's inner workings was invaluable."Clar
Clara walked down the street, her mind was consumed with thoughts of the files she had stolen from Avery Pharmaceuticals. She couldn't believe what she had discovered - the company was knowingly producing a harmful drug that was causing more harm than good to cancer patients. She knew she had to do something about it, but she also knew that she had to be careful. The police were now involved, and she didn't want to draw any more attention to herself.After buying some food to calm her nerves, Clara made her way back to her apartment. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that was gnawing at her insides. She had always prided herself on doing the right thing, but this situation was different. In order to bring justice to those who had been harmed by Avery Pharmaceuticals, she would have to come forward with the information she had stolen. But that also meant risking her own safety and reputation.As she sat at her kitchen table, picking at her food, her phone began to ring again. Thi
Avery I let out a deep sigh as I stepped into the room where my father was placed, I watched with keen interest and let out sight he was deep asleep, I couldn’t wait for him to be fully aware of his surroundings, u sat next to him and slowly moved his matted hair away from his face. His body suddenly twitched and I took my hands immediately, I waited patiently for him to move again and then he did. A groan escaped his mouth as he opened his eyes and he looked at me.I held my breath controlling myself from screaming out of joy, seeing the man that brought me into this life slowly gaining his life back, in the silence… His eyes met mine, confusion clouding his gaze. “Avery…” His voice was a rasp, weak but filled with disbelief. “But… but you’re…” “Father,” my voice broke as I gulped several times trying to control the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. “Am I dead?” He asked and I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. “You’re not dead, I’m not dead, Father.” My voice broke as I sai
The dim lights of the club flickered above Sasha as she entered, her mind still reeling from the conversation with her mother. The sharp edges of her anger had dulled into a heavy sadness. She didn’t even know why she was here. Maybe it was the music, loud enough to drown out her thoughts. Or maybe it was the alcohol, which promised to numb the ache in her chest. She didn’t care. She just wanted to forget, even if for a little while.“How could she do this to me?!” She sniffed and blinked her eyes severally. Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she walked to the bar. She barely noticed the crowd of people dancing, the flashing neon lights, or the endless thumping bass. Everything felt distant, as if she were floating outside of her own body. She sat at the bar, the stool cold beneath her, and ordered the strongest wine they had.The bartender gave her a raised eyebrow but didn’t ask questions. Sasha took the glass in her trembling hands and brought it to her lips. The shar
Sasha paced in her room, Avery’s words echoing in her mind. “Father is not my father.” How could everything she knew about her life be a lie? She had always been Mr. Montgomery’s daughter, raised in the mansion, treated as his own. It didn’t make sense. Avery had to be wrong, but part of her wasn’t so sure.Her thoughts were interrupted when the door creaked open, and her mother entered, immediately sensing something was wrong.“What’s bothering you, darling?” Mrs. Montgomery asked, her voice filled with concern.Sasha stopped pacing and turned to face her mother. “Nothing,” she said quickly, trying to hide her feelings.Mrs. Montgomery didn’t buy it. She took a step forward, her sharp eyes assessing Sasha’s expression. “You’re a terrible liar,” she said with a slight smile, though her tone remained concerned. “Now, come on. Dinner’s ready. I’ll get you something to eat, and you can tell me what’s really going on.”She followed her mother to the dining room. As they sat at the table,
AveryThe warmth of the conversation between Clara, Nathaniel, and me was a welcomed reprieve from the chaos that had been unfolding around us. For the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe a little easier. My father had woken up, and though his condition was still delicate, he was awake alive and that was all that mattered to me right now. I could finally smile again, and laugh again. The burden that had been pressing on my chest for so long was beginning to lift.“Clara, you have no idea how relieved I am,” I said, as I leaned back in my seat beside Nathaniel, my heart still beating a little faster with excitement. “I never thought I would see him open his eyes again.”Clara smiled back, her expression warm and understanding. “You’ve been so strong, Avery. I’m happy for you.”Nathaniel, sitting beside me, reached out and gently took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve all been through a lot, but things are looking up now,” he said, his voice stead
Sasha paced furiously around the room, her mind spinning with the information that Ethan had just unloaded on her. Each thought bounced off the walls of her head like an unrelenting echo. How had Nathaniel and Avery met? More importantly, how had she missed the connection between them? There was never a moment she noticed them being close before Avery was supposed to be dead, it felt like they were two people that lived in a different world so how did it all happen? When are where had they met? It was just like a puzzle she couldn’t solve and as she thought about it, it only confused her the more… feeling more baffled than she will ever admit. "How did I not see this?" she muttered to herself, clenching her fists. She couldn't wrap her head around it…Avery and Nathaniel? How had he come into her life? And why had he interfered when they were so close to finishing their plans? She had to know the truth. She had to understand how deep this betrayal ran.She couldn’t help but wonder if
Avery“Are you okay?” I suddenly heard Nathaniel’s voice beside me and I tilted my head to look at him, I had a smile on my face as I nodded my head to let him know I was fine. We had decided to visit my dad today and I was a bit nervous, hoping he was finer than the way he was the last time I visited.The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the machines monitoring his vitals. My eyes immediately went to the bed, where my father lay, connected to a series of tubes and wires. His face was pale, almost ghostly, but I could still see the familiar features, the sharp jaw, the soft lines around his eyes, and the dark hair that was now more salt than pepper. A tight knot formed in my stomach, seeing him so vulnerable, so broken. I had spent time wondering if I would ever hear his voice again.Nathaniel gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “He’ll wake up, Avery. He’s strong. Your father’s been through worse.”I nodded, but the ache in my chest didn’t go away. I wanted to believe him, but
“I can’t believe this inspector, it looks like you are imposing on us,” Mrs. Montgomery stated trying to hide the anger brewing deep inside of her. “I am not imposing please, I am only stating based on what is written here, I dare not impose on you Mrs. and Miss Montgomery,” the inspector replied and Sasha clenched her hands beside her. She hated the fact they didn’t take her and her mom seriously, it seemed like they had become a subject of mockery, the once respected family as become nothing to them, something they could talk and trash just the way they deemed fit, she hated this, the hated the feelings and she looked at her mom. For the first time in the whole of her existence, she saw that the woman was dumbfounded, and had nothing to say… of course, they had nothing to say at this point, how would they ever be able to defend themselves, it wasn’t an easy one at all. She had always been the one in control, the one who kept her family's secrets close, the one who maneuvered thr
AveryI burst into laughter, my head lolling back as Nathaniel continued speaking, I never knew he had this goofy part of him, it was beautiful to watch and his beautiful face in the darkness made it better, I watched him as he looked serious quite enjoying the conversation just like I do. “I swear, Avery,” he chuckled, his voice warm, “You can’t possibly be serious. The way you’re acting is enough to make anyone believe you’re planning world domination.” He grinned at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s not bad if you do I ate the world, I am very sure everyone will readily go on their knees to worship the empress!” I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. It’s all about strategy. You have to think ahead. Like chess, Nathaniel.”He raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. “Oh? Tell me, Queen Avery, how would you take over the world? What’s your first move?”I bit my lip, pretending to think. “Well, first, I’d take control of all the ice cream factories,”
The early morning light filtered through the half-closed curtains, casting a soft, warm glow on the room as Sasha paced back and forth. Her thoughts were scattered, emotions roiling within her. She had been up for hours. She glanced at the large clock in the sitting room and it was past eight in the morning, her mother never slept out and she wondered where she had spent the night, it was so unusual, something that never happens which left her worrying, she had called her several times and she is not picking up the call. As if on cue, the door creaked open, and Mrs. Montgomery walked into the room. Her eyes fell on Sasha and her gaze hardened immediately. "Mom," Sasha said, her voice calm but strained with underlying frustration. "Where were you last night? You didn't come home. And... I need to know what you have been into."Mrs. Montgomery froze for a moment, her body stiffening at the question. Then, without meeting Sasha's gaze, she walked further into the room, her heels click