Avery’s POVI could hear Ryan's laughter from the hallway. His laughter made me smile... it made me remember how much I loved him... I sat in the corner of the house, while trying to finish Peris's report.But my thoughts refused to stay on track.Ryan. Liam. Evelyn.The names circled in my head like a storm I couldn’t escape.Since Evelyn started working for Liam, she made sure she defended him no matter the action, she was like his own fairy God mother even.Liam wasn’t just Ryan’s father. He was the man who had broken me, even if he didn’t realize it. And now? Now, it felt like Evelyn was slowly taking my place in a story that should have been mine.I closed the laptop, I needed to see Evelyn, we need to sort things out, and we need to do it now.When I reached Liam’s office building, I thought for a while before going in. It wasnt ljke me to show up unannounced, but I had to do this... “Good afternoon, Ms. Lockhart. Are you here to see Mr. Rockwell?” The receptionist asked.“No,”
Liam's POVThe room was filled with conversation, and the smell of expensive wine, the clicks of glasses. But I wasn't here for any of that.I saw him.. Peris.... I wasn’t here for small talk or handshakes. I was here to confront the man who had been systematically poisoning Avery’s mind against me and Evelyn, all while pretending to be her confidant.Taking a deep breath, I crossed the room, weaving through the crowd with purpose. Peris noticed me before I reached him, his smirk widening as if he’d been expecting this. He excused himself from his group, turning to face me with an air of mock curiosity.“Well, if it isn’t Liam Rockwell,” he said sacarstically. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he continued.“Cut the act, Peris,” I shouted.....keeping my voice low enough to avoid attracting attention. “We both know why I’m here.” I continued. He knew why I was here, and his laugh, his slight laugh, proved that too.“I’m afraid you’ll have to enlighten me,” he said,“What exactly are y
Avery's POVNew York city had been my home for as long as I can remember. The city lights, the busy atmosphere, everything had just been like that since I and Avery were little. But this night, something seemed different . It's not like it used it. And it's in a very bad way. I don't feel as happy as I used to . It just seemed way too annoying.I leaned against the railing of my apartment's rooftop, the cool night air hitting my skin, in an attempt to remind me what exactly it was I loved about new york city, but it didn't just seem to clivk this timemI had always been able to handle stress, to to be strong for others. But now? Now, I was beginning to hate it. I was tje one who caused all the problems they said.I had tried to convince myself that I could be the peacemaker, the one who kept everything together. But whatever I did, however I tried, it only made things worse.The war between Avery, Liam, and me was wearing me down. Avery’s trust in me was no longer there and I coul
Evelyn's POV.... I hadn't heard the knock on the door, until it echoed again, interrupting my thoughts. Who was it? I certainly wasn't expecting anybody , not even at this hour. My thoughts had been going through the same thing- Avery, Ryan, Liam and moving out of New York city. I wasn't expecting anyone, not after the emotional trauma that had been happening the last few weeks. I looked through the peephole, and the masculine figure I saw was a familiar one, a man in black tuxedo and well tailored pants. He looked affluential, influencetial even. Was it Liam? Or who is this person?. I opened the door, and it was Liam's rival and Avery’s boss Peris, waiting with a smirk on his face. "Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn " he said with a smile, he sounded like he had reharshed that line a lot of fime. "I hope I'm not disturbing you". There was something scary about his voice. I think I know why Avery felt so insecure about him. My hands couldn't help but shiver, but I was too tir
Evelyn's POV. The corporate dinner was already in full swing. The beautiful hall was glittering with lights, you could see the expensive clothing, suits and gowns. When Avery fled to Chicago, I had no choice but to learn how to behave or interact at events like this, with grace. Hiding behind a smile like everything was okay. But tonight, the clicking of glasses, and the soft music playing in the background, did little to nothing to distract me from the noise in my head. I kept my eyes fixed on the table before me, trying to pay attention to the conversation going on between 2 colleagues seated beside me, but my mind was elsewhere. It had been like this for days, these same thoughts couldn't just leave my head. My body present at the event, but my heart and mind were elsewhere. With Liam. I know it's inappropriate, and isn't the right time, but I couldn't stop thinking about him, even if I tried. The more I tried, the more intensely I wanted him. The way h
Avery's POV.... The city outside peris office looked beautiful, each building with tons of glowing lights, a reminder of the life I wanted to give Ryan. I sat in one of the leather chairs, holding tightly a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. My reflection in the wall looked small, disturbed and confused, but I wasn't going to let that define me. This wasn't about me, it was about Ryan. "What are you pondering on beautiful?" Peris voice interrupted my thoughts. "I just don't want to make the wrong choice" I whispered softly. Peris moved closer to me, putting his hands on the glass desk between us. Everything about him, his suit, his face , the calm authority in his voice, everything about him showed nothing but confidence. He always made seem so clear, he said it was simple, but nothing about this was or felt simple. "Avery, you're not making a mistake" he said, his tone soft but firm. "The mistake you would be making is letting Liam be in cont
Evelyn...“Get these files to the HR department immediately. Have them give me a report by tomorrow morning.” Liam, my boss, said huskily, handing me a huge file of papers. I nodded, and scurried out of his office, trying to catch my breath. Being around him was exhausting.I rearranged my clothes, and strutted gracefully towards the HR department. Today was going to be a long day, I could sense it.“Evelyn, have you heard about the new supermodel Mr Liam is bringing in tonight? I hear she's a real beauty.” Gina, my coworker and friend, beamed at me as soon as she saw me walking towards her. I rolled my eyes.“Stop reading those useless headlines on social media Gina. They'll be the end of you.” I said, smirking. She huffed, and stuck her nose back into her computer. I let out a small laugh, and hurried over to the bathroom.I was feeling so nauseous today. Maybe it was the nacho ball I had last night. Or the pepperoni pizza afterwards. Or maybe it was the-ooof! I had bumped straig
Avery...“Wedding appropriate…let's see.” I rummaged through my dresses, each one even more ‘not appropriate’ than the last. There had to be something I could put on, I had barely 15 minutes to get there. Well, no more shopping for hot dresses anymore.After another tedious three minutes, I finally found it. A black long matte gown, with a V-neck cut and a slit that reached up to my thighs. I hadn't worn this dress since my last date with my ex, but it still fit perfectly, hugging me in all the right areas. Pairing the dress with my daintiest piece of gold jewelry, I took a look at myself in the mirror.“Damn, I might as well be the bride.” After admiring myself a little more, I quickly did a light make-up, and packed my wavy brown hair in a ponytail as Evelyn usually did, and dashed out of the house in gold colored stilettos.Too much? Nah. There's no such thing as too much.Luckily for me the venue for the wedding was less than a 5 minute walk from my apartment, so I was there wi
Avery's POV.... The city outside peris office looked beautiful, each building with tons of glowing lights, a reminder of the life I wanted to give Ryan. I sat in one of the leather chairs, holding tightly a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. My reflection in the wall looked small, disturbed and confused, but I wasn't going to let that define me. This wasn't about me, it was about Ryan. "What are you pondering on beautiful?" Peris voice interrupted my thoughts. "I just don't want to make the wrong choice" I whispered softly. Peris moved closer to me, putting his hands on the glass desk between us. Everything about him, his suit, his face , the calm authority in his voice, everything about him showed nothing but confidence. He always made seem so clear, he said it was simple, but nothing about this was or felt simple. "Avery, you're not making a mistake" he said, his tone soft but firm. "The mistake you would be making is letting Liam be in cont
Evelyn's POV. The corporate dinner was already in full swing. The beautiful hall was glittering with lights, you could see the expensive clothing, suits and gowns. When Avery fled to Chicago, I had no choice but to learn how to behave or interact at events like this, with grace. Hiding behind a smile like everything was okay. But tonight, the clicking of glasses, and the soft music playing in the background, did little to nothing to distract me from the noise in my head. I kept my eyes fixed on the table before me, trying to pay attention to the conversation going on between 2 colleagues seated beside me, but my mind was elsewhere. It had been like this for days, these same thoughts couldn't just leave my head. My body present at the event, but my heart and mind were elsewhere. With Liam. I know it's inappropriate, and isn't the right time, but I couldn't stop thinking about him, even if I tried. The more I tried, the more intensely I wanted him. The way h
Evelyn's POV.... I hadn't heard the knock on the door, until it echoed again, interrupting my thoughts. Who was it? I certainly wasn't expecting anybody , not even at this hour. My thoughts had been going through the same thing- Avery, Ryan, Liam and moving out of New York city. I wasn't expecting anyone, not after the emotional trauma that had been happening the last few weeks. I looked through the peephole, and the masculine figure I saw was a familiar one, a man in black tuxedo and well tailored pants. He looked affluential, influencetial even. Was it Liam? Or who is this person?. I opened the door, and it was Liam's rival and Avery’s boss Peris, waiting with a smirk on his face. "Evelyn Evelyn Evelyn " he said with a smile, he sounded like he had reharshed that line a lot of fime. "I hope I'm not disturbing you". There was something scary about his voice. I think I know why Avery felt so insecure about him. My hands couldn't help but shiver, but I was too tir
Avery's POVNew York city had been my home for as long as I can remember. The city lights, the busy atmosphere, everything had just been like that since I and Avery were little. But this night, something seemed different . It's not like it used it. And it's in a very bad way. I don't feel as happy as I used to . It just seemed way too annoying.I leaned against the railing of my apartment's rooftop, the cool night air hitting my skin, in an attempt to remind me what exactly it was I loved about new york city, but it didn't just seem to clivk this timemI had always been able to handle stress, to to be strong for others. But now? Now, I was beginning to hate it. I was tje one who caused all the problems they said.I had tried to convince myself that I could be the peacemaker, the one who kept everything together. But whatever I did, however I tried, it only made things worse.The war between Avery, Liam, and me was wearing me down. Avery’s trust in me was no longer there and I coul
Liam's POVThe room was filled with conversation, and the smell of expensive wine, the clicks of glasses. But I wasn't here for any of that.I saw him.. Peris.... I wasn’t here for small talk or handshakes. I was here to confront the man who had been systematically poisoning Avery’s mind against me and Evelyn, all while pretending to be her confidant.Taking a deep breath, I crossed the room, weaving through the crowd with purpose. Peris noticed me before I reached him, his smirk widening as if he’d been expecting this. He excused himself from his group, turning to face me with an air of mock curiosity.“Well, if it isn’t Liam Rockwell,” he said sacarstically. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” he continued.“Cut the act, Peris,” I shouted.....keeping my voice low enough to avoid attracting attention. “We both know why I’m here.” I continued. He knew why I was here, and his laugh, his slight laugh, proved that too.“I’m afraid you’ll have to enlighten me,” he said,“What exactly are y
Avery’s POVI could hear Ryan's laughter from the hallway. His laughter made me smile... it made me remember how much I loved him... I sat in the corner of the house, while trying to finish Peris's report.But my thoughts refused to stay on track.Ryan. Liam. Evelyn.The names circled in my head like a storm I couldn’t escape.Since Evelyn started working for Liam, she made sure she defended him no matter the action, she was like his own fairy God mother even.Liam wasn’t just Ryan’s father. He was the man who had broken me, even if he didn’t realize it. And now? Now, it felt like Evelyn was slowly taking my place in a story that should have been mine.I closed the laptop, I needed to see Evelyn, we need to sort things out, and we need to do it now.When I reached Liam’s office building, I thought for a while before going in. It wasnt ljke me to show up unannounced, but I had to do this... “Good afternoon, Ms. Lockhart. Are you here to see Mr. Rockwell?” The receptionist asked.“No,”
Evelyn’s POVThe day had been long. Too long. By the time I finished wrapping up files and preparing Liam’s schedule for the next week, the office was quiet. Most of the employees had left hours ago, but I stayed behind, preferring the stillness of the empty building.It gave me space to think.Avery’s harsh words from the other morning still lingered, carving wounds deeper than I cared to admit. Her accusation that I was somehow taking Liam’s side had left me shaken. I had always been her protector, her confidante. And now? Now she looked at me like I was nothing to her. The endless argument is causing a rift between us, a rift I didn't know how to fill.The ding of the elevator interrupted my thoughts. It was Liam .He looked exhausted.“Still here?” he asked softly.“I could ask you the same,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I thought you had left hours ago.”“I was about to, but I remembered I had some reports to review.” He replied, walking ove rto the coffee machine to get coffee.
Avery's POV It's been weeks since Liam started making effort to "make me like him" . At first, I told myself it was for the best. But later on, with every action Liam did, I began to question his intentions Was this really about Ryan, or there was more to it?. I tried my possible best not to think about it, but anytime Liam came around to take us out to dinner or some other event, I felt like my son was forgetting he had a mother gradually. Nothing piseed me off like the way Ryan warmed up to him, Liam achieved that in less than a month. And the way Liam just crept into our lives?.... And then there still Evelyn. My sister had always been my support system, the one I could count on when things went bad, the one I'd come home to see when the outside word faced me with challenges. Evelyn was more like Liam's puppet now. I know I've been spending time with Liam now, but Evelyn was still in Liam's control. There's something she's hiding from me, I might just be paranoid , but I f
It all started off like a typical day in the office. I had lot of paperwork to do , routine checks for Liam, and basically normal duties that would normally take place in the office. I tried my best to focus, but my thoughts kept bringing me back to people whom my life was basically centered around, ofcourse it was Liam and Avery. For weeks now, I’d been trying to ignore the newly found chemistry between them. Liam had been making a noticeable effort to spend more time with Avery, and while I kept telling myself it was for Ryan’s sake, my doubts and insecurity said different things. I didn't know what it was, but there was a way he looked at Avery that made my anger multiply. I didn't know what it was , but it made me annoyed by the minute. I wasn't jealous , i lied to myself. I had no right to feel jealous. After all, Avery was my sister, and Liam—well, Liam wasn’t mine to claim. But my increasing anger said otherwise. It was almost afternoon, and the work load had really tak