Months later AVA The morning sun poured through the windows, bathing the room in a warm golden light. I stood in front of the mirror, my hands gently resting on my swollen belly, feeling the soft kicks of our baby. I could hardly believe this day had finally come—our wedding day. Again. I smiled to myself, watching my reflection as my fingers brushed over the lace of my gown. It was simple, elegant, and perfect for the small, intimate ceremony Liam and I had decided on. A fresh start. A new beginning for our family. There was a knock on the door, and Clara walked in, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Ava, you look beautiful,” she said, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. I turned to her, smiling. “Thank you, Clara. I’m glad you’re here.” She walked over, her expression a little more serious now. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. After everything… you and Liam deserve this happiness. You deserve a fresh start.” Her words meant more to me than she k
AVA I was strapped in a car which rolled into a villa nestled in the quiet suburbs, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was supposed to be serene, but all I felt was a growing sense of dread. I just got married today. No wedding ceremony. No vows. No rings changing and kisses. Just an official marriage document which I was forced to sign. And a car is currently sending me to the suburb villa, together with my parents and sister. Don't get me wrong. They are not escorting me like a loving family, but to meet my husband's uncle, Mr John Tyson and other inlaws. As for my husband? Yes he is the heir to the Tyson family fortune but he is mentally unstable, a man who acts like a child. He is a fool and stain in his wealthy family, just like me, an illegitimate daughter in my family. As my older sister says, 'a fool and a bastard, what a perfect match.' My eyes glistened with unshed tears as the reality of my predicament dawned on me. "Smile and wipe your face. We don
AVA I wiped away the last of my tears and straightened my shoulders. I needed to find my way back to the living room. As I made my way down the long, ornate hallway, the laughter and chatter from earlier still echoed in my ears, a reminder of my harsh reality. Turning a corner, I nearly collided with Davies. His smirk told me he had been waiting for me. "Well, well, if it isn't the illegitimate daughter," he sneered, blocking my path. "What are you doing wandering around all alone, Ava? Trying to find your way back to the rest of us civilized folks?" I bristled at his words but tried to remain calm. "I'm just trying to get back to the living room," I replied evenly. Davies leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowing. "Tell me something Ava, did you marry Liam for his wealth? That's the rumor going around, you know. That you're just a gold-digger looking for a way to secure your future." What rubbish! I never even wanted to marry him in the first place but what choice did
LIAM The hot droplets cascaded from the faucet and trickled endlessly down my torso. My eyes flickered at the bath toys I had kept neatly on the washing sink, a reminder of the charade I had been acting since the death of my parents in a crash years ago. I wasn't truly mad or mentally unstable. I was well, fit, and hale. I had been putting up this act because I knew my life was in danger. Someone out there, possibly in my family or a rival business company, seeks to destroy me. It all happened three years ago, when I was eighteen. I began having seizure attacks and rapid changes in my mood. I would be violent at times, hallucinating too. The family doctor was consulted, and he just checked it as a series of allergy attacks. Two years later, I lost my parents in a fatal car crash. It was honestly devastating. Almost immediately, I began having seizure fits again, panic attacks, and my mood swings were becoming quite alarming. Still, the doctor waved it off as allergy attacks. But
AVA I watched in horror as Davies struggled to his feet, a dark look of malice spreading across his face. He straightened his clothes with an air of defiance and glared at Liam. "Is that all you got, little Liam?" he sneered, blood trailing down his lips. His eyes shifted to me, making my skin crawl. "And you, you gold-digging whore, do you think this spineless boy can satisfy you? I’m willing to teach you how to make love to a real man since your husband is clearly incapable." Liam's growl startled me. Before I could react, he lunged at Davies with a fury I’d never seen before. His fists pounded into Davies, each blow more relentless than the last. I wanted to scream, to tell him to stop, but my voice was caught in my throat. I could hear the awful sound of bones breaking, rugged breathing mixing with the overwhelming sound of terror filling me. I could only watch as Davies was reduced to a groaning, bloodied heap on the floor. No, this was too much. If Liam didn't stop, he coul
AVA I awoke with a start, my eyes fluttering open to a soft, early morning light filtering through the curtains. My heart pounded in my chest as I took in my surroundings. My blurry eyes struggled to make sense of the room I found myself in. The room was familiar, the bed sheets cool against my skin. That was when the memory struck me like lightening. I had been married yesterday, married to a man who was mentally incapable of loving me. The memories became more vivid in my thought especially Davies' harassments. I really moved from frypan to fire. The thought of spending my entire life with this family brought me so much discomfort and made my stomach churn. But still, something was off. I tried moving but a strong vice grip held me in place. Darting my eyes down, I noticed Liam's arm was draped possessively over my waist, his breath warm and steady against the back of my neck. When had we cuddled in our sleep? This closeness—was new and unsettling. Carefully, I tried to
AVA I worked in the kitchen, preparing a light lunch of avocado toast for myself. It's been more than a week since I got married into this family, and my situation hasn't improved. Clara doesn't spare a moment to slander my name in the presence of various guests that grace the mansion, demeaning my place in the family and undermining my worth by addressing me with scornful remarks such as the illegitimate daughter, Liam's babysitter, and a gold digger. It beats me why she dislikes me so much. I have never said anything or attacked her from the very first day I stepped into the mansion. But she and her lecherous brother have chosen to make my marriage insufferable. Uncle John does little to stop his children from tormenting me. But I will never let them break me. I've endured too much to fall now. Sometimes I wonder if this is how Liam is always treated because of his mental illness. Liam—I really am married to a child in the body of a man. He had a doctor's appointment, so he left
AVAAs I approached the grand dining table, the opulence of the room seemed to amplify the tension already palpable in my body. My family’s sudden arrival and threat to my stay in this family were still very fresh in my heart. I can’t believe how low they would go just to make sure I become their puppet but I won’t be subjugated by anyone. My steps were calculated as I ambled towards the table, pulling out a chair beside Liam. Liam stood near the head of the table, his gaze darting around as he hummed softly to himself, occasionally picking at the fabric of his chair. His uncle, John Tyson, sat at the opposite end, his gaze cold and calculating, as if he was already poised to cast his judgments upon me. "Good evening, Ava," John's voice sliced through the room, drawing everyone's attention to my entrance. "Nice of you to join us." I mustered a polite smile, trying to ignore the underlying edge in his words. "Thank you, John. I am sorry if I was late” Clara looked up from her ph
Months later AVA The morning sun poured through the windows, bathing the room in a warm golden light. I stood in front of the mirror, my hands gently resting on my swollen belly, feeling the soft kicks of our baby. I could hardly believe this day had finally come—our wedding day. Again. I smiled to myself, watching my reflection as my fingers brushed over the lace of my gown. It was simple, elegant, and perfect for the small, intimate ceremony Liam and I had decided on. A fresh start. A new beginning for our family. There was a knock on the door, and Clara walked in, her face lighting up when she saw me. “Ava, you look beautiful,” she said, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. I turned to her, smiling. “Thank you, Clara. I’m glad you’re here.” She walked over, her expression a little more serious now. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. After everything… you and Liam deserve this happiness. You deserve a fresh start.” Her words meant more to me than she k
LIAM The silence in the hospital room was deafening. I sat beside Ava, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, my fingers trembling as I reached out to gently brush a strand of hair away from her face. She looked so fragile, so pale. I had never felt so helpless in my life. The day had dragged on endlessly, every hour a brutal reminder of how close I had come to losing her. The doctors had said she was stable, but she hadn’t woken up. I had tried talking to her, whispering reassurances that everything was going to be okay, but there was no response. Just the maddening, continuous hum of the machines monitoring her vitals. “Ava… please, wake up,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from hours of silence. “I need you. We need you.” The door to the room opened, and a nurse stepped in quietly, checking the monitors before giving me a small nod. “She’s doing well, Mr. Liam. It’s just a matter of time now.” Time. It felt like an eternity had already passed. I watched the nurse leave,
LIAM I held Ava tightly in his arms, feeling her tremble against me. Her breathing was shallow, and her skin, pale and cold. Despite everything, she had held on. We both had. As I brushed the dirt-streaked hair from her face, I whispered, “You’re safe now, Ava. It’s over.” Her lips parted as if she was trying to speak, but no words came out. Her fingers clutched weakly at my shirt, trying to ground herself. “I’m here,” I whispered, holding her as close as I could without hurting her. “I’ve got you.” She blinked up at me, her gaze unfocused before she glanced around, her eyes landing on Clara and Davies, who stood near the door, watching us with somber expressions. She looked back up at me, her brows knitting together. Her hand moved to her stomach, resting there for a moment before her eyes widened. “Liam…” “What is it?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat. Her grip on me tightened, and fear began to seep into her gaze. “I—Liam, something’s wrong.” Before I could even pro
LIAM The cold concrete floor felt like it was digging into my bones, and every breath I took was shallow and labored. My body ached, the weight of exhaustion and hunger gnawing at me with every passing minute. Ava sat beside me, her face pale, streaked with dirt, and her once-vibrant eyes dull with fear and fatigue. We had been here for what felt like an eternity, tied up, helpless, malnourished, and broken. I glanced over at her, my heart wrenching as she tried to keep herself together. Every now and then, she would give me a small, strained smile—something to reassure me, as if to say we were going to get out of this. But even her resolve was weakening. I could see it in the way her hands trembled, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. The room reeked of sweat and desperation, the oppressive silence hanging over us like a death sentence. Then the door creaked open, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. My pulse quickened as I turned to see John and El
Clara had been restless, unable to sleep, and decided to head downstairs for a glass of water. As she descended the staircase, her footfalls silent against the thick carpet, she heard voices coming from John’s study. At first, she thought nothing of it. It was not unlikely for him to make calls this late. John often stayed up late for business calls, but as she reached the bottom of the stairs, something in the tone of his voice made her pause. She ducked into the shadows, peeking around the corner, just in time to hear him say something that froze the blood in her veins. “Once they are dead, the property and the company will be ours. There won’t be anyone left to challenge us. We’ve endured far too much and we’ve played those meaningless games with those two pests! Now it’s time to get rid of them forever” Clara’s breath hitched in her throat, her hand trembling as she clutched the banister. She didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe. John’s voice was calm, almost bored, as th
AVA I woke up with a pounding headache, my limbs heavy and sore. My eyes fluttered open, the room around me coming into hazy focus—a cold, dimly lit space with concrete walls and the faint hum of distant machinery. As I shifted, I realized I couldn’t move my arms. Panic set in, and my breath quickened. My wrists were bound tightly behind me. A groan escaped my lips as I tugged at the restraints, but they wouldn’t budge. It was then that I noticed Liam, slumped beside me, his head hanging low. “Liam,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “Liam, wake up.” He stirred slightly, groaning before his eyes slowly blinked open. “Ava…?” His voice was rough, groggy. “What… where are we?” “We’re tied up,” I said, my voice trembling as I fought back the fear rising in my chest. “Liam, I don’t know what’s happening.” His eyes darted around the room, assessing the situation much quicker than I had. He tugged at his own restraints, his jaw tightening when he realized there was no immediate escape
LIAM I stood outside Ava’s house, nerves tearing through me. It had taken me far too long to realize how deeply I had hurt her. I had been a fool—letting my own uncle, John, manipulate me into casting her aside. My heart raced as I stared at the door, hoping, praying, she would listen. I lifted my hand to knock again, but the door suddenly opened. Isabella, her stepmother, stood before me. The hostility on her face was unmistakable, her lips curling into a sneer as she crossed her arms. “What are you doing here, Liam?” Her tone was icy. “I need to see Ava,” I said, my voice pleading. “I need to talk to her. Please.” She laughed bitterly, stepping forward, almost blocking the doorway. “Talk to her? After what you did? You have no right.” My heart clenched, but I refused to give up. “Isabella, I know I made mistakes. I just need five minutes—” “No,” she cut me off sharply. “You’re not coming in, Liam. She doesn’t need to hear more of your excuses.” I was about to respond when, s
Clara paced nervously in the hallway outside her brother’s room, debating whether to knock. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she rehearsed the conversation in her head. She knew Davies was loyal to their father, John, but after everything that had happened—after all the plotting and scheming—Clara couldn’t keep quiet any longer. She had seen the damage her father had caused, not just to Liam but to the entire family, and it was time to stop it. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door. A moment later, Davies opened it, surprise etched across his face. "Clara? What’s going on? It’s late," Davies said, stepping aside to let her in. Clara entered, her steps hesitant as she glanced around his room. "We need to talk. It’s important." Davies raised an eyebrow. "Talk about what? It better be good Clara. You know I don’t like when somebody interrupts my sleep” “Oh shut up. I came to talk about something important. Dad’s plan with Ava and Liam. Don’t yo
In the dimly lit study, the heavy scent of cigar smoke lingered in the air. John Tyson sat behind his large oak desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood as his mind churned with plans and schemes. Across from him, Clara perched on the edge of a leather armchair, fidgeting with her hands, her gaze flicking nervously between the door and her brother. "I don’t like this," she muttered, breaking the tense silence. "We’ve done enough damage. Liam’s health has improved since Ava came into his life. Maybe it’s time to let things be." John’s gaze hardened as he turned to face her, his fingers pausing mid-tap. “You think I care about Liam’s well-being, Clara? This isn’t about him. It’s about our legacy, our fortune. Ava’s nothing more than a distraction, and I’ll be damned if I let her undo years of planning.” Clara sighed, leaning back in her chair, her shoulders sagging under the weight of their family’s endless plots. “We’ve been at this for too long, Dad. We’ve done