AVAAs I entered the dining room, I felt a familiar tension prickling under my skin. The long mahogany table was set with gleaming silverware and fine china. It was a typical family dinner, or at least as typical as they ever got around here. Tonight, however, felt different. There was an undercurrent of something—an unspoken unease that made my pulse quicken.Eleanor was already seated at the head of the table, her back straight as a rod, her eyes bright with an unsettling intensity. Her presence in the house had been an unexpected surprise, and it didn’t feel like a pleasant one at that. She had swept in with a kind of quiet authority, claiming she was here to "support the family during these difficult times." The rest of the family slowly trickled in, taking their places around the table. Uncle John settled to Eleanor’s right, looking as gruff and brooding as ever. Across from him, Davies and Clara lounged in their chairs with a smug grin on their faces, looking like they enjoyed
AVAThe facility Liam was transferred to felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the suffocating walls of the asylum. It wasn’t as sterile or cold; the rooms were painted in soft pastels, and the windows actually let in sunlight. When I arrived, a nurse led me to the courtyard where Liam sat, bathed in the afternoon glow, surrounded by flowers and gentle whispers of a breeze.As I walked closer, I could see him more clearly. His shoulders, once hunched over with despair and confusion, were now slightly relaxed. His hair, usually a mess, was combed, and there was a soft smile on his lips. He looked... almost at peace.Liam was sitting cross-legged on the soft grass, his face turned up to the sun, eyes closed, a faint smile playing on his lips. Here, in the more relaxed facility, he almost looked like the Liam I used to know—still there, just beneath the surface.I walked over, careful not to disturb his quiet moment. The sound of the gravel crunching under my feet made him open his
AVADays had passed since I last visited Liam. Each day had felt longer than the one before, dragging on with a sense of dread that I couldn’t shake. My mind was filled with Eleanor’s cryptic remarks from the first dinner she had with us, her words echoing in my head like a sinister lullaby.Tonight, the mansion was eerily quiet. The kind of quiet that fills a space when everyone else has gone to bed, leaving behind a hollow stillness. I was restless, unable to sleep with so many questions swirling in my mind. I decided to take a walk down the hallway, hoping the movement would help clear my thoughts.As I wandered down the dimly lit corridor, my footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet, I heard faint voices. I stopped, straining to make out the words. The voices were coming from John’s study, the door slightly ajar. I took a step closer, pressing myself against the wall, my heart thudding in my chest.“…too reckless, John,” Eleanor’s voice hissed from inside the room. Her
AVAI sat in the dimly lit library, my heart pounding as I rifled through the stacks of old family records and documents. The mansion was asleep, but my mind was wide awake, driven by a single purpose: uncovering the truth about Eleanor and what she was hiding or better still, plotting.Tamy had managed to help me gain access to these records, sneaking the key to the library from John’s study while he was distracted. Mark had suggested the idea and right now he was around, ransacking the house downstairs for clues.The Tysons had gone out for what I hope was an eventful family outing without me. And truthfully I was happy they didn’t invite me to their little gathering. I needed time to gather evidences and get Liam out of that place and time wasn’t by my side.I knew that this was risky, and if anyone caught I and Mark, it would raise more than a few eyebrows, but I had to know more about Eleanor. Her behavior had been too calculated, her knowledge too specific. She wasn’t just a pa
AVAI had waited long enough. Days had passed since I uncovered Eleanor’s dark secrets in the library, and every minute since then had been filled with a mix of anger, fear, and a relentless drive to confront her. Eleanor might have fooled the entire world with her calm demeanor and carefully crafted lies, but I knew better now. I needed answers, and I needed them directly from her.The mansion was unusually quiet as I made my way through the grand hallways. Everyone else seemed to have gone out or retired to their rooms. This was the perfect moment to catch Eleanor alone, to make her face the truth without any of her usual defenses. I found her in the drawing room, standing by the large bay window, staring out at the darkening sky. She didn’t hear me approach, her back turned to me, the only sound in the room the soft ticking of the grandfather clock.“Eleanor,” I called out, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.She turned slowly, her expression calm but curious. “Ava
AVA Dinner was a quiet affair that evening. The clinking of silverware against fine china was the only sound that echoed through the dimly lit dining room. My appetite had vanished, replaced by a gnawing sense of dread that curled in the pit of my stomach. Eleanor sat across from me, her eyes like cold steel as they flickered over the table. Every word she spoke was laced with an edge that no one else seemed to notice, but it cut into me like a knife. I knew she was watching me, calculating. Her presence had become unbearable, her silence even more so. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel her eyes on me as I forced down another bite, trying to appear unbothered. But deep down, I knew something was coming. Something I wasn’t prepared for. As the meal drew to a close, the others excused themselves one by one, retreating to their respective corners of the mansion. I lingered a moment longer, hesitating to leave the table, dreading the inevitable encounter with Eleanor
The fluorescent lights in the boardroom of the mental asylum flickered slightly, casting a cold, sterile light over the long wooden table where the board members sat. Ava stood at one end of the room, her hands gripping the edges of a file folder that held weeks' worth of work and hope. Beside her, Mark adjusted his glasses and gave her a small nod of encouragement. They were about to present their findings—evidence that could change Liam’s fate.Ava took a deep breath. “Thank you all for meeting with us today,” she began, her voice steady but charged with emotion. “We have compelling evidence that my husband, Liam, is not a violent man. His recent outbursts were caused by being drugged, not because of any inherent mental instability.”She opened the folder and began passing out copies of the report Mark had meticulously compiled. The board members, a mix of doctors, administrators, and legal experts, took the documents and scanned them with varying levels of interest and skepticism.
AVAThe warm glow of the golden lamp stand danced against the walls of the house, casting its shadows and feeling the living room with its warmth. The room was silent, devoid of any other inhabitant apart from I and Liam.I half expected to see Uncle John standing like a barricade in front of the house but he was nowhere to be found the moment we got back home, neither were Clara and Davies.We were in absolute peace and I loved it. I just wish it would last .I still can’t believe it , my Liam is finally back! He sat on the couch, expectantly waiting for dinner as I worked like a bee in preparing his favorite meal. This was the first evening he was spending with me and in this house ever since his release from that goddamn asylum. It still felt so surreal to me that I’d glance repeatedly at him as I set up the dining table to make sure Liam was actually there and I wasn’t hallucinating. Having set up everything, I called out to Liam, beckoning on him to come eat, “Liam dinner
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