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
AVADAYS LATER“No wait Liam let me help you out of it..” I helped Liam take off a tight fitted vest after he had been struggling with it for what spanned like a century.“I genuinely thought it would be my size Ava” he said after exhaling a breath of relief the moment the vest came off.I shook my head at him, a mild chuckle leaving my lips, “I did tell you before hand that this vest looked too small” A frown spread across his lips causing me to laugh more, “what a waste of good wool. I’ll have to toss it out now” “Toss it out? Why don’t we drop it in the towns voluntary home? You know it’s still a good vest and it could size anybody else and you would be doing a good deed” I suggested.A wide smile lit up his face and he concurred, “Brilliant Ava, you are brilliant. We’d go this evening then yes?” He asked to which I nodded in affirmation.I loved moments like these, moments were it was just the both of us in our own little world, happy and at peace. Lately we’ve been having a bit
AVAThe drive up the mountain had been long and winding, the kind that made my stomach churn as we climbed higher and higher into what felt like the middle of nowhere. I glanced over at Liam, his face pressed against the window, marveling at the view with the same wide-eyed wonder he always had. He looked… peaceful. That’s what made me bite my tongue, keeping my concerns about this entire trip to myself. After everything we had been through, I figured he deserved a moment of peace.Uncle John’s unexpected invitation still lingered at the back of my mind like a bad taste. A trip to a remote villa in the mountains, just Liam and me, to help us reconnect after the madness of the past few months. I hadn’t trusted him for a second. Why now? Why the sudden generosity? What was he planning? I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being lured into something dangerous. But then Liam had insisted we go, practically begging me to give it a chance. For him, I had agreed.The car’s tires crunche
AVAI clunged tightly onto Liam as he carried me like an egg towards our bedroom. I can’t believe this is happening.Are we really going to be intimate tonight?Like an answer to my thoughts, Liam used a leg and pushed open the door to our room.He laid me gently on the bed, his touch ever so delicate and soothing on my skin whilst his lips plundered mine so fiercely and desperately. His lips moved from mine, trailing downwards to my collarbone and I let out a sharp gasp, shocked at the electrifying effect I got when he nibbled on my skin.I let out an airily moan, the night unfolding in a way I hadn’t expected. “You are so so beautiful my sweet Ava” Liam whispered against my skin, his breath caressing me and sending goosebumps rolling across my body.His eyes looked up to mine and I breathed heavily, my body tingling from the flurry of sensations I was getting.“I have waited far too long Ava” his voice was hoarse with a suppressed need. I nodded, unable to even utter a single wor
AVAI woke up to the soft light of morning spilling through the villa’s large windows, casting a golden glow over everything. The sheets tangled around my legs felt cool against my skin, and for a moment, I just lay there, reliving the night before. I still couldn’t believe it. Did I and Liam….did we both really have sex?Damn!It all felt like a wild dream. My heart fluttered, recalling how Liam had held me, how we had connected in a way we hadn’t. A blush spread across my cheeks and I giggled to myself, reminiscing about the entire thing.It was as if, for one night, all the complications had melted away, and it was just the two of us, wrapped in each other.Turning my head, I gazed at Liam. He was still asleep, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. There was something peaceful about the way he slept, like the weight of the world had finally lifted from his shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile. His hair was messy, his lips slightly parted, and the light caught on the s
AVAWe made it back to the villa just as the sky began to darken, casting long shadows across the lawn. The hike had done little to ease the knot of unease sitting heavy in my chest. I tried to shake it off, telling myself that the near-accident on the cliff was just that—an accident—but I couldn’t stop replaying it in my mind. The way Liam had slipped, how I’d barely caught him in time. And now, the note. I couldn’t help but feel like something—or someone—was trying to mess with us.As we reached the front steps of the villa, my foot brushed against something on the ground. I glanced down and froze. A crumpled piece of paper lay half-hidden in the grass. I bent down to pick it up, smoothing it out with trembling fingers. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the symbol drawn on it—a skull.“Liam,” I whispered, holding the note out to him. “Look at this.”He took it from me, frowning as he examined the crude drawing. “Where did this come from?”“I don’t know,” I said, glancing around as
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