Richard Wadsley paced the living room, with his fist clenched and, his voice booming throughout the mansion, "Why isn't there any damn answer yet? " Flush with anger, he glared at the detective who stood uncomfortably.“Mr Wadsley, the CCTV from Wadsleys Jewels was damaged. Both the cameras inside Eva's office and leading to it were turned off. Someone obviously understood what they were doing. " The detective explained.Richard sneered, his jaws clamped tight. “Someone tried to murder my daughter, and we don't have even one hint? " The detective’s eyes went down. “We are trying to look for alternative methods to get the culprit. maybe…” "Get out! " Richard snapped.“Mr Wadsley?’’ The detective was caught off guard.Richard Wadsley glared at him and growled. “I dont want to see you, if you dont have anything tangible. Please leave.” The man gave a curt nod, and said. “We’ll do our best sir.” Before turning to leave. Eva was lying on the couch, with hetr hands resting on her stom
Ava murmured over the phone, voice chilly and indifferent, "I can't come today either."Shawn's exasperated voice came over the speaker to say, "Ava, what's going on? You keep giving excuses not to come home. Talk to me if something is bothering you.”"Shawn, I'm not giving excuses. I have a lot of work to do and my parents' place is the closest, because I've been working late these days. Please try to understand. " Ava hung up without waiting for his response and flung her phone onto her disorganized desk. The setting sun had long gone down, so Wadsleys Jewels were gently aglow from the office lights. Scattered about Ava's desk were financial records and client files, but none of them really had her attention. She was off, trapped in a hurricane of anxiety and stress. Trying to relieve the increasing headache, she rubbed her temples. She didn't bother to check when her phone buzzed again. She already knew it was Shawn.Eva and her mother had also been trying to talk to her, but th
Shawn's voice was quiet but fraught with stress as he slumped on the mahogany desk, his jaw clenched with each word;"Are you quite certain about this, Ryan? ".His fingers drummed on the polished surface of the table, a perturbed beat that exposed his anxiety as he sat across from him. “I wouldn't have not come to you if I wasn't. Ava is hiding something, I've been investigating and watching her myself.” Shawn's eyebrows furrowed tightly. The poorly lit study gave them privacy, its thick drapes shutting out the rest of the world, but it did little to relax the weight bearing on Shawn. “You're claiming she poisoned Eva, Ryan. I still can't believe Ava would do that. Even Eva doesn't believe it. Because Ava has no reason to do that.” Ryan let out a nasty sigh, anger rippling across him. "I know you both are finding it hard to believe, but according to Eva's testimony, she is our only suspect.Ryan narrowed his eyes at Shawn, who looked disturbed. “Eva told me she overheard Ava's conve
“Lets see what you are up to, Ava.” Ryan said under his breath, hands on the steering wheel as his eyes dart merrily between the rearview mirror and the restaurant across the road. The engine of his car idled gently, its low hum hardly noticeable over the thrashing in his chest. Almost an hour had passed since he had been sitting there, his head turned on Ava, who was inside the café stirring her unattended coffee. His phone buzzed on the passenger seat, and he grabbed it quickly. It was a message from Shawn. Shawn: "Keep your eyes on her; we must figure out where she's taking that money to.”Ryan exhaled, his jaw tightened. He thought relentlessly, typing back a brief response. Ryan: "I'm still watching. She hasn't made a move yet." He set the phone down and tapped his fingers nervously on the top of the steering wheel. Two half-million-dollar withdrawals, and she's merely sipping coffee? It didn't seem right. There's something up.Ava rose from the chair moments later, her chai
The grand chandelier above them threw broken shadows over the table; the dining room was quiet and the gentle tap of silverware on the plate was the only sound. Ava moved uncomfortably in her chair, really aware of his gaze on her.“Ava, are you sure there's nothing bothering you? You can talk to me, I might be of help.” Shawn said, his tone was calm but tinged with curiosity and concern. Ava let out a faint chuckle as her fingers tensed up around her fork. “I'm fine, Shawn. I've just been a little overwhelmed, that's it.” Shawn nodded and they continued eating in silence once again. Shawn cut through the air like a knife to say, "I talked to Ryan earlier today.” Ava stiffened, her fork nearly falling. "Oh? How is he? I hardly get in touch with him these days. We used to be inseparable before we graduated from high school.” She let out a hurtful smile. “But he's been closer to Eva since he got back from Boston.”Shawn narrowed his eyes on her. “I'm sure he just feels like Eva nee
Chapter 158: The Space Between Deception The quiet hum of the air conditioner reverberated in the quietness and the room; Ava lay rigid beside Shawn, her body stiff against the fresh sheets, her heart was beating so loud that she was convinced he might hear it. The shimmer from the bedside lamp swept his face, drawing attention to his jaw's hard angles, the slight crease in his brow, and the grip of his clenched fist resting on his chest. She willed her racing thoughts to stop while staring at the ceiling. Every second here seemed like she was walking on a thin line. "Can't sleep? " Shawn’s deep voice cut through the quietness and made her flinchShe gulped down before replying. “Just thinking about a lot of things.”“About what?” His voice was cool but there was a sharpness underneath it that made her skin crawl. Her brain raced for the most secure answer. “Uhm…About everything. Eva… the baby…us. ” Shawn gave a small dry laugh, “Are you really worried about Eva and the baby or a
Chapter 159 "I was a fool," Shawn spat quietly, white-knuckled on the steering wheel. The car roared and he weaved between traffic with force as he slammed on the gas pedal. Ryan's words rang in his head "You're making a mistake, Shawn. Eva is the one you love, you are being gaslighted.” He ground his mouth, and a bitter chuckle escaped his lips. He had punished the wrong person. ‘How could I not notice? It all became clear now: He didn’t notice any difference in her after she got married to him while pretending to be Ava because she was the same person he has been spending time with and fell in with.His phone buzzed, but he didn't pay any attention to it. Other than seeing Eva right now, nothing else mattered. “I have to make this right.” he muttered.The wadsley’s mansion loomed in front of him and the gates opened gradually as he approached. He pushed his car through the slim opening, not waiting for them to completely open. As he parked in front of the great white building, the
Shawn cupped Eva's cheek and said with a dry voice "Eva, Please dont push me away.”Eva's breath hitched. Her tears flowed freely as she gazed into his passionate, tormented eyes, her heart pounding against her ribs. She couldn't bring herself to say anything, instead,she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down into another kiss, desperate, and filled with every suppressed feeling she had hidden deep inside. She could taste her tears on their lips. Though it felt like she was on the edge of a cliff, seconds away from falling. she hadn't realized how much she missed him or how much she hoped for this day to come.Shawn replied with the same desperation, his hands grabbing the back of her head and pulling her closer and as if he was scared that she would escape his grasp once more if he lets go.Finally they pulled apart, both breathing heavily as he leaned his forehead against hers, their fast breaths mixing in the stressed atmosphere. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth, E
The Wadsley’s mansion was filled with tension. Shawn entered the room, his piercing eyes surveying those already seated in front of him at the table in a row down the long mahogany. His father, Henry Darlington sat opposite Richard Wadsley, who presided at the head of the table, tapping fingers on the wood in a deliberate rhythm, face with an impassive mask, and Ryan Wadsley leaned back in his chair, arms folded, and nodded to greet shawn.“I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting.” he bowed before settling down and didn’t waste any seconds before speaking. "We don’t have much time." His voice cut through the stifling silence. "Uncle Victor and Norman have been one step ahead of us for so long. That ends now."Henry's expression was resolute. "We already know all their plans. With Edward's recording, we've got Victor's confession. But that will never be enough. We need more evidence to expose them publicly in front of your grandfather.”Richard's teeth were firmly gritted. "My name and
Darlington's mansion loomed over him as Shawn grasped the steering wheel with hands tightly clenched, his mind thinking a mile a minute per second. He never imagined that he would find himself here today, but with everything that had just transpired in seconds ago, he had more pressing things to attend to. All he had to do was learn.The instant he drove into the driveway, he cut off the motor and stepped out, teeth gritted in a granite smile. Air was nearly as cold as ice as he strode up to the front door.A servant flung the door wide open for him before he would have gotten there on his own two pounding feet. "Welcome home, Mr. Darlington." The maid greeted with a smile on her face.Shawn tried to greet back with a smile, but he wasn’t in the mood and he couldn’t fake it."Where's my father?" he asked immediately.Her expression changed at his cold demeanour. She could instantly tell that he was in a bad mood."Your father is in his study," She said.Shawn remained silent. He st
The ride home was silent as Ryan drove Ava home in her carAva's knuckles were whitening as her fist clenched on her laps. She could hear the sound of her heartbeat as she thought about what she was going to face when she got home.Ryan gripped tightly on the steering wheel, jaws clenched in a hard line. He was furious and seething, but beneath the anger was something else. He was supposed to be angry and yelling at her, but all he felt was pity for her.She could feel it also, she hated being treated like that- being vulnerable and pitied but that was the only thing she could hold on to now."Are you ready?" Ryan finally said, rolling up in front of the Wadsley house. The house loomed above, the lights flickered through the windows but not stopping the storm raging in Ava's brain.Her head was spinning, she let out in a soft tone "No." She shivered, her voice quivering. "But do I have a choice?”Ryan sighed and relaxed back into his seat. "You always have a choice in every decision,
There was heavy tension in the room, as Shawn's burning gaze was focused on Ava. His eyes sucked the air out of her lungs, and she stood stil with a wide eye, trembling in fear with her fist clenched on both sides."What the bloody hell are you doing here with Norman?" Shawn's tone sliced the air like a sharp blade.Ava flinched at his voice, and she stepped back, still trembling. "I—I can explain," she whispered.Shawn's face went cold. "You better have a good explanation for this."Ava's knees wobbled under her. She didn't know how much he heard or where to start her explanation from. "I didn't mean to do any of it, Shawn." she moved closer to him with tears in her eyes, hoping it would make him pity her. "I was used and manipulated by them. I swear– I would never betray you on purpose. Please believe me.”“Used and manipulated?" Shawn let out a bitter chuckle."That's your excuse?"Ava's heart crushed. He didn’t believe her. "I was scared! I was trapped and didn't know what to do.
Ava wiped her tears and shot a glare at samantha. “You knew about this too?”"Oh, come on, Ava," Samantha teased. "Don't be stupid now. We were business partners. I had no idea about your secret one night stand. I became partners with Norman after your father threatened to ruin my career, because he wanted to protect his beloved family reputation.”Ava went pale and her head spun. She thought samantha really cared about her when she advised her and helped her to get shawn back, but she had came to her with ulterior motives, and Norman was behind her all along. "You joined hands with Norman to hurt me. I've done nothing to deserve this from you, Sam.” She said with tears pouring down her eyes.Norman stepped closer, with a firm expression. “Don't play the victim here, Ava. You did everything you did for yourself. It was for your own selfish needs.”Ava wiped her tears and shot him a death glare "What are you saying?""Don't play dumb with us," Samantha cut in, "Yes, it was part of my
It was already dark when Ava stepped out of her car. The secluded building stood at the outskirts of the area and she had to walk there. Her grip tightened on the big bag she was holding as she got to the door. She took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder one more time before twisting the door handle. The creak of the open door pushed the bitter scent of scorched cement and motor oil back into her nostrils. Samatha leaned her shoulders against a pile of crates, crossed arms, pursed lips curled into a crazed smile as she saw her. Norman Darlington, however, was sitting in a comfortably broken-in leather armchair in the far corner, whiskey sloshing back and forth between his fingers. A whirlwind of excitement churned in his head as Ava walked toward him.She did not even bat an eyelid. She raised the bag she was holding and slammed it on the table in front of Norman. "There," she spat. "There's the money you both asked for. Now stop this madness before my dad's company goes ban
Henry Darlington was on his phone in his home office when he received a message from one of his clients, Edward Langstone. It was a voice message, and he wondered what was in it. He stopped what he was doing and played the message. There were murmurs of far-off voices, glass clinking, and soft music playing a party, then a familiar voice came in. "Richard Wadsley and Henry Darlington thought they were unstoppable and everyone else, or at least wished they were. They were just emotional fools. I sabotaged their business deal to ruin it in their faces, and they did not even know it was a sabotage. After all those years of friendship and partnership, it was so easy to break them apart. Without the support of each other, they are as good as weak, but my main target was Henry, I only wanted to remove Richard from the picture. “Wow, that's brilliant.” Another voice came in. “So how's the result going?” He chuckled. “Trust me, it's going great. Darlington Enterprises hanging by his fing
Ryan forced through the doors of Shawn's office without bothering to knock. His jaw was set in a line of urgency, his head a whirlwind of possibilities. The dim light inside the office cast shadows on Shawn's face, who sat behind his desk with his expression filled with controlled fury. The door slammed into the wall but shattered no portion of his stubborn fury. His fingers drummed slowly and deliberate over the fine polished wood. Ryan's pale blue eyes sparkled. "You said something about an emergency," he said, entering and closing the door. "What is it?” His voice was a little coarse and impatient Shawn exhaled, the weight of it coming down hard as it laid on his chest. He did not even look at Ryan, but instead allowed his eye to track the line of the desk in an attempt to put some sort of control on the anger in him. His tightened on the edge of the desk, and his knuckles whitened."Ava knows something.” Ryan's eyebrows sprang. "Knows something about what?"Shawn's head jerked
Ava shoved Shawn's brown front door wide open and took a deep breath, waiting there as the door creaked shut behind her. The day's activities hung heavy on her shoulders like a damp cape. And she couldn't wait to relax and have a good night's sleep. She walked in expecting to see Madam Tess all over the kitchen, but the house was quiet. It was at this time tonight that Madam Tess would be cleaning the kitchen and also preparing Shawn's study for his arrival from work. Her hand rested on the chill of the console table as she placed her handbag down. The reflex wasn't comforting. A cold, shivery scuttering feeling crawled down her spine as though someone was standing behind her, watching her.And she saw him.Shawn was at the bottom of the stairs, lit by the faint light of the hallway chandelier. One hand was in his sweatpants pocket, the other clumsily holding a tumbler of amber liquor. His eyes, which met hers, were dark and impenetrable.Ava's heart skipped a beat.She swallowed.