AVA'S POV
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and was finally satisfied. After what felt like hours of frantic searching, I had finally found a dress that would perfectly complement the earrings. Yes, those earrings – the ones I discovered hidden in Jason's pocket this morning. A pair of delicate and luxurious pearl earrings adorned with diamonds It was created by my favorite designer, Kokichi Mikimoto, one of only five such earrings in the world. Jason is so thoughtful that he would secretly buy the jewelry I like and give it to me as a surprise on our wedding anniversary. Yes, I was sure he would give this gift to me tonight. I kept checking my dress and makeup in the mirror, and couldn't help imagining how stunning I would look in those earrings. My hands smoothed down the fabric of the dress, which clung to my body in a way it hadn't just a few weeks ago. I turned to the side, my eyes drawn to the slight, but unmistakable curve of my abdomen. A secret I had yet to share with anyone, least of all Jason. Finally, after three years of marriage, Jason and I were going to be parents. This was the moment I had been waiting for, the news that would make tonight's anniversary dinner with Jason even more special. I placed my hands on my lower abdomen and the smile on my face grew even wider. Jason and I have been together since college. I feel very lucky to be married to such a wonderful man. Although Jason is not great at expressing himself and rarely shows his emotions, I still think our marriage is happy. I went to get my phone, intending to ask Jason if he could come home early tonight. But a striking piece of news forced me to click on it. In the video, under the countless camera flashes, the elegant man in a neatly tailored black coat was very familiar to me, that was my husband. And next to him was a charming lady, whom I had never seen before. "The CEO of Campbell Group appeared at the airport, with his secret GIRLFRIEND." Each word in that headline felt like a sharp blade, cutting through my confidence. I held my cold hands together, trying to steady my breathing and make sense of what I had seen. I couldn't see the face of the woman in the video from the camera's angle. Therefore, I felt that their relationship might not be what the press suggested. After all, I knew the man I had married. We had built three years of memories, and trust was supposed to be our foundation. Maybe she was just a relative, someone close but not what they claimed. A soft click from the front door pulled me from my thoughts, and I rushed over. Jason was wearing a brown trenchcoat looking even more handsome than in the video. “Hey babe, welcome back.” I helped him take off his coat and took his bag. “How was your day?” I asked. “Hectic as usual but went smoothly. Why are you all dressed up? Are you going out this late?” “Huh! You don't remember?” I couldn't hide the disappointment in my voice. He looked at me with a puzzled expression. “Remember what?” “What day it is, babe,” I pouted. I led him to the dining table hoping he was just pretending not to remember but he still had that puzzled expression when he saw the table setting. My heart sank. “Stop joking dear. It's our anniversary. I know you just want to surprise me.” I started to feel ridiculous. It was so obvious that he didn't even remember our anniversary, but I still wanted to give him another chance, or maybe give myself another chance. Jason rubbed the back of his neck apologetically. “I'm sorry Ava I have been preoccupied lately with work, it slipped my mind that today was our anniversary but I promise to make it up to you.” “What do you want? Anything at all just mention it and I will get it for you in the blink of an eye.” I stared at him intently, “Come on, I saw the pair of earrings this morning. Why don't you take it out and put it on me.” Jason tilted his head quizzically. “Which earrings?” I looked at his perfectly handsome face under the light and suddenly felt that I had never really gotten to know him. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted everything. He strode towards the door and I followed behind him curious to know who was visiting this late at night. As he opened the door a young lady hugged him and said with the sweetest voice, “Why haven't you gotten ready? I'm starving.” I recognized that voice. It was the same as the lady in the news. Confusion and disbelief swirled within me as I stared at Jason and stared back at this stranger holding his arm intimately. I glared at the lady intensely and my eyes were fixed on the sparkling diamond in her earlobe. The earrings she wore bore a striking resemblance to the one I found in Jason's closet which I thought were my anniversary gift. My heart skipped a beat. The lady turned to me with a saccharine smile. “Oh, you must be his wife! Nice to meet you. I'm Laura Martinez. He always talks about you.” “I just got divorced today, so I asked Jason to have dinner with me to celebrate. I'll borrow him tonight, thank you!” Hearing the woman's words I looked at Jason expecting an explanation instead I noticed he was putting his coat back on. “Jason…” I stared at him in disbelief. Jason glanced at me, an uncomfortable look crossing his face. “Ava, I'm sorry. Maybe we can celebrate another time. I promise I'll be back soon.” “But it's our anniversary,” I protested weakly, feeling lost and betrayed. “I even made your fav….” Before I could finish my statement, the door was slammed in my face. He left with Laura leaving me standing by the doorway with a shattered heart. I tried to understand and piece together what had just happened, it still felt like a dream to me. Who was Laura, and why was she wearing those earrings? Did Jason give them to her? How could he go out with another woman on our anniversary day? This was the first time Jason had ever forgotten our anniversary, so don't blame me for overthinking. I took the pregnancy test results out of my pocket. Tears threatened to spill over but I blinked them back. What went wrong with my marriage? I can't risk Jason knowing about my baby until I figure this out, so I stuffed the results into the deepest compartment of my bag. I retreated into the empty house that suddenly felt cold and desolate.Ava's POV Liar. He said he would be back soon, but he left me waiting all night. I dragged myself to Campbell Group where I work. The company is owned by Jason’s family, and Jason is the CEO and my boss. Sally Parker, my best friend and colleague, greeted me with concern the moment I walked into my office. “Ava, are you okay? You don’t look well.” Forcing a smile, I nodded. “I’m fine, just tired.” She looked at me skeptical but decided not to press further. “Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that today they’re announcing the new design director. It has to be you, Ava. You’ve worked so hard for it. Congratulations in advance.” “Thanks, Sal. I appreciate your support.” I am somewhat calm because I knew the position would be mine. Jason had assured me and I was ready to take on the responsibilities of the design director. I noticed everyone's phone buzzing with a new notification including mine. “I know it must be the appointment notification.” Sally hurriedly checked her
AVA'S POV I couldn't believe what I had just heard, Laura's words echoed in my ears like a thunderclap. I could feel my chest growing so tight that it became difficult for me to breathe. “You left me and married him, claiming he was the love of your life, so right now I don't care if you got divorced because of me or not.” Jason retorted, his voice laced with bitterness. Every word felt like a needle piercing my heart. “I was young and confused Jason. I'm sorry for the hurt I caused you back then. I thought I loved him but I never did, it was after I married him that I realized I left gold for bronze.” She added, “Jason, it's you my heart beats for.” Laura sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. I was breathless, eager to know how Jason would react to the pitiful Laura in front of him, but I was also afraid that his answer would make me a complete loser in our marriage. “It's too late Laura, I'm married.” Jason declared. I watched in a daze, hoping for something. I wanted to
AVA'S POV The house was quiet as I slowly woke up, the soft hum of the morning light filtering through the curtains. I noticed the other side of the bed was empty and showed no signs of Jason coming in last night. I felt a pang of sadness within me as different wild thoughts ran through my head. The silence of the atmosphere was interrupted by a burst of laughter. I frowned, as I slipped out of bed and followed the sound, the laughter grew louder and mingled with the clinking of dishes. Pushing open the kitchen door I met a scene that stung more than a slap. Jason and Laura were standing at the counter their movement in perfect harmony like they had practiced this routine a thousand times. Laura leaned closer to Jason her hands brushing his as they worked together. Jason, who always seemed so reserved, was laughing at something Laura said. His laughter was so rich and genuine, a sound I hadn't heard often. A pang of jealousy pierced my heart. "Good morning, Ava." Laur
AVA'S POV The days that followed Laura's departure were strange. Jason became more loving and attentive towards me. He cooked for me, bought me flowers, and even took a leave of absence from work to spend quality time with me. It felt like the early days of our relationship. I felt that he was trying to compensate me for all the agony I had undergone during these past recent months. He could not have been more successful. After getting home from work, Jason changed his clothes and went to prepare dinner. And I rested on the couch and watched him busy in the kitchen. He was tall and handsome, and the sunset shone on him through the windows, creating a light halo that removed some of his coldness. He lowered his eyes slightly, and his hands with distinct bony fingers handled the ingredients skillfully. This scene gave me a feeling of peace. “What’s wrong?” He turned around and asked me in a gentle voice. “Babe, will you be able to accompany me to the hospital tomorrow
AVA'S POV I regained consciousness in a hospital bed feeling dazed and confused. The room was well-lit, and the clean scent of disinfectant overwhelmed my senses, almost suffocating me. My pulse quickened as the accident flashed back into my memory, vivid and harsh. The baby was my first concern. Fear took hold of me as I touched my belly, dreading the worst. “Hey, easy there,” came a familiar voice breaking through my racing thoughts. It was Sally sitting beside my bed. Her presence gave me a bit of comfort, but I got more anxious when I remembered I hadn't told her about my pregnancy. The weight of keeping this secret felt like a big rock was stuck in my throat. She saw the fear in my eyes and helped me lie back down on the bed, putting her hand on my arm. “Don't worry. The baby is fine," she said in a calm and reassuring voice, but I could tell she was worried too. Her words brought me relief but also made me feel guilty. I hadn't planned to reveal my pregna
AVA'S POV The nurse’s words kept echoing relentlessly in my mind, refusing to let me breathe as my body went numb in an instant. The world around me blurred, and the white, sterile walls of the hospital seemed to close in, trapping me in between. Laura is pregnant with Jason's child! It seemed like a dream to me and I could feel the heat rise inside me, as if my inside were heated to a hundred degrees Celsius. When did Jason start cheating on me? Why did he cheat? Wasn't I enough for him? Or.... was it because I didn't satisfy him sexually? These questions ran through my head causing my head to ache so badly since I had no answers to them. I wasn't very experienced at first when I and Jason started dating back in college. He was actually my first for everything. He was both my first love, my first kiss, my first sexual partner, my first....... everything. Did he cheat on me because I couldn’t satisfy his needs? No, that can’t be it. I know it isn’t. I tried my
AVA'S POVI sank into the passenger seat, drained, as Sally drove me home from the hospital. The car was silent, just like I needed.Sally understood I didn’t have the energy for conversation. Every now and then, she’d put her hand over mine, her quiet support saying more than words could. She had helped me with the discharge papers, and while we hadn’t said much, just having her there with ms brought some comfort.I felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and a painful realization about how alone I had been and felt in my marriage since Laura came into my life. It was as if I’d been living with a stranger.Sally looked over at me, her eyes warm and soft. “Ava, you know I’m here if you need anything. Just call, any time.”I managed a weak smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace. “Thanks, Sal. I'll be fine. You’ve done so much already. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”She nodded, though her eyes showed she wasn’t convinced.As we reached the gate, she pulled me in f
AVA'S POVThe shock on Jason’s face was clear as the words left my mouth, each one hitting harder than the last.It was like I’d pulled the ground out from under his feet, and he didn’t know how to steady himself from falling.He just stood there, frozen, his mouth opening and closing, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t."Ava… you don’t mean that.” he stuttered.I crossed my arms, standing firm. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”He ran a hand through his hair, and his shoulders slumped as he took a step toward me. "Ava, please….” His voice was soft, and pleading, his eyes shone with sincerity and it almost made me falter. Almost!"No, Jason,” I said, steadying my voice even though everything inside of me felt ready to break."I can’t do this anymore. You lied to me....for what? To protect her? To protect yourself?”His eyes widened, I could sense the desperation showing in them as he stepped closer. “I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted any o
AVA'S POV "I understand," I exhaled slowly. "Thank you for the update, Karen." The call ended, but I didn’t move. My phone sat in my hand, Karen’s last words ringing in my head. “Come prepared for anything.” I let out a slow breath, placing the phone on my desk. My fingers curled into fists. First, the whispers in the office. Then, canceled meetings. And now, this my contract, my reputation, everything I’d worked for dangling by a thread because of a stupid rumor about Jason. Who could have started this? What brought about the rumor? I couldn't help but feel someone was instigating all this to bring me down. But who could it be? Is it Laura? Or. Back then I could blame all my misfortune on Laura but now it was hard to know who exactly could have started the rumors because I had lots of competitors not only the Campbell Group. And Avaris Luxe was involved in other businesses including real estate, luxury branding that are thriving so I had lots of enemies and competitors
AVA'S POV The soft chime of my alarm pulled me from sleep, but the heavy weight in my chest told me I had already been awake. For a few blissful seconds, I was caught in that hazy space between dreaming and reality. And then it all came crashing back – the rumors, the headlines, my client who stood me up. I stared at the ceiling, my mind replaying every ugly word, every speculative article. Did Ava Taylor Sleep Her Way to the Top? Ava Taylor: Seducing Another Woman’s Fiancé? It was ridiculous. Infuriating. And yet, it was out there. People were talking and worse they were believing. I turned my head to the side and saw the soft rise and fall of Emma’s tiny frame beside me. Sometime during the night, she had entered my room and crawled into my bed. Her little hand was curled into a fist, her lips slightly parted in sleep. Carefully, I slid out of bed, tucking the blanket around Emma before heading to the bathroom. I turned on the shower and let the warm water wash over me,
AVA’S POV Alex didn’t say a word as he pushed open the front door, but his silence was louder than any accusation. The second we stepped inside, Rose, the housekeeper, emerged from the hallway with a warm smile. “Miss Ava, you’re home. Welcome, Mr. Alex,” she said, wiping her hands on her apron. Then her eyes fell on Emma, and her smile widened. “And how’s my little princess?” Emma giggled, letting go of Alex's hand and running toward her. “I made a new friend today! And Aunt Ava let me eat ice cream!” Rose gasped dramatically. “Ice cream? Before dinner? Oh dear, we’ll have to make sure you eat something healthy for dinner.” Emma pouted but let Rose scoop her up into her arms. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. “I’ll take her upstairs and get her changed,” Rose said, giving me a respectful look before disappearing up the stairs with Emma. And just like that, the moment I had been trying to avoid arrived. Alex shut the door behind us. The air between us thicke
JASON’S POV The drive to Laura’s apartment felt longer than it should. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my jaw clenched so hard it hurt. My mind kept circling back to that moment outside Ava’s house. Seeing Alex standing there like he belonged, like the man of the house dug a deep hole in my chest. It shouldn’t have bothered me. But it did. More than I wanted to admit. Mason sat in the backseat, eyes glued to his game, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. By the time I pulled up to Laura’s apartment, my patience was razor-thin. Mason didn’t wait. The second the car stopped, he was out, his little feet pounding against the pavement as he rushed inside. I took a second before following, running a hand over my face. I needed to shake this feeling off. Inside, Laura sat on the couch, curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea in her hands. The TV was on, but she wasn’t watching. She barely glanced up when Mason kicked off his shoes, his voice bubbling with excite
AVA’S POV Jason’s face hardened, his expression cloudy, but I didn’t give him the chance to respond. The air inside the restaurant had already become thicker and suffocating. I needed to leave. I pushed back my chair, the legs scraping lightly against the floor as I stood up. He didn’t move, but I felt his gaze follow me as I turned away. Without another word, without so much as a glance in his direction, I walked out. The moment I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit me, grounding me in reality. I inhaled deeply as if trying to cleanse the remnants of that conversation from my system. Jason’s car was parked right in front, and through the window, Emma’s bright eyes met mine. She smiled, her tiny fingers pressing against the glass as if reaching for me. I walked over and pulled the door open. “Aunt Ava!” Emma chirped, wiggling in her seat as I unbuckled her seatbelt. “Did you have fun with Mason?” I asked, lifting her out. She nodded enthusiastically. “Mason said h
AVA'S POV Jason reached the restaurant first. I wasn’t surprised since it was Ben driving. As I approached the entrance, he pulled the door open for me. A gentleman’s habit. One he did so naturally as if it were ingrained in his very being. I didn’t acknowledge it. Not because I wanted to be rude, but because I refused to let the past creep into the present. I stepped inside without a glance in his direction, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back as I walked past him holding Emma's little hands. The restaurant was warm, elegant, and buzzing with low conversation. The kind of place Jason and I would have visited years ago. The thought was unwelcome, but I shoved it aside, focusing instead on Emma, who was already chattering excitedly about the menu. Jason took the seat opposite me, and I could feel the tension settling between us like an unspoken presence at the table. It was controlled, and contained, but it was there. The waiter arrived, pen-poised, waiting for our ord
JASON'S POVDarton's school courtyard was as busy as ever, filled with parents arriving, and greeting their kids one by one. Some kids ran excitedly into their parent's arms while others walked out more calmly scanning the crowd until they found their ride home. Laura had practically begged me to pick Mason up from school because she wasn’t feeling well enough to do it herself. Ever since the bullying incident, I hadn’t seen Mason – it was my way of disciplining him. When he spotted me, his eyes widened in shock, but the surprise quickly turned into pure excitement. "Dad!” he shouted, his face lightened up as he ran toward me. He had practically thrown himself into my arms, his laughter echoing across the schoolyard. It was clear he had expected his nanny or Laura, but seeing me instead had made his day. I was used to being noticed, but today, it felt like every woman within a few feet was stealing glances in my direction. "That's Jason Campbell, right?" “He’s even more
AVA'S POVThe office felt different that morning as I arrived. It was too quiet. I sat behind my desk, my fingers hovering over my laptop keyboard, but my mind wasn’t entirely on the emails I was supposed to be reviewing. The usual energy in the office was missing. No occasional sarcastic comments from Sally, no teasing remarks whenever I got too serious about work. Sally had taken the day off to visit her sick mother, and though I knew she needed to be with her, I couldn’t help but feel her absence. I had gotten so used to her presence, how she filled the silence with her witty remarks and nosy questions from time to time. Shaking off the thought, I focused on work. There were still reports to review, designs to sketch, marketing strategies to finalize, and upcoming projects that needed my attention. I had barely made progress when a knock sounded at the door. “Come in.” The temporary assistant who was filling in for Sally till she returned stepped inside, carrying something
LAURA’S POVI stared at my reflection in the mirror, running a hand through my sleek, blonde waves as a slow wicked smile curved my lips. Steph’s words echoed in my mind. Vivian LeClair. A desperate little gossip blogger who had been trying to get close to me for years. She had sent messages, begged Steph for an introduction, and even hinted at writing a glowing feature about me if I’d just grant her a meeting. I never had. She wasn’t worth my time then. But today? Today, I had a use for her. I picked up my phone, scrolled through my contacts, and found her name. Ring. Ring. She answered on the second ring, her voice practically dripping with fake excitement. “Laura Campbell! What a surprise!” she gushed. “I was beginning to think you didn’t like me and were avoiding me on purpose. I smiled, though she couldn’t see it. “I've been quite busy. Let’s have lunch,” I said smoothly, ignoring her attempt at playfulness. “I have some time today.” The line went silent for a