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 for a check-up?” I decided to break the news of my pregnancy to him hoping it would make our bond stronger. “Oh yes, Is everything okay?” He asked, coming to me and looking worried. “Yes, just a regular check-up, but I want you to be my company,” I replied, my voice slightly trembling. “Okay darling,” he leaned and kissed me on my forehead. My cheeks turned pink. That evening Jason made my favorite meal. We talked and laughed over dinner like we hadn't done in years. After dinner, we cuddled up in bed while watching a movie till eventually I fell asleep in his arms. In the late hours of the night, I woke up and found Jason's side of the bed empty. I felt a sense of uneasiness about it as a knot of anxiety started forming in my stomach. I got off the bed and padded out of the room. My footsteps echoed silently through the dark house. I reached outside the balcony only to see him talking to someone on his phone and I felt relieved. He didn't notice my presence because his back faced me. I noticed his voice was low and he sounded tense. I stood by the door, straining my ears to hear the details of his conversation. “If she wants to die try to stop her, if you can't stop her, call 120. Don't call me. I won't divorce Ava for her.” I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under my feet. My heart thudded in my chest as I stepped back not wanting him to know that I was there. The warmth and security of the evening evaporated, replaced by a cold crushing reality. Despite everything, Laura was still a part of our lives and Jason's conversation over the phone suggested that she was still a problem. I returned to the bed, my mind racing. What did he mean? Was Laura threatening to hurt herself? I had hoped that his rejection of Laura meant a new beginning to us but now I wasn't so sure. Amidst my thoughts, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up the next morning Jason was gone. The servant informed me that he had left early, saying he had urgent matters to attend to. I called him hoping for some explanation. He answered on the third ring sounding tired. I noticed that there must be something wrong. “What happened?” “Babe, I'm sorry I can't come today,” he said, his voice distant. All my expectations were extinguished in an instant, and I felt cold from head to toe. My heart sank, I felt disappointed and worried. He had promised to come with me to the hospital but now he was nowhere to be found. I held the phone, unable to speak for a long time. I wanted to ask something, but it seemed meaningless. I hung up feeling a familiar sense of abandonment. The hope I had felt days ago seemed like a distant memory. I was the one he gave up after weighing things over and over again. I subconsciously touched my belly, and suddenly began to wonder again, should I keep this baby? If I keep it, it will be difficult to completely break off the relationship between him and me even if I want to. My mind was filled with thoughts about Jason and Laura as I drove alone to the hospital.” While driving past the crowded road, I was plagued with a funny feeling that something was wrong. Jason’s conduct, Laura’s residual presence, and my insecurities were like having a dark cloud hovering above me. I attempted to concentrate on the road, but my mind kept wandering back over the events of the last few days. Not paying attention I only noticed when it was too late that the light ahead had turned red. I stepped on the brake but my legs felt as though they were made of lead and the car skidded across the wet pavement. My vehicle spun around and I felt an acute pain in my side as my seatbelt dug into me. At this point, my head was spinning and I couldn’t see clearly because of how blurry my vision was. With a bang, I crashed into something. When I came to my senses, I felt dizzy and my ribs were in unbearable pain. The first thought that pierced through my mind was the little one growing inside of me. I needed to make sure my baby was okay. With shaking hands I reached for my phone and dialed Jason's number, praying he would answer. The phone rang endlessly, each ring increasing my fear. My stomach began to ache, and I was gripped by a fierce fear at the thought of losing my child. Please! Jason! Pick up the phone! Finally, someone picked up, but it wasn't Jason. “Didn’t Jason tell you that he has no time for you today? He’s busy. Why do you keep calling?” Laura’s voice was like ice water, shocking me into silence. The realization that Jason was with her and that he had allowed her to answer his phone was too much hurt to bear. My breathing was blocked, tears welled up in my eyes, and my fingers trembled. The call disconnected and I felt a wave of nausea. I struggled to breathe. I had loved that man for so many years. But at this moment, my feelings towards him were only hatred. The world blurred around me and the last thing I remembered was the sound of my ragged breathing and the feeling of tears on my cheek as I lost consciousness. Then, all I knew was darkness.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 POVA few hours later, we were lying in bed, wrapped in the quiet of the night. I had my back to him, feeling the warmth of his body pressed against mine, and it almost felt like the old us.I let myself get lost in the familiarity of it—the feeling of being close to him again, as I tried to clear the numerous thoughts swirling in my mind about what my decision would be. Should I forgive him and give him another chance? Or should I give up on us?I was still in love with him, I admit. He was my first love and the man who took my virginity, so no matter how much he had hurt me, I just couldn’t stop loving him. But I also couldn’t tolerate being disrespected constantly because of him and Laura. But then, in the silence, I heard it—the soft buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand. At first, I tried to ignore it. Phones ring all the time, and it might just be a random call, not Laura. I even tried to convince myself that it wasn’t anything important and that I shouldn't
AVA'S POVI had no appetite for the breakfast he was preparing, so I walked back to the room, my footsteps slow but purposeful. The project I had been working on for months wasn’t going to finish itself—it was crucial, and it felt like the only thing in my life I could still control. I was designing dresses for Grey Empire, one of the biggest companies in the country. They dealt with a wide range of industries, and apparently, they were hosting a jewelry launch show. It was well-known that they needed a designer to create dresses for the models showcasing the jewelry. This was a big opportunity. I had to pitch my designs to them, and if I landed the project, it wouldn’t just yield significant profits to the company, it would introduce my work to the world. The thought of that kept me grounded, this was the one thing I could hold onto in a life that had become a whirlwind of betrayal, lies, and hurt. Jason had made it clear—he was going to keep running back to Laura. And th
ALEX'S POVI walked into the conference room, my gaze moving over the woman seated across from me.It was a familiar sight. Corporate companies often sent their most attractive female employees to try to win me over with charm in hopes of securing investments or partnerships. It had become routine, almost predictable.But it never worked on me. I wasn’t here for distractions or flattery. I was here for one thing—business.She was striking, of course—dark hair, confident posture, and those eyes, sharp and focused. But that was irrelevant. I wasn’t here to make friends. I was here to assess if her pitch was worth my time. When I entered, she stood to greet me, offering a smile that was friendly but not overly eager. That was good. A professional. “Mr. Grey, thank you for taking the time to meet with me,” she said, her voice calm but sure. I nodded and took a seat. “Let’s get started, Ms.…,” I glanced at the file in front of me. “Taylor, right?” “Yes, Ava Taylor,” she confirmed
AVA'S POV I sat in the conference room, absentmindedly scrolling through my emails as I waited for Alex. My mind was far from work, though—it was tangled up in thoughts of Jason, and everything that seemed to be falling apart between us. The ache in my chest was constant, but I did my best to ignore it. The door opened, and there was Alex with a slight smile. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long, Ava.” I shook my head, managing a small smile back. “Not at all. Thanks for making time tonight.” “Of course,” he said, holding the door as we headed out. “It’s my pleasure.” The drive to Nino’s Bistro was peaceful. Alex kept the conversation light, mostly work-related, not pushing too much, which I was grateful for. It was nice to step away from everything, even if I knew it wouldn’t last long. When we arrived, the restaurant had the same cozy elegance I remembered. Jason and I had been here before. The dim lighting, the jazz in the background—it was like a small
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