LAURA'S POVA small smirk played on my lips as I read the message on my phone. “It’s done.” Two simple words, but they made my body relax. Finally, that loose end had been taken care of. Sandra Miller was dead. I had no interest in killing her but when someone became a threat, they had to be removed. It was just common sense. If she had done her job and disappeared, she would still be breathing. But no, she had been caught, and I couldn’t risk her opening that stupid mouth of hers to expose me. So, I did what had to be done. I put my phone away, my fingers tightened around it for a moment. I had been worried when I first heard her identity had been discovered, but I should have known better. Riper never failed me. Riper had been my family’s loyal dog for years. My parents had trusted him with the dirtiest work, and he never asked questions. After they died, he had been handling their illegal businesses overseas. He only just returned, and I wasted no time putting him to
LAURA'S POV A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head as I slowly regained consciousness. My body felt stiff, my limbs aching as if I had been in the same position for too long. My eyelids fluttered open, but darkness surrounded me. The air was thick and musty, carrying the faint scent of damp wood and something metallic – blood? My heart pounded in my chest. Where the hell was I? My stomach growled with hunger, my throat was dry as if I hadn't had water in hours. I tried to move, but something held me in place. Panic surged through me as I realized my wrists were bound behind me, and my ankles were tied together. My mouth was sealed shut with thick tape. I fought against the ropes, breathing hard as my heart pounded fast. This wasn’t happening. I rocked the chair back and forth, trying to loosen the ropes. The wood creaked beneath me, but I didn’t care. I had to get out of here. My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as I yanked at the ropes. My bo
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
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
LAURA'S POV A sharp pain throbbed at the back of my head as I slowly regained consciousness. My body felt stiff, my limbs aching as if I had been in the same position for too long. My eyelids fluttered open, but darkness surrounded me. The air was thick and musty, carrying the faint scent of damp wood and something metallic – blood? My heart pounded in my chest. Where the hell was I? My stomach growled with hunger, my throat was dry as if I hadn't had water in hours. I tried to move, but something held me in place. Panic surged through me as I realized my wrists were bound behind me, and my ankles were tied together. My mouth was sealed shut with thick tape. I fought against the ropes, breathing hard as my heart pounded fast. This wasn’t happening. I rocked the chair back and forth, trying to loosen the ropes. The wood creaked beneath me, but I didn’t care. I had to get out of here. My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as I yanked at the ropes. My bo
LAURA'S POVA small smirk played on my lips as I read the message on my phone. “It’s done.” Two simple words, but they made my body relax. Finally, that loose end had been taken care of. Sandra Miller was dead. I had no interest in killing her but when someone became a threat, they had to be removed. It was just common sense. If she had done her job and disappeared, she would still be breathing. But no, she had been caught, and I couldn’t risk her opening that stupid mouth of hers to expose me. So, I did what had to be done. I put my phone away, my fingers tightened around it for a moment. I had been worried when I first heard her identity had been discovered, but I should have known better. Riper never failed me. Riper had been my family’s loyal dog for years. My parents had trusted him with the dirtiest work, and he never asked questions. After they died, he had been handling their illegal businesses overseas. He only just returned, and I wasted no time putting him to
ALEX'S POV I didn’t know how long I had been sitting at Ava's bedside, but it felt like an eternity. The rhythmic beeping of the monitor was the only sound in the room, aside from the occasional footsteps of nurses passing by. If I'm not mistaken this should be the third time Ava has been hospitalized, and I am always the first one by her side. It made me feel somehow special. Jason left earlier because he knew Ava wouldn’t want to see him when she regained consciousness. Before leaving, he told me to take good care of her. He also reminded me that he hasn’t given up on Ava and will still try to win her back. I scoffed to myself. Jason could say all he wanted, but I wasn't sure if Ava would ever forgive him. And honestly, I didn't want her to. My eyes remained fixed on Ava, her face pale against the stark white hospital sheets. Even in sleep, she looked exhausted but still beautiful. My fingers curled into a fist on my lap. The image of her lying unconscious, poisoned by som
JASON'S POVA call came in just as I was reviewing some documents in my office. Even though I was working, my mind kept drifting back to when Ava chased me out of her hospital room. When I glanced at the screen, I saw the Royal Crest hospital director’s name flashing. I answered immediately. “What is it?” “Mr. Campbell, your wife has been poisoned. She’s in critical condition at the hospital.” For a second, I didn’t process what he said. My grip on the phone tightened. “What?” My voice came out louder than I intended. “A nurse changed her fluid bag. We’re still investigating, but she was rushed into emergency care. It doesn’t look good.” The breath I was holding left me in a sharp exhale. My chest tightened. My mind screamed at me to move, but I was frozen in place for a split second. Then I shot up from my chair, grabbed my car keys, and stormed out of the office without another word. I didn’t care about work. I didn’t care about the meetings I had scheduled. I didn’t c
ALEX’S POV I watched as Carter’s fingers moved fast on the keyboard, searching the system. He pulled up the access records, scrolling through the list of employees who entered the VIP ward at that time. I stood behind him, my body tense, my hands curled into fists. My eyes stayed glued to the screen, waiting for something, anything that could tell us who she was. Then, a name popped up. “There,” Carter pointed. “An entry at the exact time she walked in.” Sandra Miller. I frowned. That was her real name? Why would she use her actual hospital ID to swipe into the VIP area? If she was trying to poison Ava, wouldn’t she at least try to hide her identity? That only meant one thing – she was an amateur. Carter clicked on her profile. A hospital ID photo appeared on the screen. A woman with brown hair tied in a ponytail, green eyes, and a neutral expression stared back at us. She looked ordinary. Just another nurse. I clenched my jaw. But she wasn’t just another nurse. Cart
ALEX'S POV As I reached the entrance, a security officer swiped his ID card to enter. Before the door could shut, I slipped in right behind him. “Hey! You can’t be in here..." He yelled, trying to stop me. I ignored the startled officer and quickly moved forward, my eyes scanning the room. The security office was large, and rows of monitors covered the walls, displaying live footage from different parts of the hospital. Several officers sat at their desks, watching the screens, talking in low voices, monitoring every corner of the building. The air smelled of strong coffee and electronics, giving the room a tense, focused atmosphere. But right now, no one in this room knew the chaos happening in the emergency ward. I slammed my hands on the desk, making a young security officer jump. “I need to see the CCTV footage of VIP room 1005. Now.” The officer blinked at me in confusion then frowned. “Sir, you can't just barge in here and we can’t just give access to..." I grit
ALEX'S POV I walked down the quiet hospital hallway, my footsteps echoing against the cold floor. I came to see Ava since I left in such a hurry the last time. As I neared her ward, I noticed a nurse walking out of her room. She wore a nose mask and moved quickly, her head slightly lowered, as if she didn’t want to be noticed. For a second, I frowned. Something about her seemed off. My guts told me to stop her but I shook the thought away. Maybe she was just in a hurry. It wasn’t unusual for hospital staff to be busy. I pushed the door open and stepped inside and then my heart stopped. Ava was convulsing. Her body jerked violently against the bed, her fingers twitching uncontrollably. The IV stand rattled beside her. Her lips parted as if she was gasping for air, but no sound came out. Her face was pale – too pale. Panic slammed into my chest like a sledgehammer. “Ava!” I shouted, rushing to her side. My heart was pounding so loudly, that I could barely think. Her e
AVA’S POV Grandpa’s words kept repeating in my head even after he left. “Over my dead body will Laura become Mrs. Campbell.” My chest tightened. He had always been good to me and always treated me like family. But hearing him say that… made me realize how much he truly cared about my feelings. Before leaving, he took out a small container from the bag his driver held and placed it on my bedside table. “I brought you some supplements,” he said in a calm voice. “You’re weak right now, Ava. Take care of yourself.” A lump formed in my throat. Even after everything I had lost, even after knowing I wouldn't be with Jason anymore, he was still here, still thinking about me. Still treating me like I mattered. I blinked back my tears. “Thank you, Grandpa,” I whispered. He hesitated for a moment, then reached into his coat pocket. When he pulled his hand out, I froze. The bracelet. The same bracelet I had returned to him just now. Confused, I looked up at him. “You don’t h
LAURA'S POV Sitting in my pathetic hospital bed, I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. The dull white walls of this cheap room suffocated me. Sleeping here last night made my anger rise I didn’t belong here. I should be in the VIP ward, pampered and cared for. I should be the one everyone was visiting. But instead, I was rotting here alone. No one had come to see me. Not a single soul, not even Jason. But Ava? That wretched woman? She was basking in the attention. She had a lot of people by her side but I had no one. A knock on the door made me snap my head up. One of the nurses I had paid handsomely to keep an eye on Ava and report back to me slipped inside. Her gaze flickered with hesitation, but I didn’t care about her nerves. I wanted information. “Well?” I snapped, sitting up straighter. The nurse swallowed before speaking. “Mr. Campbell came to visit her, but she didn’t let him in.” I froze. “What?” I hissed, my hands gripping the shee