AVA’S POV The cold evening air brushed against my skin as I stepped out of the restaurant, my bodyguard trailing behind me. The place had been empty except for Jason, me, and my bodyguard. Alex had booked the whole restaurant for my safety, and while I understood why, it still made me uneasy. Everything felt different now. Ever since the poisoning incident, I had to watch my back constantly. Every time I stepped outside, I wondered if Laura was planning something else, waiting for the right moment to strike again. My life didn’t feel like my own anymore. It felt like I was just surviving, not living. I took a deep breath and walked toward the black Mercedes-Maybach car parked near the entrance. The city lights reflected on the sleek surface, making it glow under the night sky. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Alex sitting in the driver’s seat, waiting. His eyes met mine immediately, scanning me carefully as if searching for any signs of distress. “You okay?” he asked as I s
JASON'S POV I drove home in silence, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind was a mess. The weight of everything that had just happened sat heavy in my chest. The divorce papers were signed. Ava was gone. It was official – I had lost her. I never thought this day would come. Even after everything, some part of me believed we could fix things, that maybe she would give me one more chance. But she didn’t. The moment I stepped into my house, I knew something was off. Laura was sitting on the couch, her face red and swollen. I haven't seen her since Kevin's birthday party and the last I heard from her was when she called me complaining about being transferred to a normal ward. She turned to look at me, her lips parting as if she had been waiting for me. “Jason,” she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant. I barely spared her a glance. My mind was elsewhere – on Ava. On the divorce papers I had signed. On the fact that I had lost her forever. But
AVA'S POV (THREE YEARS LATER) The sounds of the busy Paris streets floated into the apartment through the open balcony doors. Somewhere below, people were laughing, probably enjoying their evening. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light over everything. It made the whole city look like something out of a painting. I stood by the window, holding a cup of tea, letting the warmth of it seep into my hands. My eyes rested on the Eiffel Tower in the distance, its lights just starting to twinkle as the sky darkened. It had been three years since I left everything behind – my past, my pain, and the life that once felt like a never-ending nightmare. Paris had given me a second chance. At first, I had worked for Alex, helping him with his investments while learning the ropes of the business world. But after a year, I stepped out on my own and built something from scratch – Avaris Luxe Holdings, a luxury brand that had quickly expanded across Europe and Asia. It was my pas
JASON'S POV The morning air was cool as I drove through the city. Three years had passed, but nothing had changed – not really. I was still here, trapped in a life I didn’t want, still waking up every morning with the same dull ache in my chest. Laura was my fiancée now. At least, that’s what everyone believed. That’s what my father Richard expected. But I knew the truth – I was never going to marry her. I had never loved her. Ava was the only woman I had ever truly loved, and she was gone. I had spent three years pretending to move on, but it was all a lie. No woman had ever come close to making me feel what she did. No one ever would. And yet, here I was, playing the role Richard had forced on me, carrying a title that meant nothing. I pulled up to Laura’s apartment, shutting off the engine with a sigh. Today, I had promised to take Mason Laura's son to school. The boy wasn’t mine, yet he carried my last name. Richard had insisted on it, saying it was ‘best for the f
LAURA’S POV The door clicked shut, and I moved to the window, watching as Jason guided Mason toward the car. He bounced excitedly, gripping his backpack straps, while Jason followed behind calm and composed as ever. I knew Mason was excited to go to school with Jason. I had to lie to Jason that he was bullied at school because of not having a father figure so that Jason would take him. I gritted my teeth. This should have been a perfect picture – Jason taking Mason to school while I, his fiancée, watched from the window, feeling loved and secure. But it wasn’t. Because no matter what I did, Jason never looked at me the way I wanted. I pulled my robe tighter around me, the silky fabric cool against my skin. I had worn it for him this morning, hoping, praying that for once, his eyes would linger. That he’d want me. But of course, he didn’t just like always for the past three damn years. He barely spared me a glance, as if I were just a man wearing silk lingerie. I turned away
AVA'S POV The plane touched down smoothly, the gentle hum of the engines filling the cabin. I let out a slow breath as I stared out the window. America. Emma wiggled excitedly beside me, her tiny fingers gripping my arm. “We’re here!” she squealed, her big brown eyes sparkling with excitement. She had insisted on coming back to America with me, and her dad, who was a single father, had approved when he saw the persistent look on his daughter’s face. I smiled softly and brushed a stray curl from her face. “Yes, baby. We’re here.” She bounced in her seat as the flight attendants announced our arrival, and soon, we were walking through the airport. Despite the time that had passed, stepping foot in this country again sent a strange chill through me. The air smelled the same, the people moved with the same hurried energy, but everything felt… different. Or maybe I was the one who had changed. “AVA!” A familiar voice made me turn just in time to be pulled into a tight hug. Th
AVA'S POV The door swung open, and to my surprise, it was Alex standing there, dressed in a sharp grey suit, the top button of his shirt undone like he had rushed over with a small smile plastered on his lips. I blinked. “Alex?” He grinned. “What? Not happy to see me?” I folded my arms. “You scared me! And I thought you said you’d come after work.” He shrugged, stepping inside like he owned the place – which, technically, he did. “I couldn’t wait to check on my two princesses who just arrived." Before I could reply, Sally let out a dramatic gasp from behind me. “Oh, so what does that make me? The forgotten prince?” she huffed, putting both hands on her hips. Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “You? A prince? You wish.” Sally scoffed. “Rude.” I laughed as she grabbed a cushion and smacked his arm. He dodged it with ease, laughing. Over the years, Alex and Sally had grown closer. Although Alex could put on a tough front when necessary, he was actually playful and light
ALEX'S POV I watched Ava closely, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. She had been fine, determined, until she saw his name on the guest list. Her fingers tightened around the folder, her knuckles turning white. She didn’t say anything at first, but I knew what was running through her mind. I had been by her side for three years. I knew that look. Damn it. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice calm. Stay rational, Alex. Don’t push her. “Ava,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “If you don’t want to see him, I can take him off the list.” Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. There was something unreadable in them, something locked away behind years of carefully built walls. But she didn’t waver. “No,” she said firmly. “I’m ready.” I narrowed my eyes. “You sure?” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “What, you don’t think I can handle it?” I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. She was stubborn had always been but this was Jason. This
ALEX'S POV I watched Ava closely, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. She had been fine, determined, until she saw his name on the guest list. Her fingers tightened around the folder, her knuckles turning white. She didn’t say anything at first, but I knew what was running through her mind. I had been by her side for three years. I knew that look. Damn it. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice calm. Stay rational, Alex. Don’t push her. “Ava,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “If you don’t want to see him, I can take him off the list.” Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. There was something unreadable in them, something locked away behind years of carefully built walls. But she didn’t waver. “No,” she said firmly. “I’m ready.” I narrowed my eyes. “You sure?” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “What, you don’t think I can handle it?” I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. She was stubborn had always been but this was Jason. This
AVA'S POV The door swung open, and to my surprise, it was Alex standing there, dressed in a sharp grey suit, the top button of his shirt undone like he had rushed over with a small smile plastered on his lips. I blinked. “Alex?” He grinned. “What? Not happy to see me?” I folded my arms. “You scared me! And I thought you said you’d come after work.” He shrugged, stepping inside like he owned the place – which, technically, he did. “I couldn’t wait to check on my two princesses who just arrived." Before I could reply, Sally let out a dramatic gasp from behind me. “Oh, so what does that make me? The forgotten prince?” she huffed, putting both hands on her hips. Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “You? A prince? You wish.” Sally scoffed. “Rude.” I laughed as she grabbed a cushion and smacked his arm. He dodged it with ease, laughing. Over the years, Alex and Sally had grown closer. Although Alex could put on a tough front when necessary, he was actually playful and light
AVA'S POV The plane touched down smoothly, the gentle hum of the engines filling the cabin. I let out a slow breath as I stared out the window. America. Emma wiggled excitedly beside me, her tiny fingers gripping my arm. “We’re here!” she squealed, her big brown eyes sparkling with excitement. She had insisted on coming back to America with me, and her dad, who was a single father, had approved when he saw the persistent look on his daughter’s face. I smiled softly and brushed a stray curl from her face. “Yes, baby. We’re here.” She bounced in her seat as the flight attendants announced our arrival, and soon, we were walking through the airport. Despite the time that had passed, stepping foot in this country again sent a strange chill through me. The air smelled the same, the people moved with the same hurried energy, but everything felt… different. Or maybe I was the one who had changed. “AVA!” A familiar voice made me turn just in time to be pulled into a tight hug. Th
LAURA’S POV The door clicked shut, and I moved to the window, watching as Jason guided Mason toward the car. He bounced excitedly, gripping his backpack straps, while Jason followed behind calm and composed as ever. I knew Mason was excited to go to school with Jason. I had to lie to Jason that he was bullied at school because of not having a father figure so that Jason would take him. I gritted my teeth. This should have been a perfect picture – Jason taking Mason to school while I, his fiancée, watched from the window, feeling loved and secure. But it wasn’t. Because no matter what I did, Jason never looked at me the way I wanted. I pulled my robe tighter around me, the silky fabric cool against my skin. I had worn it for him this morning, hoping, praying that for once, his eyes would linger. That he’d want me. But of course, he didn’t just like always for the past three damn years. He barely spared me a glance, as if I were just a man wearing silk lingerie. I turned away
JASON'S POV The morning air was cool as I drove through the city. Three years had passed, but nothing had changed – not really. I was still here, trapped in a life I didn’t want, still waking up every morning with the same dull ache in my chest. Laura was my fiancée now. At least, that’s what everyone believed. That’s what my father Richard expected. But I knew the truth – I was never going to marry her. I had never loved her. Ava was the only woman I had ever truly loved, and she was gone. I had spent three years pretending to move on, but it was all a lie. No woman had ever come close to making me feel what she did. No one ever would. And yet, here I was, playing the role Richard had forced on me, carrying a title that meant nothing. I pulled up to Laura’s apartment, shutting off the engine with a sigh. Today, I had promised to take Mason Laura's son to school. The boy wasn’t mine, yet he carried my last name. Richard had insisted on it, saying it was ‘best for the f
AVA'S POV (THREE YEARS LATER) The sounds of the busy Paris streets floated into the apartment through the open balcony doors. Somewhere below, people were laughing, probably enjoying their evening. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light over everything. It made the whole city look like something out of a painting. I stood by the window, holding a cup of tea, letting the warmth of it seep into my hands. My eyes rested on the Eiffel Tower in the distance, its lights just starting to twinkle as the sky darkened. It had been three years since I left everything behind – my past, my pain, and the life that once felt like a never-ending nightmare. Paris had given me a second chance. At first, I had worked for Alex, helping him with his investments while learning the ropes of the business world. But after a year, I stepped out on my own and built something from scratch – Avaris Luxe Holdings, a luxury brand that had quickly expanded across Europe and Asia. It was my pas
JASON'S POV I drove home in silence, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind was a mess. The weight of everything that had just happened sat heavy in my chest. The divorce papers were signed. Ava was gone. It was official – I had lost her. I never thought this day would come. Even after everything, some part of me believed we could fix things, that maybe she would give me one more chance. But she didn’t. The moment I stepped into my house, I knew something was off. Laura was sitting on the couch, her face red and swollen. I haven't seen her since Kevin's birthday party and the last I heard from her was when she called me complaining about being transferred to a normal ward. She turned to look at me, her lips parting as if she had been waiting for me. “Jason,” she said, her voice soft, almost hesitant. I barely spared her a glance. My mind was elsewhere – on Ava. On the divorce papers I had signed. On the fact that I had lost her forever. But
AVA’S POV The cold evening air brushed against my skin as I stepped out of the restaurant, my bodyguard trailing behind me. The place had been empty except for Jason, me, and my bodyguard. Alex had booked the whole restaurant for my safety, and while I understood why, it still made me uneasy. Everything felt different now. Ever since the poisoning incident, I had to watch my back constantly. Every time I stepped outside, I wondered if Laura was planning something else, waiting for the right moment to strike again. My life didn’t feel like my own anymore. It felt like I was just surviving, not living. I took a deep breath and walked toward the black Mercedes-Maybach car parked near the entrance. The city lights reflected on the sleek surface, making it glow under the night sky. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Alex sitting in the driver’s seat, waiting. His eyes met mine immediately, scanning me carefully as if searching for any signs of distress. “You okay?” he asked as I s
JASON'S POV The moment my phone rang and I saw Alex’s name on the screen, I knew something was wrong. He had never called me before. I hesitated for a second before answering. “What is it?” My voice came out rougher than I intended, but I didn’t care. “She wants to meet.” I gripped the phone tighter. “Ava?” Alex let out a dry chuckle. “Who else?” Hearing her name sent a wave of emotions crashing over me. It had been days since I last saw her lying unconscious after being poisoned. I had always checked in to be sure she was okay but didn't go see her because I knew she wouldn't want to see me. And now, when she finally reached out, she couldn’t even call me herself. She told Alex instead. A bitter ache settled in my chest. I had become nothing to her. “Where and when?” I asked, pushing the pain aside. Alex gave me the details of some private location he had arranged, probably making sure it was safe. I understood why. We still hadn’t figured out if the nurse who tried