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
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 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
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
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 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
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 "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 "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