AVA’S POVI knew what I had to do, but that didn’t make it easier. Every part of me screamed to leave, to stand up for myself, to stop being Jason's second choice. But I couldn’t. Not with everything at stake—the designs, the show, everything I’d worked hard for. I had to keep going. For the work I’d put in, even though I still didn’t know where I stood with Jason. I promised myself that after this project, after Grey’s jewelry launch, I’d file for a divorce. I would walk away and let Jason be with Laura. I’d stop pretending this marriage was anything but a lie. But for now, I had to play along. I had to finish the job. So, I agreed to meet Marcus. When I walked into the restaurant, my stomach twisted. The last place I wanted to be was here with Marcus Hale, but I couldn’t back out. Marcus was known for not respecting women, but since we were meeting in a public place, I didn’t think anything would happen. The waiter led me through the dining room, down a hallway, an
ALEX'S POVI stormed out of the private dining room, my chest heaving with anger. Seeing Ava lying helpless in my arms, looking vulnerable and defenseless, had ignited something deep within me that I didn't expect. I assumed it was Laura who would attend the meeting. That was why I sent a representative instead of going myself. I couldn’t stand the sight of her again. But then, my representative informed me that it was Ava who had shown up. He detailed how the meeting unfolded, and I could sense the unease in his voice. For Laura to let her subordinate handle such a high-stakes meeting in her place, there had to be an ulterior motive. And knowing Marcus’s reputation and his ties to Laura, I immediately knew something was off and rushed over here. If I had been just a minute late, I didn't want to think about what might have happened to Ava. Jason was the one who should have been protecting her, not me. But now, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her side. “Max,” I said
AVA'S POV I slowly regained consciousness, a pounding headache clouding my thoughts. I blinked, realizing I wasn’t at home. My eyes darted around, and then I saw him, Alex, sitting by the window. I quickly sat up, the blanket slipping off me. “Mr. Grey?” My voice was weak, barely more than a whisper. He immediately stood, his expression a mix of relief and something I couldn’t quite place. “You’re awake,” he said, stepping closer to the bed. “Why… why are you here?” I stammered, flashes of the previous night returning in pieces. “You don’t remember?” His voice was calm. I frowned, trying to recall everything. I remembered the dinner with Marcus, the strange feeling after I’d drunk the wine he offered, and then everything going hazy. The last thing I remembered clearly was being scooped up and carried out by Jason. “Jason…” I blurted out. “Why isn’t he…” Alex’s jaw tightened. He didn’t answer right away, and the silence stung more than words could. It wasn't Jason who had com
AVA'S POV My hands trembled as I sat there in the car. Watching him answer the phone felt like a slap on the face. How could he take her call? After everything I had been through, after I was nearly raped, how could he just sit there and act like it didn’t matter? His wife was almost violated, and yet he answered Laura's call, knowing exactly how I felt about her.” He was accusing me of cheating, speaking to me with an angry tone but here he was speaking to Laura with a soft voice. Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back. I was tired of crying because of him, yet I couldn’t stop myself whenever they welled up in my eyes. He should have been consoling me, comforting me, helping me forget the horrible experience I had just endured. Instead, he was here, answering the call of the woman who had turned us into strangers. Did this mean he didn’t have even an ounce of feeling for me anymore? The fact that he doesn’t trust me and assumed I was cheating with Alex—cou
JASON'S POVI couldn’t get Ava's face out of my mind, the way she looked at me when I accused her of cheating. It wasn’t anger, it was pain. And maybe that’s what made it worse. I hated seeing her like that, but I couldn’t help myself. Alex’s presence in her life gnawed at me like an open wound. The man seemed to show up at just the right or wrong time, and it didn’t feel like a coincidence. But now, sitting here in my office with the footage from the restaurant playing on my laptop, I felt like something wasn’t adding up. I went through the video again, watching Ava enter the private dining room, looking as poised as ever. I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. “Think, Jason,” I muttered to myself. That’s when it hit me. Marcus didn’t seem surprised to see Ava. He looked… prepared. Almost as if he’d expected her. Why? He should have been shocked to see her instead of Laura. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen. Laura had insisted on Ava going
LAURA'S POV The sound of the lock clicking sent a chill down my spine. My heart thudded faster in my chest, and for a split second, I froze, clutching my glass of juice. My pulse quickened as the door creaked open. When Jason stepped inside, I was surprised but then I couldn't contain the joy that bubbled up inside me. This was the first time he was here without me having to pull any stunts. I set my glass of juice on the table, unable to stop the wide smile spreading across my face. “Jason,” I said softly, my voice full of warmth. “What are you doing here?” His face was hard, his eyes cold. “We need to talk,” he said, his voice low and cold. I tilted my head slightly. This wasn’t the reaction I expected, my expression full of concern. “Of course. You seem upset. Sit down, let me get you a drink…” “I’m not here for drinks, Laura,” he interrupted sharply, his tone cutting like a blade. I paused, confused by his reaction, then gestured for him to continue. “Alright. Wha
LAURA'S POV I needed to see Marcus to release the anger building up inside of me. So, I headed straight to the hospital where he was being treated. The sterile, cold corridors seemed to match the chill in my bones. The scent of disinfectant lingered in the air, strong and overwhelming. I walked with purpose, the sharp clicks of my heels echoing in the silence, a rhythm that mirrored the simmering rage inside me. Marcus was in Room 310 according to the nurse at the front desk. I already knew why he was here—Alex’s assistant had made sure of that. But I didn’t care about his broken ribs or any other injury they had to patch up. He’d failed me, and that failure would cost him dearly. In my mind, he deserved what he got. For all his bluster, he couldn’t handle such a simple task. I pushed the door open without knocking, letting it crash against the wall. Marcus flinched, turning his swollen face toward me. One eye was almost shut, the bruises around it dark and angry. His arm
AVA'S POV I had just finished my bath and was getting ready for Jason’s grandfather’s 70th birthday dinner when I noticed a dress laid out on the bed. It was a stunning silky emerald green dress and a knot formed in my chest realizing Jason must have picked it for me. But why would he do that? Was this his way of apologizing after everything he had put me through? Does he think a dress could fix what he had broken between us? My heart ached, torn between wanting to believe he cared but deep down I knew action spoke louder not some fancy gift. Since I didn’t have a new outfit for the celebration, I decided to wear it. Rejecting such a beautiful dress would be a waste after all. I slipped on the dress, and it fit perfectly, bringing out my figure. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and I looked beautiful, but inside, I felt empty. Jason’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Are you ready?” I turned to him without saying a word, making it clear that I hadn’t forgiven him.
AVA’S POV The moment his lips touched mine, my heart… just stopped. Not romantic. More like a sharp, paralyzing panic. I froze. For half a second, I didn’t move. My brain didn’t register what was happening – just the heat of his mouth, the scent of his cologne, and the taste of his lips. Then everything came rushing back – what he did while we were married, what he caused, the hell I’ve been dragged through. Then I snapped back. I shoved him hard with both hands and stepped back. My palm lifted before I even thought about it. Smack. The sound of the slap echoed through the empty garage. My palm stung, but I didn’t care. He didn’t even say anything. Just stood there, stunned, like he was the one who got hurt. I didn’t give him a second glance. I yanked my car door open, slid into the seat, slammed the door shut, and drove off. My vision blurred with angry tears as I sped down the road. Why did he have to come tonight? Why now? When I was finally trying to hold everything to
AVA'S POV The office lights were already dim by the time I stepped out of the building. Everyone had left hours ago including Sally. Even the janitor wasn't around only security was. My heels echoed against the concrete floor of the garage, each step heavier than the last. It had been a long, draining day. I was mentally exhausted, and emotionally wiped out. I just wanted to get in my car, go home, shower, breathe, and try not to cry myself to sleep. I reached into my bag and clicked my key fob. The headlights blinked once. As I walked toward my car, I heard my name. “Ava.” I stopped mid-step. That familiar voice. I turned around slowly, and my eyes landed on him – Jason. He was leaning against his car which was parked just a few feet away from mine. I wondered how he got in here this late. Ben was in the driver’s seat, engine running. He gave me a small polite nod but stayed inside. Jason walked toward me slowly like I was some wild animal he didn't want to scare o
LAURA’S POVI pulled into the school parking lot with one thing on my mind — get Mason and get out. The whole day had already been a mess. My phone had been buzzing nonstop with news about Ava. The gossip was everywhere. Her face is all over the internet. Headlines dragging her down. The press was having a field day. I should’ve been celebrating — finally, the golden girl cracked. But I couldn’t even enjoy it properly. My nerves were shot because Jason had been ignoring my calls. Mason was the only reason I was here. I checked the time. He should’ve been out by now. I stepped out of the car, clutching my purse tight as I walked toward the front gate. Just as I reached into my pocket to call his teacher, something caught my eye, and I froze. I saw a familiar figure — Alex Grey. Standing tall, calm, like he owned the damn world. And my son — my son was right in front of him. Alex was crouched, stroking Mason’s head. Talking to him. Smiling. In a way that made my heartbeat pound lo
ALEX’S POVI didn’t realize how tense I was until the meeting ended. The moment I stepped out of that boardroom, I loosened my tie and took a breath like I’d been holding it in for hours. The pitch had gone fine. Better than expected, actually – but my mind had been elsewhere the entire time. Ava. I checked my phone the second I got back to my office. Still nothing. No texts, no calls. I scrolled through my recent calls. I’d tried reaching her three times between lunch and now. Not a single word back. I told myself not to worry. Maybe she was just overwhelmed – busy with PR damage control or caught in back-to-back meetings. But something didn’t feel right. It was so unlike Ava not to answer my calls – or at least call me back right away. Then I noticed a missed call from Sally. That was unusual. I tapped her name and called back. She answered immediately. “Alex.” “Hey. I’ve been trying to get a hold of Ava. Is she okay?” I asked, already feeling that familiar pit forming in my
AVA'S POV The meeting room was filled with a thick tension the moment I stepped in. Conversations died down, and all eyes turned to me. The public relations and human relations Executives. They were all here, their faces tight with concern, frustration, and something else I didn’t like – doubt. I walked straight to my seat at the head of the table, set my tablet down, and folded my hands. Sally sat beside me, flipping open her notebook, already scanning the room. I let the silence stretch before I spoke. “Talk to me.” Melissa, head of PR, adjusted her glasses, exhaling sharply. “It’s bad.” I raised an eyebrow. “I figured. Be specific.” She pushed a folder toward me. “Social media is still on fire. Every post we take down is being reposted somewhere else. News outlets keep picking up new angles. Now, some of our retailers are taking a step back. They want to see how this plays out before moving forward with us.” I flipped through the folder. Screenshots of headlines, tre
AVA'S POV As I stepped out of the building, the cold air hit my face, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning in my chest. My heels clicked against the pavement, sharp and steady, even though my entire world felt like it was tilting beneath me. I had walked out of that meeting with my head high, but now, as I reached my car, doubt started creeping in. Just as I pulled the door open, my phone buzzed in my hand. I glanced down it was a text message from Jason. I stared at his name on the screen for a long moment, my jaw tightening before I even read the message. "I know things are tough right now. I’m checking in on you. I’ll do what I can to lessen the burden." My fingers curled around the phone. He was the reason I was in this mess and now he was checking in on me? Telling me he’d lessen the burden? The audacity. Without replying, I locked my phone, tossed it onto the passenger seat, and slid behind the wheel. I didn’t need his concern. I didn’t need anything from him
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