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 POVThe 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 wine glass.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 wine glass 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. What’s this about?”Jason di
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 question echoed in my head, and for a moment, I felt like the ground should just open up beneath my feet and swallow me whole. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. My heart hammered so loudly in my chest that I thought it might burst. I tried to steady myself, to pull it together, but panic surged through me. My hand was on my stomach, and I could feel the small flutter of life growing inside. It was real. But I couldn’t let anyone know. Not now. Not like this. “Are you pregnant?” Evelyn repeated, her voice calm but firm. “No,” I said quickly, maybe too quickly. My heart pounded so loudly, that I was sure everyone at the table could hear it. The lie felt horrible in my mouth, and I felt bad for denying my unborn child. But what could I do? I couldn't reveal the news to them because Jason might try to take the child away from me once I asked him for a divorce. He was wealthy so he could easily beat me in court if I tried to sue him. I have read stories l
LAURA'S POV Grandpa Campbell's words cut through the room, hanging in the air like a thick fog suffocating everything around me. Richard was forced to keep quiet. I gripped my wine glass so tight I thought it might shatter. Why her? I was supposed to be the one married to Jason and not her. Why does she get his grandfather's affection while I get nothing? He hadn’t even acknowledged me properly since I walked in. A cold stare, a stiff word questioning who invited me – that’s all I got. But Ava? She could do no wrong. I needed Grandpa by my side for me to be able to win Jason's heart properly. He was the only issue I had in the family. But I don't know why he hates me. I haven't done anything wrong in his eyes to deserve his hatred and I couldn't help but blame Ava for that. After the dinner, Ava sat beside Grandpa, his wrinkled hand resting on her shoulder as he smiled at her like she was his pride and joy. I took a long sip of my wine, the bitterness on my to
JASON'S POV I stared at the divorce papers, my chest feeling heavy. Ava wanted to end it. My mind was blank, and I couldn’t think straight. How did it get this bad? How did I let her slip away? The buzzing of my phone broke the silence, but I didn’t grab it right away. It buzzed again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I checked the screen –it was Laura. I groaned, frustrated. “What now?” I muttered before answering. “Jason, you need to come to the office right now,” Laura said. She sounded serious. “What’s wrong?” I asked sharply. “There’s an emergency. I can’t explain everything on the phone, but it’s bad. You need to get here fast,” she said. I sighed, rubbing my face. I didn’t trust her, not after all the trouble she caused at Alex's jewelry launch, but if it was important for the company, I had no choice. “Fine, I’ll be there,” I said and hung up. On the way, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ava. The divorce papers were burned into my mind but what stayed with me more w
JASON’S POV I stood there frozen in place, my blood running cold. Ava... at the hospital? Why hadn't I known? The photos on my phone stared back at me. I swiped through them, my fingers trembling. They weren't just of Alex holding her in the restaurant anymore. I came across photos that were clear as day, showing Ava outside the hospital. She looked sick and vulnerable. I stared at the pictures, my throat tightening and my chest felt like it was being twisted by a knife. How had I missed this? I hadn’t even noticed these photos when they came through earlier. All I had seen was the one of Alex holding her. That’s what made my blood boil. The sight of them together being that close had triggered something deep inside me. That’s when I stormed out to confront Alex. I had been so fixated on Alex, so consumed with jealousy and anger, that I didn’t even notice the bigger picture. Ava was in pain, and I wasn’t there for her. What kind of husband am I? I called the per
ALEX'S POV I couldn't get Ava out of my head even as I walked out of her ward, the image of her sitting on the hospital bed looking pale and fragile replayed in my head causing my heart to ache. She needed to eat, especially with how much she had thrown up earlier at the restaurant so I decided to get her something to eat at the hospital cafeteria. I stared at the takeout box in my hand, I had ordered something light – a soup and some crackers, the scent of the warm food rising faintly through the packaging. Walking up to the nurse’s station, I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, Miss," I said, holding out the box. “Can you make sure Ava Campbell gets this? I was the one who brought her here. She’s in Room 203." The nurse glanced at the box, then at me, her expression softening. “Of course. I’ll deliver it right away.” “Thank you,” I said, exhaling slowly. I had received a message from my secretary earlier informing me of Jason's presence at the company, and I wondered why h
AVA'S POV I couldn’t breathe. Every part of me froze. Laura? A murderer? It felt impossible, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t lying. What would he benefit from lying to me though? Nothing! I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it wouldn’t go away. “What do you mean? How did she…?” My voice trailed off. I couldn’t even finish the sentence. Alex’s face darkened, and he leaned in, his eyes cold. “As you know, Laura and my brother were married. She was cheating on him, and when he found out, he planned to divorce her. She knew once he did she wouldn't get the money she thought she deserved.” My chest tightened. I always knew Laura could be cruel, but this? This was something darker. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. “Then she did something terrible,” Alex continued, his voice filled with bitterness. “She set up a car accident to kill him. She thought if he died, she’d get the insurance money. But he didn’t die. Instead, he’s in a vegetative state now.” I gasp
AVA'S POV My heart stuttered in my chest, and my mind went completely blank. I hadn’t told anyone about the pregnancy except Sally of course who found out because of the car accident I had. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. I couldn’t even manage a simple response. The weight of his question hung heavy in the air, suffocating me. Alex was the last person I imagined to find out. How did he know? More importantly, he should not know about my marriage with Jason. We returned to the table together and with each step I took I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. My hands trembled as I reached for the glass of water on the table, but my fingers wouldn’t cooperate. Everything inside me was frozen. My throat tightened, and I thought I might choke on the words I needed to say. The ones I couldn’t seem to form. "I know you are married to Jason," he continued his voice like a bomb exploding all my secrets. I blinked, my heart racing.
AVA'S POV I sat across from Alex in a fancy restaurant on the top floor of a tall building. The city stretched out below us through the large windows behind him, and soft music played in the background. But even with all the elegance, it didn’t feel cold or showy. It felt thoughtful like he really wanted the afternoon to be about me and my success. Still, the knot in my stomach wouldn’t go away. All I could think about was Jason, and the thought of him made my blood boil. He had promised me last night that no one, not even Laura, would come between us again. And yet, there she was, back at the company now as his secretary. How could he betray me again? It wasn’t just the anger I felt. It was a disappointment. A growing emptiness I didn’t know how to fill. I’d been such a fool to trust him and believe that this time he was genuine. Thank goodness I didn’t tell him about the baby. Alex’s voice broke through the fog in my mind. “Ava, you’ve been quiet. Is everything alright?”
JASON'S POV As soon as the words came out of Alex's mouth, I sensed my whole body tighten. I wanted to respond, but his smug expression and Ava’s quietness rendered me immobile. My hands tightened at my sides, the frustration simmering beneath my skin. How dare he say something like that? How dare he look at my wife like that? Ava’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Alex,” she said with a soft smile, her tone casual but cutting. “Thank you for the orchids, they are my favorite flowers. It’s such a thoughtful gesture.” Her words hit me like a slap. Favorite flowers? Since when did she even care about flowers? I didn’t know. The realization twisted in my chest like a knife. I stepped forward, my jaw tightening. “Ava..." But she didn’t even look at me. She grabbed her bag and turned to Alex. “Shall we?” Alex grinned, the triumph in his eyes unmistakable. “Of course.” And in an instant, she exited the office with him, leaving me there looking foolish. The door clic
AVA'S POVThen she leaned even closer, her breath cold and mocking. “I texted Jason last night,” she whispered in my ear. “He left you poor thing alone at dinner to come to me. Just a little cry and I got the job. Isn’t it funny how easy it is?” The words hit me like a slap, sharp and painful. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t move. Laura’s smug voice echoed in my mind. It felt like a knife was being twisted in my heart as the realization dawned on me that the message Jason received wasn’t about work, but was from Laura. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I realized that, once again, Jason had chosen Laura over me. The hope I had for our marriage was broken, and it broke me. I turned to Jason, hoping for some explanation, something that could make this nightmare go away. But he just stood there, staring at the ground like avoiding my eyes would somehow fix everything. I laughed bitterly, feeling tears start to sting my eyes. Laura’s smirk only grew wider. I could
AVA'S POV Jason stood there, looking angry and disappointed. His eyes moved from Miranda’s hand on my arm to her face, and she quickly let go of me. “Jason, I was just…” “Apologize,” he said firmly, cutting her off. Miranda’s eyes went wide. “You can’t be serious.” “I said apologize,” Jason repeated, his voice cold and firm. Miranda’s voice was sharp and full of disbelief. “How can you stand up for this woman when I’m your cousin?” Jason didn’t move. He stayed strong, his voice calm. “She’s my wife,” he said, still glaring at her. “And I won’t let anyone disrespect her, not even my family.” The atmosphere was heavy with anxiety. My cheeks burned, yet Jason’s words surrounded me like a protective barrier. For the first time in quite some time, I felt secure. Miranda, hurt by his words, went quiet. Her face was red with shock and embarrassment. Jason turned back to me, his face softer as he reached for my hand. I took his hand, and he led me to the racks of dresses. H