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
AVA'S POV I had just finished cleaning up when Jason and I followed Grandpa to his study. Jason walked a few steps ahead, his shoulders stiff, while I kept my eyes fixed on the floor. Once we entered inside, Grandpa closed the door firmly and the sound made me flinch. He turned to face us, his expression was hard to read but his eyes held a sharpness that made my stomach twist. “Sit,” he said, pointing to the chairs in front of his desk. Jason and I sat down quietly, side by side. I felt the space between us like a wall. My hands fidgeted in my lap, and I stole a glance at Jason, hoping he’d say something. Anything. Just to break the silence. But he didn’t. He just stared ahead, his jaw clenched tight. Grandpa leaned against the edge of his desk, folding his arms. His gaze settled on Jason, heavy with disappointment. “Jason,” he began, his voice softer than I expected, “do you remember how you used to look at Ava when you two first got married?” Jason’s frown deepened, but he
AVA'S POV The drive home was quiet. Too quiet. So I looked out of the window, watching the streetlights blur past, as my mind raced. I didn’t know what hurt more – the fact that Jason didn’t defend me against Laura, or the sinking fear that maybe I wasn’t enough for him anymore. But Grandpa’s words seemed to have hit him. Maybe that’s why he stayed so silent. When we finally got home, Jason broke the silence. “Ava, please wait.” I stopped at the door and turned around, arms crossed over my chest. “What?” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration on his face. “I’m sorry. For tonight. For not standing up for you. I just… I don’t know what I was thinking.” His voice sounded genuine. And for a second, I saw a flicker of the Jason I married – the one who used to care so much about my feelings. But the hurt he’d caused still lingered. “You... didn’t even hesitate,” I said, my voice cracking. “You just let her lie about me, Jason. You didn’t try to stop her. You just… stared
AVA’S POV Jason had been… different since the dinner at his grandfather’s house. He’d been kinder, more attentive. Small gestures, like making sure I had my coffee exactly how I liked it and asking about my day, had started to reappear. I wasn’t sure how long this was going to last, but it was hard not to notice the effort. It confused me, though. Part of me wanted to believe he was genuinely trying to make things better, but the other part, guarded and hurt kept reminding me of everything I’d been through. Yet, today wasn’t about Jason. It was about me. It was the long-awaited day – the day that had filled my dreams for weeks. The runway would display my designs along with some of the newest jewelry collections from Grey Empire to a global audience. Upon my arrival at the location, the grand hall was bathed in the gentle light of the setting sun. The tall glass doors, sparkling chandeliers, and buzzing anticipation all seemed larger than life. This wasn’t just any event. Thi
AVA’S POVMy jaw dropped, the words taking a moment to sink in. “What?” “The cameras were broken,” Alex clarified, his voice heavy with frustration. “Someone made sure there’s no record. They went out of their way to destroy those dresses.” I leaned against the wall, my head spinning. “Why would someone do this?” I asked, struggling to keep the edge of panic from my voice. Was this a random act, or was someone targeting me? Alex’s hand ran through his hair. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. However, at this moment, we cannot allow it to disrupt the performance. We must remain concentrated. The security team will look into it later.” I agreed silently, but my stomach felt queasy. Someone had purposely ruined my hard work. It wasn’t only about the dresses – it felt personal. The models stood in a row, graceful and stylish, with the jewelry shining under the bright lights. While observing them, a feeling of pride surged through me. My creations, my designs, were stun
AVA'S POV The room whirled, my heart constricting as Laura’s voice echoed in my mind. She stood there, upright and graceful, with a shining, flawless smile on her face, appearing calm and confident, as if she fully deserved to be there and claim my efforts as her own. How could she? My hands balled into fists at my sides, yet I stayed rooted in place. I couldn’t move. My legs felt as though they were anchored to the ground, my breath caught between shock and anger. The audience erupted into polite applause, oblivious to the weight of the lie Laura had just told. She was smiling, soaking in their attention, her voice dripping with false modesty as she started bragging about her “contribution.” “Thank you so much for your support,” Laura said, her tone syrupy. “These dresses were a result of my vision and dedication. I worked tirelessly to ensure they complemented the jewelry perfectly.” Her words cut through me like shards of glass. I couldn’t believe the audacity. My hard work
AVA'S POV The following morning seemed as if I had awakened in another realm. My mind was still swirling from the events of last night’s chaos, but today marked a fresh start. Jason didn't come back home, he had been busy handling the mess from last night. But one thing joyous about last night was that I was recognized for my designs and Laura was caught up in her lies. The moment I stepped into the office, I felt the tension in the air. Whispers floated along the hallways like mist, and it seemed as if everyone was conversing quietly while a few stared at me. I inhaled deeply, wishing to soothe my anxiety as I approached my desk. The typical buzz of the office was overshadowed by the rumors. The event last night was a disaster, no matter how much Alex and Jason had tried to keep things under wraps. They’d managed to keep everything quiet from the public, but the staff had their own ideas about what had happened. Rumors spread faster than wildfire. “Did you hear abou
LAURA’S POVI felt a burning, twisting pain in my abdomen, but it was nothing compared to the blaze raging in my chest. How could Jason do this to me? Me, of all people? My parents sacrificed their lives for this company, and this was their reward. A humiliating dismissal of their child, with Ava, a lowlife replacing me as Design Director? She not only took Jason from me but now has also claimed my position. I crouched on the chilly tiled floor of my apartment, holding my abdomen. The suffering had transformed from solely emotional to a physical, intense, and ceaseless ache. My eyesight became hazy, and nausea surged in my throat. I required assistance, but the last thing I wished for was anyone's sympathy. Still, I dialed Jason’s number. “Jason,” I choked out when he answered. “I… I think something’s wrong. My stomach hurts...my baby. I need to go to the hospital.” There was a pause, long enough to make my blood boil. “I’ll send the driver,” he said flatly, his tone
AVA’S POVThe guy bent down and picked up my purse before I could even react. His hand brushed mine as he handed it to me, and when I looked up, I froze for half a second. He was… strikingly handsome. Clean-cut, fresh face, probably just out of college or something. Definitely younger. Way younger. “Sorry about that,” I said quickly, my face warming a little. I was used to strikingly good-looking guys like Jason and Alex, but there was something different about his young blood charm. And he scented heavenly. “No problem,” he smiled. “Are you okay?” “Yeah. Thanks,” I said, brushing imaginary dust off my bag. He nodded politely and walked off, and I stood there for a second, wondering if I’d imagined the whole thing. I hadn’t. But the moment passed, and I turned around and headed back to our table. Sally had already finished eating or at least she’d stopped trying to stuff her face with food. “You good?” she asked, eyebrows raised. “Yeah. Just bumped into someone,” I r
AVA’S POV I looked away the moment Alex stood up and began walking toward us, after saying a few words to the woman he was dining with probably asking her to excuse him for a moment. Sally had just taken another bite of her food when she noticed the change in my expression. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. She had been my friend for so long that she could read me like the back of her hand. So she could easily know when something was off with me. A few seconds later, Alex was at our table. “Hey ladies,” he said, his voice even, but his eyes flickered from me to Sally and back again. “Didn’t expect to see you both here.” I gave him a polite smile. “You too.” "I can see you're here with a lady," Sally winked at him. Alex cleared his throat slightly. "It's not what you think Sally. And yes, I’m here with a friend,” he said. “She just got back into the country. So I decided to give her a treat." I nodded once. “That’s nice.” His eyes remained on me for a second long
AVA'S POVI slept better last night than I have in some days. Not the kind of restless sleep I’d been getting lately, where I wake up halfway through the night and stare at the ceiling, wondering what else could go wrong. No. This was a real sleep. The kind where your body finally gives in. The kind where, for a few hours, your brain stops fighting you. It wasn’t until I heard the soft patter of feet and a little voice say, “Aunty?” that I finally stirred. I opened my eyes and saw Emma standing at the edge of my bed, holding her little stuffed bunny by one ear. Her hair was messy, her face still puffy from sleep. “I didn’t see you all day yesterday,” she said quietly, her bottom lip poking out. God. My heart squeezed. I had left early yesterday and came home late last night tired. I sat up and reached for her. “I know, baby. I’m so sorry. Come here.” She climbed into my arms without hesitation and buried her face into my neck. Just that one sentence – just those few w
LAURA’S POVI slammed the front door so hard the wall shook. “That bitch,” I muttered under my breath, heels clicking across the marble. “That goddamn bitch.”Steph walked in behind me, quiet like always. We had just come back from the red carpet. She didn’t say anything. She knew better than to speak when I was like this. My blood was boiling. I had sent Sienna a dress I spent weeks working on. Weeks. Custom fabric, hand-beading, fittings, last-minute changes. I even kissed her assistant’s ass — that guy practically controls who gets near her, all just to make sure Sienna Rae would consider wearing it. And what did that ungrateful dog do? Absolutely nothing. And Sienna showed up in Ava’s damn dress.Why Ava design? The one woman I didn’t want to see win. Not tonight. Not ever again. But once again… she won. I kicked off my heels and flung my clutch across the room. It hit the wall with a thud and dropped onto the floor. Not satisfying enough. I grabbed the lamp from the side t
AVA’S POV I heard Sally gasp. It wasn’t loud, but I felt it more than I heard it. I turned my head slightly. She had her phone in her hand, her eyes wide. Her lips were parted like she was about to say something but couldn’t get it out. “What?” I whispered, barely moving my lips. The cameras were still rolling. She leaned in a little like she was afraid to say it too loud. “Sienna Rae… she’s wearing it,” Sally mouthed. “She’s wearing your dress.” “What?” I blinked. I wasn’t sure I read her lips right. But then Kara looked up too, and someone behind the camera shouted something. Everyone turned to the screen. I followed their gaze — and there she was. Sienna Rae. Walking out of a black car, all eyes on her. Flashing lights, fans screaming. And she was wearing my design. Kara leaned toward her mic and said quickly, “This was earlier tonight — footage just came in from the red carpet.” I swear, my heart stopped. I didn’t even breathe. My mind went blank. It was sur
AVA'S POVThe lights were hot. Too hot. I could feel sweat gathering at the back of my neck, even though the room was cold. My hands were folded tightly in my lap, and my smile felt stiff. Kara gave a soft smile to the camera and spoke in that practiced voice that sounded both kind and sharp. “Today we have an exclusive sit-down with Ava Taylor, an impressive designer and founder of Avaris Luxe, a company that recently entered the American market. A woman who’s been praised for her talent… and lately, dragged into the headlines for everything but her work.” I knew what was coming. Still, I nodded politely and waited. No time wasted. Kara turned to me. “Ava, thank you for joining us.” “Thanks for having me,” I said, trying to sound normal. She leaned in just a little, her voice low now. “Let’s talk about the rumors.” And there it was. I blinked. “Which one?” I asked with a half-smile, trying to keep it light. But my chest was already tight. Kara chuckled, but her e
AVA'S POV I woke up before my alarm, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. My head felt heavy like it had been stuffed with cotton. Last night kept replaying in my mind — Alex’s question, Jason’s kiss, the phone call from Sally, and that headline flashing across my screen like a punch to the gut. I didn’t know which part hurt more. The fact that I couldn’t give Alex an answer… or the fact that everything I built was crumbling in front of me. I didn’t even want to get out of bed. But I had to. I pushed the covers off and sat up slowly. My chest felt tight again. I hated waking up like this — with that weight pressing down on me before the day even started. I forced myself up from the bed, dragging my feet to the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and barely recognized myself. My eyes were puffy, my skin pale. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would help me feel human again. It didn’t. After bathing, I hurriedly got ready for work. I tried to eat
ALEX'S POV The drive home felt longer than it would have been. I kept one hand on the wheel, the other clenched against my thigh. The city lights blurred past the window, but I barely saw any of it. My mind was still back at Ava’s place – still stuck on the way she looked at me. Or rather… the way she didn’t. She hadn’t said no. But she hadn’t said yes either. Her silence had been louder than anything. And I’d seen the way her hand trembled when that call from Jason came through. She said she was done with him. She’s said it more than twice. But I couldn’t believe her anymore – not fully. If she truly wanted nothing to do with him… she would’ve blocked his number. Deleted it. But no, the name still popped up. Jason. Saved. Still there. Still reachable. It stung more than I wanted to admit. I pulled into the underground parking lot of my building, sighing as I turned off the engine. My chest felt tight like I’d been holding my breath for hours. Maybe I had. I didn’t kno
AVA'S POV I blinked. “A… date?” The word hung in the air like something too fragile to touch. We’d had lunch together. Dinners, coffees, runs, late-night drives. But it was always casual, and friendly. Nothing was ever labeled. Never a “date.” And yet here he was – Alex standing near my window with that serious, steady look on his face, asking me out like it meant something real. I didn’t know what to say. Alex was the kind of guy most women would call a dream. Handsome, wealthy, stable. The way he carried himself, the way he treated me – with respect, kindness, patience. I never had to worry about him stepping over lines or making me feel small. He wasn’t like Jason. Not at all. But I’d never pictured us dating. Not because I wasn’t attracted to him – I was. There were moments, late at night, when I’d catch myself thinking about how safe I felt around him… how his voice calmed my nerves. But love? Did I love him? Did I even know what love was anymore? The silence betwe