AVA'S POV The next day, I checked on Grandpa, but he was still fast asleep. I hurried toward the guest room to bathe, dress for work, and leave before Jason woke up. You know those situations when you do something and later regret it? That’s exactly how I felt – regret. I must admit my flesh was weak when it came to Jason. Although we didn’t go further last night because as usual, I had to stop him, letting him touch and cuddle me was something that shouldn’t have happened. I was about to leave for work when Jason stopped me at the doorway startling me. He wore a tailored blue suit that highlighted his perfect looks and figure. It was like he was becoming more handsome every day, and I was lost staring at him until he spoke, bringing me back to reality. “Take some breakfast with you,” he said, handing me a lunchbox. My heart melted. 'What was he trying to do? Why was he making things difficult for me?' I screamed inwardly. I haven't gotten over last night and now this
AVA'S POV I stared at my reflection in the mirror and was finally satisfied. After what felt like hours of frantic searching, I had finally found a dress that would perfectly complement the earrings. Yes, those earrings – the ones I discovered hidden in Jason's pocket this morning. A pair of delicate and luxurious pearl earrings adorned with diamonds It was created by my favorite designer, Kokichi Mikimoto, one of only five such earrings in the world. Jason is so thoughtful that he would secretly buy the jewelry I like and give it to me as a surprise on our wedding anniversary. Yes, I was sure he would give this gift to me tonight. I kept checking my dress and makeup in the mirror, and couldn't help imagining how stunning I would look in those earrings. My hands smoothed down the fabric of the dress, which clung to my body in a way it hadn't just a few weeks ago. I turned to the side, my eyes drawn to the slight, but unmistakable curve of my abdomen. A secret I had
Ava's POV Liar. He said he would be back soon, but he left me waiting all night. I dragged myself to Campbell Group where I work. The company is owned by Jason’s family, and Jason is the CEO and my boss. Sally Parker, my best friend and colleague, greeted me with concern the moment I walked into my office. “Ava, are you okay? You don’t look well.” Forcing a smile, I nodded. “I’m fine, just tired.” She looked at me skeptical but decided not to press further. “Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that today they’re announcing the new design director. It has to be you, Ava. You’ve worked so hard for it. Congratulations in advance.” “Thanks, Sal. I appreciate your support.” I am somewhat calm because I knew the position would be mine. Jason had assured me and I was ready to take on the responsibilities of the design director. I noticed everyone's phone buzzing with a new notification including mine. “I know it must be the appointment notification.” Sally hurriedly checked her
AVA'S POV I couldn't believe what I had just heard, Laura's words echoed in my ears like a thunderclap. I could feel my chest growing so tight that it became difficult for me to breathe. “You left me and married him, claiming he was the love of your life, so right now I don't care if you got divorced because of me or not.” Jason retorted, his voice laced with bitterness. Every word felt like a needle piercing my heart. “I was young and confused Jason. I'm sorry for the hurt I caused you back then. I thought I loved him but I never did, it was after I married him that I realized I left gold for bronze.” She added, “Jason, it's you my heart beats for.” Laura sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. I was breathless, eager to know how Jason would react to the pitiful Laura in front of him, but I was also afraid that his answer would make me a complete loser in our marriage. “It's too late Laura, I'm married.” Jason declared. I watched in a daze, hoping for something. I wanted to
AVA'S POV The house was quiet as I slowly woke up, the soft hum of the morning light filtering through the curtains. I noticed the other side of the bed was empty and showed no signs of Jason coming in last night. I felt a pang of sadness within me as different wild thoughts ran through my head. The silence of the atmosphere was interrupted by a burst of laughter. I frowned, as I slipped out of bed and followed the sound, the laughter grew louder and mingled with the clinking of dishes. Pushing open the kitchen door I met a scene that stung more than a slap. Jason and Laura were standing at the counter their movement in perfect harmony like they had practiced this routine a thousand times. Laura leaned closer to Jason her hands brushing his as they worked together. Jason, who always seemed so reserved, was laughing at something Laura said. His laughter was so rich and genuine, a sound I hadn't heard often. A pang of jealousy pierced my heart. "Good morning, Ava." Laur
AVA'S POV The days that followed Laura's departure were strange. Jason became more loving and attentive towards me. He cooked for me, bought me flowers, and even took a leave of absence from work to spend quality time with me. It felt like the early days of our relationship. I felt that he was trying to compensate me for all the agony I had undergone during these past recent months. He could not have been more successful. After getting home from work, Jason changed his clothes and went to prepare dinner. And I rested on the couch and watched him busy in the kitchen. He was tall and handsome, and the sunset shone on him through the windows, creating a light halo that removed some of his coldness. He lowered his eyes slightly, and his hands with distinct bony fingers handled the ingredients skillfully. This scene gave me a feeling of peace. “What’s wrong?” He turned around and asked me in a gentle voice. “Babe, will you be able to accompany me to the hospital tomorrow
AVA'S POV I regained consciousness in a hospital bed feeling dazed and confused. The room was well-lit, and the clean scent of disinfectant overwhelmed my senses, almost suffocating me. My pulse quickened as the accident flashed back into my memory, vivid and harsh. The baby was my first concern. Fear took hold of me as I touched my belly, dreading the worst. “Hey, easy there,” came a familiar voice breaking through my racing thoughts. It was Sally sitting beside my bed. Her presence gave me a bit of comfort, but I got more anxious when I remembered I hadn't told her about my pregnancy. The weight of keeping this secret felt like a big rock was stuck in my throat. She saw the fear in my eyes and helped me lie back down on the bed, putting her hand on my arm. “Don't worry. The baby is fine," she said in a calm and reassuring voice, but I could tell she was worried too. Her words brought me relief but also made me feel guilty. I hadn't planned to reveal my pregna
AVA'S POV The nurse’s words kept echoing relentlessly in my mind, refusing to let me breathe as my body went numb in an instant. The world around me blurred, and the white, sterile walls of the hospital seemed to close in, trapping me in between. Laura is pregnant with Jason's child! It seemed like a dream to me and I could feel the heat rise inside me, as if my inside were heated to a hundred degrees Celsius. When did Jason start cheating on me? Why did he cheat? Wasn't I enough for him? Or.... was it because I didn't satisfy him sexually? These questions ran through my head causing my head to ache so badly since I had no answers to them. I wasn't very experienced at first when I and Jason started dating back in college. He was actually my first for everything. He was both my first love, my first kiss, my first sexual partner, my first....... everything. Did he cheat on me because I couldn’t satisfy his needs? No, that can’t be it. I know it isn’t. I tried my
AVA'S POV The next day, I checked on Grandpa, but he was still fast asleep. I hurried toward the guest room to bathe, dress for work, and leave before Jason woke up. You know those situations when you do something and later regret it? That’s exactly how I felt – regret. I must admit my flesh was weak when it came to Jason. Although we didn’t go further last night because as usual, I had to stop him, letting him touch and cuddle me was something that shouldn’t have happened. I was about to leave for work when Jason stopped me at the doorway startling me. He wore a tailored blue suit that highlighted his perfect looks and figure. It was like he was becoming more handsome every day, and I was lost staring at him until he spoke, bringing me back to reality. “Take some breakfast with you,” he said, handing me a lunchbox. My heart melted. 'What was he trying to do? Why was he making things difficult for me?' I screamed inwardly. I haven't gotten over last night and now this
AVA'S POVMy breath caught, and a chill ran down my spine as Richard’s eyes seemed to pierce my soul. I had always wondered why he disliked me but could never bring myself to ask. I wanted to protest, to suggest hiring extra help to care for Grandpa at his house instead, but the look in his eyes silenced me. He wanted me around, and who was I to deny him that? The drive back home or rather, Jason’s villa, since I no longer considered it my home was silent. Grandpa was taking a nap in the back seat while I sat in the passenger seat, with Jason driving. Soon, we arrived. What I didn’t expect was Jason stepping in to plead with me that Grandpa staying here meant I’d have to move back into the house. “It’ll look strange if you’re not here,” Jason said when Grandpa wasn’t within earshot. I swallowed hard, my mind scrambling for an excuse. I couldn’t bear it, I needed to be far away from Jason. Being close to him always softened me, and I was scared that the courage I had fo
AVA'S POV The question hit me like a punch to the stomach. I froze, my mind racing. How had he even suspected that? Jason and I had been so careful to keep up appearances of a happy couple in front of him. I glanced over to Jason and he had the same puzzled expression on his face. But he recovered, shaking his head quickly. “No, Grandpa... why would you think that?” Grandpa’s sharp eyes bore into us, as though searching for cracks to see if we were lying. “Laura mentioned it to me at the company.” Laura? How did she know? She wasn’t with Jason when I threw the papers at him at Sally’s apartment. The only way she could know is if Jason had told her. I looked over at Jason, my eyes shooting daggers. I noticed his brow furrowed, and his face darkened. He seemed upset that Laura had told Grandpa about the divorce. I found it funny, but the situation at hand prevented me from laughing. What did he expect when he told Laura? Of course, she was going to spread it to everyone who c
AVA'S POVMy breath caught at the coldness in Jason's voice. It was like the roar of a lion as I entered the room and I wondered who he was talking to. He turned to face me and our eyes locked. His widened slightly and I knew he hadn't expected it to be me who walked in. “Who are you talking to?” I asked, holding his gaze. “I didn't know you'd be back.” He said, changing the topic. Something was off about his tone but I didn't bother pressing on the matter. I reminded myself that his business was no longer my concern as we'd be divorced soon anyway. I thought about asking him if he had signed the divorce papers, but I held my tongue. Grandpa still lay there unconscious so I decided to wait until he fully recovered. If it were any other member of Jason’s family lying in that bed, I wouldn’t even bother showing up, let alone wait until they wake up before proceeding with the divorce. Jason's mouth opened slightly like he was about to say something but I ignored him and sat
JASON'S POVI sat in the chair by Grandpa’s bed, staring at his frail form. The beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the dimly lit hospital room. His usually sharp and commanding presence seemed so far away now. Seeing him like this sent a pang of guilt through my chest. What had caused this? He was healthy the last time I spoke to him – stubborn as always, but fine. Something had triggered this collapse, and I needed to know what. I ran a hand through my hair, my head in a mess. Memories of Grandpa mentoring me, scolding me, and pushing me to be better played in my head like an old film. Shaking off the thought, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the company security app. I hadn’t planned on looking at the CCTV footage, but something nagged at me. Grandpa had been in my office before the collapse. Maybe the cameras would show what had happened. I found the footage and clicked play. The small screen showed Grandpa walking into my office with his usua
AVA'S POVI was deep in thought reflecting on what my plan would be next and how I was going to raise my unborn child alone once Jason signed the divorce paper when the phone in my hand buzzed, the sharp vibration sending a jolt through me.I glanced at it, and Jason’s name flashed on the screen and my stomach churned and chest tightened. Why was he calling me? I hesitated for a moment but then it crossed my mind that maybe he was calling to let me know that he had already signed the divorce papers. The thought of it sent a sharp ache through my chest. The moment I answered, his voice came through shaky and raw. And I knew immediately something was wrong. “Grandpa’s been rushed to the hospital,” he said, his words tumbling over one another. “What happened?” I asked, gripping the phone tightly, my heart racing. “They’re not sure yet,” he replied. “Ava, please I really need you... here." Without hesitation, I grabbed my bag and was about to rush out of the house, when Sal
LAURA'S POV The sound of the door opening made me look up, I was expecting to see Jason, but it wasn’t him. It was his grandfather - Grandpa Campbell. He stood tall, his sharp eyes sweeping the room like he owned it. Actually he once did. I forced a polite smile, though my chest tightened. He hadn’t stepped into the company in years according to Jason, but his presence still carried weight. I wondered why he was here. But there's only one way to find out. “Good morning, Mr. Campbell,” I greeted, standing from Jason's chair. “Jason isn’t here at the moment. Can I help you with anything?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his piercing gaze landed on me, and his lips curved into a thin line. I knew that look – it was one of judgment. “Laura,” he said, his voice was cold. “Still lingering around, I see.” I swallowed the sting of his words and kept my expression calm. “I’ve been doing everything I can to support Jason and the company, sir.” He stepped further into the
LAURA'S POV The office fell silent immediately Jason left, and I sat behind his desk, staring at his laptop. His cold rejection stung more than I cared to admit. Jason was once head over heels for me but now he was rejecting me. I clenched my fists, my acrylic nails digging into my palms. "It’s all Ava’s fault," I muttered. She was the reason Jason couldn’t see what was right in front of him. She was the reason he kept rejecting me. I took in a sharp breath, then opened my email on my phone and scrolled through the messages. My heart raced as I found the one from Dr. Samuel Croft, dated a week ago. Clicking it open, I scanned the attached report for what felt like the hundredth time. Ava Campbell – Pregnancy Confirmation. The words were like a slap to my face, each letter mocking me. I had gone through this email when Samuel first sent it a week ago but reading it again felt just as painful as the first time. “She thinks she’s won,” I said bitterly, my voice echoin
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