AVA'S POVThe photo on my screen was like a dagger to my chest. Laura's hands were draped over Jason's shoulder, her lips close to his cheek while Jason's hands were resting on her waist. The intimacy of it was undeniable, and it made me feel sick. My hand trembled as I locked my phone and placed it face down on the nightstand. I wanted to cry, to scream, to throw something. But instead, I sat there in silence, my emotions were a mess inside me. I took a deep breath, telling myself to calm down. What was the point of crying when nothing ever changed? The 10% shares he gave me made me think that maybe – just maybe he values me more than Laura but now I felt dejected again. Jason always seemed to find his way back to her, no matter how much it hurt me. He claims Laura wasn't his first choice yet he stood up both Grandpa and I because of her. I wasn't going to cry, and I didn't, but it still felt like a sharp knife kept piercing my heart all through the night, causing me unbeara
JASON'S POV Ava's words hung in the air, hitting Laura like a blow. Laura's smug expression faltered and her face reddened in anger even the sales associate's mouth dropped as they stared at Ava, then glanced back at Laura.Clearly shocked and curious about why Ava said such words. My stomach twisted as I looked into Ava's eyes. She wasn't angry. No, that would have been better and easier to handle. What I saw in her eyes was resignation when someone was done and didn't care anymore. And I got scared. My mind reeled back to last night, the reason I’d missed dinner with Grandpa and Ava. I had planned the dinner myself, thinking it would be a chance to prove to Ava that Laura wasn't my first choice and that my family came first. I even told myself it was time to take a stand and show her that she mattered more than anything or anyone else. But then Laura called on my way to the restaurant. Her voice trembled over the phone, and she cried telling me she couldn't go on anymore
AVA'S POV The days following the jewelry store incident felt like a blur. I buried myself in work and avoided unnecessary interactions with Jason. Grandpa had already returned to his house, though his doctor warned us to still be mindful of his health and to avoid stressing or saying anything that could trigger him. That was a relief, I couldn’t bear pretending everything was fine and the thought of him witnessing the tension between Jason and me. Today, Sally called, insisting I come to her apartment. “I have something to cheer you up,” she said vaguely. I hesitated at first, but Sally’s energy was contagious. If anyone could brighten my mood, it was definitely her. When I arrived, I didn’t expect to see Kevin Tyler lounging on Sally’s couch, holding a glass of wine like he belonged there. “Kevin?” I froze at the door, my mind struggling to process his presence. Kevin Tyler, the professional basketball player, also happened to be Jason’s old friend and someone I had
AVA'S POVJason’s sudden presence in the room turned the carefree atmosphere tense in an instant. “Jason, you came. I thought you said you weren't coming?” Kevin said in a carefree tone, as he stood up to shake Jason's hand, but he ignored him. Instead, his piercing gaze moved from Alex to me, the anger in his eyes evident and undeniable. Kevin seemed to understand the reason for his attitude and simply sat back down beside Sally without saying another word. “Jason,” Alex greeted, his tone polite but Jason ignored him too. His eyes were locked on me completely. “Ava, I need to talk to you now,” he said coldly. I pretended not to have heard him and quickly stood excusing myself, "I’ll be back Alex." My chest tightened as I made my way to the ladies’ room. I needed space, somewhere far from Jason, somewhere to gather my thoughts and calm my nerves. The cool air of the bathroom was a small relief as I leaned against the sink, staring at my reflection. My heart raced. “He
AVA'S POV I could feel my heart racing as the tension in the room rose. Sally and Kevin kept glancing between Jason and Alex not knowing what to say. I looked at Alex and then at Jason. I was done with the drama with Jason. “Okay, Alex…let's go,” I said, trying to stay calm but my heart hammered in my chest. Jason's fist clenched tightly and his eyes flashed with anger but he didn't say anything. “Ava…” he said finally. “I've made my decision,” I interrupted, keeping my voice steady. Sally gave me a proud wink. “Call me when you get home, okay?” I nodded, giving her a small smile. “I will.” “Let’s go,” Alex said gently, his hand resting lightly on my back as he guided me toward the exit. Behind us, Jason’s jaw clenched, and I could almost feel the fury radiating off him. I didn’t look back. Alex looked surprised when I told him I wasn’t going to Jason’s villa but to Sally’s apartment. However, he didn’t ask why, and I felt relieved. The ride there was quiet at first, but
JASON'S POVAva’s words hit me like a slap across the face. I stared at her, my eyes slightly wide hoping she didn’t mean it, but her expression was firm. She wasn’t bluffing and my heart sank. I couldn't sleep last night after returning home from the club because I didn't find Ava anywhere in the house. I tried calling both her and Alex and neither of them answered my call. I was restless the whole night, my thoughts running wild as I waited for the day to break.It's not that I didn't trust Ava – I do. It's Alex I don't trust. Early this morning, I rushed out of the house like a madman to confirm Ava’s whereabouts, without even taking a proper shower so I couldn’t just give up. Not yet! “Ava, please,” I pleaded again, my voice breaking slightly. Her eyes stayed cold. “Don’t make me do it, Jason.” I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, and Ava was the one pushing me off. I wanted to argue, to plead with her to listen, but something about her tone told me it would
AVA’S POVThe moment Jason stepped out and I shut the door, the tears came. I didn’t even notice when they started streaming down my face, hot and endless. No matter how many times I used the back of my hands to wipe my face the tears kept pouring down. The pain in my chest felt unbearable, like my heart was being ripped apart and I clutched my chest tightly hoping to suppress it.But it didn't work. I leaned against the door, sliding down until I sat on the cold floor, wrapping my arms around my knees, sobbing quietly. Jason’s face kept flashing in my mind – his desperation, his pleas – but I couldn’t let myself give in. He had crossed too many lines and hurt me too deeply time and time again. I knew I shouldn’t be crying, not after all the pain he caused me by always putting Laura first. But the truth is, I still haven’t gotten over Jason, and I don’t know if I ever will. I don’t know how long I stayed like that. Minutes passed, maybe hours, before I felt a dull ache in my bel
AVA’S POVJason’s question echoed in my ears, leaving me momentarily stunned and frozen in place. “What are you doing at the hospital, Ava?” he asked again, staring deep into my eyes. I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. How was I supposed to explain? Should I tell him the truth that I was here because of the stress he and his precious Laura had caused me? That our unborn baby he wasn't aware of was at risk because of him? I felt my grip tighten on the paper behind my back, my knuckles whitening. My heart pounded, and I could barely steady my breathing. A mixture of anger, pain, and betrayal swirled inside me, making it hard to find the right words or even think of a good lie that would sound believable in his ears. But before I could utter a word, a sickly sweet voice cut through the tension. “Babe,” Laura called out, her tone dripping with affection as she approached. I clenched my teeth at the sound of the name she used. “Babe”? We have
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
AVA’S POVI couldn’t tell her the truth. Not when her little arms were wrapped around my neck and her eyes were looking up at me with so much love and trust. Emma was too young to understand the mess happening around me — around us. The rumors, the tension, the whispers. I didn’t want to drag her into it. “I’m okay, baby,” I said softly, brushing her hair back. “Everything’s fine.” But I was lying. And I felt guilty the moment the words left my mouth. I hugged her tighter like that would make the guilt go away. Then I gently pulled back and kissed her cheek. “Can Rose tuck you in tonight? I have a headache, sweetheart. I just need to lie down for a little.” She looked a bit disappointed, but she nodded. “Okay…” I managed a small smile gave her bunny back to her and handed her to Rose before turning and walking back down the stairs. My head was pounding, but not from a real headache. Just everything spinning in my brain — Jason showing up, kissing me without warning, the slap
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