AVA'S POV Kevin’s birthday party felt like the last place I should be. I didn’t want to go. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, my hands gripping the fabric of my dress. My stomach twisted, a sick feeling rising inside me. The thought of being around people, smiling, pretending everything was fine it felt impossible. Because everything was not fine. I had lost my baby. And I knew who took it from me. Laura. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the image of her away, but I couldn’t. Her smirk, her mocking voice, the way she looked at me like she had won… it haunted me every night. She knew what she had done, and she was proud of it. I had told Sally everything. Every single thing after I came back from Jason’s house that day in tears. “She killed my baby,” I whispered, breaking down in her arms. Sally had been furious. She wanted to go after Laura, to tear her apart. But I grabbed her wrist, shaking my head. “No, Sally,” I said firmly, wiping my tears with
AVA'S POV My whole body froze, my fingers clenched so tight around my drink that I thought the glass might shatter. I had told myself I was prepared to see them again someday. But not tonight. Not when Kevin had promised me they wouldn’t be here. Sally noticed them at the same time I did. “What the..." she started, her voice rising in anger. She turned to me, her eyes flashing. “Ava, I swear, I will drag that woman out of here myself.” She was already moving, ready to storm toward Laura, but I caught her arm. “Sally, no,” I said, my voice low but firm. She snapped her head toward me. “Ava, don’t do this. You know I won’t let her stay here. She has no right to be here when she wasn't even invited by Kevin." I swallowed, my throat dry as sandpaper. My whole body was shaking with rage, but I tightened my grip on Sally’s arm. “You promised me,” I reminded her, my voice barely above a whisper. Sally’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, she looked like she might ignore me. B
AVA'S POVThe moment my body hit the water, everything became a blur. Cold. That was the first thing I felt. The shock of it stole the breath from my lungs, and for a second, I couldn’t move. My dress became heavy, dragging me down, and my arms flailed as I fought to stay afloat. I could hear muffled shouting above me, but the water swallowed the sound, making everything feel distant. Then strong arms wrapped around me. I was being pulled upward, my head breaking the surface. I gasped, sucking in the air like I had been drowning for hours. Water dripped from my hair into my eyes, blurring my vision, but I didn’t need to see to know who had saved me. “Got you,” Alex’s voice was close, his grip firm as he pulled me toward the edge of the pool. At the same time, I heard another splash. Through my dazed state, I realized Jason had jumped in, too. But he wasn’t reaching for me. He was pulling Laura out. Of course. Alex lifted me effortlessly, guiding me to the pool’s ed
JASON'S POV I stormed down the hallway, my blood boiling. I couldn’t believe what just happened. Couldn’t believe that Ava had pulled Laura into the pool with her. Laura was pregnant. Pregnant. And Ava still had the heart to do such. I shoved the guest room door open without knocking. Ava was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a towel, her wet hair sticking to her face. Alex stood near her, his arms crossed like he was ready to play hero again. Kevin had dragged Sally out the second I walked in. “What the hell is wrong with you, Ava?” My voice came out sharp, cutting through the tense air. “Laura is pregnant, and you still had to drag her into your mess?” Ava lifted her head slowly, her expression one of surprise. Then, she let out a cold laugh. “My mess?” “Yes, your mess!” I snapped. “You couldn’t just walk away, could you? You had to make a scene like you always do.” Her eyes darkened. “You weren’t there, Jason. You didn’t hear what she said to me.” “I don’t care wha
ALEX'S POV Jason’s words made my blood boil. I had been standing there, trying to stay calm, trying to hold myself back, but the way he was blaming Ava like she was the villain in all this was too much. Laura was the one who had started this. Laura was the one who grabbed Ava first, who pushed and annoyed her until she got the reaction she wanted. But Jason couldn’t see that. He was too blind, too caught up in whatever web of lies Laura had spun around him. And now, after everything Ava had been through, he was here, pointing fingers at her. I clenched my fists tightly my fingers digging deep into my palm. How could he not see it? How could he not realize what was happening? Laura played the victim so well. She cried she acted helpless, and Jason fell for it every time. Meanwhile, Ava...who had already lost so much even her unborn child was standing here, trying to hold herself together while Jason tore her down. It made me sick. It made me furious. I just couldn't st
AVA'S POV The silence after my words felt like a knife cutting through the air. Jason just stood there, frozen, his eyes widened in shock. For the first time since he entered the room, he had nothing to say. No anger. No accusations. Just silence. I should have felt satisfied. I should have felt victorious after finally throwing the truth in his face. But all I felt was pain. My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding. My entire body felt like it was on fire. I had held this in for months. I had swallowed my grief, my anger, my suffering. I had let Jason treat me like I was nothing while he ran to Laura every time she called. I clenched my fists, trying to keep myself together, but the tears came anyway. It was hot, angry, and unstoppable. “You want to know what kind of woman I am, Jason?” My voice cracked as I stepped closer, my whole body trembling. “I’m the kind of woman who cries alone at night, holding my stomach, praying for our baby to be okay.” “The kind of woman wh
JASON'S POV The slam of the door echoed through the room, leaving behind a silence that was suffocating. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. My whole body went cold. I just stood there, staring at the closed door, my mind refusing to process what had just happened. Ava had been pregnant. She was pregnant with our child… and I didn’t know. She lost our child because of me? My legs felt weak, and I stumbled back, gripping the edge of the desk for support. My chest tightened, and a sharp pain spread through me like a knife was slicing through my ribs. My breath came out in short, uneven gasps as the weight of the truth crushed me. This couldn’t be real. Maybe I was dreaming. Maybe this was some kind of twisted nightmare. But it wasn’t. My stomach twisted. I felt sick. I felt like the ground had been ripped from under me. My baby… We had a baby. And now… I lost my baby before even knowing of his existence. And I was here, accusing his mother of cheating on me with Ale
AVA'S POV I walked out of that room, my chest heaving, and my heart was heavy. The moment the door slammed behind me, it felt like I had left a piece of myself in there. I should have felt relief, but all I felt was emptiness. The hallway was quiet, but my mind was loud. Jason’s broken voice echoed in my head – his plea for me to stay. But it was too late. Too late for him to ask me not to go, too late for him to realize what he had lost. I didn’t want to go back to the party. I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready to see people laughing, drinking, and acting like the world wasn’t crashing down on me. My legs felt weak, my body trembling with exhaustion. The pain in my chest was unbearable. I needed air, I needed to get away. I turned away from the direction of the pool and started walking toward the garden. I had been here before so I knew my way around. With every step, my vision blurred, my legs dragging as if they weighed a thousand pounds. My breathing felt heavy like there wasn’t
AVA'S POV The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Today was a big day. Not just for Emma, but for me too. I returned to America not as an employee, but as the CEO of Avaris Luxe. The power in that title sent a quiet thrill through me. The past three years have transformed me into someone stronger, someone who no longer waited for things to happen but made them happen. But before all that, there was something more important Emma. Her excited giggles filled the room as she bounced on the bed, already wide awake. “Aunt Ava, wake up! It’s my first day of school!” I smiled as I sat up, running my hand through her soft curls. Her big, bright eyes were filled with excitement, her small feet kicking under the covers. “I know, sweetheart,” I said, playfully tugging her nose. “Let’s get you ready, okay?” She nodded eagerly and jumped off the bed, running to the wardrobe. Watching her reminded me of how much had changed. Three years ago, I
JASON'S POV My world stopped, I couldn't breathe as my eyes locked on the woman on the stage. Ava was here. Three years. Three damn years, and now she was standing right in front of me. Not as the woman I once held in my arms, not as the love I lost, but as her. The CEO of Avaris Luxe. The woman who had just taken the entire room’s breath away. I didn’t even hear half of what she said in her speech. My ears were ringing, my head spinning. All I could do was stare at her at the way she carried herself, at the cold confidence in her eyes. I swallowed hard, my grip tightened on my glass. My heart was pounding so loudly that I was sure Laura could hear it. My whole body was focused on the woman standing before me. The applause erupted as she finished her speech, and I barely registered the sound. My vision was locked on her as Alex Grey stepped forward. He smiled at her. He reached out and she took his hand. A muscle ticked in my jaw. Alex leaned in, whispering something in her
LAURA'S POV The atmosphere shifted the moment the lights dimmed. A hush fell over the grand hall, conversations dying as if the entire room had taken a collective breath in anticipation. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the CEO of Avaris Luxe.” The announcer’s voice echoed through the vast space, commanding attention. I straightened, my grip tightening around Jason’s arm as my heart pounded with excitement. Finally. The mysterious owner of Avaris Luxe was stepping into the light. The entire world had speculated about the person behind the brand rumors whispered of a secretive, powerful figure, someone untouchable, someone who controlled an empire with nothing but vision and ruthless ambition. I lifted my chin, my posture poised as my eyes locked onto the stage. All around me, I could hear the hushed murmurs, the quiet gasps of anticipation. The spotlight flickered. A poised, confident figure stepped onto the stage. And the air in my lungs vanished. My fingers, still
LAURA’S POV The day had finally arrived. The Avaris Luxe grand opening – the most exclusive event of the year. A night of luxury, power, and influence. I had spent days preparing for this. The moment I would step onto that red carpet beside Jason, the cameras would capture us, and the world would finally see what I had always known – I was Jason Campbell’s future wife. I stood in front of my full-length mirror, adjusting the neckline of my dress. The deep emerald silk draped over my body like liquid, hugging every curve in the most flattering way. It was bold but refined, the kind of dress that demanded attention. Under the lights, the fabric shimmered, exuding power and confidence. Exactly what I wanted. Jason’s suit matched my dress, a detail I had carefully planned. I had picked out everything – his cufflinks, his tie, even the exact shade of fabric. When the designer sent it over, I had fully expected Jason to refuse, to toss it aside as he did with everything I tried to
ALEX'S POV I watched Ava closely, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. She had been fine, determined, until she saw his name on the guest list. Her fingers tightened around the folder, her knuckles turning white. She didn’t say anything at first, but I knew what was running through her mind. I had been by her side for three years. I knew that look. Damn it. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice calm. Stay rational, Alex. Don’t push her. “Ava,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “If you don’t want to see him, I can take him off the list.” Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting mine. There was something unreadable in them, something locked away behind years of carefully built walls. But she didn’t waver. “No,” she said firmly. “I’m ready.” I narrowed my eyes. “You sure?” A small smirk tugged at her lips. “What, you don’t think I can handle it?” I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. She was stubborn had always been but this was Jason. This
AVA'S POV The door swung open, and to my surprise, it was Alex standing there, dressed in a sharp grey suit, the top button of his shirt undone like he had rushed over with a small smile plastered on his lips. I blinked. “Alex?” He grinned. “What? Not happy to see me?” I folded my arms. “You scared me! And I thought you said you’d come after work.” He shrugged, stepping inside like he owned the place – which, technically, he did. “I couldn’t wait to check on my two princesses who just arrived." Before I could reply, Sally let out a dramatic gasp from behind me. “Oh, so what does that make me? The forgotten prince?” she huffed, putting both hands on her hips. Alex chuckled, shaking his head. “You? A prince? You wish.” Sally scoffed. “Rude.” I laughed as she grabbed a cushion and smacked his arm. He dodged it with ease, laughing. Over the years, Alex and Sally had grown closer. Although Alex could put on a tough front when necessary, he was actually playful and light
AVA'S POV The plane touched down smoothly, the gentle hum of the engines filling the cabin. I let out a slow breath as I stared out the window. America. Emma wiggled excitedly beside me, her tiny fingers gripping my arm. “We’re here!” she squealed, her big brown eyes sparkling with excitement. She had insisted on coming back to America with me, and her dad, who was a single father, had approved when he saw the persistent look on his daughter’s face. I smiled softly and brushed a stray curl from her face. “Yes, baby. We’re here.” She bounced in her seat as the flight attendants announced our arrival, and soon, we were walking through the airport. Despite the time that had passed, stepping foot in this country again sent a strange chill through me. The air smelled the same, the people moved with the same hurried energy, but everything felt… different. Or maybe I was the one who had changed. “AVA!” A familiar voice made me turn just in time to be pulled into a tight hug. Th
LAURA’S POV The door clicked shut, and I moved to the window, watching as Jason guided Mason toward the car. He bounced excitedly, gripping his backpack straps, while Jason followed behind calm and composed as ever. I knew Mason was excited to go to school with Jason. I had to lie to Jason that he was bullied at school because of not having a father figure so that Jason would take him. I gritted my teeth. This should have been a perfect picture – Jason taking Mason to school while I, his fiancée, watched from the window, feeling loved and secure. But it wasn’t. Because no matter what I did, Jason never looked at me the way I wanted. I pulled my robe tighter around me, the silky fabric cool against my skin. I had worn it for him this morning, hoping, praying that for once, his eyes would linger. That he’d want me. But of course, he didn’t just like always for the past three damn years. He barely spared me a glance, as if I were just a man wearing silk lingerie. I turned away
JASON'S POV The morning air was cool as I drove through the city. Three years had passed, but nothing had changed – not really. I was still here, trapped in a life I didn’t want, still waking up every morning with the same dull ache in my chest. Laura was my fiancée now. At least, that’s what everyone believed. That’s what my father Richard expected. But I knew the truth – I was never going to marry her. I had never loved her. Ava was the only woman I had ever truly loved, and she was gone. I had spent three years pretending to move on, but it was all a lie. No woman had ever come close to making me feel what she did. No one ever would. And yet, here I was, playing the role Richard had forced on me, carrying a title that meant nothing. I pulled up to Laura’s apartment, shutting off the engine with a sigh. Today, I had promised to take Mason Laura's son to school. The boy wasn’t mine, yet he carried my last name. Richard had insisted on it, saying it was ‘best for the f