Chapter 4

Presently~~

Ava returned home from the drug store and hurriedly entered her room, wearing a serious expression. Along the way, she encountered Chloe and asked, "...Alexander?" Chloe informed , "Already off to the office. Sir says you should have breakfast... on the table." Ava had already left without giving Chloe the chance to finish.

In her room, Ava took a cold bath and searched until she found it—a beautiful ring safely kept in a yellow file. She wore it on her ring finger and took her antidepressant looking into a mirror hanging on the wall in her room. After doing her makeup and dressing elegantly, despite being only nineteen, she grabbed the file and the car keys. On her way out, Chloe spotted her and asked, "Where to, miss?" Ava, a spoiled rich child, retorted, "None of your business," and drove off.

Arriving at the tall building labeled "Miller's Corp," she was screened by security before entering. Walking with confidence, she was stopped by a secretary who inquired, "Who are you, and who are you here to see?" Without saying much, Ava presented the file and simply stated, "His client."The secretary quickly made a call and guided Ava. Upon reaching the office, Ava disregarded the guest in the room and boldly opened the door. She confidently placed the file on Leon Miller's desk and then proceeded to passionately kiss him, paying no mind to the lady observing from behind. Leon, a self-made billionaire at the age of twenty-nine, initially pulled back, momentarily taken aback, but responded to the kiss. The lady couldn't help but smirk, knowing that Leon was the prominent figure featured on magazine covers and billboards, having achieved remarkable success.

Two years ago:

Sitting on the floor in the corridor, Ava was deeply hurt by Ethan and tried to push the memory of what she saw out of her mind, but it kept coming back, and she couldn't help but cry. Unexpectedly, Rierie, a fluffy white domestic dog, ran to Ava and sat on her thigh, looking at her quietly as she cried uncontrollably. Ava said, "Don't look at me. I'm ugly," attempting to cover the dog's eyes, but Rierie resisted and softly barked, encouraging Ava to play.

Although Ava understood the signal, she couldn't bring herself to play as she felt awful. Despite her tears, Rierie refused to give up, continuing to signal Ava to come and play. Just then, Alexander appeared at the scene, relieved to see Rierie as he had been searching around for her, and Rierie ran to him.

Ava buried her face in her thighs when she noticed Alexander, and he became aware of how upset she was, hearing her sobs. To get her attention, he called her name twice, but she didn't respond. Alexander gently lifted her face, but she refused to show her face and continued crying as she went into his arms. He comforted her, giving her time to cry until she was ready to talk.

He said, "This is about Ethan, right?" The words, delivered with a perceptive accuracy that belied the simplicity of their construction, hung in the air like a subtle revelation. Ava, her emotions laid bare for the world to see, wiped her face with the back of her hand and found herself caught in a moment of raw vulnerability as she questioned, "How did you know?"

Alexander, her steadfast confidant and the comforting anchor amidst the tumultuous sea of her emotions, ran his fingers through her disheveled hair. His gaze, a steady source of support and understanding, met hers with a warmth that transcended words, and he replied with a gentle yet unwavering conviction, "You still have a long way to go, Ava. Life is a tapestry woven with the threads of countless experiences, and people come and go like passing seasons. But in three years' time, I have no doubt that you'll be the happiest girl, perhaps chasing your dreams with an unbridled passion that knows no bounds."

As he spoke, the contours of a brighter future took shape in his words, a future that promised not only the pursuit of dreams but also the embrace of happiness in its purest form. His vision for her, painted with the brushstrokes of optimism, included the prospect of companionship—a very handsome guy who would be not just a romantic partner but a source of joy and laughter, a person who would take her on countless dinner and shopping dates, each one a cherished memory etched into the canvas of her life.

In the world that Alexander envisioned, Ava's days would be adorned with moments of leisure and contentment, where relaxation would find its sanctuary in quiet corridors, shared laughter, and the sweet indulgence of chocolates. Rierie, a cherished friend, would undoubtedly be a part of this vibrant tapestry, a confidant with whom she would create cherished memories, and a companion with whom she would savor life's simple pleasures.

Hearing her brother's words, Ava found herself swept away by a sudden burst of laughter, a cathartic release of pent-up emotions that washed over her like a cleansing wave. It was a laughter that resonated with the hope and promise that his words had infused into her heart, a laughter that found solace in the knowledge that there was a brighter future waiting on the horizon.

In the comforting embrace of her dear brother's arms, Ava felt a profound sense of gratitude and love. Alexander, always a pillar of strength and a wellspring of encouragement, had once again demonstrated his unwavering understanding of her innermost thoughts and feelings. With him by her side, she knew that she could weather any storm, confront any challenge, and embrace the uncertainties of the future with unwavering courage. Alexander was not just her brother; he was her confidant, her source of solace, and the unwavering beacon of light that illuminated her path through life's labyrinthine journey.

Back in school, Ava began giving Ethan the silent treatment and did her best to ignore him. Whenever he tried to approach her, she immediately avoided him, especially when he attempted to talk to her about what she saw earlier. Ava's friends noticed her cold shoulder towards Ethan, as they usually sat together during lunch breaks. However, this time, when Ava saw Ethan sitting at the table with her friends, she chose to sit alone at another table, leaving an awkward atmosphere and causing Lily and the others to look at her questioningly .

Ava's attitude made her friends wonder if there was something going on between them, possibly just a couple's fight. Seeing Ethan's discomfort, Lily offered him her drink and reassured him, "Give her time, she'll bounce back. Ava will be okay." Ethan tried to make sense of what Lily meant and drank the water slowly, questioning himself about what might be going on in Ava's mind.

Despite Lily's attempt to dissuade him, Ethan decided to talk to Ava. As he stood up, Lily held his hand back and shook her head, indicating that he shouldn't go ahead with his decision. However, Ethan paid no heed, took her hand off, and confidently said, "I can handle this," before leaving.

Ava noticed Ethan approaching her table and quickly placed her bag and lunchbox to prevent him from sitting too close. Undeterred, Ethan persisted and sat in front of her instead. As Ava stood up to leave, he held her hand, and she looked at him with a serious expression. He said, "I want us to talk…"

Ava, a complex maelstrom of emotions churning beneath her carefully composed exterior, averted her gaze, her silence a deliberate and unsettling response that cast a shadow of unease over the conversation. The weight of her unspoken thoughts hung in the air, palpable and disconcerting, leaving Ethan with a sense of disquiet about her behavior. Her reluctance to engage, her deliberate evasion of eye contact, were like an insurmountable wall that stood between them, a wall that shielded her inner turmoil from his probing gaze.

Nonetheless, Ethan, undeterred by the turbulent waters of Ava's emotional landscape, pressed on with a sincerity that he hoped would pierce the armor of her silence. "I'm sorry," he ventured, his voice carrying the weight of regret and an earnest desire to mend the rift that had formed between them. He had carried the burden of guilt since that fateful day, a day marred by a regrettable incident that had cast a long shadow over their relationship. "I'm sorry you had to see that when you dropped by the other time."