“Have you and Alexander been together?”Ava went silent totally, she was amused by the words of Granpa Pascal, and the answer to his question was clear as ocean. She and Alexander haven't kissed nor hug since they got to know each other. But how was she to say it to the old man? That even their wedding night, Alexander spent it outside with his lover? Ava cleared her thoughts and thought of the best way to answer his question.“ Granpa, I and Alexander haven't been together, we are getting to know each other first and don't want to rush things, so you don't have to worry, Ava replied the best way she could but the look on the old man's face wasn't good.“ He is the one proving difficult right? I can see it, I can see how much you love him Ava, I know how much you care and want to be with him but he has failed to see it which I clearly do , Granpa Pascal said while looking at her with a soft gaze.“ I…… Ava lost the right words to say as she knew all what he is saying was right, but sh
Ava parked the car , got down and walked into the house, she was still deliberating on her thoughts till she got to the living room and met Alexander seated. She was a bit surprised he came back earlier than her, making her wonder what the issue was, but then he wasn't seated alone, Granpa Pascal was also there.“ I am home, Grandpa, Alexander, Ava said, making her presence known.“ Welcome back Ava, how was work? Granpa Pascal asked, diverting his attention to her .“ Work was fine, no trouble. I am feeling energized, Ava joked, clearly meaning to liven the atmosphere, which she successfully did.“ Come sit, let the maid get you something to eat, I know you must be feeling hungry and a bit stressed, Grandpa Pascal persisted.“ Ok, so Alexander what's going on? Ava asked while looking at Alexander who hasn't uttered a word since she walked in.“ Hmmmm ,Old man Stan's wedding anniversary is tomorrow, so he got an invitation which means the both of you are going together, " Grandpa Pasc
6:40 pm at NightAlexander’s PlaceAlexander stood at the living room, his impeccable appearance stood out in the living room as he look at the time on his watch, it was clearly time and he hasn't seen Ava make her way downstairs. He tapped his leg on the floor clearly loosing patience, the sound of heels on the stairs made him look up as he saw Ava walk down in company of his Grandpa.He stood rooted without blinking when he saw how gorgeous she looked in her dress, he saw how lovely his Granpa was treating her while walking towards him and this made him roll his eyes instead. Ava always play the game all the time, he didn't want to delay any longer and just turn around heading out and expecting her to meet him in the car waiting outside.Ava smiled at Granpa Pascal while making her way out, she saw how Alexander walked out without even sparing her a thirty minutes gaze, getting outside she saw he is already inside the car and turned towards Granpa Pascal to wave goodbye. Alexander w
Linda's lips lingered a bit on his cheek before moving away from him, her eyes came in contact with Ava who look a bit annoyed but was masking it well.The gazes on her satisfied her initially agitated self, she just made a move publicly on Alexander and he didn't refuse it even in the presence of Ava who was seated beside him. It was enough to keep the blabbering mouth of the people around shut or probably to give them something more spicy to talk about.“ Hey Linda, I see you are here too, as a guest and exchanging pleasantries, keep it minimal, we don't want you doing that to all married men around even if we are to understand you are simply acknowledging them, Ava voiced while maintaining a calm aura which made Linda fume within.She had thought the stunt she had pulled would put Ava to shame and make her more aware of how much effects she held in Alexander ‘s life but it's seem Ava herself wasn't that easy to intimidate, she didn't even manage to shake her calm expression, Ava wa
Ava's eyes which was already clouded with tears and slightly blurred trailed to the door when it's busted open, she couldn't pick out who walked in but she felt the two men harassing got thrown off her body.Ava whimper when she heard bashing sounds, a tall masculine figure closed in on her on the bed and his hands was on her body the next second guiding her to sit, the smell of his cologne wavered into her nose as she snuggled into him, she tried to shake off the coolness that came with his touch on her body and struggled to keep her focus and look up to his face, she recognized him……Alexander was fuming as he glared at the beaten figure of the two men at a side. He checked over Ava and saw the upper side of her body was barely covered and took off his suit to cover her up, his eyes darkened when he saw her face was looking swollen, her eyes puffy and the traces of a handprint was glaring on her face.He gritted his teeth and traced his hands on her face, trying to at least soothe t
Alexander didn’t know how much longer he could fight her intoxicating proximity, her warmth, and the way she gazed at him with those heavy-lidded, vulnerable eyes. When her lips brushed his neck with a soft, unintentional graze, Alexander snapped. His mouth crashed onto hers, firm yet trembling with suppressed emotions. The taste of her—sweet yet dizzying—pulled him under, and for once, his control shattered completely.Ava who wasn't really herself clung at him desperate for his attention, she trailed her hand on his neck, caressing his shoulder, her naked body gliding effortlessly into his own while leaving moans after moans. Alexander pressed his lips intensely on hers and she tried to follow his pace, he nibbled her lower lips , his hands lightly held her delicate waist afraid she might snap if he applied too much pressure, her alluring curves pressed on his body making him cuss out and frantically demand entrance into her sweet mouth.Shit…. Her taste was heavenly and his nose pi
The Morning AfterAva’s eyes fluttered open to the soft light streaming through the curtains. It took her a moment to register her surroundings—the familiar dark wood of the furniture, the faint scent of cedar lingering in the air. But what startled her most was the heavy warmth against her side.She froze, her heart racing as she realized Alexander’s arm was draped over her waist, his body close enough that she could feel his steady breathing. Memories of the night before rushed back—confessing her feelings, the way she’d let her emotions spill over. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep in front of him.Carefully, she tilted her head to look at him. His sharp features, softened by sleep, seemed so unlike the guarded man she was used to. She couldn’t help but think how at peace he looked—until his lashes flickered and his eyes opened.For a brief moment, his gaze softened as he took her in, but the wall was back up almost instantly. He pulled his arm away and shifted back, putting space be
Ava wandered through the quiet walls of the mansion, the warmth from her morning coffee doing little to ease the sense of distance lingering between her and Alexander. Their night together had been more than she expected—more than she thought he could have cared . Yet, his cool dismissal that morning left her wondering if it had meant anything to him at all.As she approached his study, she heard low, muffled voices from the slightly ajar door. Curious, she hesitated, her hand hovering over the knob.“...No, I don’t think it’s Linda,” Alexander’s deep voice said. “She’s been loyal for years. This lead doesn’t make sense.”A second voice, one she recognized as Old Man Stan, responded cautiously. “With respect, Alex, loyalty can be deceiving. The connection to the waitress is there—clear as day. I think you should investigate further.”Ava’s breath caught in her throat. Linda? Waitress? What connection? She pressed herself closer to the wall, her pulse quickening.“I said drop it,” Alex
Few weeks LaterThe gala hall was alive with the sparkle of luxury, reporters mingling with socialites, all eyes on the glittering figures in the crowd. Ava stood apart, observing the spectacle with a quiet unease. This wasn’t her world. The flashing cameras, the whispers behind delicate fan-shaped hands, the ostentatious displays of wealth—it all felt so foreign to her.But Linda… Linda was in her element.The famous model entered the room like she owned it, every inch of her radiating confidence, her high-end designer dress draped perfectly over her frame. Her presence was magnetic, every movement drawing attention as cameras flashed in her direction. Linda knew how to work the room. She knew how to stay in the headlines, even when she wasn’t trying.Ava watched Linda from the edge of the crowd, her stomach twisting with a mixture of dread and curiosity. Linda was a force—impossible to ignore. But Ava didn’t need to guess what Linda was up to. She could feel it in the air, the way t
The low hum of chatter filled the luxurious lounge of the hotel as Ava entered, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She scanned the room, her gaze locking onto Linda almost instantly. Seated at the center of a small group, Linda exuded confidence, her laughter ringing out like a bell as she entertained her entourage.Ava’s presence didn’t go unnoticed. The moment Linda’s sharp eyes landed on her, the laughter stopped. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly masked by a cool smirk.“Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Pascal,” Linda drawled, rising gracefully from her chair. Her tone was syrupy sweet, but the underlying venom was unmistakable. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”Ava stepped forward, her chin held high. “We need to talk. Privately.”Linda’s brow arched in mock surprise. “Oh? This sounds serious. Ladies, if you’ll excuse me.” She gestured to her companions, who hesitated before reluctantly dispersing.Once they were alone, Linda’s mask of civility dr
The quiet hum of the bathroom fan was the only sound between them as Alexander emerged from the shower, his movements relaxed but purposeful. Ava, standing by the vanity with the phone still clutched tightly in her hand, barely glanced up as he wrapped a towel around his waist. Her thoughts were a chaotic storm, Linda’s cutting words replaying in her mind like a broken record.Alexander, ever observant, caught the subtle stiffness in her posture. “Everything okay?” he asked, running a hand through his damp hair.Ava forced a neutral expression, slipping his phone onto the counter. “Linda called,” she said simply, her tone clipped.His movements stilled for a fraction of a second before he picked up the phone, his brows furrowing slightly. “What did she want?”“She didn’t say,” Ava replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “Just that it was urgent.”Alexander sighed, placing the phone face down without returning the call. “I’ll deal with it later,” he said, his voice calm but dismissi
Ava was in the middle of tidying up the living room when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention. She glanced toward the window, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she saw Alexander's car parked ahead of schedule. He was early—far earlier than he usually was for their tense dinners. The moment felt different, charged with anticipation. But as she stood there, her heart racing for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she quickly masked the smile that crept to her lips.It wasn’t like her to feel this way. She'd spent so much time guarding her emotions, building walls between them, but something about tonight felt different. Maybe it was the idea of finally addressing the issues that had been quietly growing between them. Maybe it was the unexpected chance for them to reconnect without the weight of their families hovering over them. Either way, she couldn’t let herself get too hopeful.A moment later, Alexander knocked softly on the door, and without wa
The morning after the storm, Ava woke with a heaviness that had settled deep into her chest. The rain had stopped, but the remnants of the night still lingered—both the storm outside and the one inside her. She lay there, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a jumble of old emotions and new doubts.Alexander was in the next room, likely still asleep. His presence was a strange comfort, but it also made her question everything she thought she knew about herself. Hadn’t she moved on from him? Hadn’t she convinced herself that she could be happy without him?But seeing him again had opened a door she thought was sealed shut. His apology, his vulnerability—things she had never thought she would hear from him—had cracked her defenses wide open. It wasn’t just the words, though. It was the way he had looked at her. How could she ignore that?Ava sighed, sitting up. She needed space, time to think without him watching her every move. As she moved toward the bathroom, her phone buzzed on the
Ava had spent the past three years building a life she could be proud of, but tonight, she allowed herself a rare indulgence—attending a prestigious charity gala. She moved through the grand ballroom, her emerald gown a stunning contrast to her confident but distant demeanor. The event was a chance to network for her surgery center, but Ava felt uneasy, her nerves stirred by the faint sense that tonight was going to be different.She was in the middle of discussing a new medical partnership when she saw him. Alexander.Her heart skipped a beat. He stood across the room, looking sharper than she remembered. His dark suit hugged his tall frame perfectly, but it was his expression—a mix of regret and longing—that left her breathless. Ava didn’t know if she wanted to turn and leave or march up to him and demand why he was there.Before she could decide, another figure stepped into view. Linda.Ava froze. Linda, Alexander’s first love, was speaking to him, her hand brushing his arm in a wa
Two Months A Lot has happened within those space of timeIt had been three years. Three years of silence. Of searching. Of hoping. Alexander had finally found her—Ava—after all this time. But when he had first reached out, there was no joy, no warmth in her response. Only distance. She had spoken to him, but each word felt like a wall she was putting up between them.The first time he had messaged her, apologizing for everything—what he had done, what he hadn’t done, how he had failed her—she hadn’t responded. Not for days. When she finally did, it was brief.“It’s over, Alexander. We are over.”That had been the first blow. It hurt, more than he had expected, but he couldn’t stop himself. He kept reaching out. He called, he messaged, he wrote letters. Every time, he apologized, hoping for some sign that she was still the woman he knew, that there was still some chance for them.The fifth attempt, she answered with a coldness that stung.“You’ve apologized, but it’s too late. I don’t
Ava had always been strong, resilient even in the hardest moments. But after everything that had happened, she felt like she needed to step away from the chaos, to find her own way without the constant pull of Alexander’s presence.She wasn’t going to tell him. Not yet.She packed a small bag, made arrangements at the hospital to take some time off, and left without a word. Her colleagues didn’t ask where she was going. They knew she had been through a lot. But Alexander? He was the one person she couldn't bring herself to face.The days would be hers to reclaim, to breathe and to heal.Back in the city, Alexander was consumed by work, but his mind kept drifting back to Ava. She had disappeared without a trace. No calls, no messages, nothing.He had been worried at first—more than he cared to admit—but as the silence stretched on, his frustration grew. Why wouldn’t she answer him? Where had she gone?He wasn’t used to being left in the dark, not with her. She had always been so transp
Ava glanced nervously at the clock in the hospital lounge. She hadn’t expected Alexander to come so quickly after their call. Her heart raced as she replayed their brief conversation in her mind. Did she make the right choice, asking him to meet her?The sound of the door creaking open jolted her. Alexander walked in, his presence commanding the small space. He was still dressed in his tailored suit, though his tie was slightly loosened, giving him a more approachable look.Ava stood, clutching her phone. “You didn’t have to come so fast. I know you’re busy.”Alexander crossed the room in a few strides, his gaze soft but intense. “I told you I would always come when you needed me.”She looked away, unsure how to respond. His sincerity both comforted and unsettled her. “I… I just wanted to talk about everything. About us. About Linda.”His jaw tightened slightly at the mention of Linda, but he nodded. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”Ava took a deep breath. “I know there’s a lot we need to s