Ava leaned against her kitchen counter, absently stirring her tea. The events of the evening played on a loop in her mind: Alexander’s sudden reappearance, Linda’s arrogant smirk, and the unsettling feeling of being followed.Her phone sat on the counter, buzzing with the same message she’d been staring at for the last ten minutes.We need to talk.She didn’t need to guess who it was. Alexander’s presence at the restaurant was no coincidence, and neither was the cryptic message. He’d found her.Ava exhaled sharply, setting the mug down with a clink. How dare he show up now? After years of silence, years of rebuilding herself from the wreckage he’d left behind. She had moved on—or at least tried to. Yet, there he was, pulling her back into his orbit with nothing more than a text.Her phone buzzed again, jolting her from her thoughts. This time, it was a call.Ignoring the call, Ava turned toward the living room, but a knock at the door stopped her mid-step.Her heart jumped. It was lat
Ava's heart raced as she approached her apartment door that evening, but this time, it wasn't fear that consumed her. Instead, it was curiosity. After the strange knock earlier, she'd braced herself for something sinister.But when she opened the door, all she found was a bouquet.The arrangement was stunning—roses, lilies, and soft sprays of baby’s breath nestled in an elegant vase. A small card peeked out from between the blooms. Ava hesitated before picking it up, her fingers trembling slightly.“For everything I can’t say yet—A.”Her breath caught in her throat. Alexander.She placed the bouquet on the kitchen counter, unsure of what to feel. Was this an apology? A peace offering? Or just another way to confuse her? She decided not to overthink it. Tonight, she needed rest.The Morning AfterAva woke to sunlight streaming through her curtains. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of calm. Her night had been quiet, no strange knocks or texts to disrupt her.As she prepared
Ava pulled into her apartment’s parking lot, the eerie sensation of being watched still lingering in the back of her mind. She turned off the ignition, letting the silence settle around her. The dim lights of the parking lot flickered, casting long shadows over the rows of parked cars. She glanced at her rearview mirror, half-expecting to see someone step out of the shadows.But there was no one. Just her nerves playing tricks on her again.“Get a grip, Ava,” she murmured, shaking her head as she stepped out of the car. She locked the door and walked briskly toward the building’s entrance, her heels clicking against the pavement.Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes tracked her every move. Hidden in the shadows, a man dressed in dark, nondescript clothing reached for his earpiece.“She’s inside,” he said quietly. “All clear for tonight.”On the other end of the line, Alexander sat in his study, leaning forward in his chair as he listened to the report. His fingers drummed lightly agains
Ava placed her phone down after reading the latest email from her investigator. The report confirmed everything—Linda’s string of affairs, underhanded deals, and exploitation of Alexander’s connections to boost her career.“She’s been doing this for years,” Ava said to herself, disgusted.Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her apartment door. She opened it to find Dr. Liam Brooks, her colleague from the hospital, holding a small container of food.“I figured you’d be too busy to cook today,” Liam said with a warm smile. “Hope you don’t mind.”Ava stepped aside to let him in. “You’re a lifesaver, Liam. Come on in.”Liam placed the container on the kitchen counter and turned to her. “You’ve been looking stressed lately. Anything you want to talk about?”Ava hesitated, not wanting to drag him into her messy personal life. “It’s just… work and some personal stuff. Nothing I can’t handle.”He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Well, you know where to find me if you need an ea
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
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
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 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
The sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the neighborhood as Alexander made his way home. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing with anticipation. Ava's due date was approaching quickly, and every day felt like a countdown. Despite all the preparations, he couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of anxiety creeping in. He wasn’t scared of the responsibility. He was terrified of losing them—Ava, the twins. The thought had gnawed at him for months, and now, as he pulled into their driveway, it all felt too real.His phone buzzed on the seat beside him. My baby love flashed across the screen. A soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Ava must be getting impatient; he was only a few minutes from home, but it seemed like the entire world had shifted in these last few weeks, time stretching and contracting with every passing hour.He reached for his phone, hands still on the wheel.“Hey baby, I’m almost home. You don’t…” His voice trailed off as the car
Ava’s eyes fluttered open, the harsh hospital lights blinding her for a moment. Her head felt heavy, and her limbs felt foreign, as if they didn’t quite belong to her. She was surrounded by the rhythmic beeping of machines and distant voices. It all seemed muffled, like she was underwater, struggling to reach the surface.But then, she felt something. A warm, comforting pressure on her hand. She turned her head, and there he was—Alexander. His face was so close, inches away, his dark eyes staring at her with an intensity that sent a flutter of nerves through her chest. His hand was wrapped firmly around hers, holding it with a strength that made her feel both safe and vulnerable. His other hand brushed through her hair, gently sweeping it back from her face, his touch so tender it made her heart ache.“Ava,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re awake.”Ava blinked, trying to gather her strength. She gave him a weak smile, wanting to reassure him, even though her body fe
Ava's world was a blur.Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy as she forced them open, her vision swimming with shapes and shadows. The air smelled damp, thick with something metallic—blood, perhaps. Her head throbbed like it had been split in two, and her limbs felt like they didn’t belong to her anymore.Then, through the haze, a figure appeared.Linda.Her lips curled into a victorious smirk, her sharp eyes brimming with cruel satisfaction.Ava blinked hard, but the scene remained the same. Linda was standing over her, dressed in an elegant white dress, looking completely untouched by the filth and darkness surrounding them. Her blonde curls were perfect, her makeup flawless, as if she had walked right out of a palace and into this nightmare.But it wasn’t Linda’s beauty that made Ava’s stomach churn—it was the expression on her face.She had won. And she knew it."Finally awake?" Linda’s voice dripped with amusement, her arms crossed as she studied Ava like a cat watching a wounded bi
Linda’s pulse pounded as she stood before Alexander, waiting for his reaction. His silence stretched between them, thick and unreadable, his piercing gaze drilling into her. For the first time in years, she couldn’t decipher what he was thinking.She had expected anger. Maybe a confrontation, accusations. Instead, he did something she never saw coming.He smiled.Not the cold, sharp-edged smirk she had seen before. No. This was slow, almost lazy, as if he had unraveled some great truth.Linda hesitated, thrown off.“I must have worried you,” she murmured, masking her unease with a breathy chuckle. “You’ve been gone all night. What happened?”Alexander exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand through his hair. His posture, once stiff with controlled fury, now eased into something almost vulnerable.“I lost my temper,” he admitted, voice low, as if exhausted. “I’ve been chasing shadows, letting my emotions control me.”He took a step closer, and Linda held her breath. His tone had shifted—softer,
Alexander sat in the dimly lit study, eyes fixated on the laptop screen while Liam worked tirelessly beside him. Neither of them had slept.Sleep was a luxury they couldn’t afford—not when Ava was missing.The room was silent except for the sound of Liam’s fingers flying across the keyboard, searching through databases, cross-checking records, and digging deeper than ever before. Alexander’s mind, however, was in chaos. His chest was heavy, his thoughts dark.Ava had been acting off before she disappeared, and he had ignored it.Now, every interaction replayed in his head—her distant stares, her hesitation when she spoke, the way she avoided his touch. He should have paid more attention.Liam suddenly inhaled sharply, breaking the silence.“I found something,” he said, his voice tense.Alexander straightened, eyes sharp. “Talk.”Liam turned the laptop toward him. On the screen was a list of hotel logs, timestamps, and security reports.“The Mayfair Hotel,” Liam murmured. “She was ther
"I believe you are delighted to see me in here. I am the rightful madam of this mansion, and you will do all I tell you without an ounce of resistance. Did I make myself clear?"Linda’s voice rang through the grand living room, filled with arrogance. She sat comfortably on the luxurious couch, legs crossed, smirking as she addressed Monica, the housekeeper.Monica, an elderly woman who had been a part of the household for decades, stood still, her hands clasped together. Though her face remained neutral, there was defiance in her eyes. She had served this household with loyalty and care, and now, here was Linda—someone she never respected—demanding authority.The evil that has been circulating around her young master for years, and she was more than happy Ava became the wife because if not, things would never remain the same.Linda’s lips curled further at Monica’s silence. "I asked a question. Did I make myself clear?"Before Monica could respond, heavy footsteps echoed from the gran
The door to the mansion closed behind him with a soft thud, but the weight in Alexander's chest was anything but soft. His mind buzzed, reeling from the conversation with Linda. Her words echoed in his mind over and over, suffocating him, dragging him further down with each repetition."You betrayed her, Alexander. You had to know it would come to this."He stumbled through the grand hallway of the mansion, his footsteps heavy, dragging him toward the one place he had hoped he would never find himself again—the bedroom. But it was here, in the silence of the room, that his mind went blank. He leaned against the door frame, unable to fully process what Linda had said.“If only I had known.”The thought kept repeating itself like a mantra. He had been so consumed by his own insecurities, so lost in the façade of control, that he never stopped to consider the consequences of his actions.Had he truly betrayed Ava’s trust?The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. He could feel the
Alexander tapped his fingers restlessly on the couch, his jaw tightening with every passing second. His phone sat beside him, the screen dark. He had tried calling Ava more times than he could count in the last few hours, but now, the calls weren’t even going through.At first, she had ignored them—he was sure of it. The line had rung, but she never answered. Then, it had gone silent. No ring, no voicemail. Nothing.His frustration deepened. His mind ran in circles, conjuring worst-case scenarios.Where was she?Was she still angry? Had she booked a hotel just to get away from him?That was something Ava would do. She had a stubborn streak, and after their argument, he wouldn’t put it past her to stay out just to make a point.But—she should have at least texted.She knew he’d worry. She knew he wouldn’t rest until he knew she was safe.Alexander exhaled harshly, rubbing his temples. His patience was wearing thin, and so was his ability to stay calm.The house was eerily quiet except
Ava stepped out into the open air, inhaling deeply. The crisp morning breeze carried a hint of damp earth, mingling with the faint scent of gasoline from passing cars. The sky was a dull gray, heavy with clouds that threatened rain, but she barely noticed.Her head was a tangled mess, emotions running rampant like a storm she couldn’t control.Sliding into the driver’s seat of her car, she gripped the steering wheel, closing her eyes for a second. Breathe, Ava. Just breathe.She had left the house without a clear destination, but one thing was certain—she needed space. She needed clarity.And she wasn’t going to let things remain this messy.The engine purred to life, and she pulled onto the road, not speeding, not rushing—just driving. The city was awake, the streets filled with people who had their own struggles, their own battles.For the first time in days, she wasn’t drowning in the overwhelming pain of betrayal. Instead, she let herself think.Rewind.Everything started with Ale