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 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 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 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
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
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 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