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 wasnât her world. The flashing cameras, the whispers behind delicate fan-shaped hands, the ostentatious displays of wealthâit all felt so foreign to her.But LindaâĶ 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 wasnât trying.Ava watched Linda from the edge of the crowd, her stomach twisting with a mixture of dread and curiosity. Linda was a forceâimpossible to ignore. But Ava didnât need to guess what Linda was up to. She could feel it in the air, the way t
The gala, once a celebration, had quickly become a circus. Ava stood just inside the grand hall, watching the chaos unfold around her. The room buzzed with gossip, whispers cutting through the air like knives. News of the alleged troubles in her marriage to Alexander had spread like wildfire, and now, she was the star of the eveningâthough not for the reasons anyone had hoped. Lindaâs attack had only fueled the fire, and Ava could feel every set of eyes on her as she took a slow, deliberate breath.She straightened her back, forcing herself to stand taller, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor as she walked past a row of reporters. Their cameras flashed at her with relentless speed, eager to catch a glimpse of the woman they saw as a victim, as the trembling wife of the infamous Alexander. But Ava wasnât the woman they thought they knew. She wasnât the woman who would cower or give them a scandal. Not tonight.Ava could hear snippets of conversation as she moved through th
Ava sat in the lavishly decorated room, her fingers lightly tapping on the table. It had been three years since the fallout with Alexander, and everything had changed. The tension between them was palpable, but so was the undeniable pull that had always existed. Alexander had spent the past months trying to make amends, trying to prove that he was no longer the man who had disregarded her.Tonight, he stood in front of her, the weight of his past actions evident in his eyes. âAva,â he began, his voice steady but with an underlying vulnerability, âI know Iâve hurt you, more than I can ever put into words. Iâm not asking for forgiveness overnight, but I need you to understandâĶ Iâm not the same person I was before.âAva didnât respond immediately. Her gaze was unwavering as she took in his words, his sincerity. She could see the effort, but there was still a part of her that hesitated. After everything, could she truly believe him again?âWhat are you going to do about Linda?â Ava asked,
The tension between Ava and Alexander had shifted in the last few weeks, but tonight felt like the true turning point. With each passing day, Alexander had fought to prove his sincerity, and Ava couldnât help but notice the subtle changes in him. His once hardened exterior had softened, his words had become more genuine, and there was an undeniable effort to meet her halfway.As they sat in the same lavishly decorated room where theyâd shared so many memories, Avaâs mind wandered, the silence between them a reflection of the years they had spent apart. She glanced at Alexander, who was sitting across from her, his posture straight, yet there was an underlying vulnerability in his eyes. He hadnât always been the man sheâd hoped for, but now, just maybe, he was becoming the man she needed.âYou donât have to keep doing this, you know,â Ava said, breaking the silence. Her voice was softer than she intended, but it was an honesty she felt she needed to offer. âYouâve already made your cho
Ava stood before the mirror, brushing her hair with deliberate strokes. Each movement was a rhythm she clung to amidst the chaos of her thoughts. She stared at her reflectionâthe woman she had become: stronger, colder, yet yearning for the warmth she had long denied herself.A soft knock interrupted her musings."Ava?" Alexander's voice came from the other side. His tone was differentâuncertain.She sighed, walked over, and opened the door. Alexander stood there, his eyes dark with something she couldn't place."I couldn't sleep," he said, his voice low. "Can we talk?"Ava folded her arms. "About what?"He stepped closer, but not enough to invade her space. "About... us. About what happened."Her heart tightened. "We've talked enough, Alexander. Words aren't enough."His eyes flickered with pain, but he pressed on. "Then let me show you."Before she could respond, he moved closer and cupped her face gently. His thumb brushed her cheek, and for a moment, she let herself soften. She had
The moonlight streamed through the glass panels of the balcony, casting a silvery glow over Avaâs figure. She leaned against the railing, a thin shawl draped over her shoulders, her thoughts adrift. The city below was alive with activity, but Ava felt disconnected, her energy drained by an invisible weight.For weeks, her body had been betraying herâwaves of nausea, sudden dizziness, and a sharp aversion to the foods she once loved. Ava chalked it up to exhaustion. After all, navigating her fragile marriage to Alexander while adjusting to her new life was no small feat.The sound of the door opening behind her broke her reverie. Ava turned to see Alexander standing there, his crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He wasnât in his usual composed stance; instead, his brows were slightly furrowed, his gaze softer than usual.âYouâve been out here for a while,â he said, stepping closer.âI needed some air,â she replied, offering a small smile.Alexanderâs eyes lingered on her, as th
Ava sat on the edge of the bed, her hands resting lightly on her abdomen, her mind racing. The news she had received earlier that day was still a blur. Her mind struggled to wrap around the reality of it all. She had felt the change, the shift in her body, the strange sensation growing within her. And now, she was certainâshe was pregnant. The weight of the realization was too much to bear, too much to grasp all at once. How could everything change so suddenly? Was she ready for this? Was they ready for this?The room around her felt strangely still. She glanced at the clock, noting how much time had passed since she had learned the news. It seemed like an eternity, but in reality, it was only a matter of hours. Hours that had stretched endlessly as she tried to process everything. She had come back into Alexanderâs life just three years ago, hoping for a fresh start, a new beginning. But here she was, facing another unexpected twist, a new chapter in a story that had been anything bu
Ava stood in front of the full-length mirror in their bedroom, the soft morning light filtering through the blinds, casting long shadows across the floor. Her reflection showed a woman on the edge of a new chapter. There was no denying it nowâher life was changing in ways she hadn't fully processed. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, the subtle swell a constant reminder of the life growing inside her. Her heart fluttered at the thought.She was pregnant.The weight of the word still felt surreal. She had always been the one in control, the doctor who could solve any problem, who had all the answers. But this... this was different. This wasnât something she could just fix with science or experience. This was something completely outside her realm of control. It was raw, unpredictable, and so deeply personal.Turning around, she found Alexander leaning against the doorframe, watching her quietly. His presence always had a way of grounding her, calming the storm of emotions she
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 couldnât help but feel a growing sense of anxiety creeping in. He wasnât scared of the responsibility. He was terrified of losing themâAva, 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.âHey baby, Iâm almost home. You donâtâĶâ His voice trailed off as the car
Avaâs eyes fluttered open, the harsh hospital lights blinding her for a moment. Her head felt heavy, and her limbs felt foreign, as if they didnât 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 wasâAlexander. 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.âAva,â he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. âYouâre awake.âAva 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 metallicâblood, perhaps. Her head throbbed like it had been split in two, and her limbs felt like they didnât 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 wasnât Lindaâs beauty that made Avaâs stomach churnâit was the expression on her face.She had won. And she knew it."Finally awake?" Lindaâs voice dripped with amusement, her arms crossed as she studied Ava like a cat watching a wounded bi
Lindaâs 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 couldnât 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.âI must have worried you,â she murmured, masking her unease with a breathy chuckle. âYouâve been gone all night. What happened?âAlexander exhaled deeply, rubbing a hand through his hair. His posture, once stiff with controlled fury, now eased into something almost vulnerable.âI lost my temper,â he admitted, voice low, as if exhausted. âIâve been chasing shadows, letting my emotions control me.âHe took a step closer, and Linda held her breath. His tone had shiftedâsofter,
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 couldnât affordânot when Ava was missing.The room was silent except for the sound of Liamâs fingers flying across the keyboard, searching through databases, cross-checking records, and digging deeper than ever before. Alexanderâs 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 headâher 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.âI found something,â he said, his voice tense.Alexander straightened, eyes sharp. âTalk.âLiam turned the laptop toward him. On the screen was a list of hotel logs, timestamps, and security reports.âThe Mayfair Hotel,â Liam murmured. âShe 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?"Lindaâs 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 Lindaâsomeone she never respectedâdemanding 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.Lindaâs lips curled further at Monicaâs 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 againâthe 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.âIf only I had known.âThe 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 Avaâs 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 werenât even going through.At first, she had ignored themâhe 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 wouldnât put it past her to stay out just to make a point.Butâshe should have at least texted.She knew heâd worry. She knew he wouldnât 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 couldnât control.Sliding into the driverâs 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 certainâshe needed space. She needed clarity.And she wasnât going to let things remain this messy.The engine purred to life, and she pulled onto the road, not speeding, not rushingâjust 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 wasnât drowning in the overwhelming pain of betrayal. Instead, she let herself think.Rewind.Everything started with Ale