Alexander lay beside Ava, his arm securely wrapped around her as she slept. He had already instructed Monica to prepare something light in case Ava woke up hungry later. She had barely eaten anything before going to bed, and knowing her, she might wake up in the middle of the night craving food.But despite the warmth of Ava in his arms, Alexander’s mind was far from peaceful. Linda. The name alone made his jaw tighten. Her constant messages, the late-night calls, the way she clung to the past like it was all she had—it was draining him. He had to find a way to put an end to it for good.Yet, deep down, he hesitated. He knew Linda wasn’t in a good place. She had her own demons to fight, and a part of him felt guilty for wanting to cut her off completely. But then he glanced down at Ava, who sighed softly in her sleep, and he knew where his priorities lay.Sighing, Alexander closed his eyes. He tightened his grip on Ava, pulling her closer, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest
The night air carried a faint chill, mingling with the soft hum of the city beyond the towering glass walls of the penthouse suite. Dim lights cast long shadows across the luxurious space, flickering like ghosts on the smooth marble floors. It was the perfect stage for a well-orchestrated plan, one that had been carefully set in motion long before tonight.Linda stood near the window, her slender fingers lightly tracing the rim of a wine glass. Her lips curled into a smirk as she turned her gaze toward the man standing across the room.Alexander.She had him right where she wanted him.He was as guarded as ever, his sharp eyes scanning the room with suspicion, but that didn’t matter. He had made a mistake coming here, and soon, he would realize just how grave of a mistake it was.Alexander didn’t know what awaited him, the trap set in delicate precision. He thought he was here to put an end to things, to erase the blackmail that had kept him tethered to her grasp. But Linda had no int
Ava ran, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird desperate for escape. The cold marble floor barely registered beneath her bare feet as she fled down the hallway, her vision blurred by the tears streaming down her face.Her sobs were muffled, strangled by the lump in her throat.She didn't stop until she reached the master bedroom. All instincts gone , has she forgot that she was pregnant.Slamming the door shut behind her, she fumbled with the lock, twisting it with shaky fingers. The soft click echoed in the silence, a fragile barrier between her and the man on the other side.Alexander.He was already there.She could feel him pressing against the door, his presence suffocating even without sight. His voice was urgent, pleading. "Ava, open the door. Please. Let me explain."But she didn’t want to hear it.All of it—lies.He had told her he was heading out to finalize their vacation plans. A vacation that was meaningless now. How had he ended up with Linda instead? T
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
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
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
"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
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
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