After finishing the last of the cookies, Tommy leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his little face. I could see the gleam in his eyes as he looked up at me, his excitement barely contained. “Mommy, can we go swimming now? Please?” Tommy’s voice was eager, his small hands already reaching for mine. I glanced over at Richard, who was sitting across from us at the table. He had been unusually quiet during the meal, his gaze focused on the plate in front of him. The tension between us had been palpable ever since we moved back in together, but we had both made an effort for Tommy’s sake. Swimming together… that would be another test of our ability to coexist peacefully. Tommy’s request hung in the air for a moment, and I could see Richard’s hesitation. His brows furrowed slightly, and he opened his mouth as if to protest, but then he caught my eye. There was something in his expression—a mix of weariness and resignation—that made him pause. “Sure,
Han's POV I stood at the window, my breath shallow and uneven, watching them below as they splashed in the pool. Ava’s laughter rang out, pure and joyous, carried up to me by the gentle breeze that made the trees sway lazily. My nails dug into the palms of my hands, clenched into tight fists at my sides, as I struggled to keep the anger from boiling over. How could she be so carefree? How could she dare to enjoy this happiness when it should have been mine? My eyes narrowed, and I felt my jaw tighten as I saw Richard’s hand brush against Ava’s arm. A wave of jealousy surged through me, so intense that I had to bite down hard on my lip to keep from screaming. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I barely noticed it. All I could see was the way Richard looked at her, the softness in his gaze that once belonged to me. The scene below felt like a knife twisting in my gut, each moment of their happiness cutting deeper into my soul. I could feel the heat of my an
After finally putting Tommy to sleep, I tiptoed out of his room, gently closing the door behind me. It had been a long day, and the cool sheets of my bed beckoned to me. But first, I needed a hot shower to wash away the exhaustion that clung to my body. The remnants of chlorine from the pool clung to my skin, making me feel sticky and uncomfortable. As I walked to my room, the quiet of the house settled around me like a comforting blanket. Once inside my room, I peeled off my swimsuit and stepped into the shower. The hot water cascaded over my shoulders, soothing my tired muscles and washing away the tension that had built up throughout the day. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth sink into me, and tried not to think about Richard. It had been so long since he had come to my room, so long since we had shared anything more than polite conversation. The distance between us had grown wider with each passing day, and I had resigned myself to it, burying the hurt deep inside me w
Han's Pov I met up with him today. His face was marked by a deep, ugly scar that made him look even more menacing. He wasted no time getting to the point. "If you want me to carry out what you asked, I need the money," he said, his voice cold and demanding. I felt a surge of panic. "I don’t have any money right now," I replied, trying to sound firm, but my voice wavered. Without warning, his hand shot out and gripped my throat, cutting off my air. "Listen here," he snarled, tightening his hold, "if you don’t give me that money within the next three days, I’ll tell everyone how you killed your stepsister." Fear coursed through me, but anger flared up as well. I tried to push him away, gasping out, "Is it just me who killed her? We both did it! Don’t try to put all the blame on me!" He smirked, his grip still painfully tight around my neck. "You always think you’re so smart, don’t you? But here’s the thing—you’re not like me. I’ve been to prison before. I know how to get in a
Ava's Pov We were sitting on the living room floor, Tommy proudly showing me the collection of leaves he’d gathered at the park. His little hands were busy sorting them by size and color, his face glowing with excitement. Each leaf had a story, and he was eager to share them all with me. “This one,” Tommy said, holding up a bright red leaf, “is the best one, Mama. I found it right by the big tree where the squirrels play. Do you think we can keep it forever?” I smiled at his enthusiasm, gently brushing my fingers over the leaf. “Of course we can, sweetheart. We’ll press it between some heavy books and make sure it stays just as beautiful as it is now.” Tommy’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together. “Yay! I can’t wait to tell Papa when he comes back from his shower.” I nodded, but as I glanced up, my eyes caught the clock on the wall. My heart skipped a beat. It was almost two. “Tommy, I need to get ready for work,” I said, standing up quickly. I could see the slight dis
Ava's Pov I was exhausted after finishing my shift that evening, my feet aching from standing for hours. But there was a sense of satisfaction that came with clocking out as the night shift worker arrived to take over. I signed out and stepped through the front door of the restaurant, feeling the cool evening air wash over me. The city buzzed around me, the sounds of cars and distant conversations filling the air as I stood on the curb, waiting for a cab. I pulled my coat tighter around me, my thoughts drifting back to Richard and the argument we had earlier. His words still echoed in my mind, his controlling tone, the way he tried to dictate where I should work and who I should work for. Who does he think he is? The nerve of him to try and decide my life for me. Frustration bubbled up inside me, but I tried to push it down. This wasn’t the time to dwell on that. As I was lost in my thoughts, a sleek, black limousine suddenly pulled up in front of me, its tinted windows r
Han's Pov I was in the living room, flipping through a magazine, my mind elsewhere, when Richard called me to his study. His voice was icy, as always. I’d learned early on that he didn’t have feelings for me—he never had. I was just a pawn in his game, a tool to make his wife, Ava, jealous. But I’d hoped that, over time, I could change that. Now, as I made my way to his study, I felt a cold dread settle in my stomach. When I entered, Richard was sitting behind his desk, his expression unreadable. He didn’t even look up from the papers in front of him as I walked in. He simply gestured for me to sit. “Han,” he began, still not looking at me, “our arrangement is over.” The words hit me like a slap. I felt my heart drop, but I forced myself to stay composed. “What do you mean, over?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. He finally looked up, his eyes cold. “I mean, you no longer need to pretend to be my girlfriend. This… arrangement has served its purpose, and it’s ti
Ava's Pov I arrived home later that evening, the limousine that had kidnapped me earlier to my father's house now dropping me off. I stepped out of the car and watched as it sped off before walking into Richard's house I was still seething from the morning’s confrontation with Richard. And the entire ride had given me too much time to think, and my anger had only simmered and grown. Though I understand that he was concerned about me but his choice of words this morning had seriously annoyed me. As I entered the house, I immediately noticed Richard sitting at the dining table, typing away on his laptop. The sight of him, so engrossed in his work, only made my blood boil further. How could he act so normal after everything that had happened this morning? I clenched my fists and decided to ignore him. Without a word, I started to walk towards the stairs. But just as I placed my foot on the first step, I felt a strong hand grab my arm and whirl me around. Before I could e
Ava's Pov The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bustling household. The once-quiet home had transformed into a lively battleground, where the daily routines of life were anything but mundane. The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallways as Ava scrambled to get her children ready for the day."Tommy, come here, sweetie," Ava called out as she fastened the straps on his backpack. Tommy, now eight years old and full of energy, ran over to her with an excited grin on his face."Are you ready for school, my big boy?" Ava asked, ruffling his hair."Yes, Mommy! I can't wait to show my friends the new toy Daddy got me," Tommy replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.Ava smiled, her heart swelling with pride as she knelt to help him adjust his backpack. "That’s my boy. Remember to listen to your teacher and be nice to your friends, okay?"Tommy nodded eagerly. "I will, Mommy!"As she finished with Tommy, Ava’s attention was suddenly drawn
Richard's Pov I had just finished filling the tub with warm water when Ava stepped in, letting out a sigh of relief as the warmth enveloped her swollen body. Mornings like this had become our little ritual, a time for her to relax and ease some of the discomfort that came with carrying three babies. I could tell she appreciated it, even if she didn’t say so outright. I grabbed the washcloth and gently started to soap her back, moving slowly, knowing how sensitive she’d become in these final weeks. Ava leaned forward, resting her head on her arms, eyes closed, a faint smile playing on her lips. “This feels amazing,” she murmured, her voice a soft whisper. “I could stay here all day.” “Maybe you should,” I teased lightly. “I can bring you breakfast, lunch, and dinner right here in the tub.” She chuckled, a sound that always managed to brighten my day, no matter how stressed or tired I was. “Tempting, but I think I’d turn into a prune if I stayed in here that long.” I laughed, a
Richard's Pov As I sat in the waiting room, time seemed to stretch into an eternity. The minutes dragged on like hours, and the silence in the hospital was deafening. The bright, sterile lights overhead did nothing to calm my nerves, and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall only served to heighten my anxiety. I had been here for three hours, and the night had fully descended, casting a heavy darkness outside the windows. The only thing I could focus on was the fact that Ava was still unconscious, and I had no idea what was wrong. I replayed the events of the evening in my head over and over again. The way Ava had suddenly gone limp in my arms, her eyes fluttering shut, and how she hadn't responded to my frantic attempts to wake her. The memory of it made my heart pound in my chest, fear gripping me like a vice. I couldn't shake the image of her pale face, her body so still and lifeless. What if something was seriously wrong? What if she never woke up? The thought was
Ava's Pov The door creaked as we stepped into the dark room, the air heavy with a damp, metallic scent. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my face neutral. Richard had asked me not to cause any trouble, and I intended to keep that promise, even though every fiber of my being screamed at me to run. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls, making the space feel even more oppressive. I could barely make out the figure in the center of the room. My breath hitched when I saw him. Matthew. My ex-husband from my past life, tied to a chair, his head slumped forward. Blood dripped from various wounds on his body, pooling on the cold, concrete floor beneath him. The sight made my stomach churn, but I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. How could this man—this monster—still have such a hold on my life? Was he so hell-bent on ruining everything for me, both in the past and now? I had thought I was done with him after I ensured he was sent to the correctional cente
Ava's Pov I woke up to an empty bed. The sheets beside me were cold, a clear sign that Richard had been gone for a while. I rolled over, my mind still foggy from sleep, and tried to shake off the unease that settled in my chest. I remembered how exhausted I felt last night, how I had fallen asleep almost instantly after... Well, after everything. Richard had seemed concerned, but I had brushed it off as nothing. But now, as I lay there alone, something felt wrong. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, hoping for some kind of distraction. Just as I picked it up, it buzzed in my hand. A notification. I frowned, wondering who would be messaging me so early. When I unlocked the screen, my heart stopped. It was a video message from an unknown number. My hands trembled as I tapped the screen, my breath caught in my throat. The video began to play, and my world tilted. "Ma-Mama... Papa, please... I'm scared." Tommy’s tiny voice trembled through the speaker, and I felt
Ava's Pov The moment we stepped off the plane and into the warm Hawaiian breeze, I could hardly contain my excitement. My eyes widened as I took in the stunning view of the island, and I turned to Richard, practically bouncing on my toes. "Richard, you never told me we're spending our honeymoon in Hawaii!" I exclaimed, my voice full of surprise and delight. Richard flashed that charming smile of his, the one that always made my heart skip a beat. "Yeah, that’s the advantage of being married to me. You get to experience different surprises," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. I couldn't help but let out a little squeal of joy as I grabbed his arm, squeezing it tight. "You do realize this means you're going to have to keep surprising me like this for the rest of our lives, right?" He chuckled, pulling me close to him as we began walking down the road towards our hotel. "I wouldn’t have it any other way." As we made our way through the bustling streets, I felt like a ch
Ava's Pov The day had finally arrived. After three months of meticulous planning, every detail was in place, and yet, despite the joy that should have filled my heart, I couldn't shake the chills running through my body. This was my second marriage—one from a past life and now this present one. The thought of walking down the aisle again felt surreal. I stood in front of the mirror, my reflection showing a woman who had endured so much, yet still managed to find happiness again. The delicate lace of my gown hugged my figure perfectly, but it was the nervousness in my eyes that stood out the most. My father—well, the father of this body, the man who had become like a real father to me—appeared at the doorway. He had been the one to support me through everything, and now, he would be the one to lead me down the aisle. He walked over, his expression a mix of pride and emotion. “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve
Ava's Pov We were nestled comfortably on the couch, watching a rerun of one of my favorite shows. Richard had been quiet all evening, but there was a certain energy about him, something that made me feel like he was up to something. “I invited Nana to stay over,” Richard suddenly said, breaking the silence. I turned to look at him, confused. “Why? Are we going somewhere?” He nodded, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint that always intrigued me. “Yes, we are.” I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. “Richard, I’m really tired. I don’t feel like going out.” He tilted his head, concern touching his features. “Why? Is something wrong?” I shook my head quickly, not wanting to worry him. “No, it’s nothing. I just… don’t feel like it today.” Richard’s expression softened, and then a slow smile spread across his face. “What if I told you there’s a surprise waiting for you?” My fatigue seemed to melt away instantly, replaced by curiosity. I straightened up on the couch,
Ava's Pov The soft rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, gently nudging me awake. I was lying there, cocooned in the warmth of my blankets, when a delightful aroma wafted through the air, teasing my senses. The smell was intoxicating—a rich, savory scent mingled with something sweet and buttery. I inhaled deeply, savoring it, and slowly blinked my eyes open. My gaze fell on Richard, who was standing at the foot of the bed, watching me with an amused smile. His eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and he held a tray of food in his hands. "I knew you'd wake up the moment you caught a whiff of this," he teased, his voice low and smooth. A playful smile tugged at my lips as I stretched lazily, my body still half-asleep but my mind fully awake. "You know me too well," I murmured, pushing myself up to sit against the headboard. "But you also know that I don’t really fuss over food like this… unless it’s something special." Richard chuckled and walked around to