I woke up to the gentle warmth of Richard's arm wrapped around me. I smiled sleepily as I felt his lips brush against my temple, a tender gesture that made my heart flutter. "Morning," he murmured, his voice still husky from sleep. He kissed me again, this time on the cheek, and then trailed his lips down to the corner of my mouth. “Morning,” I replied, leaning into his embrace. His kisses grew bolder, more insistent, and soon we were lost in a series of good morning kisses, each one more intense than the last. As we finally pulled away, he looked at me with a playful smirk. "So, aren’t you going to work today?" I shook my head, a small grin tugging at my lips. "Nope, I’m off today. No rushing out of bed this morning." His smirk widened, and he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Then how about we go to the park? Just the two of us?" I felt a spark of excitement at the idea. "That sounds nice," I agreed, already imagining a peaceful day in the sun with hi
Ava's Pov The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room as I hurried to get ready for my first day at Richard’s company. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves. I’d insisted on starting at the bottom, as an assistant in the fashion department, despite Richard’s many pleas that I choose something else—anything else. But I was determined to prove that I could stand on my own two feet, even if it meant enduring a few grueling days. Richard knocked softly on the door and stepped inside, dressed in one of his perfectly tailored suits. He looked every bit the powerful CEO he was, but I could see the concern etched on his face. “Are you sure about this?” he asked for what felt like the hundredth time. I glanced at him through the mirror as I finished applying my lipstick. “I’m sure,” I replied firmly. “I need to do this, Richard. I need to prove to myself that I can handle it.” He sighed and moved closer, placing his hands on my should
Ava's Pov I jolted awake, the feel of Richard’s hand gently tapping my leg pulling me from the depths of sleep. My eyes blinked open, struggling to adjust to the dim light of the living room. Richard was leaning over me, his face a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Ava,” he said softly, his voice laced with worry. “Why are you sleeping here? You should be in bed.” I groaned, my body feeling heavy and sluggish. “I must’ve dozed off... I was so tired,” I mumbled, trying to sit up. But the moment I did, a wave of nausea hit me like a freight train. My stomach churned violently, and before I could think, I clamped a hand over my mouth and bolted from the couch. Richard was right behind me as I raced to the nearest bathroom. I barely made it in time, collapsing in front of the toilet as my stomach emptied its contents with brutal force. The sound of my retching filled the small space, and tears sprang to my eyes from the intensity of it. Richard knelt beside me, his hand rubbing soot
Ava's Pov I woke up feeling a familiar queasiness gnawing at my stomach. Before I could even open my eyes fully, the sensation became too much to bear. I threw the covers off and bolted to the bathroom, barely making it in time before everything I had in me came rushing out. As I knelt by the toilet, trying to catch my breath, I heard Richard’s concerned voice behind me. “Ava, what’s going on? Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I glanced up at him. “I don’t know… Maybe it’s just something I ate, or… maybe it’s the stress,” I muttered, still feeling the lingering effects of nausea. Richard wasn’t buying it. His brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms, leaning against the bathroom door. “This isn’t just stress. This has been happening too often. I’m not settling for that excuse anymore. I’m booking a doctor’s appointment. We’re going today.” The firmness in his voice took me by surprise. But as much as I wanted to get checked, the thought of missing work made my stomach ch
Ava's Pov As I walked out of the hospital, I couldn’t stop thinking about how this could have happened. Pregnant. Again. My hand instinctively went to the scar from my last miscarriage. That pregnancy wasn’t really mine—I had been reborn into this body, carrying the trauma of being raped. But this child, the one growing inside me now, was different. It was mine and Richard's, conceived in love The thought made my heart ache with fear. Could I handle this? Could I protect this life? Lost in these thoughts, I barely noticed the van screeching to a halt in front of me until three masked men jumped out, surrounding me before I could react. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice trembling. They didn’t answer, only moved in closer. Panic surged through me. Before I could scream, they grabbed me, lifting me off the ground and shoving me into the van. My cries for help were cut off as they sealed my mouth with tape and tied my hands. Inside the van, I struggled against the rop
Richard’s POV The house was a wreck. Or maybe it was just me. I couldn't tell anymore. My head was spinning, my vision blurred, and the stench of whiskey hung in the air, mingling with the stale odor of neglect. Empty bottles littered the floor, remnants of countless nights spent drowning in alcohol, hoping to numb the pain that clawed at my chest. I staggered across the living room, the world tilting with every step. My legs felt like they were made of lead, each movement heavy and unsteady. I reached for the bottle on the coffee table, my hand trembling as I lifted it to my lips. The burn of the whiskey as it slid down my throat was the only thing that felt real anymore, the only thing that reminded me I was still alive. How long had it been? Weeks? Months? Time had lost all meaning. Every day bled into the next, a relentless cycle of emptiness and despair. I’d done everything—called in every favor, dug into every dark corner of the underworld I knew, even begged for help f
Ava’s POV How long had it been? Days? Weeks? Months? Time had lost all meaning in this hellish place. The darkness was absolute, a suffocating blanket that pressed in on me from all sides, erasing the edges of my reality. The only indication that time was passing at all was the faint, muffled clink of the metal tray as food was slid through the slot in the door—once a day, or at least, I thought it was once a day. Even that was uncertain. I sat in the corner of the cold, damp room, my back pressed against the rough concrete wall. My legs were pulled up to my chest, my arms wrapped around my knees as I tried to keep warm. The thin, ragged dress I wore did little to protect me from the chill that seeped through the stone floor. My hair hung in limp, dirty strands around my face, a far cry from the carefully styled locks I once took pride in. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d bathed. The smell of sweat and fear clung to me, mingling with the stale odor of the room, a smell I
Richard's POV Eight months. Eight long, torturous months since I last saw Ava. My mind barely registered the passing days anymore, each one bleeding into the next as the hope of finding her slowly slipped through my fingers. Yet here we were, on the way to a dilapidated car house, following a lead that might finally bring an end to this nightmare. The private detective we hired had finally come through, trailing Han’s every move. It turned out she had been visiting this particular place frequently, always cautious, always looking over her shoulder as if she knew someone might be watching. I felt like a fool for not thinking of it sooner, for not piecing together the clues that were now so glaringly obvious. How many times had I gone over every possible scenario in my head, only to overlook this crucial detail? The car bounced along the uneven road, the worn tires struggling against the gravel. Ava's father, a stoic man whose presence had become a strange comfort du
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