Ava thought her life couldn't get worse after being sold into marriage to save her family-until her fiancé faked his death, leaving her trapped in a marriage with his father. Now, she's forced into a marriage with the same man who betrayed her, the infuriatingly handsome Orion, who wants nothing to do with her... or so he claims. But danger is never far. Orion's vengeful mistress, Chloe, is determined to ruin Ava's life, while the charming and mysterious Mason offers her an escape-but at what cost? As shocking truths unravel and Chloe shows up pregnant for Orion, Ava must navigate a deadly game of love, lies, and betrayal. Will Ava flee for her freedom and life, or will the lies and betrayal surrounding Orion destroy her once and for all? Can Orion reclaim his bride?
View More“In the name of God the father, the son and the holy spirit, amen,” the priest prayed.
It all sounded like a whispered echo to Ava. Ava's world just turned darker. Not once has she ever seen the world as a beautiful place since her mother died. Her father became addicted to gambling, drinking and whoring around, abandoning Ava and her younger sister Holly. That was how he sold off their properties and sold her off as well. At least she was sold off to a billionaire, although he's considered a monster among everyone in town. Ava didn't care, as long as her sister would receive the best treatment for her leukemia. Nothing prepared her to be wearing black on her wedding day. Nothing prepared her to be standing by the graveside. She watched as people ran for shade as heavy rain began to pour. But why would she run from rain? Her life is already flooded. Ava stood still as the water cascaded all over her body. Her dress plastered to her body, revealing every curve and every line but she didn't care. She stared into the grave of the man she was supposed to get married to today. Into the grave of Orion Miller. Her eyes shifted to the diamond ring on her finger and tears poured out uncontrollably. The ring was mailed to her two nights ago. Mr Miller didn't even bother to propose to her in person. She didn't even know what he looked like. All her father told her was that he wasn't so bad looking. Ava thought back to the hours she waited, standing in front of all the guests and he never showed up. But the News of his accident came bursting through the door instead. Ava thought back to the minutes that she paced around the hospital in her white plain wedding dress, waiting for the doctor to come out with news about the surgery, which seemed to take forever. “You witch!!” A furious looking woman barked, slapping her hard across the face, “If I had known it would be bad luck getting my son married to a beggar like you I would not have agreed to the deal your stupid father offered,” she yelled with so much venom. Ava just stood still, her expression blank. She silently prayed for Mr Miller to be OK. At least, that would save her from the wrath of her father and this woman. But fate was not on her side. This would have been her way out of this nightmare called life. Her thoughts briefly went to her sister, Holly. How would she cope now? Will they be thrown out onto the street? Her father made it clear that she should not return. In his words, “My new woman is not in support of accommodating two strangers.” Here she was. A twenty four year old young bride, mourning on her wedding day. Ava looked up at the sky and laughed out crazily. Fate must be some twisted old woman who derives joy in watching her suffer. People started leaving the graveyard, one after the other. She was left standing, alone. With no where else in mind, Ava left. She walked barefooted to the hospital, drenched in rain. She couldn't let her sister see her this way. “Excuse…me nurse Linda?” she stammered in a croaked voice, “Please can I get something dry to put on? I don't want my sister to see me this way,” she pleaded with tears streaming down her face. “Of course baby. But it might be a bit bigger on you,” she said lightly, rushing to her side and squeezing Ava’s shoulders in a comforting gesture. Nurse Linda has been nothing but kind to them since Holly was first admitted to the hospital. She took her to the restroom and gave her a gown to wear. It didn't even fit in any way. Ava didn't care. She thanked the nurse and went to her sister’s room. “Ava!!” Holly cried out excitedly when she saw her sister, “Why did you come here? You should be on your way to Paris maybe? Wearing a classy dress, looking like a princess and…” Ava’s thoughts drifted away. Her sister was more excited about this wedding than she was. Anything that will get them out of their father's clutches. “Ava?” Holly called, yanking her sister softly, “What's wrong? Why are you here alone dressed like that? Where's my brother in-law?” Ava couldn't hide it anymore. She bursted out crying. Her sister joined in and they sobbed for a while. “So what are we going to do now? Where are we going? Nurse Linda said father hasn't paid the bills and that I can't stay here any longer.” Ava squeezed her sister's hand. Holly shouldn't be concerned about all these. She's just 14!! The more Ava thought about her father, the more her hatred for him grew. He's not a father. He's a selfish monster. “I'll figure a way, Holly. Don't worry about it,” Ava whispered to her sister and hugged her tightly. Fate is a monster. Ava didn't know she slept off on the hospital bed with her sister. The slap on her thigh jerked her off the bed in shock. “You witch! To think you would be sleeping, having a little get together with your dying sister, when my son lay dead is preposterous!!” “Don't you dare say that about my sister. She's not dying,” Ava retorted, getting off the bed and meeting her supposed mother in-law's eyes squarely. “How dare you raise your voice at me?” the woman barked and slapped her. “Leave my sister alone!” Holly cried. “Pathetic!” the woman spat. “You bunch of sorry losers are pathetic. And to think I was doing your father a favor?” the woman raged. She was bereaved. Ava understood. But she had her own fair share of misfortune as well. “Ma, you can't do this here, this is a hospital,” a nurse said politely to Mrs Miller. “I can buy this entire hospital and every staff in it with just a flick of my finger so be quiet!” she barked at the nurse who cowered back immediately. Ava’s eyes were swollen with tears. She stared down at her feet. She was still barefooted. Could this day get any worse? “How do you intend paying me back? I can't lose so much money for a pathetic family like yours.” Just then, Ava noticed the figure of an older man, leaning by the door. He had a walking stick supporting his steps as he limped forward. He looked Ava over like some object to be auctioned away. “Well, well, well, if it ain't my dead son’s fiancee,” he blurted out. “Not now Richard. What are you even doing here,” Mrs Miller scowled. “Well it's my money involved, not yours Priscilla and I know just how to get it back,” he retorted with a sick smile. Ava clamped her palms together. What could this scrawny looking man have for her? She bit down on her lips nervously, glancing towards her sister's tear streaked face. “Since it's a wedding deal, it has to go ahead as planned,” he continued, with the crazy smile still dancing on his lips. “What do you mean by that Richard? We only had one son!” she retorted, through gritted teeth. “Yes. She would be marrying me,” he replied in a voice that made the hair on Ava’s neck stand.Ava’s POVThe crisp autumn breeze carried the scent of fallen leaves as I stood before Richard’s tomb, dressed in a flowing white dress that billowed around my ankles. It had been over two years since the chaos, since the battles that tested our strength, our love, and our resilience. Two years since we lost the man who gave me—gave all of us—a new chance at life. A chance at love, at family, at something real. I felt a gentle press against my hand and turned slightly, meeting the warm gaze of my mother-in-law. Without words, I passed her a knowing smile and squeezed her hand back. We had arranged this ceremony not to mourn, but as a reunion. A day to celebrate Richard’s life rather than grieve his absence. Laughter and quiet conversations floated through the cemetery as familiar faces gathered. Holly stood a few feet away, her phone in hand, a small, amused smile playing on her lips as she typed away. I narrowed my eyes, curiosity sparking in my chest. Was she texting… a boy? I
Epilogue Orion stood alone on the balcony of the penthouse, the cool morning air brushing against his skin as his thoughts drifted to the past. He had sold the mansion—the one he and Ava once called home. The memories that filled those walls had become too painful to bear. The haunting image of that particular morning played in his mind, unbidden and relentless. Ava in his arms, blood staining her dress as she struggled to breathe, coughing up blood. “Don’t talk, Ava. Please… just stay with me. Somebody get the ambulance!” His frantic cries echoed in his ears as the paramedics wheeled her away, her weak hand reaching out, telling him with her eyes to let her go. Despite the terror in his chest, he listened to her wish and watched her leave, helpless to follow. Uncle Theo had dragged him away, his voice hollow, urging him to pull himself together. “Ava, your wife, will want you here,” Theo had said. Those words, heavy with unspoken meaning, drove him to storm into the conference ha
Ava’s POVThe incessant ringing of our phones jolted us awake. I stirred, unwilling to leave the warmth of Orion's arms. He hesitated for a moment before reaching for his phone on the headboard. His body stiffened as he listened to whoever was on the other end. Suddenly, he shot upright. “What do you mean by that?” he barked into the phone, his tone sharp and commanding. My curiosity piqued, I sat up and watched him intently. “Schedule a meeting for today,” he ordered before tossing the phone aside and raking his hand through his disheveled hair. “What happened?” I asked, my voice cautious. He turned to look at me, his expression softening. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, just some… minor concern at my company,” he replied, placing a reassuring kiss on my hand. His lips then trailed from my hand to my arm, my shoulder, my neck, and finally to my ear. “Stop,” I said, smiling as I half-heartedly pushed him away. But before things could go further, my own phone rang. Orion
Orion’s POV“Holly?” I called out, my voice laced with shock. Ava’s head snapped toward the door, and in an instant, she was on her feet, rushing to her sister. Pulling Holly into a tight embrace, Ava clung to her as if letting go would make her disappear. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. “What happened? Why are you crying?” Holly asked, her voice filled with confusion. “I just missed you,” Ava whispered, her voice soft but thick with emotion. Rose stepped forward, her brow furrowed. “Holly, why are you here so suddenly? Your bodyguard didn’t notify me about this visit.” Holly’s next words landed like a thunderclap. “That’s because he’s dead.” “What?” Ava gasped, pulling back from her sister. Her posture straightened as the words sank in. “What do you mean? What happened? When did this happen?” she asked, her voice rising with urgency. Holly’s gaze dropped, her hands trembling as she whispered, “It’s Dad.” She looked directly at Ava, fear etched
Orion’s POVCradling Ava's limp form against me, her body cold and still, the past week came crashing into my mind like a relentless tide, dragging me back to the darkest moments. Chloe’s voice, as clear as if she were standing right here, played over and over in my head.I closed my eyes, fighting the flood of memories, but they came anyway. The first time she’d called after the scandal had faded—her calm, unnervingly calculated tone—it had felt like the beginning of something dangerous. Something insidious.“I want you there at six,” she'd threatened, her voice oozing venom masked as sweetness. “Or I’ll make sure this goes public. Think I’m bluffing? I’ve got a video that’ll destroy you, Orion. Imagine how she’ll react when she sees it. All those nights... How do you think she’ll feel watching our sex video?”The poison in her words sank into my skin, the memory of that call still fresh. “Remember Chicago?” Chloe had murmured, her breath deliberate, every word a careful caress. “I
Ava’s POV Mason.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice curious as soon as the door clicked shut behind him. He didn’t respond, but only walked further into the room.“I was just about to call you, but…” My words trailed off as I took in his appearance. He was still wearing the same turtleneck and coat I’d seen him in yesterday. In the middle of summer. I frowned. "Mason, it’s sweltering outside. Why are you still dressed like this? You could at least lose the coat. I know this is a corporate setting, but I would never question you even if you didn’t dress so formally.”Mason smirked faintly, brushing off my comment, but before he could respond, Orion spoke, his voice laced with suspicion and accusation. “Why are you wearing so many layers in this weather?” He stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking its prey. “Orion,” I warned, my tone firm. “That’s enough.” Mason’s smirk twisted into a sneer as he locked eyes with Orion. “You don’t
Ava's POV The morning sunlight streamed through my office window, illuminating the stack of damning documents on my desk. Photos, doctored emails, and fabricated accusations stared back at me, each one a calculated attempt to tarnish my name and shake the foundations of Miller Enterprise. Rose hovered nearby, her face pale with worry. "Ava," she began, her voice trembling. "This... this is catastrophic. It's worse than anything we've ever faced." I remained seated, my face calm and unreadable. “They’re emptying their rifles,” I said, my voice steady, almost amused. Orion paced behind me, his tension radiating like a storm waiting to break. “Ava, this isn’t just about you,” he said sharply. “This is bigger. They’re coming for the company. They’re coming for us.” I raised a hand, silencing him. “Orion, stop.” He froze mid-step, turning to face me. “How can you be so calm? Do you even realize what’s at stake?” “I do,” I replied, standing and brushing off my blazer. “And I k
The city skyline shimmered like a chessboard under the moonlight, each glowing tower representing a player in this corporate war. While Chloe plotted her revenge, the Jamesons were orchestrating their own calculated strike, a move that would send shockwaves through Miller Enterprise before the Millers even knew what hit them. The Jameson estate exuded an aura of unrelenting power. The sprawling grounds, with their pristine gardens and wrought-iron gates, were more fortress than home, a testament to the family’s wealth and ruthless ambition. Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was no warmer. The study, with its dark oak paneling and looming bookshelves, felt like the nerve center of a war room. Mr. Jameson sat behind the massive desk, his piercing eyes scanning a confidential file. The dim light from the desk lamp cast long, jagged shadows on the walls, amplifying the tension in the room. A glass of bourbon sat untouched beside him, condensation pooling on its surface. Mrs. Jameso
Ava’s POVThe moment I saw the figure step into view, cloaked in black with their face obscured by a mask, my blood ran cold. A scream ripped from my throat, piercing through the suffocating silence of the house. I didn’t wait to see what they would do next. My instincts screamed at me to run.I turned and bolted back up the stairs, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. I made it halfway to my room when I felt a rough hand wrap around my wrist, yanking me back with such force that I almost lost my balance.“Let me go!” I screamed, twisting and struggling, my free hand clawing at the iron grip that held me. The figure said nothing, their strength overwhelming as they began dragging me toward the stairs.“No! Let me go, you son of a gun!” I kicked and squirmed, planting my feet against the floor and grabbing the railing, anything to slow them down. My nails dug into the wood, and I screamed again, hoping against hope that someone—anyone—would hear me.And I ask again, wh
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