Orion’s POV The scandal had stirred chaos, but as I stood firm in the packed conference room, I couldn’t help but think about how life had thrown me an unexpected lifeline. Chloe thought she was dismantling my life—destroying everything I held dear—but in her desperate attempt to ruin me, she had indirectly given me the one thing I never thought I’d have: a second chance with Ava.I glanced at my wife, standing poised beside me. My chest swelled with a mix of gratitude and determination. I didn’t deserve this chance, but I had it, and I wouldn’t ruin it again. The mistakes of my past were a weight I carried, but they had shaped me into the man I was now—one ready to fight for his marriage, for Ava, for our future.Chloe’s schemes had backfired spectacularly, and while she may have hoped to punish me, all she had done was remind me of what truly mattered. This scandal wasn’t my undoing—it was my redemption.“Mr. Miller?”The sharp call of a reporter’s voice snapped me from my thought
Ava’s POVThe tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife as I leaned back in the plush leather chair, watching the video on Rose’s tablet play out in horrifying detail. Chloe’s staged theatrics were chillingly convincing. Her fake cries, her desperate appearance—it was all an elaborate performance. “She’s been planning this for awhile,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. “How did we let her slip through the cracks for so long?” Rose, standing stiffly beside Orion, cleared her throat. “It gets worse,” she said, her voice low but steady. “The breach in the company’s security last month? We’ve traced it back to the Jamesons. They’ve been pulling strings behind the scenes, and we have reasons to believe that Chloe’s part of their game.” I froze, my fingers gripping the armrests tightly. The Jamesons. Of course, it was them. “They’ve been working together all along?” I whispered, fury bubbling beneath the surface. “She’s their pawn. She wants revenge, and they
Ava’s POVThe room felt alive with renewed energy as Orion’s pen scrawled furiously across the page. His excitement was contagious, igniting a glimmer of hope where despair had settled only moments before.“What is it?” I pressed, stepping closer to peer over his shoulder.He turned to face us, his grin wide but his voice steady, “I’ve been racking my brain about that night, about every detail. The shirt I wore is the key.”Rose tilted her head. “The shirt? How does that help?”Orion nodded, pacing now as his mind raced. “Yes. Think about it. The video that Chloe used to frame me shows a man wearing a blue shirt. But I distinctly remember wearing a gray shirt that night.”The room went still. I felt the gravity of his words settle in. Rose leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “If we can prove that detail—”“Then we prove the video was staged,” I interrupted, my voice shaking with realization. “Orion, where is the shirt?”He froze mid-step, his face lighting up. “It’s here. In this penth
Ava’s POV The silence after my confession was deafening. Orion stared at me, a mix of disbelief and cautious admiration in his eyes. Rose, on the other hand, was visibly shocked.“You don’t have anything?” she repeated, her voice sharp. “Ava, this isn’t a game! You just threatened to expose Chloe with evidence that doesn’t even exist!”I leaned back in my seat, crossing my legs, my confidence unwavering. “Rose, the truth is irrelevant when you’re dealing with someone like Chloe. The moment I put her on the defensive, she starts unraveling. Did you hear her on the phone? She’s scared.”“Scared isn’t the same as beaten,” Rose countered, her arms crossed. “What if she calls your bluff?”I glanced at the clock on the wall, the ticking of the second hand louder than it should have been. “Then we think of another plan,” I said coolly. “But trust me, Rose, she won’t. People like Chloe thrive on control, and when you threaten to take it away, they crumble.”Orion stepped forward, his brows
Ava’s POV I turned to Orion, who looked both relieved and conflicted. “She actually did it,” he murmured, almost to himself. “She didn’t have a choice,” I replied, setting the phone down. Orion’s gaze softened as he looked at me. “You were brilliant, Ava. I don’t know how you do it.” I shrugged, trying to downplay the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “Someone had to put her in her place.” Rose chuckled, but there was a hint of admiration in her tone. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, boss.” Despite the victory, a lingering unease settled over me. Chloe’s confession was public, but the fight wasn’t over. The video she posted earlier might be discredited, but her actions had set events in motion that couldn’t be undone.By going live, she had indirectly exposed herself. She really has something she’s hiding. What could that be? I guess I’ll have to call Joe to send me the security footage from the day I left the mansion up till when Rose sent Chloe out.I’ll
“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 s
Ava’s POV“What?!” I shrieked.I felt sick inside, the sudden urge to throw up clouded my vision as I staggered toward the window for fresh air. What did this old fool just say? To marry him? To hell with my father and his stupid debt. I wanted to scream at this man so badly for even coming up with such an idea but I couldn't find the words. It was like my lips were sealed shut. “You don't even have a choice,” he added lazily, “Can you even take care of yourself not to mention your sister? You do know they are going to throw both of you out of the hospital by tomorrow morning right?” he said, stating the obvious. Those words put me on a spot that I dreaded since Mr Miller walked in with his proposal. But he was right. My shoulders slumped in defeat as I went closer to my sister and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “You don't have to do this Ava,” she cried, “You've done enough already, please.”I looked at my sister's tear streaked face and resolved to do whatsoever to save her.
Ava's POVWhat am I supposed to do? What should I do?It is my wedding night and I’m expected to perform wife…duties. I haven’t done it before and in all my years, I’ve dreamt of having it first with someone I deeply loved. Not some old man.I paced around the room, still wearing the plain white dress Mr Miller got for me. My heart pounded loudly in my ears in panic.What if he gets in here and wants to actually have sex with me? I mean, I can’t stop him. I’m his wife.As the word wife left my lips. It became clearer. It dawned on me as if a bucket of cold water had just been dumped on me.I am really married to Mr Richard Miller? I’m now a Miller? It’s still better than having my father’s name with all the hardship that came with it.Just then, the door to the room was thrown open. Mr Miller stood in the doorway, his right hand, perched on his walking stick while the left was in his pocket. I got married to an old man? I still can’t get over it no matter how many times I try to come
Ava’s POV I turned to Orion, who looked both relieved and conflicted. “She actually did it,” he murmured, almost to himself. “She didn’t have a choice,” I replied, setting the phone down. Orion’s gaze softened as he looked at me. “You were brilliant, Ava. I don’t know how you do it.” I shrugged, trying to downplay the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “Someone had to put her in her place.” Rose chuckled, but there was a hint of admiration in her tone. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, boss.” Despite the victory, a lingering unease settled over me. Chloe’s confession was public, but the fight wasn’t over. The video she posted earlier might be discredited, but her actions had set events in motion that couldn’t be undone.By going live, she had indirectly exposed herself. She really has something she’s hiding. What could that be? I guess I’ll have to call Joe to send me the security footage from the day I left the mansion up till when Rose sent Chloe out.I’ll
Ava’s POV The silence after my confession was deafening. Orion stared at me, a mix of disbelief and cautious admiration in his eyes. Rose, on the other hand, was visibly shocked.“You don’t have anything?” she repeated, her voice sharp. “Ava, this isn’t a game! You just threatened to expose Chloe with evidence that doesn’t even exist!”I leaned back in my seat, crossing my legs, my confidence unwavering. “Rose, the truth is irrelevant when you’re dealing with someone like Chloe. The moment I put her on the defensive, she starts unraveling. Did you hear her on the phone? She’s scared.”“Scared isn’t the same as beaten,” Rose countered, her arms crossed. “What if she calls your bluff?”I glanced at the clock on the wall, the ticking of the second hand louder than it should have been. “Then we think of another plan,” I said coolly. “But trust me, Rose, she won’t. People like Chloe thrive on control, and when you threaten to take it away, they crumble.”Orion stepped forward, his brows
Ava’s POVThe room felt alive with renewed energy as Orion’s pen scrawled furiously across the page. His excitement was contagious, igniting a glimmer of hope where despair had settled only moments before.“What is it?” I pressed, stepping closer to peer over his shoulder.He turned to face us, his grin wide but his voice steady, “I’ve been racking my brain about that night, about every detail. The shirt I wore is the key.”Rose tilted her head. “The shirt? How does that help?”Orion nodded, pacing now as his mind raced. “Yes. Think about it. The video that Chloe used to frame me shows a man wearing a blue shirt. But I distinctly remember wearing a gray shirt that night.”The room went still. I felt the gravity of his words settle in. Rose leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “If we can prove that detail—”“Then we prove the video was staged,” I interrupted, my voice shaking with realization. “Orion, where is the shirt?”He froze mid-step, his face lighting up. “It’s here. In this penth
Ava’s POVThe tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife as I leaned back in the plush leather chair, watching the video on Rose’s tablet play out in horrifying detail. Chloe’s staged theatrics were chillingly convincing. Her fake cries, her desperate appearance—it was all an elaborate performance. “She’s been planning this for awhile,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head. “How did we let her slip through the cracks for so long?” Rose, standing stiffly beside Orion, cleared her throat. “It gets worse,” she said, her voice low but steady. “The breach in the company’s security last month? We’ve traced it back to the Jamesons. They’ve been pulling strings behind the scenes, and we have reasons to believe that Chloe’s part of their game.” I froze, my fingers gripping the armrests tightly. The Jamesons. Of course, it was them. “They’ve been working together all along?” I whispered, fury bubbling beneath the surface. “She’s their pawn. She wants revenge, and they
Orion’s POV The scandal had stirred chaos, but as I stood firm in the packed conference room, I couldn’t help but think about how life had thrown me an unexpected lifeline. Chloe thought she was dismantling my life—destroying everything I held dear—but in her desperate attempt to ruin me, she had indirectly given me the one thing I never thought I’d have: a second chance with Ava.I glanced at my wife, standing poised beside me. My chest swelled with a mix of gratitude and determination. I didn’t deserve this chance, but I had it, and I wouldn’t ruin it again. The mistakes of my past were a weight I carried, but they had shaped me into the man I was now—one ready to fight for his marriage, for Ava, for our future.Chloe’s schemes had backfired spectacularly, and while she may have hoped to punish me, all she had done was remind me of what truly mattered. This scandal wasn’t my undoing—it was my redemption.“Mr. Miller?”The sharp call of a reporter’s voice snapped me from my thought
The atmosphere was electric as Orion and Ava gathered around the guard’s phone. What they saw left them speechless. The first video featured one of their top clients, Mr Connor, addressing the camera directly. “Ava Miller is one of the most ethical and hardworking people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She doesn’t deserve this baseless slander.” The next clip was from a woman who ran a tech startup. “I’ve worked with Ava for years, and she’s never mixed business with personal matters. She’s an incredible leader and an even better person.” Client after client echoed the same sentiment. Ava’s throat tightened with emotion. “I… I don’t know what to say.” Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she answered it quickly. “Connor?” Connor’s warm chuckle came through the line. “Hello, Ava.” “You had something to do with this, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. “I may have given them a little push,” Connor admitted. “You
Ava sat at the edge of the plush bed in the penthouse, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Her sister Holly’s voice, warm but teasing, crackled on the other end of the line.“They’re letting me out today,” Holly said, a tinge of relief softening her words.“Finally!” Ava exclaimed, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. “Are you sure you're okay? Are they rushing this? Should I send Rose to come bring you back home?”“Ava, I’m fine,” Holly assured her. “I promise. Don’t you have something a little more important to focus on today? Like, I don’t know... your vows?”Ava groaned, leaning back against the headboard. “Don’t remind me. The words just feel... insufficient. How do I even begin to promise forever again when forever feels—”“Unreal? Complicated? A hot mess?” Holly teased, cutting her off. “Sis, this isn’t your first rodeo. What is it now, the third time saying ‘I do’? Or is it fourth?”“Third,” Ava said, rolling her eyes despite herself. “And technically, it’s the
Is he saying the truth? What if this is another trap? Ava thought to herself. How can she believe him so easily when he hasn’t given her any reason to trust him?“Well, I’m sorry if I jumped on your bones that night,” Ava muttered, her voice laced with embarrassment and a tinge of shame. “I think my drink was spiked. Someone wanted the scandal to happen by all means.” Orion’s expression shifted instantly. He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a heat that made her breath hitch. Then he threw his head back, laughing, not out of humor but relief—a deep, raw sound that echoed between them. “I was scared at first,” he said, his tone softening, the laughter fading as his voice dipped into something far more intimate. “Do you have any idea what went through my mind? What if I hadn’t been there? What could’ve happened to you?” His hand reached out, tracing her jaw with his thumb, tilting her face toward his. “And yet…” His voice dropped lower, rough with unspoken emotions. “I
Ava’s POVThe phone rang, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts. Orion’s name flashed across the screen, and for a moment, I debated letting it go to voicemail. My fingers hovered over the answer button, but I couldn’t bring myself to press it. Not yet. My mind was a battlefield of emotions—anger, confusion, betrayal, and something else I didn’t want to admit.What if this was a trap? What if answering his call meant walking straight into the jaws of whatever scheme he was tangled up in? But what if it wasn’t? What if this was my chance to finally get answers?But curiosity, anger, and the faintest sliver of hope compelled me to answer. I said nothing at first when the call connected as he asked how I was doing, the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me making words feel impossible.“What do you want, Orion?” I snapped, my voice sharp with frustration. “Ava,” he began, his tone calm, almost clinical. “We need to talk. I’m sending a private jet for you. I want you back in Ne