Avery woke up feeling refreshed and grateful that it was the weekend, which meant she didn't have to face Maxwell's scowl after everything that had transpired between them.The first thing she did was pick up her phone from the nightstand, and to her utmost surprise, she found a series of unanswered calls from Evan.As she recalled last night's events, after she'd cried her eyes out, she had wanted to wait for Evan to return but instead had fallen asleep. Staring at her phone, wondering if he was going to be mad at her, she decided to go apologize to him before he left for work.As she slowly headed towards his room, her legs trembled with each step she took. She stopped in her tracks as she heard the sound of his voice on the phone."I need you to find me an alternative as soon as possible," he said. "You're aware I don't have the luxury of time."Avery's expression darkened slightly as she made out his conversation on the phone. "Is he planning on replacing me?" The thought sent a p
After an intense workout in the office, Avery felt exhausted, and Evan had brought her to the restaurant for dinner. She couldn't help but replay the intense moments in their minds, reliving the thrill of their encounter. If not for the soundproofing in the office, she was certain everyone would have heard her scream.As she replayed the scene in her mind, her cheeks grew hot and flushed, much like a ripe tomato. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers, trying to hide how unsteady she felt as her legs wobbled beneath her. Luckily, there were few people around.Avery groaned inwardly, 'Why did his assistant park so far from the restaurant?' as she scanned the area, hoping no one she knew would spot them.But her relief was short-lived, as a familiar figure emerged from afar. As Max approached, Avery's eyes widened in alarm. 'Max! What do I do now?' she thought, her heart racing with uncertainty.Without hesitation, Avery grasped Evan's arm and pulled him close, throwing herself into a
"Huh? I should do what with my?" Avery asked, her voice laced with uncertainty, to ensure she had heard Evan correctly.Evan grasped her chin and gave it a gentle squeeze, tilting her face upward so she met his piercing sapphire blue eyes. "You heard me correctly, Avery," he said in his magnetic voice, his words sending shivers down her spine.Avery's gaze drifted over his features, her eyes tracing the sharp contours of his face: his thick, carved-looking brows, his blue eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mischief, and his thin, soft pink lips. She felt like she was mesmerized by his gaze; her breath caught in her throat."I'm waiting, Avery," his low, seductive voice whispered in her ear. His eyes remained locked on hers, as if daring her to break free from the spell he'd cast.As if she'd been snapped out of a trance, Avery blinked innocently and swallowed hard. She slowly leaned in, her lips brushing against his as she savored the taste of the wine in the glass. The taste of grape
As Natalie and Avery walked towards the cafeteria for lunch break, Natalie peppered Avery with silly questions about her weekend getaways."'I'm not talking about it now,' Avery said calmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "But before Natalie could respond, someone barged into Avery, sending her tumbling to the ground. As she sat up, rubbing her sore bottom, she found herself face-to-face with Valarie's smug grin."'What's going on with you?' Natalie demanded angrily, helping Avery get up from the ground."'I didn't do anything,' Valarie sneered, blowing a bubble with her gum. 'You're just being paranoid.'Just then, Nikki chimed in, 'Hey, Valerie, why waste your time talking to these two losers when Maxwell is waiting for you at the cafeteria?'"Nikki is right, Val," Melanie, the dark-skinned one with brown curls and cat eyes, chimed in."Right!" Valarie smiled sweetly and smoothed down her short skirt. "Let's go, girls," she said, and they immediately spun on their heels."Why di
Maxwell walked into the house, his face twisted in anger. He threw his backpack onto the ground, making a loud thud sound. The image of Avery getting into that flashy car earlier flashed back in his head, causing him to run his fingers through his hair.He was sure she was jealous when she saw him together with Valerie, and he could have sworn he saw the pain and discomfort in her eyes that she couldn't bear to watch them anymore. That made him happy, knowing that Avery indeed still had feelings for him.Maxwell had planned to meet her in high spirits, hoping to work things out between them. But as he trailed behind her without her knowledge, all his hopes were dashed into the mud when he saw her getting into the backseat of a car.The questions swirled in his mind like a vortex. Was Melanie right? Was Avery selling out for materialistic things? No matter how badly he wanted to clear his head of these thoughts, they lingered like a shadow.He clenched his fist tightly and fetched out
Avery paced back and forth in the dimly lit hospital hallway, her heart pounding in her chest like it might burst at any moment. She tried to reach her sister on the phone, but Monica didn't answer."Monica, please come on, pick up," Avery muttered desperately, her eyes shut tightly.Just as she was about to lose hope, the call finally connected. Monica's voice came through, laced with sarcasm."Avery, do you really think I'm going to ruin my life for some guy I barely know?" she laughed.Avery's expression darkened slightly as she listened. "What are you saying? That you're just going to bail on everyone at the last minute?"Monica's laughter echoed through the phone line. "Oh, dear, sweet Avery, that's your own problem to worry about. I'm not coming back."Avery's voice rose in anger. "Are you out of your mind? You're just going to leave Mom and me like we're nothing to you?"The line fell silent for a moment before Monica spoke again. "I'm already at the airport with Matthew. We're
Avery swallowed hard, her mind racing with uncertainty as she weighed her options. At 18 and a virgin, agreeing to the surrogacy arrangement felt overwhelming, especially given her final year of high school. But the prospect of benefiting her mother's health by settling her medical bills was tempting.As she considered Evan's proposal, she thought about the benefits it would bring. She would also gain financial security, which could improve her mother's care. Her body quivered slightly as she thought about the implications.Avery looked up at Evan, searching for any sign that he was hiding something. His expression remained calm and reassuring, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this arrangement than met the eye.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Avery drew in a sharp breath and spoke. "Deal," she said finally.Evan nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Great! I'll send the new contract papers to you as soon as they're ready. My lawyer wil
At Bright High School,"You're late today," Natalie whispered softly as Avery took the seat beside her."I know," Avery said, still feeling the lingering effects of her sleepless night. "I couldn't fall asleep until this morning.""Did he get back to you?" Natalie asked, concern etched on her face."Not yet," Avery replied, unzipping her backpack and pulling out her English textbook. "I kept checking my phone all night, but nothing."The teacher caught her attention this time and shot her a threatening glare. "Avery Daniels, would you like to share with the class?" she announced.Avery quickly shook her head, feeling a surge of embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Hunt," she mumbled.The rest of the class passed in a blur for Avery, her mind drifting back to Evan and the unanswered message on her phone. The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day, and Avery gathered her things with a sense of relief.As they walked out of school, Natalie fell into step beside her. "He's a bu