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Chapter 10: Cracks in Control
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 11: Awkward Encounters
Ava sat curled up on the couch, her eyes on the front door. She had been waiting for hours, hoping Noah or Liam would come back to help her talk to Ethan. Her nerves were starting to wear thin, but she didn’t want to face Ethan alone, not after what happened in the gym.Just as she was about to give up and go to bed, the door swung open. Ava’s heart leaped, but it sank as soon as she realized it was only Ethan. He walked in, his suit was a little wrinkled, and his tie hung loose around his neck.Gathering her courage, Ava called out, “Are Noah and Liam sleeping out?”Ethan stopped, looked at her with no expression, and said, “They have their own houses.” Then, without waiting for a reply, he kept walking down the hall, leaving Ava standing there, feeling a little dumb."Just like that?" she muttered to herself, watching him disappear down the hall.The next morning, Ava woke up early, determined to talk to Ethan. She wasn’t going to let her nerves stop her this time. After quickly get
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 12: Ethan's effect
Ava stood awkwardly in the kitchen, her heart racing as Ethan stepped closer. His face was calm, giving nothing away, which only made her more nervous. Just when she thought she couldn’t feel more uncomfortable, she suddenly got the hiccups. Of all the times to get them, this had to be the worst.Each tiny hiccup made her feel more and more embarrassed. She could feel her cheeks burning as Ethan watched her with his cool gaze. Without a word, he grabbed a glass of water from the counter and handed it to her.“Here,” he said, his voice calm, but his eyes showed a flicker of amusement.Ava took the glass, sipping it in between hiccups. “I’m really sorry for… for barging into your room like that,” she mumbled between breaths. “I’m not usually so… so rude.”Ethan’s eyes softened just a little as he leaned back against the counter. “Easy, princess,” he said with a smirk.The moment he called her “princess,” Ava’s hiccups came back even worse. Her face turned red again, and she quickly lowe
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 13: Gym session with Ethan
A light knock woke Ava from her deep sleep. She groaned as her body ached from all the exercises she'd been doing lately. Slowly, she forced herself out of bed and opened the door. Standing there, in his usual cool and calm demeanor, was Ethan.Ava’s eyes widened. She rubbed them, not quite sure if she was still dreaming or if Ethan was actually standing in front of her. But there he was, in his workout clothes, looking as serious as ever."Get dressed and meet me in the gym room. Your exercise starts in 20 minutes," Ethan said without waiting for a response."My muscles hurt... Can we leave it for another day?" Ava began to complain, but before she could finish, Ethan was already walking away, heading toward the gym.Ava hurried to get dressed, grumbling under her breath. The aching was intense, but she pushed herself to move quickly. She couldn’t afford to look lazy now.When she finally made it to the gym, she automatically headed for the weightlifting equipment. But before she cou
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 14: family
“Where’s Ethan?” Noah asked, scanning the room. “Hope he didn’t stress you out. If he did, I’ll deal with him.” He threw a couple of playful punches in the air, making Ava laugh.“I’m here, Noah,” Ethan’s calm voice interrupted from the stairs. He was descending slowly, his steps measured. “Why are you always so loud?”Noah's face lit up. "Aw, did you miss me?" He tried to give Ethan a big hug, but Ethan quickly stepped away."Back off, man," Ethan grumbled, dodging Noah's arms. Ava couldn't help but smile at their silly behavior."Oh!" Noah suddenly remembered something. He handed Ava a shopping bag. "I got you a little present, cupcake. I hope you like it!"Ava's face broke into a big smile. "I love it already," she said, peeking inside the bag.Ava's eyes widened with surprise as she took the bag. “Thank you, Noah,” she said, her smile growing as she peeked inside. She pulled out a small blue box, and when she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.Inside was a stunning diamo
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 15: Last night
Ethan hadn’t returned since he left the house this morning. Ava didn’t know why, but it bothered her more than it should. She found herself wondering where he could be. As she sat on the couch, flipping through channels without really watching, Noah appeared at the top of the stairs. "You're still awake, cupcake?" Noah asked, coming down. "It's already 11 p.m. Aren't you feeling sleepy?" "I... I just want to finish this TV show," Ava lied, glancing at the screen. Why was she lying to Noah? She couldn’t tell him she was waiting for Ethan to come back. Not like I have any right to care where he is, she thought to herself. "Oh, okay," Noah replied, heading into the kitchen. He came back with a glass of juice. "Is Ethan back yet?" he asked casually. "No!" Ava said a little too quickly. Then, in a softer tone, she added, "Do you know where he went? He left this morning and hasn't been back all day." She tried to sound indifferent, but there was curiosity in her voice that Noah could
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 16: Old wound
Ethan walked in, his face unreadable as always. He was composed, "there was a hint of turmoil in his eyes, like a storm was raging just beneath the surface."Noah, sensing the tension in the air, gently took Ava’s arm and pulled her out of the kitchen. “Come on, let’s give them some space,” Noah whispered to her, though curiosity was eating her alive.As they sat in the living room, Ava couldn’t help but glance back toward the kitchen. Something felt off between Ethan and Victoria. Goosebumps rose on Ava’s arms when she heard Ethan’s cold, sharp voice.“What are you still doing here?” His words sliced through the air, low and sharp.Victoria, unbothered by the chill in his tone, smiled sweetly and moved closer to him. “I missed you, baby. I thought we could catch up. I even made you breakfast, your favorite,” she said, her voice dripping with an unsettling softness. “I don’t need your breakfast. I have a cook.” Ethan’s voice was ice-cold, sending a shiver down Ava’s spine. She had ne
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 17: Missing Pieces
Ava's POV I haven't seen Ethan since the mess with Victoria. It shouldn’t bother me, right? I mean, we don’t have that kind of relationship, but it does. I don’t know why, but it bothers me a lot.It had been over a week since I'd last seen him. I figured he hadn't been home. But then, out of nowhere, Ethan walked out of his room all dressed up and looking fine.I couldn't help but stare. He still had that something special about him. When he smiled at me, my heart did a little flip. Damn those butterflies! He came down the stairs and gave me this warm smile that made me realize how much I'd missed him."Good morning, princess," he said with that smirk of his. I felt my face turn red hot. Then, to make things worse, I started hiccuping. Talk about embarrassing!He handed me a piece of paper. Between hiccups, I took it and looked inside. It was a meal plan. I looked at him, totally surprised."You need to eat healthy. That's your meal plan," he said, walking towards the door without l
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 18: Unwelcome Guest
Exercising without Ethan has been tough. I hate to admit it, but I really miss him. It's been over a week since he left on that mysterious trip. I don't know what's gotten into me, but I can't stop thinking about him.“Come in,” I said, my voice slightly tired. The door creaked open, and there was Noah, as cheerful as ever.“Good morning, cupcake!” he greeted with his usual energy. “Get dressed, it’s time for your workout.”Noah’s been like this every day since Ethan left. I can’t thank him enough for keeping me on track, even when my motivation dips. He always finds a way to get me moving.“I’m ready,” I said, forcing a smile. I didn’t feel ready, but I knew I needed to keep going.“Oh, then let’s go burn that fat, cupcake!” Noah grinned as he stepped out of my room, his enthusiasm contagious.Exercising with Noah isn’t bad, actually. He doesn’t coach me but he’s always there to make me laugh. Even when I’m struggling, he finds a way to lighten the mood. But he never stays long—only
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The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 50: He found out
“Grace killed him,” Ava said, her voice trembling as she moved closer to Ethan. Ethan’s brows furrowed, his eyes fixed on her. “How sure are you?” he asked, his tone calm but probing. “Because I was there…” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. She swallowed hard, trying to hold back her emotions. “I was… I was there when she pushed him to his death,” she burst out, the tears she had been holding back spilling freely. Ethan moved toward her, pulling her into his arms. “I’m sorry you had to experience that, Princess,” he said softly, as he held her trembling form. Ava couldn’t hold it in any longer. She broke down completely, her legs giving way as she clung to Ethan. “I want her to pay,” she sobbed. “I want justice for my father. All he ever did was love her, and she killed him.” Ethan tightened his hold on her, his hand gently rubbing her back in an attempt to calm her down. He didn’t say anything at first, letting her release the pain she had bottled up for so long. When her
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 49: He agreed
“Ethan… about Grace’s party,” Ava began, standing a few steps away from him. Ethan looked at her, his expression unreadable as his piercing eyes locked onto hers. He didn’t say a word, just waited. Ava took that as her cue to continue. “I know you said you didn’t want to go, but it would mean a lot if you came with me,” she said softly, keeping her voice calm while her eyes pleaded. “It’s… it’s been a long time since I’ve been to my father’s house, and I really don’t want to go alone.” Ethan’s gaze didn’t falter. After a moment, he asked, “Why do you want to go so badly, Ava?” For a brief second, she considered telling him everything. But instead, she answered, “There are things I need to do there,” she murmured. “And… I feel safer when you’re there.” Ethan’s expression softened just slightly, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. “No,” he said plainly, turning his back to her with that same faint smile as though the conversation was already over. Ava frow
The Betrayal's kiss chapter 48: Morning touch
Ava lay in bed, tossing and turning all night, her mind too restless to let her sleep. The thought of going to her father’s house for Grace’s birthday party—or skipping it altogether—kept running through her mind, refusing to settle. What if that party is my chance? she wondered, recalling that there was a CCTV camera on the balcony of her father’s home office. Maybe it had recorded something from the night that changed everything. The possibility kept her pulse racing. Finally, she glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was already 5:00 a.m. Ethan should be awake by now, she thought. A small plan began forming in her mind. Maybe if I dress for the gym, I could catch him there and try to convince him to come with me to the party. Ava sat up, quickly slipping into her gym clothes, which hugged her body perfectly. She tiptoed to her bedroom door, peeking out cautiously to see if anyone was in the hallway. It was quiet and still, just how she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she m
The Betrayal's kiss chapter 47: Ethan's effect
Ava hesitated just outside Ethan’s home office, her hand hovering over the door. I don’t know if I should be doing this, she thought, her nerves twisting in her stomach. But finally, she took a deep breath and knocked.After a moment, she opened it and saw Ethan standing by the window, gazing out at the view with a paper in his hand. As she stepped inside, he turned to face her, his eyes following her every move.“The hotel was trying to reach you, but you weren’t picking up,” Ava said, holding up the rumpled card in her hand. “So I brought this for you.”She stepped forward to place the card on his desk, aware of his eyes still locked on hers.“What’s that?” Ethan asked, his voice low and cold, sending a chill through Ava. She forced herself to stay calm.“It’s an invitation,” she replied, trying to steady her voice. “It’s for Grace’s birthday party… she’s hosting it at my father’s house. I was hoping I’d go with you.”Ethan barely glanced at the card before turning back to the paper
The Betrayal's kiss chapter 46: shameless
Ava was just about to toss the invitation in the trash when the door burst open, causing her to pause, her hand still hovering over the bin. “Don’t you ever–” she began, turning around. But her words caught in her throat when she saw Gabe entering, a smile on his face. “Oops, sorry!” he said, slightly sheepish, “forgot to knock again. I’ll remember next time.” He grinned as he walked toward her. You won’t remember, Ava thought. You’ve never been the type to knock. Gabe noticed the invitation card in her hand and held up his own copy. “Oh, so you got the invite. I was just about to bring you one.” Ava raised an eyebrow. “Why?” she asked, not hiding her curiosity. “It’s an important event for the company,” he replied as he took a seat across from her. “Besides, Grace is the chairwoman. Everyone’s invited.” Ava held back a frown. “But you never…” she trailed off, lowering her voice. “You’ve never liked her much. Why are you so eager to go to her birthday party?” She murmured, hal
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 45: Birthday invite
Good morning,” Ava mumbled as she stepped through the front door, hoping to make her exit quick.“Good morning, cupcake,” Noah replied, glancing up with a grin. “You look so… sexy today.”A loud, deliberate throat-clearing echoed from across the room, causing Noah to shift his gaze and quickly change the subject. “Uh… so, where are you off to this morning without even having breakfast?” he asked, motioning to the untouched food on the table.“I’m not hungry,” Ava replied, her voice slightly tense. “I’ll probably just eat at the office.” She felt Ethan’s eyes on her, but she kept her gaze firmly down, not daring to look up.“Ethan’s almost done with breakfast. Wait for him, and he’ll drive you to work,” Noah suggested casually.“No!” Ava blurted out, louder than she intended. She quickly cleared her throat. “I mean… no, Ethan doesn’t like being disturbed. Besides, I… I prefer taking a taxi.”Noah gave her a look. “Since when? You’ve never taken a taxi to work before,” he said, his brow
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 44: His lips
Ava's POV Ethan’s mouth covers mine before I can even think, his kiss fierce and overwhelming. I gasp, but my hands find their way into his hair, holding him close as the intensity of his kiss sinks into me. Every inch of my skin feels on fire, especially when his hands glide down my back, gripping me like he’s frustrated with the space between us. Suddenly, His arms encircle my waist and he lifts me, carrying me over to the kitchen counter and holding me against his chest. My heart pounds so fast it’s almost painful, and my hands are grabbing onto whatever they can, desperate for stability. His lips leave mine, trailing slowly along the corner of my mouth and down to my collarbone. The heat of his touch spreads down my neck, and when he finally reaches it, I can’t help the quiet moan that escapes my lips. It’s like he’s listening to every sound I make, and I feel him smile, taking it as encouragement to keep going. His teeth playfully nip at my neck, making me shiver and
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 43: Not a game
Ava pushed open the front door, stepping into a dark, silent room. Why is it dark everywhere? she wondered, feeling the unsettling quiet around her.“Do you still like him?”,” Ethan’s voice echoed from somewhere in the darkness, low and unexpected.“Ava jumped, startled. “Oh, my—Ethan! You scared me. Why are you sitting here in the dark?”.She fumbled for the light switch. “Alexis, lights on,” she called out to the AI, and instantly, the lights brightened, and there was Ethan, sitting on the couch, staring at her, his expression unreadable.“What?” Ava asked, noticing his intense stare.“Do you still like him?” Ethan asked again, his voice now colder, sharper.“Who?” Ava asked, her brow furrowing.“Gabe. I saw the way you smiled when he touched you,” Ethan said, his gaze darkening.Ava hesitated for a moment, feeling the tension in his words. “What if I do? Gabe is not as bad as you think,” she said, narrowing her eyes. At least he’s not leading me on… or making me feel confused all
The Betrayal's kiss Chapter 42: Feelings
Ava's POV I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why does the thought of Ethan kissing Victoria bother me so much? I asked myself, rubbing my temples. I’m not anything to him, am I?But then, my thoughts drifted back to the park. He kissed me too. My fingers brushed over my lips, remembering that soft peck. But it was just a quick kiss. A peck, I told myself, shaking my head. "Ugh, stop overthinking it," I mumbled, tapping my forehead lightly.Just then, a soft noise interrupted my thoughts. “Hmm…mmm…mmm.”I jumped in my chair, startled. “Ethan?!” I blurted out, wide-eyed as I saw him standing in the doorway.Oh no, it’s Ethan, I thought, my heart racing. Why is he here? I’d been avoiding him for over a week now, and suddenly, there he was.“What’s wrong, princess?” Ethan asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he walked toward my desk. “N-Nothing,” I stammered. “What are you doing here?” I asked.“I work here too,” Ethan said smoothly, pulling out a chair and sitting across from me.I
