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
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
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
Ava's POV I stared at my reflection in the mirror, turning from side to side. The wedding dress hugged my body tightly, maybe too tightly. I frowned, pulling at the fabric."Ava, you look amazing in that dress!" my best friend Sophie said, her eyes wide. "Just look at you!"I looked at myself again, still not happy. "I look fat, don't you think?" I asked, pinching at my sides.Sophie laughed and came closer. She put her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face the mirror again. "Look carefully," she said. "All I see is a very beautiful bride-to-be."Just then, someone walked into the room. I turned and saw it was my stepmom, Grace. My heart sank a little."What are you doing here, Grace?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I came to see how beautiful my daughter looks," she said."Your stepdaughter," I corrected her quickly.Grace came closer, her eyes moving over the dress. "Look how beautiful these dresses are," she said. "They were
Ava's POV My heart was pounding as I rushed into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor over and over. I needed to get to Dad's office. My whole world had fallen apart in just a few hours, and I needed something solid to hold onto.The elevator doors finally opened, and I stumbled out. Dad's office took up the entire top floor of the building - the penthouse suite, as he liked to call it. The view from up here was usually breathtaking, but today I barely noticed it.I was relieved to find the office empty. Wiping my tears, I went straight to Dad's desk. I had to find that contract - the one I'd begged him to sign. It said that once I got married, Gabe would take my place as the acting chairperson of the company.How could I have been so blind? Dad never liked Gabe, but I thought he was just being overprotective. Now I understand. But even knowing what Gabe had done, my heart still ached. I loved him so much. How could he betray me like this?I rifled through the drawers,
Ethan POV The argument with my father left a bitter taste in my mouth. I stormed out of his office, my hands shaking as I got into my car. I needed to clear my head, and I knew just the place.I drove to the bridge - my secret spot. Well, not so secret. My friends and I had been coming here since we were teenagers, sneaking beers and dreaming about our futures. Now, years later, I was the only one who still came. But I couldn't help it. Something about the smell of the water, the gentle breeze - it calmed me like nothing else could.I parked under the bridge and climbed onto the hood of my car. The metal was cool against my back as I lay there, staring up at the underside of the bridge. I turned up the music in my car, letting it wash over me. For a moment, I could forget about my father's expectations, the pressure of the family business, all of it.Then I heard it. A loud crash, followed by the unmistakable sound of a car hitting water. I sat up so fast I almost slid off the hood.
Ethan POV It had been over a week since I'd last visited the hospital. Work at the office had been relentless, a constant stream of meetings and reports that left me feeling drained. But I couldn't get the mysterious girl out of my mind - the one I'd pulled from the river that night.I was about to call Mr. Roberts for an update when Noah burst into my office like a human tornado."Dude!" I exclaimed, nearly dropping my phone. "Ever heard of knocking? This isn't your office, you know."Noah grinned, rapping his knuckles on the open door. "Knock knock," he said, way too cheerfully for a Monday morning.I couldn't help but laugh. "Get out of here, you goof."But Noah's smile faded as he flopped into the chair across from me. "Your father called," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "We've got a funeral to attend."I felt a knot form in my stomach. "Whose funeral?""Mr. Brooks."The name didn't mean much to me, but I could tell from Noah's face that it was important. "I'm guessing he wa
Ava woke up feeling confused. Her eyes slowly opened, and everything looked blurry. She blinked a few times, trying to make sense of her surroundings. "I'm alive?" she whispered to herself, surprised. She wiggled her toes and fingers, relieved to feel them move. An older man in a white coat stood nearby. He turned to her with a kind smile. "You're awake," he said gently. Ava tried to sit up, but the doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "Take it easy," he said. "Your muscles are weak. You need to rest." The doctor did some quick checks. He shined a light in Ava's eyes, listened to her heart and lungs, and tested her reflexes. He asked her to follow his finger with her eyes and squeeze his hands. "Where am I?" Ava asked, her voice scratchy from not being used. "You're in the hospital," the doctor explained. He stepped back and took out his phone. "She's awake," he said to someone on the other end. Ava's heart started racing. "Please don't call my family!" she begged. She gripped th