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
Ethan's heart raced as he opened the door to Ava's hospital room, his mind filled with a mix of worry and anticipation. The soft sound of the door clicking open caught her attention, and she turned to look at him, her gray eyes sharp but cautious. The sight of her there, sitting up in bed, made him feel like he could breathe again. He tried to play it cool, lifting a shopping bag as if it were no big deal."I got you some clothes," he said, his voice a little too loud in the quiet room. "Mr. Robert says you're good to leave whenever you’re ready."Ava's lips curved into a smile, and for a moment, Ethan felt like the world had shifted under his feet. That smile. It did something to him, something he couldn’t quite name. "Thank you," she replied softly, reaching out to take the bag.As she pulled the clothes from the bag, Ethan’s eyes lingered on them. They seemed too big for her, and he felt a sudden stab of guilt. He’d spent hours the night before browsing different websites, trying t
Ava stared out the window, watching raindrops race down the glass. She had been living in this house for four months now, and every day felt the same. Wake up, eat, sleep, and watch her favorite TV shows—that was her routine. Ever since Ethan gave her a new phone, her days had been spent scrolling through the internet, mostly stalking Gabe and Sophie’s profiles. It was official—they were dating. They flaunted their relationship online like they were the perfect couple.Each new picture of them together felt like a stab in Ava’s heart. Gabe had never had time to travel with her, yet in just a few weeks, he had flown to several countries with Sophie. He never posted her on his social media either, always claiming, "People will think I’m with you for your dad’s money." Now, it was clear that had been an excuse all along.When she wasn’t torturing herself by looking at their profiles, Ava was checking the reports coming in on her dad’s hotel from his laptop. The numbers were still good, b
Ava's sobs echoed through her room, punctuated by angry mutters. "How could they?" she whispered, clutching a pillow to her chest. "Should I crash the wedding? No... I'm supposed to be dead. But Sophie... we've been best friends since we were kids. Did our friendship mean nothing?"Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast. The clock on her nightstand blinked 6:00 PM. Wiping her eyes, Ava tiptoed to her door and peeked out. The hallway was mercifully empty.She crept downstairs, following the lingering scent of Mrs. Chen's cooking. In the kitchen, she found a covered tray on the island. Lifting the lid, she discovered a still-warm plate of her favorite comfort foods."Yes!" Ava did a little dance, then caught herself. "Okay, calm down. You need energy to keep crying, right?" She wasn't sure if she was hungry or just angry anymore, but food was food.---Ethan paced in his study, unable to focus on work. Ava's tears kept replaying in his mind. He'd
The alarm clock's shrill beep pierced through Ava's dreams at 5 AM. She groaned, rolling over to silence it. The boys were already exercising like they did every morning. She slipped on a tight-fitting dress—something she could still move around in—and made her way to the gym. Her nerves buzzed with a mix of excitement and frustration. Today, she had a mission.The house was quiet as Ava tiptoed down the stairs. She knew the boys would be in the gym by now – their daily routine was as predictable as clockwork. Standing outside the gym door, she could hear the clanking of weights and low murmurs of conversation. Her heart raced. Was she really going to do this?"Now or never," Ava whispered, pushing the door open with a bang.The moment she burst through the gym doors, the noise inside the gym stopped abruptly. The boys’ eyes turned to stare at her, a mix of surprise and curiosity on their faces. Ava lifted her chin, trying to project confidence she didn't feel. That was exactly the re
Ava’s hunger gnawed at her, demanding attention. She had been trying to suppress it, convinced that pushing through the discomfort would bring her closer to the new version of herself—the one Gabe couldn’t walk away from. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, the growling in her stomach drowned out her resolve.She wandered back to the gym, hoping the distraction of exercise would help. But the emptiness inside her only grew louder, more insistent, until she could no longer fight it. Defeated, she made her way to the kitchen, searching for any leftovers that might offer relief. Of course, there were none. She had even instructed the cook not to come for the day, a decision that now seemed both foolish and frustrating. Desperation set in as she picked up her phone, caving to the temptation. She ordered her favorite meal—a big, juicy hamburger with all the toppings, accompanied by a generous side of fries—and promised herself this was a one-time indulgence.While waiting for the fo
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
Ethan's POV I got home and went straight to the kitchen. I know she was going to be there; I know how much she loves her food despite the weight loss journey, but she now eats in a more healthy way unlike before. I walked inside and saw her; she was munching on her salad. She was looking effortlessly beautiful. After the incident with Victoria, I never feel so interested in a woman other than taking them to a hotel to satisfy myself at the moment. Relationships seemed pointless, and I’d limited my interactions to meaningless flings. I felt like women are not worth trusting because of how betrayed I felt. But Ava… she was different. Without trying, she shattered my walls just by being herself. Those contagious smiles, her calm spirit, in fact, everything about her just feels so attractive. Every bad day, I just need to see her face alone to feel relaxed. I know how stubborn I can be, but she's actually that safe haven I was longing for. “Are you just going to stand there and
Noah grinned as they walked out of the meeting room. "I bet Uncle will be thrilled you got the deal," he said, his voice full of excitement. Ethan turned and shot him a glare, saying nothing as he walked toward his office. "Relax, man. This isn’t the time to act all grumpy," Noah teased, jogging to catch up. "I knew you’d get the deal for us," Noah continued, throwing an arm around Ethan’s shoulder and playfully ruffling his hair. "I’m so proud of you, bro." They had just secured a major deal that would strengthen the company’s position even further. "Don’t you think we should go to your mom’s restaurant to celebrate?" Noah suggested, still clinging to Ethan like a kid. "Let go of me, man. We’re at work, and people are watching," Ethan muttered, attempting to shake him off. Noah turned his head and noticed several employees glancing their way, some even giggling"Back to work!" Noah barked, quickly releasing Ethan and patting his back awkwardly. Noah gave the staff
Sophie stormed into Gabe’s office, her face was full of anger. She shoved the door open with so much force that it banged against the wall, causing Gabe to flinch. “Sophie?” Gabe said, his voice tinged with both surprise and nervousness. “I… I wasn’t expecting you, darling,” he stammered, quickly setting down the papers he has been working on. She didn’t respond. Instead, she walked straight to the window and pulled down the blinds with a sharp tug, blocking any view from the outside. Her heels clicked against the floor as she approached Gabe, who was sitting at his desk with some paperwork in his hands.“Wh…what are you doing?” Gabe began, but before he could finish, Sophie snatched the papers from his hands and leaned in, planting a forceful, rough kiss on his lips.The kiss caught him off guard, and when she finally pulled back, she wiped the smear of lipstick from the corner of his mouth."You’re mine, Gabe. she whispered firmly. “Always mine.” Gabe straightened in his cha
Ava’s POV I opened the door to my office and froze. Sophie. She was lounging comfortably in my chair, her legs casually crossed on my desk like she owned the place. "Sophie?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. I felt a rush of confusion and surprise wash over me.She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “Well, well, well… look who just walked in,” she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Her sharp gaze raked over me, scanning from head to toe as if I were a specimen under her microscope. I shut the door behind me, my unease growing. “New contact lenses?” she asked, her smile deepening. “I suppose that’s why he can’t take his eyes off you.” My stomach dropped. Damn it! I had forgotten to put on my usual lenses, leaving my natural gray eyes exposed. Her smirk turned into a frown, her voice now tinged with venom. “Those gray eyes remind me of my dead best friend. They look just like hers. Maybe that’s why I can never be cool with you.” I swallowed t
Ethan's POV I need to go to sleep," she whispered, her breath hitching slightly. "Not so fast," I said, closing the distance between us. Her eyes darted from my eyes to my lips, and she bit her bottom lip—a move I knew she didn’t realize drove me insane. "Stop that," I muttered, my lips mere inches from hers. It took everything in me to keep my composure. “Stop what?” she asked innocently, her voice teasing as her eyes darted between my eyes and my lips again. “You know exactly what,” I murmured. “I could take you right here, right now, and you wouldn’t be able to stop me.” Her cheeks flushed, and she stammered, "I… I’m still on my period." "I know, princess," I whispered, brushing my lips against her ear. “But that won’t stop me from doing this.” I slid my hand along her thigh, stopping just before it becomes too much, my eyes locked on hers the entire time. Her cheeks flushed even deeper, her lips parting slightly in expectation. And before she could respond,
Ethan's POVI couldn’t take my eyes off her. Every movement she made had me captivated. I felt a small smile tug at my lips, unable to hide the effect she had on me. As I looked up, I caught her gaze before she quickly looked away. "I made something for you. I... I was thinking you should come and have some," she murmured, her eyes avoiding mine as she fidgeted with her fingers. "You made something?" I asked, my surprise evident. It was the first time I’d ever heard her mention cooking , and now I was more than eager to taste whatever she had prepared. I quickly arranged the files on my desk and followed her downstairs. The way her shorts hugged her figure didn’t escape me. She had no idea how irresistible she looked. As we entered the kitchen, a warm, sweet aroma filled the air. It smelled incredible. She moved to the oven and pulled out a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. The golden-brown swirls were perfectly glazed, and the smell alone had my mouth watering. She ca
Ethan's POV “What are you doing?” Noah asked, his eyes narrowing as he watched me. His voice cut through the quiet of my office. “Checking my phone, obviously,” I said without looking up, my focus fixed on the screen. “You’ve been staring at that phone for a while now. Are you expecting a call?” he pressed, leaning back in his chair. I didn’t answer. My thoughts were elsewhere. Work hours were long over, and it was already 9 p.m., but Ava hadn’t called or texted. My mind ran through scenarios, each one more irritating than the last. Unable to resist, I dialed her number. When she answered, I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “Are you still at work?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. “I was just about to call you,” she replied, her voice soft and calm. “I just finished working.” “Before I could respond, a voice in the background caught my attention. “Should I drive you home?” I froze. I knew that voice all too well—Gabe. “No!” I shouted, my voi
Ava's POV We walked into the office, and I let out a breath of relief, thinking Ethan would finally behave himself. But before he let go of me, his hand gave my butt a light spank. I gasped, spinning to face him. “What was that for?” I tried to sound angry, but the heat creeping up my face betrayed me. “I don’t know,” he said, staring at his hand as though it had a mind of its own. “I guess it likes it there. Besides, your butt is so soft,” he added, taking a step closer, that mischievous grin back on his face made it impossible to stay mad.I wanted to glare at him, but instead, I flushed, feeling my cheeks heat up. "You’re impossible," I muttered, walking over to my desk in an attempt to escape his teasing.Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Do you think sitting at your desk will stop me?” His voice held an unmistakable teasing tone. “You know, you look really cute when you’re flustered,” he continued, standing directly in front of me now. “I—” I stammered, “we have a lot
Ava’s POV This morning, I felt much better and was determined to head to work. As I stepped outside, ready to call for the driver, Ethan was already waiting by his car. “I’m driving you to work,” he said, standing by the car with his usual calm look, his tone leaving no room for argument “You... I...,” I stammered, trying to find the right words. “The…the driver will be here soon,” I finally managed to say. “I told him not to come today,” Ethan said, his eyes fixed on me as he gestured toward the passenger door. “You did what?” I asked, staring at him in disbelief. “You heard me, Ava. Now get in, Unless…” He paused, his eyes locked on mine, unless you want me to carry you inside the car myself,” he said, his voice calm but firm, his piercing gaze making it clear he wasn’t joking. I blinked at him, that tone—stern, yet teasing—caught me off guard. When was the last time he offered to drive me to work? What has gotten into him today, I thought to myself. “We’re not going