"What was that???" Avery's voice echoed sharply."Just jogging your memory. Remember me? The guy who caught you and Simon making out at Jennifer's house?" Brandon's smirk was infuriating."Caught us? We weren't doing anything!" Avery's protest was fierce."Oh, but the pictures I have suggest otherwise," Brandon's eyes were cold."I didn't do anything with Simon. If you've got photos, they're either fake or from when we were still together," Avery countered, her voice steady despite the fear."They're recent," Brandon insisted."Prove it. Show me the photos," Avery demanded, her back straight, her resolve hardening.Brandon's grin widened maliciously. "I could show you... or maybe I'll let David see them first. Or better yet, James. He's quite fond of you, isn't he?""What do you want, Brandon?" Avery's question was like a bullet, quick and direct."Now we're getting somewhere," he chuckled. "I'll call you once you're home. You'll do exactly as I say," he declared with a smirk, then
"What are you insinuating?" Alex's glare was piercing as he faced Avery."Smart home solutions, virtual reality and augmented reality applications, data analytics, and machine learning services... Thanks to David, Phoenix's tech subsidiary will now provide these cutting-edge technologies to the real estate subsidiary of my family's group, the country's premium luxury property firm known for its exquisite architecture and design. Considering the monumental deal David secured—a deal you couldn't land for your father even after half a decade—do you still question his merit for the COO role? Actions do indeed speak louder than titles," Avery retorted with a confident smirk."What?" Alex scoffed."I've just netted millions for Dad," David interjected with conviction.Alex let out a derisive laugh, while Stephanie shot Avery a venomous look."So, you're telling me, just because of this one deal, you handed him the COO position? Just like that?" Alex turned to confront James."He earned it
"Stephanie? Oh," David said, his voice trailing off."I was worried sick about you, David," Avery retorted sharply."You were worried, or you were... jealous?" He teased, a mischievous spark in his eyes as he held her gaze."What? Get away from me," she protested, shoving at his shoulders, but his grip on her waist was unyielding."Do you think this is some kind of joke? We're in this together, David. You can't just disappear without a word. Your phone was off, and then you return, drunk, trying to kiss me as if nothing's wrong... without my consent! Are you trying to gaslight me or something?" Avery's voice was firm, her eyes fiery, and she found herself gasping for air, her emotions running high.David just remained silent, his thumb grazing her lower lip."Aren't you going to say anything?" She scoffed.Catching him off guard, she pushed him away forcefully."It's barely been a month, and I'm already exhausted. E
Avery's breath caught, her eyes darting between David and Stephanie as the scene before her became a chaotic blur. Confusion and disbelief wrestled for dominance as she struggled to make sense of the situation. David's gaze met hers, a storm of emotions churning in his eyes. "It's not what it looks like," he pleaded, his voice strained with urgency.But the words were lost amidst the pounding in Avery's ears, the hurt in her chest blossoming into an unbearable ache. She stumbled backward, her hand clutching at the fabric over her heart as if to stem the pain. "Avery!" David's voice was distant now, muffled by the rush of blood in her head.The room spun, and the faces around her morphed into indistinct shapes. Avery's knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor, the darkness closing in around her. The last thing she heard was the sound of chairs scraping and voices calling her name before she succumbed to the darkness.*
David's confusion was written all over his face. "Sir, please believe me. I didn't have an affair. I was drunk and don't know how I ended up in that room." Michael's gaze softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm."You've broken my trust, David. Avery may not be your love match, but she's your wife and deserves respect. She's been through a lot in this house, and I couldn't do much to help. Now, she's in another man's house, and I'll do everything in my power to ensure she's respected and doesn't get hurt.""Please, let me make amends. I'll do whatever it takes to earn back your trust and Avery's. I have to speak with Avery."Michael sighed. "I've been looking for a reason to end your marriage and set my daughter free. I'm sorry, David. I'm not going back on my decision. Please leave my house. Simon is already working on the divorce with my lawyer."David pleaded, his voice cracking. "Let me just talk to Aver
Emma's face contorted in disbelief. "What? She's really pregnant? She doesn't even look pregnant! How can this be?" she exclaimed, her voice stern and accusatory. "You're running the test again. I demand it!"Avery's eyebrows shot up in realization, her expression a mix of shock and indignation. "So, you actually brought me here to conduct a pregnancy test without my consent and not even for my genotype? Wow, Emma, you're really something else!" Avery stood up, her voice firm."How dare you talk to me like that?" Emma fumed, her face reddening with anger."I and David are having a baby because we're married and want to start our own family. Deal with it, Emma," Avery said and she stormed out of the office.Emma's face twitched in anger, her eyes blazing with fury. "What? Did she just give me a lecture and call me by my first name?" she muttered to herself, still seething.Meanwhile, Avery's legs shook as she staggered out o
Avery's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, her grip on the box tightening. "Is this some kind of joke to you?" she demanded, her voice trembling.David's expression turned apologetic. "No, Avery, I'm sorry. Let's talk. You're pregnant? So, we're going to be parents?" He pouted, then chuckled again, which only irritated Avery further."Can you be serious? What's funny here?" she asked, her irritation evident.David's grin faltered, and he held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Okay, okay. I'll be serious now. Explain everything to me carefully. I'll listen."Avery recounted the test results and swore she hadn't had sex since their marriage. David listened intently, his expression turning thoughtful."You haven't slept with another guy since we got married? Then explain your pregnancy, girl," he said, his tone jovial, which bothered Avery.She glared at him. "What exactly is funny? You don't seem to grasp the seriousness of this situation. I'm done talking to you."As she
David stood over Brad's motionless body, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and protectiveness.“Avery, are you okay?” he asked, his voice firm yet tinged with concern.Avery nodded, still trying to process the chaos that had just unfolded. “Y-yes, I’m fine. But… what took you so long to come out?”“At least I came out eventually, didn’t I?” David responded as he helped Avery off the bed, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace.Avery buried her face in David’s chest, feeling the overwhelming relief of his presence. She had been so scared, but now that he was here, she felt a sense of safety she hadn't felt moments ago.As they stood there, Brad began to stir, groaning as he held his head. David’s grip on Avery tightened, his eyes never leaving Brad’s face. “You’re dead meat tonight,” David said, his voice low and menacing.Brad scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide with fear. “I-I was just trying to have some fun, man. It’s not like you love h
**Four Years Later** The jet touched down softly on the private airstrip, its engines humming as it rolled to a stop. Inside, Avery stared out the window, her thoughts swirling like the clouds they had just descended through. Her twins, Michael and Marissa, were too excited to sit still, their small faces pressed against the glass, eyes wide with anticipation. It had been four long years since she had left, and now, the thought of stepping back into her past, of reclaiming her role at Stellar and the life she had once known, filled her with a strange mix of emotions—nervousness, hope, and maybe even a touch of fear. As the plane's door opened, the cool breeze rushed in, sweeping across the cabin. Avery took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. The twins, unbuckled and bursting with energy, leapt out of their seats, their laughter echoing through the cabin as they bounded toward the open door. "Mom! It's Uncle Simon!" Marissa squealed, her small hand pointing towar
Avery remained under the covers, her fingers tracing the edges of the divorce agreement, rereading the terms yet again. The cold legal language mirrored the hollow feeling in her chest. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, followed by the familiar sound of Simon stepping into the room. “Hey,” she greeted him, sitting up slowly, trying to muster a smile. "Here’s the lemonade you asked for," Simon said, chuckling as he handed her the glass. "Though it’s store-bought, not homemade." “I wasn’t expecting you to squeeze lemons in the kitchen,” she smiled, accepting the drink. As she took a sip, her eyes fell on the fresh cut on his lip. “What happened to you? Your lip…” “Oh, that,” Simon shrugged casually. “Got into a fight with some guy at the store. He wanted the last bottle of lemonade. You should’ve seen him—it was ridiculous,” he added with a playful wink. Avery shook her head lightly, amused by his antics, but her smile faded as her thoughts returned to the papers in her ha
"Avery..." His voice cracked as he whispered her name into the silent room. He rushed out in search of her, running through the house in a frantic hurry. He flung open her bedroom door, but it hit him like a punch to the gut—her things were gone. "No... no... no... don’t do this to me, Avery," he muttered, breathlessly, racing outside to the driveway. Her car was missing too. Panic seized him, his heart hammering in his chest. He hurried back inside, grabbing his phone with trembling hands, dialing her number. "The number you are trying to call doesn’t exist..." was the cold, automated response. The phone slipped from his grip, landing on the bed with a soft thud. David stared at it in disbelief, his mind whirling. She’d disconnected her phone. It was as if she’d wiped herself clean from his life, leaving him in a void of emptiness. "No, no, no... this can’t be happening," he whispered to himself, a mixture of fear and frustration bubbling up inside him. He snatched his car key
David stared at the paper in disbelief. "Divorce Agreement." The words felt foreign on the paper, like they belonged in someone else’s life—not his. Not Avery’s. Not their life. "Avery..." His voice cracked as he looked up at her, his eyes searching for answers, for a trace of hope. "I thought we were okay. I thought we were—" "Okay?" Avery interrupted, her voice sharp, laced with anger and hurt. "We were never okay. Not since the moment you betrayed me. Not since you let Stephanie and the rest of them walk all over me." David shook his head, stepping closer to her, desperation evident in his every movement. "But I thought we were moving past it. We’ve been through so much together—this doesn’t have to end like this. We can fix this, Avery." Avery's expression hardened, the tears threatening to spill over but held back by sheer force of will. "You slept with Stephanie! Stephanie!" She spat the name out like poison. "All because you found out that she and I had a thing in the
The room felt suffocating, thick with unsaid words and emotions neither could fully express. Avery stood still, her eyes reflecting a mix of resolve and vulnerability, while Emma, regarded her with an air of superiority, completely unbothered by the emotional storm brewing between them. "What exactly are you doing, Avery?" Emma asked, her tone still icy. "Trying to win some sort of 'wife of the year' award? You certainly won't be getting any accolades here." Avery’s throat tightened. She knew Emma's better nature still existed, and she was just hurt by her kids' actions and it was heartbreaking, standing in front of her and seeing nothing but disdain. "I am supporting my husband," Avery responded, her voice steady, though her eyes were pleading for some semblance of understanding. But it was clear Emma had none to offer. "Support him?" Emma scoffed. She snapped her fingers, her face hardening as she barked, "Security!" The door opened, and two large men entered the room, their
The room descended into a profound silence, each word from Avery hanging heavy in the air, striking like a hammer on stone. Her calm, controlled demeanor was a stark contrast to the chaos Stephanie had attempted to create. David sat still beneath her firm yet gentle grip on his shoulders, the weight of her presence both comforting and intimidating. He had no idea what was coming next, but he was certain that nothing would remain the same. Stephanie’s eyes darted around the room, searching for someone to back her up, but she found none. Olivia, her ally, had fallen silent, her confidence shattered by Avery’s revelations. The air buzzed with tension as every eye fixated on Avery, waiting for her next move. "Stephanie," Avery’s voice sliced through the quiet, calm yet laced with an edge of steel. "You’ve spun a web of lies, hoping to destroy the man I love. But your plan was flawed from the beginning." Her gaze hardened, her words precise and cutting. "Your desperation led you t
All eyes turned toward her as she strode confidently into the room, the clicking of her heels echoing through the tense silence. She was dressed in a sharp, corporate ensemble—a tailored navy blazer over a crisp white blouse, paired with form-fitting pants that emphasized her graceful yet commanding presence. Her dark, wavy hair cascaded just past her shoulders, framing a face set with bold determination. A pop of red lipstick gave her a look of unshakable confidence. In her hand, an elegant leather bag swayed as she approached the table. Without hesitation, she dropped it onto the surface with a controlled authority. Standing behind David, she gently placed her manicured hands on his tense shoulders, her touch both reassuring and unwavering. The air in the room shifted, and her presence seemed to electrify the space, demanding attention without uttering a word.David’s heart raced. His shoulders tensed beneath her hands. What was she doing here? This wasn’t how he imagined her fi
As the meeting adjourned, David stormed back into his office, his mind swirling with unanswered questions. The situation with Stephanie should have been wrapped up by now, but somehow, Alex had twisted things in his favor. Now, this scandalous post was threatening to bring everything crashing down. Grabbing his phone, David quickly dialed his lawyer. "I need damage control, and I need it now," David barked into the phone. "Find out who truly made that post, and locate Stephanie. We can't afford to let this story gain any more traction." His lawyer's voice came through steady but cautious. "We'll get to work, but David, this is going to be tricky. We need solid evidence on your side-and fast. Especially considering the... steps you took to distance her from the situation." David ran a frustrated hand through his hair, trying to maintain his composure. "Get it done. Fast. And prepare something for the emergency board meeting. I'm not going down without a fight." After hangin
He was busy in his office when Olivia knocked on his door and entered."Is there a problem?" David asked."Not exactly. I just came to report to you that Stephanie resigned. She dropped her resignation letter this morning, and everyone said they didn't see her when she came to drop it," Olivia said. "Ohh, that's cool. Her paycheck should be sent to her," David ordered. "Yeah... they are working on that, but don't you think it is weird? The letter just showed up on the table this morning even though she wasn't at Phoenix this morning, and she isn't even reachable too," Olivia said."Reachable? You tried contacting her?" "Yes. Not just me. We all tried. She was passionate about her job, and it is super odd that she resigned out of the blue," Olivia said."Well... do I look like I care? Also, is that your job?" David frowned at Olivia.Her gaze fell to the floor, and she bowed her head before exiting.His door opened again, and this time around, it was Avery."Hey, look at you, lookin