Avery's heart pounded in her chest as Simon's words echoed in her ears. "My dad... what?" she whispered, her voice barely audible."Michael... He drowned earlier today and I just got the news... an accident, they said. I don’t have all the details yet, but..." Simon’s voice faltered on the other end.Avery's grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. Her father? The same man she saw just yesterday? How? It didn’t make any sense.David stood up immediately, sensing her shock, his eyes filled with concern. "Babe, is everything alright?"She couldn’t speak, as words failed her. The only thing that registered was Simon’s next sentence, as if it had pierced through the fog of her confusion. "Your mother... Emily, she wants his body moved to the mortuary now and is already making arrangements here in the hospital." "Mortuary? Why a mortuary? No!" The word ripped from Avery's throat. Without another word, she ended the call, tossed her phone aside, and struggled to get out
The drive back from the hospital was suffocatingly silent. David’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles pale, while his jaw remained clenched, casting quick, concerned glances toward Avery. She sat in the passenger seat, eyes distant and glassy, staring blankly out of the window. The weight of everything that had transpired in the hospital still hung heavily between them, an invisible wall neither of them could breach. Once they arrived home, Avery didn’t utter a single word. She walked past David, her steps heavy, and retreated to their bedroom. The sound of the door softly closing behind her was like a final punctuation to the conversation they never had. Days passed in a blur after that. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that settled deep into David’s bones and left him restless. Avery stayed in bed for most of the day, barely eating, barely speaking. He watched her grow more fragile with each passing moment, her body growing weaker under the weight
David swiftly snatched Olivia's phone from her hand, his eyes narrowing as he read through the anonymous post on Phoenix’s internal forum: “The CEO is crazy. He assaulted me in his office, and I want justice. I am a victim with evidence, and I’ll come out with it if he doesn’t issue a private and special apology before the end of today.” David scoffed, tossing the phone back to Olivia. “Where’s that idiot Stephanie?” he asked, his voice cutting through the tension. “She’s not yet at work,” Olivia replied, her brow furrowed. “Why?” “I want her in my office the moment she gets back,” David’s voice was ice-cold, barely masking the fury bubbling underneath. *** "James left his entire fortune to me," Emma remarked casually as she and Avery watched Oscar and Oliver, Emma's dogs, playing with others from the animal shelter. “That’s… sweet,” Avery replied, unsure of what to say. It didn’t sit right with her that James left nothing to David. “He asked me to give the boys whatev
Avery walked briskly out of Phoenix headquarters, her mind racing as she focused on her one goal—getting out before her resolve crumbled. But fate had other plans. Just as she approached the exit, Olivia came into view.Olivia stood casually in the hallway, scrolling through her phone. She glanced up just in time to spot Avery and raised a perfectly manicured brow."Mrs. Park," Olivia greeted sweetly, her tone laced with artificial warmth. "Coming from David’s office?"Avery’s heart stuttered, but she quickly masked her unease with a practiced smile. "Oh no... I was heading there, but I realized I forgot something. So, I’m just heading back now," she lied smoothly, her pulse quickening.Olivia’s eyes gleamed knowingly, as if she were in on a private joke. "Well, don’t let me keep you," she said, her gaze narrowing slightly. "By the way, congratulations," Avery said.Olivia blinked, momentarily thrown off. "Congratulations?""Yes," she said, watching Olivia’s reaction closely. "Davi
Avery stared at the necklace's pendant. It was beautiful. The design was intricate, with a swirling pattern that encased a small, glimmering stone at the center. This little present that Michael left for his daughter in what seemed like a simple moment of sentimentality looked like it carried so much more power than Avery could imagine. Simon joined her in his living room with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "One glass of juice for my pregnant friend," he handed it to her. Avery scoffed lightly before collecting it from him. "Thank you," she said. In just a few seconds, she emptied the juice in her glass. "So... David doesn't know you are pregnant?" Simon asked, and she nodded. "I have my reasons. No one knows, including Jennifer. She also has zero idea what is going on in my life right now. I missed her wedding without saying a word, and I don't think I am ready to start explaining myself to her. She just got married, so why should I sadden her with details of my me
Stephanie stumbled into her cramped apartment, drained from another long day at the office. The weight of her schemes with David was getting heavier, but she reassured herself that it would all be worth it once he was wrapped around her finger. Flicking on the lights, she froze. Something was wrong.Her living room was a disaster. Papers littered the floor, cushions tossed aside, and drawers yanked open. Someone had broken in.Her heart pounded in her chest. Was this a random burglary, or had someone uncovered her plans?Before she could piece it together, she felt a presence behind her. A large hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her scream. She thrashed, kicking and clawing, but then came a sharp sting in her neck.A needle.Her vision swam, her limbs turned heavy, and everything went black.When Stephanie awoke, her head throbbed, and her body felt weighed down. She blinked against the bright light, slowly realizing she wasn’t in her apartment anymore. The hum of engines filled
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
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
**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