"What the...?!" Avery exclaimed."What is it now?" David frowned."Do you not see anything wrong here?""Answering a question with a question... that's all I see wrong here, and don't ever repeat that," David warned."Why is your house so... so messy? What on earth? Don't you have a maid, cleaning lady, or something? Don't you do chores?!" Avery said disgustedly."I do chores, and there's nothing wrong with my house," he defended."Really? The couches are out of place and covered in what appears to be cookie crumbs. There are slices of bread on a plate on the coffee table next to a jar of jam and a can of beer. Who the hell eats bread, jam, and beer? And why do you have boxers and t-shirts on the couch?" Avery was infuriated."Listen here, Valerie...""It's Avery.""This is my house, and I have the right to do whatever I want here...""And by that, you mean you have every right to let your house become a mess?" Avery interrupted him."The living room is only like this because I was wo
"Hello? Tiffany?" Avery eagerly answered Tiffany's call, only to have it abruptly end. Confusion washed over her, and she furiously flung her phone onto the bed. "Why did she call if she wasn't going to say anything?"Taking a deep breath, Avery set aside her burger and rushed to locate her phone. She dialed Tiffany's number and anxiously waited. The call connected, but Tiffany hung up once again, leaving Avery even more bewildered.A sudden text notification interrupted Avery's thoughts. She picked up her phone and read the message that appeared on the screen: "I only called to check if you had blocked my number. And turns out you didn't. Do yourself a favor and block and delete my number. Don't reply to this message." Avery angrily flung her phone away once more."You won't make me lose my appetite," and she resumed nibbling on her burger. However, as she indulged in the deliciousness, tears unexpectedly streamed down her face. The weight of her emotions became too overwhelming
"Right on time," Jennifer said, flashing a warm smile as she swung the door open to welcome Avery. The two friends immediately embraced, feeling the excitement bubble between them.They settled down at the center table, adorned with a delicate white tablecloth. Jennifer carefully poured liquor into the shot glasses, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Now beware. This liquor is not for the faint of heart," she warned, her voice laced with anticipation.Avery smirked confidently. "I'm ready for the challenge," she declared, her eyes locked with Jennifer's."Cheers!" they exclaimed in unison, clinking their glasses together before downing the shots. Their expressions quickly morphed, teeth clenching tightly as the fiery liquid crept through their bodies. Their eyes involuntarily squeezed shut as the intense burning sensation overwhelmed them, causing their faces to contort in discomfort. Jennifer and Avery quickly placed their shot glasses back on the table, exhaling sharply and excha
The clinking sound of glasses resonated through the living room as David and his friends gathered around a large wooden table adorned with bottles of various spirits. The air was thick with the rich scent of aged whiskey, the subtle sweetness of brandy, and the earthy essence of red wines."This is to David finally moving on from Melissa. Cheers!" Eric raised a toast and the five men cheered. They were Eric, Kevin, Thomas, Brandon, and the host, David."You're absolutely right. It's time to forget about that deceitful woman. That cheat," Kevin interjected."Yes, indeed!" "I still can't believe she got pregnant for another man. She's pathetic!" Brandon added."I couldn't agree more. She lost a perfect man, me! And to be honest, I couldn't care less about her and her baby daddy. She can go suck his dick!" David smirked, earning him the admiration of his friends. Later, he excused himself and went outside with the excuse that he needed to make a phone call.As he stepped outside, David
"Alexander Park, the daring, confident and accomplished CEO of Phoenix Holdings, a prominent conglomerate with subsidiaries spanning across six diverse industries," Alexander proudly declared over breakfast."Alex, I'm still alive and haven't retired yet. Stop discussing business matters during breakfast, you know I hate it," James, Alex's father, firmly replied."Oh, Daddy, don't fret. I'll soon be appointed as the CEO of Phoenix Holdings, so there's no harm in talking about it now, is there?" Alex retorted."As I mentioned before, I haven't retired and I'm far from dead," James reiterated."Right, right. Hurry up then, would you?" Alex grinned mischievously."Look at that! Your son wants me dead," James remarked to Emma.Emma sighed. She found the father-son banter tiresome and uninteresting."Darling, what's wrong with you?" James asked, reaching out to hold Emma's hand on the table."I feel awful about David. I shouldn't have allowed them rush the marriage, even though that was wh
"Oh my god. Dad!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side and attempting to help him up."What just happened? Why did you fall just like that?" Avery questioned, concern etched on her face. Bodyguards quickly rushed over to assist Avery and Michael, helping the father back onto his feet."I didn't get enough sleep last night, and it seems to have caught up with me," Michael lied, attempting to brush off the incident."Oh, then we shouldn't continue strolling. You need to rest. I'll head back home," Avery suggested."Please escort him inside," she ordered the men, ensuring her father's safety."Wait here. I'll have Simon drive you back," Michael insisted."Dad, I can just take a cab," Avery protested, not wanting to face Simon. "I insist," he firmly responded.Avery let out a sigh, knowing resistance was futile. She walked towards the garage, patiently waiting for Simon and he appeared after a few minutes."I was hoping a different driver would show up," Avery remarked to Simon, a small s
"Don't yell at my wife!" David's voice resonated through the room, filled with a mix of anger and protectiveness. Emma looked at her son, taken aback by his sudden outburst. Even Avery seemed shocked, her eyes widening at his words."David?" Mrs. Park called as though attempting to confirm whether it was really her son who had just yelled at her."Mom, you can't speak to Valerie like that. She's someone's wife. My wife." David declared firmly, his gaze unwavering as he locked eyes with his mother. The room fell silent, tension hanging heavy in the air."I wasn't insulting her. I was simply stating facts and addressing her behavior. It was irresponsible of her to go out, even if it was to see her family, without taking care of household chores," Emma retorted."She wasn't the one who made a mess of the house. I'll clean up when I'm ready," David responded."No, you won't. Avery, change your outfit and begin cleaning the house now. Then, make breakfast for me and David," Emma ordered."
Avery headed to the kitchen in search of a snack, and her attention was immediately drawn to the note resting on the dining table. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the opening line: "Ignore what I said yesterday about the rules in this house." Clearly, he wasn't one to readily admit when he was wrong.As she continued reading, Avery couldn't help but scoff at his attempt to apologize. "I'm sorry if you felt insulted by the things I said yesterday (I don't think they were mean though). Let's just act as roommates and let's talk on how we can balance or make rules in this house that suits or balances our boundaries (without forgetting that I am still the owner of the house and boss here). If you are up for a conversation about this, write 'Yes' and stick it on my room's door." How generous of him to believe his insults were somehow not mean. She resisted the urge to crumple the note in frustration.Feeling a surge of defiance, Avery muttered under her breath, "Still the boss
**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