The conference room buzzed as the board members filed in, settling into their seats around the polished mahogany table. The usual atmosphere of order and strategy had given way to something darker—anticipation, tension, and an undercurrent of dread.At the head of the table, Alex sat with a smug look of satisfaction, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the surface. His suit was sharp, his posture commanding. Today, he was in control.He glanced at the empty seat where David should have been. A crooked smile tugged at his lips as he remembered how easily he had swayed the board, securing himself the role of temporary Chief Operating Officer. Now, with his father incapacitated, Alex was ready to seize the ultimate prize—CEO.James Park’s empty chair loomed as a silent reminder of what was at stake. Alex’s gaze flickered over it, but there was no remorse—only ambition.The board members exchanged uneasy glances. Some were resigned; others had seen Alex’s ruthless side before, but neve
“Mom,” David rushed to hug Emma the moment she entered the hospital room.“You had me worried. Where were you for the last six hours?” David asked, but Emma remained silent, her face unreadable.She gently pulled out of David’s embrace and moved to sit beside James’ bed, her eyes softening as they fell on her husband.“It’s been up to a month now. Why hasn’t he woken up?” Emma whispered, her voice trembling as she fought back tears.David stepped closer and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “We—”“When were you planning to tell me?” she interrupted, her eyes never leaving James.“Tell you what?” David asked, his confusion growing.“The person responsible for putting my husband in this condition.”David hesitated. “Mom, we’ve been investigating, but so far, the security team hasn’t uncovered anything concrete. The CCTVs—”“David!” Emma snapped, cutting him off sharply.David flinched at the sound of her voice. “Mom?”“David!!” She practically shouted this time, her anger reverb
The soft, flickering light of candles bathed the entire living room. They were everywhere—on the coffee table, the mantel, even the windowsills. The soft, warm glow made the room feel intimate, almost sacred. Avery stepped inside, her earlier worries momentarily replaced by surprise and curiosity. “David?” she called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she took in the sight. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for him, her heart pounding in her chest. But there was no sign of him. Just the candles, their light dancing on the walls, casting gentle shadows that made everything feel like a dream.Avery stood there, rooted to the spot, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Why were there candles everywhere? Was this some kind of surprise? “David?” she called out again, her voice trembling slightly. There was no immediate response, just the gentle crackling of the candle flames. She took another tentative step forward, her heels clicking softly on the floor.And the
They moved together, their lips and hands exploring with a newfound urgency, yet the pace was unhurried, every touch deliberate, every kiss full of the love and longing they had kept bottled up for so long.Their bodies were slick with sweat, and their muscles trembled from the intensity. He was thrusting deep, hitting that perfect spot, making her toes curl. She clung to him, her head thrown back in ecstasy. "Don't stop." "Never stopping," he groaned. They were both right on the edge, pleasure coiling tighter and tighter until they exploded. Their bodies convulsed, waves of pleasure crashing over them. "David..." She cried out his name, and he groaned hers. They rode it out together, clinging to each other as the aftershocks faded. Breathless and spent, they collapsed in a tangle of limbs, hearts pounding in sync. They were all cozy on the couch, basking in that post-sex glow.Avery’s hands roamed over David’s back, feeling the muscles tense and relax beneath her fingertips.“I
David and Avery strolled into James' hospital room hand-in-hand, the picture of a happy, united couple. A soft smile played on Avery's lips as she greeted Emma. "Good afternoon, ma'am." "Good afternoon, mom." Emma peered at them, her brow furrowing ever so slightly. "Something about you two is different today," she observed, closing the book she had been reading. David and Avery exchanged a knowing glance, their fingers intertwining as a faint blush crept onto their cheeks. Their newfound intimacy seemed to radiate from their very beings. "You two look... happier," Emma stated, her tone laced with curiosity as she studied them both intently. Avery bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling a flutter of nerves in her chest. She wasn't quite sure how to articulate the shift in their relationship, but David, ever the protector, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping forward. "Avery and I—well, we've worked through some things. We're finally... in a better place," he said,
Avery stood beside David outside the boardroom, her heart pounding, but it wasn’t just the meeting that unsettled her. Something felt off. She glanced at David—his face was a mask of calm, but the tightness in his shoulders betrayed him."Are you really okay with this?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible over the quiet hallway.David turned to her, brow furrowed. "With what?""With Alex being appointed CEO." She crossed her arms, her eyes searching his for any hint of doubt. "You can’t honestly believe this is the best decision for the company—for your family."David exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "My mom thinks it’s what my father would’ve wanted and I trust her."Avery’s lips thinned. There was tension in the air, hanging like a storm waiting to break. Before she could respond, the heavy doors to the boardroom creaked open, and Emma appeared, beckoning them inside.As they entered, the weight of the room settled on Avery’s chest. Alex sat at the head of the tab
David’s smile faltered when Avery responded. “Avery?” Concern laced his voice. “What’s wrong?” She quickly looked away, pulling her hand from his. "Nothing," she replied, but the tightness in her expression betrayed her words. She stepped back, creating space between them. David frowned, sensing something deeper. "Avery, don’t shut me out. If something’s wrong or bothering you—" “I’m not shutting you out,” she interrupted, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I just... I think I should go see my dad. He’s been asking about me, and I’ve put it off too long.” He studied her, knowing there was more behind her words, but he decided not to push. "Do you want me to come with you?" Avery shook her head too quickly. "No, no. You’ve got things to handle here at Phoenix. Now that you just got appointed, there’s a lot to do before you leave." David opened his mouth to protest but hesitated. She wasn’t wrong—he did have a few things to do. But her sudden need to
Avery watched as David stormed out of the kitchen. Her heart ached, torn between running after him and letting him cool off. She leaned against the counter, arms crossed, staring at the floor as the weight of the moment settled around her. Every instinct screamed at her to go to him, to fix the rift that had just opened between them. After a few moments of hesitation, she pushed herself off the counter and headed toward their bedroom. David sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. "David…" Her voice was soft, but he didn’t respond. The silence between them was deafening, each second that passed cutting deeper than words ever could. Avery took a tentative step closer. "I didn’t mean to make you feel like I don’t believe in you. I do—more than you realize. I just…" "You just think I’m going to fail." His voice was flat, but the quiet anger was evident. "That’s what this is, right? You don’t think I can handle it." "No," she said quickly, sitting beside him. "That’
**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