Meanwhile, Avery entered the cafe and quickly scanned the room for James. Spotting him sitting in a cozy corner, sipping a cup of coffee, she made her way towards him."Good morning, sir," she greeted him, flashing a wide smile."I am sorry for keeping you waiting. David held me up," Avery said apologetically."That's alright. I haven't been here for long," James replied, returning her smile."How have you been?" he asked."I'm doing well, thank you. And how about you?""I'm healthy, as you can see," he chuckled, and they shared a laugh.They began chatting as they settled down with cups of steaming coffee and plates of freshly baked pastries."It is quite frustrating, isn't it? But please, don't mind him," James said."Yes, sometimes. But I guess I'm starting to get used to it. Although, his changing personalities still surprise me. It's like he's a different person sometimes. From sweet to bitter..." Avery commented, only to be interrupted by James."Sweet? That's the first positive
Avery pulled out the scarf and held it up, admiring its vibrant color and soft texture. "It's beautiful," she said with a slight smile."How thoughtful of him. Did he bug you about wearing a thin dress?" James arched an eyebrow."Yeah, he did," Avery laughed awkwardly."You women. I guess he knew you'd get cold. Should've listened to him," he scolded teasingly, and they both chuckled."I suppose he was right," she mused, wrapping the scarf around her neck and relishing in its immediate warmth."Speaking of David, there's something I want to discuss," Avery said."Okay, what is it?""It's about David's role at Phoenix Holdings," Avery said."Oh, can you believe that punk resigned? Still mad at him for that," James said."Well, David is incredibly talented and dedicated. I've witnessed how hard he works and I truly believe he'd be a great fit as the Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Holdings," Avery said, a knot forming in her belly as she anticipated James' response."You've witnesse
"I asked if you had a great time," he said softly."And I answered. Aren't you really concerned as to whether I talked to him or not? And I have answered you," Avery said."No, it's not just about that. I also want to know if you had a good time," David said."Why should you care? I am not telling you," she frowned at him.He scoffed and smiled.He let go of her and began walking to where he parked his car, Avery trailing behind him."You know, it's entertaining to witness your stubbornness sometimes," David said."Who cares?" Avery muttered. She couldn't stand the way David was always trying to get under her skin. It was as if he made it his mission to annoy her at every opportunity."But guess who is also stubborn?" David said as they approached the car. He unlocked it and hopped into the driver's seat. Avery stood by the passenger side, waiting for him to unlock the door for her."David, unlock the door," she said, her voice filled with irritation.He had a mischievous glint in his
Avery's heart sank, knowing exactly who had arrived. Without looking, she knew it was Emma, her mother-in-law, probably ready to criticize and nag about something trivial."Good morning, Ma," Avery greeted with forced cheerfulness.Ignoring the greeting, Emma's eyes darted around the room. "Where's David?" she demanded, a tone of impatience in her voice."He's in his..."Before Avery could finish her sentence, Emma erupted,"David!"Avery sighed, her appetite vanishing instantly. She couldn't help but wonder why Emma bothered asking her if she was just going to shout his name anyway. 'Some things will never make sense to me,' Avery thought wryly to herself. David emerged from his room and before he could gather his thoughts, Emma darted towards him, her eyes swimming with concern."Oh, my dear boy. I can see how difficult it has been for you. But don't worry, I have found the solution to your problems," Emma said, her voice shaking with emotion.David furrowed his brow, a mixture o
Avery, on getting outside, bumped into Robert."Hey, hey... look who's here, it's my favorite sister..." Robert said smugly, flashing a fake smile."What the hell?" Avery snapped at him, irritated by his cheerfulness. She could feel the cold wind biting her cheeks and the noise of the traffic filling her ears."What?" Robert said, feigning innocence."Why are you being so fake like you are excited to see me?" she questioned, crossing her arms."Come on, I am honestly excited to see you," he said, stretching his arms open for a hug. "Come to your big brother. Don't leave me hanging."Avery looked at him, dumbfounded. He was acting like they were still kids, not adults who hated each other. His sudden display of affection made her stomach churn."The last time I hugged you, we were kids. We are adults, and also enemies. Your sudden display of affection is making my stomach sick," Avery said and made her way to leave, but Robert grabbed her arm."Come on, sis. Why so serious?" he said, t
"Avery, do you have feelings for David?" Simon asked abruptly, his eyes piercing hers."What? No!" she exclaimed, feeling her cheeks heat up."Then why are you pushing me away?" he demanded, taking a step closer to her."Because I'm married?" Avery retorted, rolling her eyes."It's an arranged marriage with someone you don't even love! We had something special, Avery, and I know you still feel it. Please, don't shut me out. I made you a promise, remember? I'll get you out of this sham of a marriage in six months. But it hurts me to see you act like I don't matter to you," Simon said, his voice softening."Now you're just being ridiculous. You want me to cheat on my husband because you're doing me a favor?" she snapped."He doesn't deserve your loyalty!" Simon shouted, his frustration boiling over."And you don't deserve my trust! If you can't see how wrong this is, then I've lost all respect for you. Stop helping me, Simon. I don't need your help. I'll find my own way out of this
"Say it again," he commanded."Please touch me," she repeated, her voice a murmur. To her astonishment, David released her abruptly."What on earth?" she thought, taken aback. What just happened?"What was that?" she asked, bewildered."I was just unlocking your phone with your fingerprint," David said, grinning proudly.She realized then that he had used her thumb to unlock her phone while he had her pinned to the door. She felt mortified. Her words, "Just touch me," echoed in her head. Embarrassed was an understatement.He tapped something on her phone and handed it back to her. She looked at the screen and saw a name; "Dear Hubby, Just Touch Me.""That's my number. You can text me next time you're late, getting drunk with some random dude," David said."Why did you save it as 'Dear Hubby, Just Touch Me'?" Avery asked."Because it was hilarious when you said that," David laughed.She wished the ground would open up and swallow her. He would never let her live this down. How could
Avery closed her eyes tightly, different thoughts and emotions swirling inside her. Then, she recalled how much she desired to see the expression in his eyes when her chest was bare before him. Taking a deep breath, Avery gathered all the courage she needed to act on her desire. Slowly, she removed his shirt and let it drop to the floor.Her breasts stood free, but for only a few seconds as she covered it with her hands.David's gaze was fixed on her, intense enough to bore holes through her. "Are you happy now?" she asked, her voice pulling David out of his trance.He retreated a step, bent to pick his shirt, and went to his room, leaving Avery in silence.Her confusion mounted. Was it just about the shirt, or was there a deeper motive behind his actions, perhaps to embarrass her or just see her body?Lost in her reverie, she stepped into her room only to find her bed missing. "Where's my bed?" she voiced aloud, even though no one was there to answer.A note taped to the bed fr
**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