Days went by and David threw himself into his new role. His mornings started earlier, his nights ended later. Meetings, presentations, and phone calls piled up, filling every hour of his schedule. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal. After all, he had expected this level of intensity from the job, and the adrenaline of proving himself fueled his energy.Despite the intensity of his workload, David found himself thriving in the fast-paced environment.Olivia, his executive assistant, surprisingly became a trusted ally, her sharp wit and unwavering loyalty proving invaluable. Even with her initial hesitation about working with David, she soon came to respect his tireless work ethic and strategic vision."You know, when I first met you, I'll admit I had my doubts," she confided one day as they rode the elevator up to the executive suite. "James was a hard act to follow, and I wasn't sure you were ready for the weight of this job."David arched an eyebrow, his expression amused. "An
Avery's hands balled into fists at her sides, trembling with barely contained rage. "So that’s what you think?" she said quietly. Her voice was thick with emotion. "That I’m just sitting here, waiting for you to come home like some bored housewife with nothing better to do?"David pinched the bridge of his nose, already regretting his careless choice of words. "Not exactly. I’m just saying—""You think I’m idle? I'm Jobless?" she cut him off, her voice rising in pitch. "You really believe my life revolves around waiting for you to grace me with your presence?""Avery, stop twisting my words," David snapped, frustration spilling over, fueled by fatigue. "That’s not what I meant.""Then what did you mean?" Avery challenged, her anger flaring. "If you think I’m just sitting around doing nothing, you’ve completely missed the point!""All I’m saying is, if you're feeling neglected or—" he hesitated, searching for the right words, "...sex-starved, you could’ve just told me instead of accus
Avery woke to the soft sound of birds chirping outside her window, but the peace of the morning did little to ease the weight in her chest. The argument from the night before lingered like a dark cloud over her heart. Sunlight poured into the room, warm and golden, yet her spirits remained low. She sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair as she sat up, the hurtful words she and David had exchanged playing on a loop in her mind. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and before she could answer, David entered. He was holding a bouquet of flowers—purple flowers—and a small shopping bag. His smile was strained, hopeful but tentative. "Good morning," he said quietly, stepping into the room. His eyes searched her face, pleading for some sign that she had softened. Avery's gaze flickered to the flowers, her heart sinking further. Purple. Of course he had forgotten. She forced a smile, not wanting to reignite the tension, but it barely hid her disappointment. "Good morni
Her eyes remained on the message glowing from David’s phone screen. Her heart clenched, and suddenly, the clatter of the bustling restaurant faded into a distant hum. Everything blurred—David’s puzzled expression, the staffs bustling by, even the couple laughing at the next table. All that remained was the message.“Aren't you done begging her? I'm tired of waiting.” She read it over and over again, the words echoing in her mind like a cruel whisper.Stephanie. Of course. She should’ve known.David stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. “Avery? What’s wrong?” He reached out, concern evident in his voice. “I—I took your phone by mistake,” she stammered, dropping the device as if it had burned her. With a shaky hand, she grabbed her own phone and bolted out of the restaurant, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her as tears welled up.David’s confusion quickly shifted to panic. He grabbed his phone, and the moment his eyes fell on the message from 'Stephanie', his h
There was a soft knock on the door, and Olivia entered his office."I came to drop these, and also... someone's here to see you," Olivia announced, and then Stephanie entered."Stephanie? What are you doing here? Olivia, you shouldn't just allow strangers on the CEO's floor. It is disrespectful," David said."Actually, she is an employee here. A new employee. She just resumed last Monday," Olivia announced.It was then that David noticed Stephanie wasn't casually dressed. She even had an ID card on her neck."What department? With what qualifications? And under whose approval?" David questioned."She's in the marketing department," Olivia replied, her tone calm but firm. "Her qualifications meet the necessary standards, and her approval came from Human Resources. As you know, I handle the final reviews for new hires."David's brow furrowed, his frustration barely contained. "So, you approved this without informing me?""With all due respect, sir," Olivia began, her voice steady, "you'
"Squirt."He said it again.His fingers were pumping fast now, curling and stroking. Avery was right on the brink, her body coiled tight. She let out a scream, her back arching off the desk. The release hit her hard, and she gushed, soaking David's hand and the desk beneath her. "I'm sorry," she said in between heavy breaths, still recovering from the intensity of it all."I asked for it," he said, resting his head on her forehead. "Let's have more fun tonight. I don't want you to muffle your screams. I want to hear everything..." he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.He pulled her into a light hug and muttered a low thank you. David then sent a message to Olivia to get new clothes for him and Avery. They snuggled on the couch while they waited for Olivia to get back."I was hoping we'd go visit Emma and James today. Today marks four months since the accident," Avery said.David's grip around Avery's body tightened."Why isn't he waking up, Avery?" he muttered. She was silent,
Avery froze, her hand still resting against the bathroom door, his words echoing in her mind."Stephanie?" Her throat went dry, and she pressed her palm against the cool wood. How had he found out? And why now, of all times?"I—" she started, but her voice faltered, not knowing how to continue.The door opened, and David stood there naked, not meeting her eyes, instead looking somewhere past her shoulder. His bare chest rose and fell steadily."The whole time," he said quietly, more to himself than to her. "You said nothing to me.""David, I—" Avery struggled to find the right words. "It wasn’t like that. I didn’t think it mattered. It was... before.""Before?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You didn’t think I should know that the woman I used to be with... was also the one you were with?"Avery felt her chest tighten. "I didn’t think it would change anything," she admitted, her voice softer now. "I never thought it was important because it was in the past. It never meant—""You didn’t
"This meeting is dismissed," David interrupted one of the employees talking. "Sir?" Olivia called. "I said it was dismissed!" he yelled angrily, startling everyone. "You all should leave my office," he ordered. "Including you, Olivia." As they filed out of his office, he called, "Stephanie. Stay back." Olivia's eyes darted from David to Stephanie and back to David, wondering why he asked only her to stay behind. "Is there a problem?" Stephanie asked when they were alone. He got up, moving towards her angrily, his fists clenched as if he was going to punch her face. Stephanie took cautious steps backwards, her legs wobbly as her heels clicked against the floor. "Why did you send me this picture?!" he yelled at the top of his voice. Stephanie screamed and quickly covered her ears. "What, you wanna act dumb now, huh? Why?! Why?! Just why?! Why can't you leave me alone?!" "Please stop!" she yelled, getting scared now. "I have no idea what you are talking about, David, pleas
**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