All Chapters of Reclaiming His Bride: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ava's POV The afternoon sunlight spilled over the compound as I stepped outside, my heels clicking against the pavement. I felt the weight of exhaustion from the night before. I had cried myself to sleep, my swollen eyes a reminder of my vulnerability. ‘Why does it hurt so much? Why do I feel this way?’But last night and this moment will be the last time I will ever show any vulnerability. No more tears. “They will never see my weakness again,” I muttered to my ears alone.With renewed resolve, I stepped further outside, my heels striking a confident rhythm against the pavement as I neared the garage.Today felt different—I had come armed with a new resolve. And to my surprise, Joe, the driver Richard had assigned to me, was back, fresh from visiting his sick mother.“Good morning, Miss Ava,” he greeted me with a nod and a warm smile. “It’s good to be back.”I returned the smile, genuinely glad to see a familiar face. “Joe! Just in time. I hope your mother’s doing better?”“Yes, m

Orion's POV I watched from the upstairs window as she left with him. Ava—laughing, leaning into Connor, her face flushed with that carefree glow that felt like poison. My hands tightened on the sill until my knuckles went white. I didn’t know why I was standing there, why I felt compelled to follow. But the very thought of her with another man sparked a fury so deep, so fierce, that I couldn't turn away. She doesn’t have the right to be happy—not after what she did to my family, after she dragged me back into this mess. She forfeited that chance a long time ago.But there I was, slipping into the shadows, following them through the crowd. I kept a safe distance, my eyes tracking her every move as if on instinct, like some part of me refused to let her go. Every laugh, every smile she gave him felt like a dagger to my pride. I tried to tell myself it was about control, about keeping her on a leash. That’s what this was—me asserting my authority. Nothing more.Then I saw her stumble

The morning sun's rays sliced through the heavy drapes of the mansion, casting golden beams that danced across the polished floors. It was a deceptively peaceful start, the kind that masked the darkness brewing beneath the surface. Orion opened his eyes, the weight of the previous night's confrontation with Ava pressing against his chest. There was no time to linger on doubts or regrets—he had made his choice, and today, he and Chloe would put their twisted plan into motion.He met Chloe in the grand foyer, where she stood by the marble staircase, dressed immaculately in a sharp suit that contrasted with her devilish smile. “Good morning, Orion,” she greeted, her tone too bright for his liking. “Ready to make her squirm?”“Let’s just get it over with,” Orion replied, jaw clenched. Despite everything, he couldn’t shake the unease in his gut. But he forced it down, burying it beneath layers of resolve.“Excellent.” Chloe’s eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction. “We’ll start small—plan

Ava's POV I sat in the back of the car, my hands clenched in my lap, nails digging into my palms until I could feel the sting of blood. The city streets blurred past, too bright, too vivid, mocking the storm raging inside me. I closed my eyes, letting my head rest against the cool glass.I could still feel the touch of Orion’s fingers against my skin from the night before—how they had gone from tender to cruelly indifferent within hours. He had played his role well. Too well.I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, the taste of iron mingling with the bile rising in my throat. Let him think I was broken. Let him believe his betrayal had shattered me beyond repair. He would learn soon enough what true devastation looked like.The car slowed, jolting me back to the present. Joe’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, a silent question lingering between us. “Where to, Ms. Ava?”For a moment, I considered telling him to take me far away, to some forgotten corner of the world where Ori

Orion's POV The sun cast a thin line of light across the edge of the drapes, marking the boundary between night’s chaos and morning’s quiet. Last night was beyond hellish. My head still throbbed from her screams and the countless times she pulled my hair.I wasted no time. As soon as Ava’s breathing evened out and her grip loosened enough, I slipped from her grasp, barely catching my own breath. It took every ounce of strength not to bolt from the room. I moved silently, with measured steps, ensuring each creak of the floorboards was muffled beneath my weight.She stirred while I was half-way out of the room and I froze. Who knows the drama that will come next if she sees me sneaking out? I steadied my breath and continued moving towards the door, every fiber of my body screaming at me to leave the room.The hall felt like a sanctuary. The weight pressing on my chest lessened with each step. By the time I reached my own room, a wave of relief crashed over me. Chloe lay sprawled on