INICIAR SESIÓNThe city lights blurred past Ethan’s window as he drove toward the restaurant where Nova had agreed to meet him. For the first time in weeks, he felt something close to excitement. Real excitement. Not the empty satisfaction of closing billion-dollar deals or watching stocks rise. This was different. Personal. Nova was finally back. The past few weeks without her had been unbearable in ways he hated admitting even to himself. Yes, they had texted and called almost every day, but hearing her voice through a phone was not enough anymore. He wanted to see her, to sit across from her and hear her laugh in person again. And maybe tonight… finally close the distance between them. When he entered the private rooftop restaurant, he saw her immediately. Nova sat near the glass railing overlooking the city skyline, wearing a black dress that hugged her figure elegantly. Her hair fell softly over one shoulder, and the dim golden lights around the rooftop made her glow. Ethan stopped walki
The Second Clarke mansion stood like a monument to power. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the estate glowed beneath the evening lights, every window shining gold against the darkening sky. Expensive cars lined the circular driveway, fountains danced quietly in the center courtyard, and uniformed guards stood at every gate. Adrian stepped out of his car, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit as he looked up at the mansion. This place had once been home, but now it felt unfamiliar. Cold. Ever since his father remarried, he had avoided coming here unless necessary. Japan had been the perfect excuse to stay away for years. Business meetings. International expansion. New branches. Anything to keep his distance from the reality that his father had replaced his mother so quickly. Still, business was business. And now that he was back to oversee operations at headquarters, avoiding William Clarke forever was impossible. The large doors opened before he could knock. “Mr. Adr
The Clarke mansion was nothing like Ava had ever seen before. The gates alone looked like they belonged to a royal palace, tall black iron gates with gold detailing that slowly opened as the car drove in. Beyond them stretched a long driveway lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, fountains, and luxury cars parked neatly beneath a marble-covered garage. Ava stared quietly through the car window. Everything screamed money. Not just wealth… Old wealth. The kind of wealth that had existed for generations. As the car finally stopped in front of the mansion, Ava slowly stepped out, her eyes lifting toward the massive building before her. White stone walls, enormous glass windows, balconies wrapped in flowers, and a sparkling fountain right in the center. It was breathtaking. “Come in, dear,” Sophie said warmly beside her. Ava nodded softly and followed her inside. The interior was even more luxurious. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The floors were polished marble. Expensiv
Six years ago…Ava sat on a low concrete bench behind the small apartment building, the evening sun casting a soft golden glow over the dusty compound. In her hands was a fresh flower, slightly wilted at the edges, but still beautiful. She carefully tied a tiny, rolled piece of paper to its stem, her fingers deliberate, almost reverent, as if she were performing something sacred.Her lips moved faintly, whispering words under her breath.“Ava, what are you doing, girl?” Maya’s voice cut through the quiet as she walked in, holding a bottle of soda, her brows already raised in suspicion.Ava didn’t even look up immediately. “I am manifesting something.”Maya stopped right in front of her and blinked. “What the fuck are you manifesting now? You’re always doing this voodoo shit. What’s this one about this time?”Ava finally looked up, her eyes shining with excitement. “This is not just anything. This is the real one. I heard about it online, people said it actually works. Like, it really
Ava sat in the quiet of the mansion, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular. The silence had become louder these days, it wasn’t peaceful, it wasn’t calm.It was suffocating.Ethan was home… but not with her. He moved around like she didn’t exist, short answers when necessary, cold glances when unavoidable, and complete indifference the rest of the time. Sometimes, he didn’t even look at her at all.And somehow… that hurt more than anger.At least anger meant he felt something but this? This felt like she was already gone from his world.She exhaled slowly, leaning back into the couch. Maya said not to chase him… Maya said not to lose myself… But what was left of her to even hold on to?The thought made her chest tighten. She couldn’t keep sitting here. She couldn’t keep breathing the same air, which felt heavier every single day.“I need to leave…” she whispered to herself.Without thinking too much about it, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed out.———The drive was quiet.A
The soft glow of Velouré wrapped around the room like silk, warm lights, quiet chatter, and the clinking of glasses in the background. It was the kind of place that made everything look perfect from the outside. Ava sat across from Maya, her fingers loosely wrapped around a glass she hadn’t touched. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Maya leaned back slightly, studying her “So… how is everything now?” she asked gently. “After that night. The last thing you told me was that Ethan wanted a divorce. What’s going on?” Ava let out a slow breath, her lips pressing together before she finally spoke. “I don’t even know anymore,” she admitted. “I had to involve his parents.” Maya’s brows lifted slightly. “And?” “It worked… kind of,” Ava said, giving a dry, humorless smile. “His father threatened him. Said if he goes through with the divorce, he’ll disown him… take everything away from him. His position, his inheritance… everything.” Maya exhaled quietly. “That’s… intense.” “Yeah
Ava didn’t remember how she got out of the hotel.One moment, she was standing in that penthouse, her world collapsing in slow motion… and the next, she was outside, the cold night air hitting her face like a slap.Her chest tightened. Her breathing came in short, uneven bursts. And then—She broke
“I want a divorce.”The words landed slowly… then all at once.Ava blinked, staring at him as she had misheard. Like maybe the music, the wine, the emotions, something had twisted his words into something they weren’t.“A divorce?” she repeated, her voice almost hollow. “What… what are you talking
The message came at exactly 4:00 p.m.Be ready by six. A driver will pick you up.—EthanAva stared at her phone for a long moment, her lips slowly curving into a smile she couldn’t hold back even if she tried.Six years.Six years of marriage, and somehow, her heart still reacted to him like this,
Ava didn’t even remember entering the place.One moment, she was in the car, barely breathing… and the next, she was in front of Maya.And then—She broke all over again.“Ava… hey, hey…” Maya rushed to her immediately, pulling her into a tight hug. “Calm down. What happened?”But Ava couldn’t spea







