Dear Gentle Readers, At last this chapter will tie up the loose end about Ava being Raphael’s girlfriend...Please do enjoy. Grazie mille. Yours,Ethan***Brigitte arrived in the morning, carrying a small insulated container. Seeing that Ava’s complexion had improved slightly, she let out a relieved sigh."You had a high fever last night," Brigitte said as she set the container on the table. "This is the porridge I made this morning. You should have some."Ava, touched by her kindness, nodded and took the bowl. Brigitte, however, subtly glanced around the apartment, curiosity flickering in her eyes.Last night, she had mentioned to Mr. Vanderbilt that Ava’s husband was always out early and returned late. Yet, in all the time she had lived across the hall, she had never once seen the man."Ava, is your husband really that busy?" Brigitte asked, her tone casual but probing. "You had such a high fever last night, and he didn’t come to take care of you."Ava's grip on the spoon tightene
Ava arranged to meet Rachel at a café. As they settled in, Rachel casually mentioned that she and Tom had gotten back together, claiming it was all just a misunderstanding. Ava knew how much Rachel loved Tom, so she bit her tongue and didn’t say anything.Instead, she got straight to the point. "Rachel, help me find someone to temporarily play the role of my husband."Rachel, who had just taken a sip of her coffee, nearly choked. "Cough, cough, cough—" She struggled for a moment, then stared at Ava in disbelief. "Alexander still doesn’t know your identity?"Ava shook her head, cupping her coffee mug with both hands.In her mind, Alexander was her boss—her benefactor. That was how she viewed him. But there was no denying the lingering memories of that night, the way his presence had consumed her. Beyond the physical intensity that left its mark, there was that thirty-second kiss—brief yet unforgettable, like a slow-burning ember she couldn’t fully extinguish.She had pushed those thoug
Ava arranged to meet Rachel at a café. As they settled in, Rachel casually mentioned that she and Tom had gotten back together, claiming it was all just a misunderstanding. Ava knew how much Rachel loved Tom, so she bit her tongue and didn’t say anything.Instead, she got straight to the point. "Rachel, help me find someone to temporarily play the role of my husband."Rachel, who had just taken a sip of her coffee, nearly choked. "Cough, cough, cough—" She struggled for a moment, then stared at Ava in disbelief. "Alexander still doesn’t know your identity?"Ava shook her head, cupping her coffee mug with both hands.In her mind, Alexander was her boss—her benefactor. That was how she viewed him. But there was no denying the lingering memories of that night, the way his presence had consumed her. Beyond the physical intensity that left its mark, there was that thirty-second kiss—brief yet unforgettable, like a slow-burning ember she couldn’t fully extinguish.She had pushed those though
(In this chapter, Ava will only be referred to as Serena Morales when the context is about Alexander’s wife otherwise she will be referred as “Ava/Miss Alvarez”, the designer)---Ava jolted back to reality, her heart racing. She quickly straightened up, putting distance between them.Alexander, still leaning against the couch, remained still, eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was exhaustion—but for a brief moment, she wondered if he had even been awake.Her cheeks burned.Hurriedly, she pulled the blanket over him, barely taking a breath before making her escape.The moment the door clicked shut behind her, Alexander’s eyes flickered open. He glanced upward, a shadow of confusion in his gaze. But almost as quickly, he shut them again, dismissing the moment as a drunken dream.Outside the hotel, the cool night breeze helped Ava collect herself.Her fingers brushed over her lips.The first time had been during that ridiculous truth-or-dare game—
Ava hesitated for a moment before picking up the medicine box. She had no choice but to go through with this. “Mr. Vanderbilt, where are you injured?”The scent of blood in the air suddenly made sense—his old wound must have reopened. But Alexander said nothing. Instead, after a moment of silence, he slowly turned his back and shrugged off his jacket.Ava’s breath caught in her throat.The deep, crisscrossing wounds covering his back were brutal—angry red gashes that hadn’t yet begun to heal. Her hands trembled, and the medicine box slipped from her grasp, hitting the floor with a sharp clatter.“Mr. Vanderbilt, what happened to you?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.Alexander didn’t respond, but through the mirror in front of him, he could see her expression—genuine shock, her pupils quivering with worry. For some reason, that look unsettled him.Ava quickly bent down, grabbing the medicine box with shaky hands. The fabric of his shirt
The next morning, Ava awoke to find Alexander already seated on the opposite sofa. His posture was composed, his face unreadable as he scanned through a stack of documents.She quickly rubbed her eyes, straightening up. The air between them was oddly quiet. She stole a glance at the clock on the wall.Six o’clock.Even on a day off, he was up this early?"Mr. Vanderbilt?" Her voice was still laced with sleep, soft and uncertain.Alexander didn’t look up, merely responding with a low grunt as he neatly folded a document.Realizing she should freshen up, Ava hurried to the bathroom. When she emerged, she hesitated before asking, "Mr. Vanderbilt, would you like some breakfast? I can bring something up for you. Also, your back injury—should we go to the hospital today?"Alexander flipped another page, his tone indifferent. "Whatever’s fine."Taking that as permission, Ava grabbed her coat and headed downstairs to fetch breakfast. ---The hotel's breakfast buffet was already bustling, but
Dear Gentle Readers, Please enjoy... Soon Alexander’s proposal to Ava will come! Grazie mille. Yours, E. C.--- Back at the Upper West Side, Ava allowed herself a moment of rest before her phone rang. It was a call from one of her former business partners—the same one who had recently canceled their order. This time, however, they were calling to reinstate it.She exhaled in relief, pressing her fingers against her temples to soothe her lingering tension. At least things were looking up on that front.But as she leaned back against the couch, her thoughts drifted to Alexander’s injuries. The scars on his back had been brutal, and while she knew Mr. Vanderbilt Sr. was strict, punishing Alexander without investigating the truth was harsh.More than anything, she understood the underlying reason for Alexander's tolerance toward this marriage—it wasn’t for love or companionship. It was for his grandfather.As the clock neared seven, Ava debated calling the old man to speak on Alexander’
Alexander, unfazed, merely shot the waiter a glance.The waiter smiled knowingly. "Enjoy your meal."Ava cleared her throat. "Mr. Vanderbilt, you probably don’t go out to eat with women much. This restaurant caters specifically to couples."She spoke lightly, without a trace of embarrassment, as if it were nothing more than an amusing coincidence.Alexander remained composed. "You seem familiar with this place. Do you come here often with your husband?"Her fingers stiffened slightly around the menu."Um… maybe once or twice."Once or twice?His frown deepened.Her husband had only brought her to a place like this once or twice?It didn’t sit right with him, but he let it go. It wasn’t his concern.Ava quickly redirected her focus, her eyes falling on Alexander’s hand.His fingers rested on the table near the scattered red roses. The contrast—the stark white of his skin against the deep crimson of the petals—created a visually striking image.It was… artistic.She wanted to paint it la
Ava Alvarez remained stranded on the top floor, her heels aching and her body weary. The elevator wouldn't budge without a keycard, and for privacy and security reasons, the stairwell doors were locked from the inside. Whoever designed this place clearly didn’t want anyone wandering up or down without clearance—and Alexander had clearly forgotten that detail when he left.She was quite literally forgotten there.With a resigned sigh, Ava pulled out her phone and tried calling Alexander. No answer. His phone had likely been on silent since he arrived at the rooftop lounge, drowning in the soft thrum of music, clinking glasses, and idle conversation.Hours passed.It wasn’t until nearly eleven, long after the event had ended, that Alexander finally checked his phone. Three missed calls. A single message.> [I don’t have a card…]There were no emojis, no exclamation marks—just plain text. But something about the simplicity made it worse. It read like quiet frustration. Like she had curle
Colton barely spared a glance at the chaos unraveling behind him. With a cool indifference that only years of elite breeding could cultivate, he stepped around Ava Alvarez, still on the ground, and disappeared into the nearby private room as if she were nothing more than a misplaced handbag.Ava knelt slowly, her trembling hands reaching for the scattered items Rachel had so carelessly stuffed into the gift box. The embarrassment crept up her spine like ice. She hadn’t even unwrapped the gift, let alone imagined its contents tumbling across polished marble for the world to see.Just as she reached for one of the smaller items—a sleek, suggestively shaped accessory—she heard Alexander Vanderbilt’s voice, cold and commanding.“Hugo, go inside.”Hugo’s chuckle was low and teasing as he passed them. “Oh boy, someone’s in for it now.”Now only Ava and Alexander remained in the corridor, the air heavy with unsaid words. One of the items had landed near Alexander's polished leather shoe, and
Meanwhile, Alexander had just touched down on foreign soil. The sleek wheels of the private jet had barely cooled before he was ushered into a waiting car—Victoria trailing a few steps behind.The sun was beginning to dip below the skyline, casting a golden hue over the glass buildings around them. But the warmth of the city didn’t seem to reach Victoria’s mood.The auction had been a disappointment.Those who had flown in from all over the world had come chasing one thing—a rumored masterpiece by the elusive Master Remington. The buzz had been relentless, the anticipation feverish. Collectors, curators, and connoisseurs all gathered under one roof, poised to outbid one another for a chance at owning a piece of immortality.But the pièce de résistance had never arrived.Instead, the organizers had presented a different set of paintings—fine works, certainly, but none carrying the master’s signature. Whispers swirled through the crowd: the Remington piece had already been given away. P
Ava had just stepped out of the shower, the steam still curling around her from the bathroom. Wrapped in soft pajamas and with her damp hair towel-dried and tousled, she was about to unwind for the evening when a message lit up her phone.It was from the property management office:“Dear resident, we’ve prepared a small gift for you. Please collect it in the underground garage.”It wasn’t unusual in this kind of upscale community. Services like this—holiday gifts, complimentary deliveries—were standard perks. She assumed it was another seasonal gesture and didn’t think much of it.She threw on a light cardigan over her pajamas and slipped into house slippers. There was no need to dress up just to walk through her own building. The community was secure, and the garage private—no one would bat an eye.The garage, however, was packed.Dimly lit rows of polished luxury vehicles stretched in every direction. She stepped carefully between them, the click of her slippers echoing softly. As s
Alexander sat at his sleek glass desk, a shaft of afternoon light slanting across the surface. His fingers moved with precision as he reviewed the final pages of a thick document. With a quiet finality, he pushed the folder forward.Jonathan, ever efficient, stepped forward to take it, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment. As he turned to leave, the door opened and another figure appeared.Victoria.She stopped short, clearly startled to find Alexander at the office today—especially considering he had been at the hotel earlier. And it was Saturday.Recovering quickly, she walked in with her usual grace, her heels tapping softly against the polished floor."Alexander," she began, her tone casual but calculated, "news just came in from Spain. Master Remington’s painting is officially going up for auction. Everyone’s flying in for it this week—even Colton’s confirmed his attendance. When are you planning to leave?"She studied his face as she spoke, carefully watching for a flicker
Ava shot upright in bed, her heart thudding as her eyes scanned the breaking news headlines on her phone.Ryan Kuzmin Detained in International Crime Probe—PW Group Offices Raided.Details unfolded line by line like a script in a legal thriller. Ryan had been arrested on suspicion of overseas criminal activity. That morning, the authorities had swept through PW Group’s towering headquarters, raiding offices and seizing documents. The scandal was larger than anyone had anticipated.Further investigations revealed damning evidence: years of tax evasion, vast embezzlement schemes, and a tightly knit circle of executives siphoning company funds for personal gain.The outcome was swift—and brutal.PW Group had been slammed with devastating penalties. Their bank accounts frozen. Assets forcibly liquidated. Half their senior executives were already behind bars.And Ryan? He now faced the terrifying possibility of a twenty-year prison sentence.All of it—undeniably—was Alexander’s doing.With
Ava was completely drained. Every inch of her body ached as if she’d been taken apart and reassembled—twice.Alexander Vanderbilt, she thought bitterly, was not someone an ordinary woman could keep up with.She was still lying in bed, limbs heavy and muscles sore, when her phone lit up. The name Rachel flashed on the screen.Ava groaned internally but forced herself upright and answered the call."Ava! I brought something up for you—I’m downstairs and on my way up!" Rachel's cheerful voice burst through the speaker.Snapping out of her haze, Ava quickly sprang to her feet and checked her reflection in the bedroom mirror. She smoothed her dress, adjusted her hair, and ensured nothing about her appearance betrayed her disheveled morning. With a small breath of relief, she stepped back just as the doorbell rang.She hurried over and pulled open the door.Rachel stood there glowing in high-waisted designer jeans and a black camisole with delicate lace sleeves hugging her arms. Her outfit
Alexander rose from his chair and made his way toward the bedroom.The room was a blend of understated elegance and quiet opulence—decorated with muted colors, gilded moldings, and a custom-made European-style bed that looked as though it belonged in a palace. A long row of mahogany cabinets lined one wall, their polished surfaces gleaming under the soft light.An air of subtle luxury hung over everything, understated yet unmistakable.Alexander opened one of the cabinet doors. The scent of expensive wood polish and crisp linen filled the space. Neatly arranged inside were rows of impeccably pressed suits—his armor for the world outside.But tucked beneath them, nearly hidden among the shadows, sat a beautiful woman.Ava.She was curled up against the side of the closet, her knees drawn tightly to her chest, wrapped in nothing but his oversized white shirt. Her bare feet were tucked under her, her shoes hastily kicked somewhere under the bed in her rush to hide.For a long moment, nei
Alexander leaned in, brushing his lips against Ava’s earlobe—a whisper of a kiss, soft and lingering like a lover’s secret murmur.Ava stiffened slightly, unaccustomed to this kind of closeness.In truth, she had never been this intimately connected with anyone before. The sensation of his warm breath against her sensitive skin felt almost foreign, startling.Despite her naturally cool and reserved demeanor, her body betrayed her easily. A soft pink hue blossomed across her cheeks, spreading down her neck, making her look even more delicate under the sunlight.Without daring to meet his gaze, Ava slipped away, heading toward the bathroom, still dressed in his oversized white shirt.Alexander watched her go, his dark eyes trailing her graceful movements. He never would have imagined that his stiff, formal shirt could look so sinfully beautiful draped over a woman’s body.She was the very picture of effortless allure—elegant, yet undeniably tempting.Inside the bathroom, Ava quickly spo