LOGIN(A few weeks later)"Ashton... Ashton, wake up! Wake up, hurry up!"Avery’s voice sounded panicked, jolting Ashton out of his deep sleep. Ashton blinked, reaching for Avery’s trembling hand beside him. The room was still dark, faintly illuminated only by the moonlight seeping through the curtains."What is it, Love? Did you have another nightmare? Or are you hungry?" Ashton asked, his voice hoarse from just waking up."No, Ashton! I-I’m wet. It feels very wet down here," Avery whispered, her breath ragged. She clutched Ashton’s arm tightly. "My water broke, Ashton! I think it’s time!"Ashton’s world seemed to stop spinning for a moment. The words “my water broke” left his mind blank. Panic instantly washed over him. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for, yet also feared.He had prepared himself for months, reading books, talking to doctors, but the panic still struck him hard. Ashton, a man who was always calm in business crises, now felt his mind completely empty."B-broke?
The white sand along the Hamptons shoreline shimmered like a stretch of diamonds beneath the softening afternoon sunlight, now turning golden. The sea breeze blew gently, carrying the pure scent of salt and the fragrance of white lilies that filled every corner of the private wooden pier.The rhythmic sound of crashing waves became a natural accompaniment, creating an atmosphere far more sacred than any building in Manhattan. Today, the universe itself seemed to hold its breath to witness a promise born from the remnants of a storm that had nearly destroyed everything.Avery stepped out of the bridal car with extreme care. The premium silk white gown she had chosen now wrapped perfectly around her body, leaving comfortable space for her beautifully rounded belly. As her feet touched the white carpet stretching toward the altar, her eyes swept across the surroundings. Her breath caught in her throat.In the very front row of guest seats, precisely on the side reserved for the bride’s f
Three days remained before the sacred vows would be spoken on the shores of the Hamptons. In a study lit only by the dim glow of a desk lamp, Ashton once again pressed the call button on his satellite phone. His fingers tapped rapidly against the desk surface, revealing extraordinary restlessness.The result remained the same. The operator’s flat voice informed him that the number he was trying to reach was out of signal range. Ashton growled, tossing the device onto a pile of documents. He had been trying for hours, yet the whereabouts of Marcus and his mother, Lucy, remained a great mystery deep within the African continent.Sarah entered the room with sluggish steps, her eyes showing the same exhaustion. “Still nothing, Ashton?” she asked softly.Ashton leaned back, massaging the bridge of his nose that throbbed painfully. “Total silence, Sarah. I don’t know what’s happening over there. That flight clearance should’ve been finalized yesterday.”“Maybe they’re already in the air and
The crashing waves along the Hamptons shoreline sounded far calmer and more rhythmic compared to the bustling city they had just left behind. As their feet touched the soft white sand, Avery took a deep breath, letting the pure scent of the sea fill her lungs.In front of her stood a magnificent modern colonial-style villa with direct access to the beachfront. A sturdy wooden pier stretched out toward the ocean, adorned with white lilies that were being artistically arranged.Avery froze in place. Her eyes traced every corner of the location, shimmering with unmistakable admiration. The smile that had faded over the past few weeks now bloomed perfectly across her face, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.“You were right, Sarah. This is so much more beautiful than the place yesterday. Oh my God, I absolutely love it,” Avery whispered emotionally. Her fingers brushed along the texture of the wooden pier, which felt solid beneath her touch. “It feels like this place has a much calmer energ
Avery sat leaning against a pile of soft pillows, her fingers absentmindedly flipping through the pages of a fashion magazine without truly reading it. The bedroom door creaked softly, revealing Sarah stepping inside with a cheerful stride that looked slightly forced. In her hands was a tray filled with fresh fruit and a glass of warm milk.“Ave, I’ve got exciting news for you!” Sarah exclaimed as she set her tablet on the bedside table.Avery looked up, a faint smile coloring her lips. “What news, Sarah? You look really excited.”Sarah sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes sparkling though a trace of unease hid behind her smile. “It’s about your wedding venue. We found a new location that’s way better in the Hamptons. The coastline is beautiful, more private, and Debbie has arranged everything to match the theme you wanted. It’s almost completely ready!”Avery frowned slightly. She placed the magazine gently onto the blanket. “A new location? But why move, Sarah?”Sarah fell silent in
“What problem? Just say it, Marcus. Don’t beat around the bush,” Ashton replied, his fingers gripping the edge of his desk until his knuckles turned white. His heart pounded in an uneven rhythm as he waited for the next words from his trusted man.“Mrs. Knight has been under pressure from the local authorities in the area where her foundation operates. They suddenly demanded an absurdly large licensing fee if the foundation wanted to continue operating,” Marcus explained over the phone. His voice sounded heavy, accompanied by faint background noise. “Because Madam flatly refused the extortion, she was placed under house arrest for the past two days.”Ashton’s blood boiled instantly. His jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck standing out sharply. “House arrest? They dared to lay a hand on my mother? I swear, I won’t let them get away with this,” he whispered coldly.“Calm down, Ashton. Zeb and I are already with her now. We had a pretty tough negotiation with the officials here. After
The silence in the Knight mansion had become a living entity, and Elena had learned to read its moods. Tonight, it was watchful. It coiled in the long, dark hallways and settled heavily in the corners of every room. She sat on the edge of her bed, her back straight, ears listening.Every distant cr
The drive back from Clara’s house was a total silence. Avery sat in the passenger seat of Ashton’s sleek, dark car, oblivious of the world outside. Her mind only focused to the single, fragile object resting in her lap.The envelope felt impossibly heavy, a lead weight imbued with a decade of secre
After Ashton told them the message, the living room which moments ago had felt like a sanctuary, instantly transformed into a cage. The shadows cast by the single lamp seemed to stretch and deepen, no longer cozy but predatory.“We have to go,” Ashton repeated, his voice dropping to a low and comma
Avery sat frozen beside Clara, her arm still wrapped around the old woman’s frail shoulders. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes staring blankly at the opposite wall, but her mind wasn’t there. Her mind was on that windswept veranda, witnessing a scene of horror that had just been painted with word







