Chapter 16: The Wrong Move. (Ava's POV)A smile flashed across my face, seeing the final results of what I had cooked. For a minute, I felt like a chef who deserved an award; a golden one. I chuckled. It was pure beauty! Straight out of heaven. The grilled cheeseburger was sitting elegantly on the glass place, accompanied by some french fries. I had also roasted a full chicken, and surprisingly, it came out so good, despite how long it had been since I last cooked for myself. But today? I didn't have myself in mind when I went into the kitchen and spent over two hours, cooking. I was thinking about him— Damon.A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I ran my eyes over the food before me. It was quite a simple meal, but the aroma was heavenly. I made a quick mental note to myself to start up a YouTube channel where I would share my rare cooking knowledge with the world. I was still smiling sheepishly as my thoughts settled on Damon. It was so hard to believe that I ha
Chapter 17: No Escape(Damon's POV)My eyes followed Ava's perfect body as she walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. She had absolutely no idea that I was the brain behind her job offer, and that was exactly what I wanted.She had no idea how much control I had over her life now. The moment she agreed to take the job, she unknowingly stepped into my world, where I dictated the rules. It was amusing, really. For so long, she had pushed me away, rejecting every attempt I made to get closer. But now, she would have no choice but to see me every day. To talk to me. To feel my presence.I picked up my fork and dug into my food. Although it has a good aroma, I was sure that my taste buds were bad because I could barely taste the food. I was so distracted by my thoughts about Ava that I was certain the food tasted bland. Everything did. The only thing that could truly satisfy me was Ava. I wanted her in ways I couldn't even put into words. My need for her was growing and consu
Chapter 18: A Web Of Lies(Ava's POV)"I got the job!" I exclaimed to myself as I made my way out of the building. I was yet to get an official notice of the results of my interview, but I could swear that I had just secured the position. My feet barely touched the ground as I made my way home, lost in the excitement bubbling inside me. I wanted to scream, to spin in the streets, to tell the world that today had been mine. I nailed the interview. Every answer, every moment, had fallen into place. It seemed like fate had finally decided to be kind. I could already imagine my name on an office door, the feeling of accomplishment settling into my bones. When I reached the house, my hand trembled slightly as I pushed the door open. And then—My heart nearly leapt out of my chest.Adrianna stood in the middle of the living room. For a second, my mind refused to process it. The dim light from the chandelier cast long shadows across her face, making her expression hard to read.I couldn'
Chapter 19: CrossRoads (Ava's POV)I was fucked up in my head, weighed down by endless thoughts as I made my way out of the house. The confusion drained me, and my head began to ache. I couldn't confront Damon because of what was at risk.I knew I would kill myself if what I imagined was real and Adrianna had truly found out.I finally found a bench to sit on under the evening sky. The breeze was gentle, but my head was spinning. I looked up, completely unaware of what to do.Thinking about it, I knew I desperately needed the job. I was completely broke, and I just couldn't keep living under my sister’s roof. The salary would be more than enough to give me some financial freedom and independence. But at the same time, the thought of Damon having control over my future made my stomach knot.I felt like my brain was getting tangled. I wondered if it would be wise to take a job from someone who had only tried to manipulate me.What if things got worse and Damon got out of hand?What if
Chapter 20: The Unseen Truth (Ava's POV)“You sincerely do not have to say anything, Adrianna,” I said, trying hard to keep the smile on my face.“Ava, listen... I just—” Adrianna stammered.“I mean it, Adrianna. You don't have to say anything... I totally understand,” I added, still standing at the door.“Can... can I at least come in?” Adrianna asked, and I nodded, smiling awkwardly as I stepped aside for her to walk in.Adrianna entered, attempting to fix her hair. “Here,” she said, finally drawing her hands from behind her. I couldn't tell what it was; the wrapping concealed it.“What's this?” I asked, noting her persistent smile.“I bought it for you on my way back. I know it's small, but at least have it,” Adrianna said, placing it in my hands before I could refuse.“Small? Even if you never did anything else for me, I would have no reason to complain. I live under your roof and eat from your kitchen. What more could I possibly ask for?” I asked, glancing into her eyes as she g
Chapter 21 : When things make no sense(Damon's POV) I sat on the bed, my back resting against the wall, thinking about how close to miserable I had become. Every single thing about me was a lie, and even in my own house, I felt pressured. I felt choked. Somehow, I felt like I was being tied down and forced to do everything I didn’t want to. As much as I tried to get rid of the way I felt, nothing seemed capable of putting me at ease. Not even liquor. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt at peace, nor could I recall the last time I slept soundly without thinking about what I had become. The life I was living wasn’t what I had bargained for or hoped for. “When did you turn into this, Damon?” I asked myself, comparing the life I had lived before to the life I was living now. My heart soured as I remembered how I had to fake being attracted to Adrianna earlier. It had felt so hard to kiss her. The guilt sank me deeper into the bed as I recalled forcing myself to make
Chapter 22: Midnight Sins(Ava's POV)I rubbed my eyes, breathing heavily and sighing each time my fingers landed on my laptop keyboard. My eyelids were so heavy it felt like my head might fall off my neck. My determination to finish the design was the only thing keeping my eyes open.If not, I was sure I would have been long gone into dreamland. I sincerely thought being an intern for a brand and working online would be as light as a feather… little did I know I’d have to stay up late, trying to fix a design."You have to finish this, Ava. You can definitely do it," I whispered to myself, being my own support system.I closed my eyes for a moment, but when I opened them, trying to get back to work, my phone vibrated. I finally decided to check who it was… only to find a message from Damon. It was simple."Hey, Ava. I wonder if you’re okay. We haven’t really had time to talk lately, and I’ve been worried about how you’re doing. If you wouldn’t mind, please meet me in the kitchen at 1:
Chapter 23: Temptation(Damon's POV)It took me a few minutes before the reality of what was happening hit me with full force.This wasn't a dream!I wasn't imagining this. I was actually sharing a kiss with Ava, who clearly wanted this as much as I did. Her tongue danced with ease past my lips, swirling around in my mouth like it was the most natural thing to do.My breath caught, and I suddenly knew that something was not right. Why was Ava kissing me back? Why didn't she try to push me away or ask me to leave? Or call me a pervert, as usual? Did she want me too?Without thinking, I pulled away from her lips as my confusion mounted. I needed to be sure that I wasn't kissing someone else while thinking it was Ava.My eyes ran over her face."I can't believe this," I muttered, taking a deep, steadying breath. I reached out to cup her oval face in my large palms.She was breathing heavily, and her eyelashes batted at me.A faint red blush crept up her cheeks as her lips curved into a s
Chapter 38: The line we shouldn't crossAva PovWalter drove me to work this morning, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think his life depended on it. The way his hands gripped the steering wheel, how he slowed at every bump in the road, even the way he stole glances at me from time to time—it was like he was guarding something precious. Or someone.And the worst part? I couldn’t stop smiling.It was embarrassing, honestly. I’d spent most of last night acting like I didn’t care, keeping him at arm’s length with that cold, distant attitude I’d gotten so good at. But now… now I was sitting beside him like some schoolgirl with a crush, smiling at him like he’d hung the stars just for me.I didn’t recognize myself.And I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.By the time we pulled up in front of the office building, my cheeks already hurt from smiling too much. Walter shifted the car into park but didn’t move to open his door. Instead, he leaned back in his seat like he wasn’t ready
Chapter 37: Wrapped in his armsAva’s POVThe feeling of Walter's lips on mine was tender. Gentle. His hands cupped my face so carefully, it almost made me want to cry. There was no rush. No hunger. Just… warmth. Pure affection. I hadn’t felt that in so long, it almost scared me.For the first time in forever, kissing a man didn't make me feel like I was drowning. There wasn’t that desperate need to fill an empty space, or the reckless pull toward something I knew I’d regret. No guilt clawed at my chest. There was no bitter taste of wrongness on my tongue.It wasn’t a kiss that would lead to another mistake. It wasn’t something I’d hate myself for tomorrow.It was just a kiss. Simple. Honest.And God, it felt good.Our lips moved slowly, and when his fingers brushed my cheek, I sighed into his mouth. The world around us seemed to fade out, like a movie with the volume turned low. Nothing existed at that moment but him. His warmth. His scent. The faint taste of mint on his lips.I didn
Chapter 36: Lost and found. (Ava’s POV)I sat there, staring at nothing, my mind drowning in memories I didn’t want to relive. I thought about everything—how much I had loved Gregory, how deeply he had broken me, and how I had stupidly believed we were meant to get married. I had actually pictured us growing old together, waiting for the day he’d walk me down the aisle with tears in his eyes. But what did I get instead? Betrayal. Humiliation. Heartbreak. Gregory had shattered me, not just by revealing he was a porn star, but by telling me he never really wanted to propose in the first place. That he had only done it because I was "pressuring him." I still remembered the way he said it—flat, emotionless like it was just another casual confession. No regret. No shame. Just the truth, dropped in front of me like a pile of garbage. At that moment, it was like my entire world collapsed. My love for him disappeared in an instant, and maybe, just maybe, I lost a little bit of myse
Chapter 35 - In the arms of another(Ava's POV)Walter drove us through the quiet streets, his hand loose on the wheel, humming under his breath. Meanwhile, I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, my head turned completely away from him, resting against the cool glass of the window.The silence between us wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was better than the alternative-me glaring at him for bringing me out tonight, when I didn't even want to be here in the first place.I wasn't angry with him, not really. He hadn't done anything wrong. He was sweet, considerate even, and that was the problem. I wasn't sure if I could handle sweet. Not after Damon. Not with Damon still carved into every broken piece of me.The weight of Damon's cold gaze earlier today still burned like a bruise on my skin. And now here I was, pretending to be okay on a date with someone else. It all felt wrong.But Walter, on the other hand, looked like he was about to explode with happiness. His face glowed like a man
Chapter 34: (Damon's POV)I was driving through the empty streets with nothing on my mind but Ava. Her face was all I could see. Her laugh echoed in my ears, sweet and soft—meant for him. Every muscle in my body was tense, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles were bone-white.I hated it.God, I hated everything about this.I hated the way he touched her.The way he looked at her—like she was the only thing that mattered.The way he smiled at her, with that smug confidence he wore like a second skin.The way he spoke to her, like he’d known her forever.And the way she smiled back at him, like he deserved it.I hated how fond he was getting of her.But what made me sick was how she was letting him.I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth as the memory of Walter kissing the back of Ava’s hand played on repeat in my mind like a bad film I couldn’t stop watching. I had warned him. I’d made it perfectly clear Ava was off-limits, but that bastard didn’t care. He ac
Chapter 33: Why did I care?(Ava’s POV)I stepped into my room and locked the door behind me, exhaling sharply as I leaned against it. My mind was a mess, thoughts tangled in knots I couldn’t seem to undo. I needed to clear my head, but before I could even try, my phone rang.For a second, I considered ignoring it, but when I saw it was a group video call from Susan and Bianca, I figured it was exactly what I needed—a distraction. Maybe talking to them would help me shove all this nonsense into the back of my mind.I flopped onto my bed, right next to the unopened box, and answered the call. But before I said anything, I caught sight of my reflection on the screen. Ugh. I took a few extra seconds to adjust my hair and make sure I didn’t look like I’d just been through an existential crisis.Finally, I spoke. “Hey.”“Sup, girl!” Bianca’s voice came through, full of energy.“How’s it going?” Susan chimed in.“We should be asking you that!” Bianca grinned. “You’re the one who got a new j
Chapter 32: Trapped Between LiesAva's POV I sincerely wasn’t ready to talk about how my first day at work went.What was there to say? That I had almost slept with Walter the night before and spent the entire day drowning in embarrassment? Or that Damon was suddenly acting so cold, like I was nothing to him? Or that I had to face Walter at the end of the day, only for the idiot to act like there was something between us? Or—worse—that Damon had actually called Walter my fuck buddy?None of those things were worth sharing, and I would rather die than tell my sister about that kind of shit. So... I decided to shift the conversation in another direction.“Adrianna, I heard you wanted to go on vacation with Damon. What are your plans? Are you going anytime soon?” I asked, forcing a warm smile.Adrianna sighed heavily. The smile on her face faltered almost instantly. She set the knife she was holding down for a brief moment, then picked it back up, as if she needed a second to gather her
Chapter 31 – Stop lying to yourself Ava’s POVI spent the entire day distracted. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind kept drifting, and my eyes kept wandering toward the hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of Damon. But he was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he had disappeared.Had he really left in anger over what he heard Bianca say on the phone? Would he be that impulsive? I regretted even answering her call in the first place. I should have known she’d run her mouth. But what I hadn’t expected was for Damon to be eavesdropping.I let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing my temples. A dull headache had begun to form.Hearing footsteps approach, I immediately lifted my head, my heart skipping a beat. For a second, I hoped it was Damon. I wanted to see his face, to gauge his reaction, to confirm whether he was upset or just being his usual moody self. But instead, it was Mark. He walked past my desk, throwing me a look like I had personally offended him.I frowned. What the hell
Chapter 30: Mine to claim (Damon’s POV)I never thought betrayal could feel like this—sharp, suffocating, and searing through my veins like fire. But here I was, sitting in my office, gripping the edge of my desk so hard my fingers ached. I felt like breaking everything around me after hearing the conversation Ava had with whoever it was. I kept wondering about the call. The other person on the call seemed so happy to know whether or not Ava fucked Walter. Ava had met with Walter. Why him? Of all the men in the world, why did it have to be him? I began to pace my office. I was fast becoming sweaty despite the two air-conditioning units in the office. The conversation I overheard kept replaying in my head, looping like a damn nightmare.Had she slept with him? I wondered again. I wasn’t sure. She hadn’t answered. If she hadn’t seen me, maybe she would have. Maybe she would have admitted to everything right there on the phone, laughing as she told her friend how good he was, how muc