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 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 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 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 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 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 39: You don't own me!!~Ava’s POVDamon picked up his mug of coffee and flung it at the wall. The sharp sound of glass shattering against the floor made me jump, as my eyes widened in shock. I froze, staring at the jagged pieces scattered at my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't understand why Damon was suddenly being so violent. I looked at the shattered pieces of glass on the ground, and I felt fear creeping beneath my skin.I took another look at Damon, and I found it so hard to understand what he had become. He was so desperate to have me, and I knew it, but never did I expect that he would throw a tantrum and act this way.“Damon….” I mouthed."You're pushing me, Ava!" Damon sneered.He walked towards me and closed the distance between us. My body was pressed against the table, and he looked directly into my eyes.My heart raced… I didn't know what Damon was up to or why he acted like that.I thought he didn't want to talk. I thought he wanted to keep treating
Chapter 40: A pang of jealousy (Damon’s POV)“So, you’ve been sleeping with him?” I asked again, my voice low but thick with barely restrained anger. The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I had to hear them from her lips. “Tell me, Ava… you’ve been sleeping with Walter, haven’t you?” I pressed, each word cutting deeper, laced with suspicion I could no longer hide.I didn’t want to believe it. God knows I didn’t. But the thought had taken root in my mind, growing, twisting, poisoning everything I felt. I needed her to deny it, to tell me I was wrong. That I was paranoid. That my jealousy had made me delusional. But instead, she stood there, silent, staring at me as if I’d just spoken a foreign language.Her silence was deafening. It wasn’t just silence—it was confirmation, at least in my mind. She didn’t need to say a word. I saw it in her eyes. She had slept with him. And now, standing there, she was too ashamed to admit it… or maybe she wasn’t ashamed at all. Maybe she just didn’
Chapter 40: A pang of jealousy (Damon’s POV)“So, you’ve been sleeping with him?” I asked again, my voice low but thick with barely restrained anger. The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I had to hear them from her lips. “Tell me, Ava… you’ve been sleeping with Walter, haven’t you?” I pressed, each word cutting deeper, laced with suspicion I could no longer hide.I didn’t want to believe it. God knows I didn’t. But the thought had taken root in my mind, growing, twisting, poisoning everything I felt. I needed her to deny it, to tell me I was wrong. That I was paranoid. That my jealousy had made me delusional. But instead, she stood there, silent, staring at me as if I’d just spoken a foreign language.Her silence was deafening. It wasn’t just silence—it was confirmation, at least in my mind. She didn’t need to say a word. I saw it in her eyes. She had slept with him. And now, standing there, she was too ashamed to admit it… or maybe she wasn’t ashamed at all. Maybe she just didn’
Chapter 39: You don't own me!!~Ava’s POVDamon picked up his mug of coffee and flung it at the wall. The sharp sound of glass shattering against the floor made me jump, as my eyes widened in shock. I froze, staring at the jagged pieces scattered at my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't understand why Damon was suddenly being so violent. I looked at the shattered pieces of glass on the ground, and I felt fear creeping beneath my skin.I took another look at Damon, and I found it so hard to understand what he had become. He was so desperate to have me, and I knew it, but never did I expect that he would throw a tantrum and act this way.“Damon….” I mouthed."You're pushing me, Ava!" Damon sneered.He walked towards me and closed the distance between us. My body was pressed against the table, and he looked directly into my eyes.My heart raced… I didn't know what Damon was up to or why he acted like that.I thought he didn't want to talk. I thought he wanted to keep treating
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