AVA'S POV The morning came quicker than I expected. I barely slept, but I was already awake before the sun even rose. My suitcase stood by the door, zipped and ready, but my heart felt heavier than the bag itself. Packing had been easy compared to this — the leaving. I kept staring around my room like it was the last time I’d see it, even though deep down I knew I’d be back. Still, something about walking away now felt different. Final in a way. A knock at the door broke my thoughts. I didn’t need to ask who it was. Sally always knocked in that playful, impatient rhythm, like she was saying, 'hurry up before I drag you out myself.' When I opened the door, there she was, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, her car keys dangling in her hand. “Ready?” she asked with a smile that didn’t quite hide the sadness in her eyes. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I whispered. She stepped in, scanning the suitcase by the door. “Good. Let’s head out before you miss your flight.” I gave her a small
AVA’S POVBy the time the clock inched close to six, I was already restless. My hands wouldn’t stay still. I kept moving papers from one pile to another, straightening edges that didn’t even need straightening. I wasn’t doing any real work anymore. My mind was somewhere else, counting the minutes until I could leave. My body had learned the new rhythm — don’t stay late, don’t risk it. A knock came, sharp but familiar, and before I even looked up, Sally pushed the door open. “Are you ready to leave?” she asked, leaning against the frame like she owned the place. I slid the last file into the cabinet and gave a small smile. “Almost.” Her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing playfully. “You know I’m not leaving without you. Don’t even try to argue.” A chuckle escaped me, soft but real. “I wasn’t going to argue. Not tonight.” It had become routine since the attack. Since that night Laura's dog sent me tumbling down a flight of stairs, leaving me unconscious, even though they'd been caug
AVA’S POV Fainting in Jason’s arms had been my wake-up call. I couldn’t keep pretending I was invincible, not when my own body was clearly betraying me. Sitting behind my desk now, staring at the half-finished report glowing on my screen, I knew this was it. Today would be my last day here. Tomorrow, I was leaving — not for a deal, not for a project, but for myself. For rest. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, moving in sluggish bursts, each click sounding louder than it should. The words blurred, my thoughts scattered. It was as though my body no longer belonged to me, as if it were a stranger I was dragging along against its will. The doctor’s warning still echoed, sharp and unrelenting, like it had carved itself into my bones. If you keep pushing like this, Ava, your body will give up. That single sentence haunted me every time I tried to convince myself I was fine. I wasn’t fine. I had fainted more than twice in the span of weeks. My body had been screaming at me to stop, a
AVA’S POV *A MONTH LATER* The sound of my doorbell pulled me out of my thoughts. I already knew who it was. Alex had called earlier, saying he would be coming this morning. I quickly called Rosa to bring Emma and Mason downstairs, then walked toward the door. But when I opened it, it wasn’t just Alex. Standing beside him was Cindy. My brows rose slightly. “Cindy? I didn’t know you were coming too.” She gave me a warm smile, her hands clasped together in front of her like she wasn't sure how I would take it. “I hope it’s okay. I wanted to see you.” “Of course,” I replied politely, though deep inside, I wondered what this was about. We all exchanged greetings, and I turned to Alex. “The kids’ bags are packed. Could you please help them upstairs to get everything down?” “Sure,” Alex said, giving Cindy’s shoulder a light squeeze before heading upstairs with Emma and Mason. That left just me and Cindy in the living room. The air was strangely quiet for a moment until she
AVA'S POV The morning of Laura’s court hearing came too fast. I had hardly slept the night before. My mind kept replaying every moment leading up to her arrest, the way she had been dragged out of the airport screaming. I wasn't there but the video trended on all social media platforms. I knew today was important, the day everything would finally be decided. But I wasn’t prepared to see Jason standing at my door when I opened it. I froze, my fingers still wrapped around the doorknob. “Jason?” I whispered, like maybe saying his name out loud would make sense of why he was here. He stood there dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his tie neatly knotted, his shoes polished to a shine. He looked calm, collected, almost like this wasn’t just another day in court but a business meeting he had been planning for weeks. My chest tightened at the sight. He always had this way of looking like he had it all together, while I felt like I was barely holding myself up. “Are you ready?” he ask
LAURA'S POV The silence in my hotel room was beginning to feel like a curse. I paced back and forth, my heels clicking against the cheap wooden floor, the sound filling the space like an echo of my nerves. My glasses were still on, though the lenses pressed uncomfortably against the bridge of my nose. I didn’t care. They made me feel less exposed, like I could hide behind them even in private. My phone lay on the bed, face up, taunting me with its black screen. Riper should have called by now. It had been days since his last message. Just four words: the job was done. No follow-up. No confirmation. No details. Normally, Riper disappeared after a job, but never like this. Silence was his language, but even silence had limits. This time, it stretched too long, like a thread about to snap. His number was unreachable, and that was what gnawed at me the most. I stopped pacing, gripping the back of the chair with white knuckles, and let my mind race. The news said Ava had fallen dow