AVA’S POV The sky was already dark when I pulled out of the parking lot of the company building. Streetlights glowed soft yellow, casting long shadows on the wet road ahead. It had rained earlier the roads still looked shiny and slick. The traffic was crawling as if the whole city had decided to move in slow motion tonight. I kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my lap, fingers tapping nervously. I didn't know why I was doing this. I should’ve just gone home but I told Sally I’d go. I told her I’d stop by Alex's penthouse and check on him. Now I was halfway across town, stuck in traffic second-guessing everything. Heading to Alex’s penthouse like some lost girl hoping for answers she wasn’t sure she wanted. The silence in the car wasn’t helping. No music, no podcast, nothing to distract my thoughts. Just me and this heavy feeling sitting in my chest. I glanced at my phone in the passenger seat. Still no messages, still no calls, nothing from Alex. His number sti
AVA'S POV I was expecting to see Julia, but no, it was another familiar sight – Cindy. And she was wearing one of Alex’s shirts. It took me a second to place it – an expensive gray linen shirt I had given him for his birthday a couple of years ago. Not that it mattered. It just caught my eye because I remembered picking it out myself. He liked it and wore it often. That’s all. I wasn’t surprised to see her here. Not really. She had already told me in the restaurant bathroom that she was staying with Alex for a while. I didn’t ask why. It wasn’t my business. Alex and I were close, yes. But I didn’t own him. He could live with whoever he wanted. Still, I guess part of me thought… she’d be gone by now. “Ava!” she said brightly, smiling like we were old friends. “What a surprise! Come on in.” I nodded and stepped inside. The apartment looked the same, clean and well-arranged. The only sound I heard was the clinking of dishes, which I assumed was Julia in the kitchen doing her n
AVA'S POV I stepped out of the building, pulling my coat tighter around me. The night air was colder than I expected. The city lights blinked in the distance, but everything around me felt… too still, too quiet, like the world was holding its breath. My chest felt tight. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Cindy said. About Alex. About how he just left, without saying anything. He didn't even inform me like he used to, no call, no message, not even a note. It was like I didn’t matter anymore. Like I’d been erased from his life overnight. That hurt more than I wanted to admit. I didn’t want to overthink it. But I couldn’t help it. My thoughts were loud, crashing into each other like waves. Where did he go? Why didn’t he tell me? Was he okay? I reached my car and slid into the driver’s seat, shutting the door slowly. The silence inside was thick. I didn’t even turn on the radio. I just sat there for a second, hands on the wheel, staring out at the road ahead. “Get it togeth
AVA'S POV And my breath caught in my throat. “Officer Mike?” His face was serious, but his eyes softened when he saw mine. “Hey,” he said, breathing hard. “You okay?” I nodded slowly, but my hands were still shaking. I couldn’t stop them, no matter how tightly I curled my fingers. He knelt beside me. “You’re bleeding. Let me see.” I held out my hands. He winced. “They pushed you hard, didn’t they?” I didn’t answer. My voice still hadn’t come back. My throat felt dry like I’d swallowed dust. My knees were throbbing, and I could feel the sting of open skin. “I chased them into the alley,” he said, opening my bag and handing me my phone. “Caught one. The other got away. But I got your stuff.” I looked down at my phone like it was a gift from heaven. My whole life was in there – messages, photos, important numbers I hadn’t written down anywhere else. “Thank you,” I whispered. He gave a small smile. “Don’t thank me yet. You still look like you’re about to pass out
AVA'S POV The lights suddenly came on. I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. My eyes squinted from the brightness, and for a second, everything blurred. Then I heard a voice. “Ma’am?” I blinked quickly and looked toward the hallway. A figure stepped into view – it was Rose. I let out a long, shaky breath and leaned harder against the wall, pressing a hand to my chest. “God, Rose… you scared me.” Her face was tight with concern. “I’m sorry. I thought I heard something downstairs, then I noticed your car in the driveway. I didn’t realize you were just getting home.” “Yeah,” I mumbled, still trying to calm down. “Just walked in.” Her eyes scanned my face. “You okay? You look like you’ve been through something.” “I’m fine,” I said quickly, brushing hair out of my face. “Just tired.” She studied me a second longer, not buying it. “Are you sure, ma'am?" “Yeah. I promise,” I said, forcing a small, fake smile. My voice was still shaky, but I hoped she wouldn’t push more. And
AVA'S POV I sat there frozen, the phone still pressed to my ear even after the call ended. Harold Campbell. I hadn’t heard that voice in years. Almost four now, I think. My heart was still pounding in my chest, like it didn’t know whether to be afraid or comforted. That deep voice brought back a wave of memories. Good ones. Soft ones. The kind that wraps around your heart like a warm scarf when the world feels cold. He used to call me “Sunshine,” and the moment I heard it again just minutes ago, I nearly cried. “Sunshine, is that really you?” he had said. And just like that, I replied, “Grandpa…” It slipped out so naturally. I didn’t even think. For a second, I was no longer the woman who’d been through hell and back – I was just Ava. The Ava who used to sit beside him in the garden, drinking sweet tea while he told me stories about the early days of Campbell Group. The Ava who always felt safe around him. “How are you, dear? I thought you’d forgotten all about me,” he
AVA'S POV After I finished the toast and tea Rose brought me, I pushed the tray aside and tried to focus on work. I sat at my desk, opened my laptop, and stared at the screen for what felt like forever. I couldn’t stop thinking about Grandpa’s call. But I forced myself to type a few responses, go over one client proposal, and check in on the team chat. I was halfway through reading a file when it hit me – I hadn’t called Alex’s assistant again. I reached for my phone and dialed her number. This time, she picked up on the second ring. “Hello?” she said politely, but I could already tell from her tone – she knew it was me. “Hi, this is Ava,” I said softly. “Is Alex there? I need to speak with him.” There was a pause. I could hear voices in the background, muffled but tense. “Uh… he’s here,” she said, sounding unsure. Then I heard it – his voice, clear and low. “Who is it?” She hesitated, then answered, “It’s Miss. Ava.” A moment later, the phone changed hands. “
AVA’S POV A FEW DAYS LATER It had been days since the criminal hearing. Days since Laura sat in court, raised her chin like a queen, and said “not guilty” like she really believed she hadn’t done anything wrong. I watched her from the second row. My hands gripped the edge of the wooden bench so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I was trying not to shake, trying not to cry, trying to keep breathing. The judge saw through her lies, though. Laura got two months. Just sixty days. Sixty days for everything she did to me and my company. It didn’t feel like enough, but at least it was something. Her past record helped. That, and all the evidence showing she planned every bit of it. But today wasn’t about jail time. Today was the civil hearing. This time, it wasn’t about guilty or not guilty. It was about what she owed me. What she took. The damage she caused. The lies she spread. The contracts we lost. The people who left me. The company I almost lost. Sally came with me again. S
AVA'S POV I swallowed, unsure of how much to share. “Yeah… It’s been a lot.” His gaze never wavered. “I’m proud of you, Ava. For standing up for yourself. For building something of your own despite everything they threw at you.” Hearing those words – so simple, yet so genuine –hit me harder than I expected. I looked down at my hands resting in my lap, blinking back the sting behind my eyes. “I don’t know if I feel proud,” I confessed quietly. “It all just feels… exhausting.” “Survival usually does,” he said with a small smile. “But you built Avaris Luxe from nothing, Ava. You fought for yourself when no one else did. That’s something worth recognizing, even if you can’t see it yet.” I let out a slow breath, nodding. There was a lump in my throat I couldn’t swallow down, and a part of me hated how emotional I still got about everything. But maybe that was okay. Maybe I didn’t have to be so strong all the time. “And you?” I asked, shifting the conversation away from me bec
AVA’S POVThe next morning felt quieter than usual. It was the weekend. For once, my phone wasn’t blowing up with work emails or news alerts – just a single reminder flashing across my screen. “Visit Grandpa Campbell – 10 AM.” I stared at it for a moment longer than I should have, the guilt creeping in before I could even try to stop it. I’d promised him I’d visit a week ago when he had called me, but everything had spiraled so fast after the civil hearing that I’d lost track of time… and myself. No more excuses today. I needed to see him. I pulled myself together – simple jeans, a soft cardigan, and my hair loosely tied back. No polished version of me needed today, just… me. The Ava who used to spend hours in those gardens, who always felt at home in that house. And maybe the Ava who needed Grandpa more than she’d realized. The Campbell mansion looked exactly the same, standing tall and familiar, like time hadn’t dared touch it. But I felt different walking up to it, like
AVA’S POV His arms wrapped around me like he was anchoring me to the ground, like he knew I’d been holding too much for too long. I didn’t care that we were standing in the middle of the airport, people moving around us with rolling suitcases and curious glances. My face rested against his shoulder, and for a second… just one second… the weight I’d been carrying finally let go. It felt like peace, even in the middle of all the noise. “I missed you,” I said softly, the words catching in my throat. “I missed you more,” he murmured back. Neither of us moved. We just stayed like that, still and quiet. After everything that had happened, the familiarity of that moment was a kind of relief. Not dramatic. Not complicated. Just two people who’d been through hell and somehow found their way back to something steady. Eventually, he pulled back to look at me. His eyes scanned my face like he was making sure I was really okay. “You look good,” he said gently. “Tired, but good.” I ga
AVA’S POV Alex had texted me last night saying he was flying back today. I told him I’d pick him up from the airport and drop him home. His flight was landing in two hours, so I still had time. I went downstairs in my pajamas, hair pulled up in a messy bun. The smell of toast and eggs hit me before I even reached the kitchen. I could hear Mason and Emma chatting, their little voices echoing through the hall. “I said I’m Iron Man!” Mason shouted proudly. Emma giggled. “You’re not Iron Man. You’re Mason.” “Nope. I’m Iron Man today,” he insisted. I smiled to myself. That boy has always made the morning brighter since he started staying here. When I walked into the kitchen, they were already at the table. Rose was flipping pancakes at the stove. She looked over her shoulder and gave me a quick nod. “Good morning, ma’am,” she said. “Morning,” I replied, stretching a little. “Smells amazing in here.” Emma looked up, waving her fork. “Auntie Ava, Mason says he’s Iron Man.
AVA’S POV A FEW DAYS LATER It had been days since the criminal hearing. Days since Laura sat in court, raised her chin like a queen, and said “not guilty” like she really believed she hadn’t done anything wrong. I watched her from the second row. My hands gripped the edge of the wooden bench so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I was trying not to shake, trying not to cry, trying to keep breathing. The judge saw through her lies, though. Laura got two months. Just sixty days. Sixty days for everything she did to me and my company. It didn’t feel like enough, but at least it was something. Her past record helped. That, and all the evidence showing she planned every bit of it. But today wasn’t about jail time. Today was the civil hearing. This time, it wasn’t about guilty or not guilty. It was about what she owed me. What she took. The damage she caused. The lies she spread. The contracts we lost. The people who left me. The company I almost lost. Sally came with me again. S
AVA'S POV After I finished the toast and tea Rose brought me, I pushed the tray aside and tried to focus on work. I sat at my desk, opened my laptop, and stared at the screen for what felt like forever. I couldn’t stop thinking about Grandpa’s call. But I forced myself to type a few responses, go over one client proposal, and check in on the team chat. I was halfway through reading a file when it hit me – I hadn’t called Alex’s assistant again. I reached for my phone and dialed her number. This time, she picked up on the second ring. “Hello?” she said politely, but I could already tell from her tone – she knew it was me. “Hi, this is Ava,” I said softly. “Is Alex there? I need to speak with him.” There was a pause. I could hear voices in the background, muffled but tense. “Uh… he’s here,” she said, sounding unsure. Then I heard it – his voice, clear and low. “Who is it?” She hesitated, then answered, “It’s Miss. Ava.” A moment later, the phone changed hands. “
AVA'S POV I sat there frozen, the phone still pressed to my ear even after the call ended. Harold Campbell. I hadn’t heard that voice in years. Almost four now, I think. My heart was still pounding in my chest, like it didn’t know whether to be afraid or comforted. That deep voice brought back a wave of memories. Good ones. Soft ones. The kind that wraps around your heart like a warm scarf when the world feels cold. He used to call me “Sunshine,” and the moment I heard it again just minutes ago, I nearly cried. “Sunshine, is that really you?” he had said. And just like that, I replied, “Grandpa…” It slipped out so naturally. I didn’t even think. For a second, I was no longer the woman who’d been through hell and back – I was just Ava. The Ava who used to sit beside him in the garden, drinking sweet tea while he told me stories about the early days of Campbell Group. The Ava who always felt safe around him. “How are you, dear? I thought you’d forgotten all about me,” he
AVA'S POV The lights suddenly came on. I gasped, my heart jumping into my throat. My eyes squinted from the brightness, and for a second, everything blurred. Then I heard a voice. “Ma’am?” I blinked quickly and looked toward the hallway. A figure stepped into view – it was Rose. I let out a long, shaky breath and leaned harder against the wall, pressing a hand to my chest. “God, Rose… you scared me.” Her face was tight with concern. “I’m sorry. I thought I heard something downstairs, then I noticed your car in the driveway. I didn’t realize you were just getting home.” “Yeah,” I mumbled, still trying to calm down. “Just walked in.” Her eyes scanned my face. “You okay? You look like you’ve been through something.” “I’m fine,” I said quickly, brushing hair out of my face. “Just tired.” She studied me a second longer, not buying it. “Are you sure, ma'am?" “Yeah. I promise,” I said, forcing a small, fake smile. My voice was still shaky, but I hoped she wouldn’t push more. And
AVA'S POV And my breath caught in my throat. “Officer Mike?” His face was serious, but his eyes softened when he saw mine. “Hey,” he said, breathing hard. “You okay?” I nodded slowly, but my hands were still shaking. I couldn’t stop them, no matter how tightly I curled my fingers. He knelt beside me. “You’re bleeding. Let me see.” I held out my hands. He winced. “They pushed you hard, didn’t they?” I didn’t answer. My voice still hadn’t come back. My throat felt dry like I’d swallowed dust. My knees were throbbing, and I could feel the sting of open skin. “I chased them into the alley,” he said, opening my bag and handing me my phone. “Caught one. The other got away. But I got your stuff.” I looked down at my phone like it was a gift from heaven. My whole life was in there – messages, photos, important numbers I hadn’t written down anywhere else. “Thank you,” I whispered. He gave a small smile. “Don’t thank me yet. You still look like you’re about to pass out