Chapter 03: The return of Ava.

SOPHIA

Ava didn't show up or call me for a long time. I stopped waiting and focused on other things.

Liam and I decided to host a charity event to help people in need. We do this once every year.

Everything changed the day Ava returned to the charity event we are hosting.

I wondered who could have invited her to our charity event, maybe Liam would have informed her.

She is Liam's first love but he never spoke much about her. I noticed the way Liam's face lit up the moment he saw her.

The way my attention was shifted from me to her got me Jealous and angry.

I could feel the distance growing between us. I tried to brush it off, convincing myself it was just an excitement of seeing an old friend.

But deep down in me, a seed of doubt and anger had been planted which is affecting the peace of my mind.

Ava entered the room like she owned it, her presence commanding attention, she dressed in an elegant black gown that revealed her curves.

She moved with confidence of someone who knew exactly what she's doing, this could result in tearing her apart as my anger intensified.

I watched as Liam's eyes followed her at every step. I decided to confront him, distracting his attention.

“What are you looking at?". I curiously asked.

“Nothing dear, I’m just thinking"..

“Thinking about what?..I said calmly, "Wait a minute, who is that lady in a black gown?”.

"Which lady?”.

"Don't act as if you don't know what I’m talking about”.

"What are you talking about?”.

"Who is the lady you've been staring at? Let me guess could she be the Ava we have been looking for?”.

"Yes she is the one". He replied, forcing a smile as I tried to ignore the uncomfortable knot forming in my stomach.

Ava finally reached us, and Liam stood frozen for a moment before taking a step forward.

“Ava". He said, his voice filled with surprise. “What are you doing here?".

Ava smiled, her eyes gleaming as she responded.

“I was told you were hosting a charity event and I couldn't resist attending a charity event hosted by my favorite people, it's been too long, Liam”.

“Too long!" Liam repeated, his tone softer and skeptical. He hesitated before adding. This is my wife Sophia”.

“Of course! Even the blind will know the woman beside you is your wife”. Ava turned to me with a polite smile, “Sophia it's nice to see you".

"The pleasure is mine, even when you fail to see me the other time”..

"Don't mind, my busy schedule, at least here I’m now, we’ve finally seen”.

“Ok no problem". I replied, though my voice was barely above a whisper.

As the evening progressed, I couldn't help but notice how easily Ava slipped back into Liam's life.

She laughed at his jokes and touched his arms in a way that made my heart ache and they discussed their past together.

I watched them from the corner of my eye, feeling more like an outsider than a wife.

“Liam, remember that trip we took to Paris?”. Ava asked with a laugh. “We were so young and reckless".

Liam chukled, nodding. "How could I forget we missed our flight because we were too busy exploring our city”.

Those were good times. Ava said her voice tinged with longing, I missed those days”.

I tried to distract myself by engaging in conversation with other guests, but my mind kept drifting back to Ava and Liam.

The seed of doubt had taken root, and no matter how hard I tried to push it away, it kept growing.

As the event began to wind down, Liam and I found ourselves alone on the balcony, overlooking the city.

The night air was cool, and the stars twinkled above us, but I felt anything but a peace.

“Sophia,”. Liam began, breaking the silence. “I didn't know Ava was going to be here tonight”.

“I know". I replied, my voice tight. You seemed happy to see her neglecting our previous plan".

“Is not what you think, Sophia".

“Wait a minute is she thesame Ava that was claiming you to be the father of her child?". I curiously asked.

"So why is she acting different like nothing had happened?, I thought she's just here for the charity event so why she spending her time with you?”.

“She's just an old friend,” Liam said turning to face me. “You’ve nothing to worry about".

"Nothing to worry about?”. I echoed, my emotions finally bubbling to the surface.

“Liam, I saw the way you looked at her. The way she lit up when she walked in, and even all our plans you aborted it, this same woman accused you of her pregnancy claiming you to be the father and now you act totally different, how do you expect me not to be worried”.

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Sophia I love you. You're my wife. Ava is just someone from the past. Perhaps I can't just act just table the matter to her yet since she haven't say anything concerning that”.

"Don't you think she has another plan, the face she isn't saying anything doesn't mean she has forgotten”.

“Then we will put a watched on her, even if she has another plan we will definitely revamp our plans, she's just an old time friend let me welcome her in that way first, trust me I know what I’m doing".

"But the way you were with her tonight…it felt like I was invisible”. I admitted, my voice trembling. “Like I wasn't there".

"Sophia,”. Liam said softly, taking my hands in his. “You’re not invisible. You're everything to me. Ava and I had a history, yes, but that's all it is-history. You and I are building our future together”.

I wanted to believe him, but the doubt in my heart was too strong.

“Liam what if she wants to be more than just a part of your past? What if she wants to be part of your future too?”.

Liam's grip on my hands tightened his expression serious. “I won't let that happened I promise you, Sophia, you're the one I want to be with. Ava is just a memory”.

I nodded but the unease lingered. Liam leaned in and kissed my forehead, trying to reassure me, but I couldn't shake the feelings that things were about to change.