MasukChapter 12(Shattered Heritage)Ava’s POV“You are lying, Ava!”Her voice was like a blade of ice. Goosebumps erupted along my arms, and a frantic surge of adrenaline made my heart hammer against my ribs like a trapped bird. My breath hitched, coming in shallow, jagged gasps. I couldn't stop the reflexive shaking of my head, my mind spinning into a void of panic.Tears blurred my vision, pooling in the corners of my eyes. I didn't even realize I had drifted away mentally until I felt her hand firm against my lap, anchoring me back to the sofa.“What happened, Ava?” she asked, her voice softening as she sat beside me.“You said... you said I was lying,” I sputtered, my voice trembling.She nodded slowly. “You can open up to me, Ava. Whatever happened between you and Lucky... in a way, it’s my fault.”“It’s not,” I muttered, looking away, the weight of my secrets crushing me. “It’s mine. I shouldn't have followed him. I should have known better than to trust a stranger.”“In that sense,
Chapter 11 (The Weight of Silence)Nadaline’s POVMy instincts told me he wasn’t done using Ava as a pawn, but hearing him call her a "diamond" made my skin crawl. What could a monster like him possibly want with her? I looked him dead in the eye and gave him a sharp, jagged middle finger.“In your dreams. She won't—and never will—be yours,” I hissed, my voice trembling with a fury I couldn't suppress.“Why do you sound so scared, Nada?” he mocked, his voice trailing after me as he sauntered back to the armchair I had occupied. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reply. I turned on my heel and threw the door open, desperate for air that didn't smell like him.The crowd outside had thinned, leaving only a few obsessed, adamant reporters lurking near the exit. My patience was non-existent. When the flashes started hitting my face, I snapped.“Don’t we deserve some privacy?!” I screamed. I didn't care about my reputation in that moment. I lunged at the nearest camera, the plastic cr
Chapter 10(The Diamond in the Rough)Nadaline’s POVEverything just blew up. I’ve spent years trying to ensure I never crossed paths with this son of a bitch again, but it seems the heavens have a sick sense of humor. Seeing the person I cherish most—Ava—stepping out of a room with that motherfucking bastard makes me want to scrub his existence off the face of the earth.Those eyes. The same eyes that looked at me when he stole my innocence, the eyes that shattered my life into a million pieces, were now staring at me after years of him being a ghost. I don’t trust him a single bit."Uncle and niece talk." His words kept ringing in my head, mocking me. I scoffed, forcing Ava and Gold to excuse themselves to the car. Now, it was just the two of us.I moved with a predatory speed, lunging at Lucky and shoving him back into the room he just exited. I slammed the door shut and cleared my throat, my blood boiling.“What the hell was that?” I yelled, fist bunching into his collar.“Serious
Chapter 9The Web of LiesAva’s POVMy brain was working overtime, my eyes darting back and forth as I tried to calculate my next move. Madam Nada wasn’t screaming or throwing a fit yet; she was just staring. That silence was more terrifying than any shouting match could ever be.“What’s going to happen now?” Gold whispered, her voice trembling.I shook my head, my mind a mess of guilt and confusion. “I don’t know, Goldie. I don’t know. They’re siblings.”Gold’s hand flew to her chest, accidentally yanking on my top in shock. “They’re what?”“That’s what he called me in there for,” I hissed. “He was explaining things when you interrupted. You should have trusted me when I said I was coming back.”“What should we do now?” Gold asked, her eyes wide with panic.“We?” I countered, a spark of frustration lighting up in me. “You’re the one who called her! You need to find a way to diffuse this before it explodes.”Madam Nada finally found her voice, though it was cold enough to freeze the a
Chapter 8 Deep WatersGold’s POVI had a bad feeling from the moment we arrived. I felt like eyes were on us the entire drive, and my suspicions only deepened when we got to the gate. Our tickets, our lockers, everything—already paid for."Who does that?" I muttered to myself. Someone we didn't even know had picked up our tab, and Ava seemed completely unbothered. I know Ava; she’s carefree, she’s not the type to go looking for trouble, but this was different. My friend was being remarkably senseless about a very strange situation.We headed to the main pool area, and for a fleeting moment, the sight of the water made me forget my anxiety. That lasted exactly two minutes.A massive, intimidating guy approached us. My gut had been right: we were being watched.“Hello, ma’am,” he said, focusing his attention entirely on Ava.“Hi,” Ava replied, her voice soft.“My boss would like to see you.”I flared up instantly. Ava looked shocked, but I didn't give a damn about being polite. “What d
Chapter 7Shattered IllusionsAva’s POVI wasn't expecting that response. How could he say it so casually—that it was "the best sex of the month"? He looked at me and chuckled, a dark, melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine.“You’re cool...” he uttered, leaning in to press a lingering peck against my lips.Reality hit me like a physical blow. I gasped as I remembered I hadn’t come here alone. I was here with Gold.“I have to go,” I rushed out, the words tumbling over each other.He released his grip on me, but not before collecting my details and handing me $17,000 in cash. I turned to flee, but a nagging sensation in the back of my mind made me stop dead in my tracks.“Do I know you from somewhere?” I asked. I had no memory of ever meeting him before tonight; to me, he was just a famous face, a celebrity I admired from afar.“Who is Nadaline to you?” he countered.My heart skipped a thousand beats. Hearing him say my boss’s full name felt like a bucket of ice water over my he





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