Jake and Ava are together

Ashley’s POV

My body went rigid as I watched her catwalk into the living room like some over-pampered princess, heels clicking softly against the floor.

She didn’t look any different from when I knew her five years ago. The same sharp, hazel eyes, and her curls, now a rich brown instead of the jet black she used to have. The color caught the light as she moved. I wondered if she’d dyed it again. She had always been obsessed with switching her hair color.

Her body was still the same. Slender. And so was the fucking smile on her face.

Clinging to her hand was a child. A girl, maybe five or six. I couldn’t tell exactly, but her small frame and height gave it away.

She had the same almond-shaped eyes as Ava, but hers were softer and innocent, untouched by whatever darkness sat in her mother’s gaze.

My eyes widened slightly as I studied the girl. One question pushed to the front of my mind. Could she be Ava and Jake’s daughter?

But she had none of Jake’s features. Not even the slightest resemblance.

I dragged my gaze back to Ava, locking onto her face. For a split second, her expression tightened and her brows liftedjust enough. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes spoke what she didn’t dare say out loud. What the hell are you doing here?

Her attention shifted from me to William, her gaze lingering a second too long. Then, slowly, a smirk curved her lips as she stepped closer to Jake.

I stilled.

Why the hell was she smirking at William? She didn’t even know who he was.

Back in college, I had never mentioned William to Ava, even when she was my best friend.

And now she was fucking smirking at him like she bloody hell knew him.

“Hi baby,” she said in a sugar-sweet voice, wrapping her arms around his shoulder and kissing him shamelessly in front of everyone. The sound of her lips against his echoed slightly in the quiet room.

I almost scoffed. They had continued their relationship after I left. So why then was he begging me at the airport to let him explain? Thank goodness I hadn’t even listened back then. A cheat will always remain a cheat.

Seeing them like that would’ve made my chest tighten once upon a time. But that was the old me. So I stood there, expression controlled, proving to Ava especially that I didn’t care.

But I noticed something instantly. Jake didn’t kiss her back. He just stood stiff, like a mannequin being kissed, his hands hanging uselessly at his sides.

It almost made me laugh, but I held it in. To think he could even act like that in front of everyone made me wonder if he was just putting on a show because I was here.

When she pulled away, I expected him to draw her closer, maybe hold her in some possessive way. But what happened was the opposite.

He simply held her arm and guided her a step away, not rough, but firm enough to create clear space between them.

I wasn’t even sure anyone else noticed how odd it was.

The little girl Ava was holding suddenly shifted, then reached for Jake with surprising excitement. “Daddy,” she called out in a loud, clear voice.

Jake’s expression softened instantly. He adjusted his hold and welcomed her into his arms with an ease that didn’t match the stiffness he had with Ava. His smile was real this time, warm and unguarded, as he ruffled her hair gently while still holding her close.

“My little princess,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to the girl’s head.

“Jake will definitely make a good father,” my mom said, a quiet laugh slipping out under her breath as she watched them.

“You don’t need to say anymore, Mother,” Ava replied, brushing invisible dust off Jake’s shoulders like she belonged there. “He’s already the best.”

They all had big smiles on their faces and for a moment, I felt like I was the only one left out. The way they all moved around each other so easily made it worse, like I was watching a scene I wasn’t written into. My mother knew Ava and Jake this well, but she didn’t bother to introduce any of them until the wedding talk made it necessary.

“Meet your step brother’s woman, Ava, and their daughter, Louisiana” my stepfather introduced, gesturing toward Ava.

Woman? The way Mr. Reyes introduced her, it seems they weren't married yet. So how had they given birth to Louisiana?

“My pleasure,” I said, forcing a fake smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“Your mother always talks about you, Ashley. I hope we can make time for ourselves and have a little chat.” I could almost see the wicked glint in her eyes as she held out her hand for a handshake, fingers perfectly aligned.

Before I could react, William stepped in and shook her hand for me. He must have noticed the silent war unfolding in the air.

“I’m William, Ashley’s fiancé.”

“My pleasure,” she replied with a single nod before stepping back to stand beside Jake.

“Jake and I will also be getting married in a few months’ time,” she added, clinging to Jake’s arm like a child holding onto something like she needed protection from something unseen.

Jake didn’t respond immediately. His jaw tightened slightly, like the words sat wrong in his chest. But he didn’t correct or didn’t deny her.

My chest tightened, a slow pressure building at the thought that it could have been me standing there beside him. I kept my face composed, but my gaze drifted back to Jake.

His lips were pressed into a thin line, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on nothing in particular like he was somewhere else entirely.

Something didn’t feel right with him.

Then his gaze shifted and landed on me. Our eyes met and held. His expression was blank, guarded, like he had built a quiet wall no one could easily break through to see what he was thinking.

I looked away first, my lashes lowering quickly. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to catch that moment.

But I was too late.

William had already noticed. I felt it in the way his body tensed slightly beside me and the way his gaze flicked from me to Jake. His hand around my waist tightened, pulling me a fraction closer.

I forced a small smile, nodding absentmindedly as Ava went on about how lovely she wanted her wedding to be, flowers, colors, details spilling from her lips.

Her voice droned on and I found myself barely listening.

Honestly, it was starting to bore me. The words blurred together, and I had to bite back the urge to ask, who asked you any of this? Instead, I kept my lips sealed. I didn’t want any of them seeing me as jealous.

When she finally stopped talking, I said, “Well, I wish you both luck and happiness.”

She smiled back like she was satisfied with that.

Then my mother said, touching my hand warmly, her fingers soft against mine, “I know you’ve had a long trip. One of the servants has already prepared a room for you and William. It’s the third room on the left-hand side upstairs.” Her eyes shifted briefly to William, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.

“Okay, Mom.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek, catching the faint scent of her perfume, then turned to leave with William.

But as I walked upstairs with my heels tapping lightly against the steps, my mind stayed stuck on the emptiness in Jake's eyes.

I knew him too well.

And he didn’t look like someone in love.