Ava's Pov
Seven Years Later
It's been seven years since I left London to come to New York with Andrew.
Seven years since Tristan was born.
Five years since Andrew gifted me a multi-million dollar jewellery company named after me as my birthday gift.
Four years since he confessed his feelings for me and even though I had told him I was not ready, he had promised to wait.
To wait till I heal the scar Derek and Annabel left behind.
These past years had been filled with love, laughter, bliss, and a few tears that flowed from time to time. Meeting Andrew was the best event in my life.
He had taken both me and Tristan as his own long before he even told me he loved me. It gave me a glimpse of what it meant to be loved, to be away from toxic people.
While I was at Derek's place I thought I had comfort, I mean my husband was a multi-millionaire but meeting Andrew made me realise how wealthy people can be.
Andrew was a multi-billionaire, having every type of investment anyone could think of. He was not only wealthy but soft-hearted and during the moments I caught him staring at me I could not help but smile at how intense yet soft his gaze was to me. He had become a source of comfort to me.
I am currently sitting in my room in front of the dressing mirror as I use my hair dryer to dry my hair. Andrew had told me we would be having a meeting with my staff in London and I would help him oversee an investment there for a while till he came back.
A knock came in as Tristan opened the door walking towards me with a smile. He had arctic blue eyes and dimples just like Derek but had Andrew's character. He and Andrew loved the same sport and dressed almost the same way: Rich and confident. They both had this undying obsession with Football and chess.
He stretched his hands forward to me showing me the Rolex wristwatch Andrew brought for him.
“Uncle Andrew brought this for me, a customised Rolex wristwatch with my name on it” I smiled at him and stared at the wristwatch. Andrew always spent heavily on Tristan at any chance he got and it healed my inner child to know that he was always happy and I would give up anything to keep that smile on his face.
“It's beautiful, do you love it?”I asked as I tried to hold back the tears in my eyes.
I don't know but moments like this always made me emotional.
He nodded with a grin still staring at the watch “Yes, I love it and Uncle Andrew promised to get us a matching one if you want” he said and looked at me with puppy eyes, pleading silently. He always wanted me to have matching clothes and accessories with him.
“Yes I want one just like yours” I replied and chuckled a little. “But mummy has to get dressed for a business meeting, so you will excuse me and go downstairs to have your breakfast when I am done I will come and join you” I explained.
“Okay!” He nodded and turned to leave “And once you get back you will watch me and Uncle Andrew play chess. I promised him that I was going to win him this time,” he said with a hint of pride in his voice.
Most of the time Andrew allowed Tristan to win him but the few times Andrew won, Tristan would argue and always promise to win Andrew next time.
I watched his reflection through the mirror as he walked towards the door. He had almost closed the door when he peeped in again.
“Oh and use your cinnamon oil, it smells nice on you,” he said with a tight smile and left.
I smiled and quickly finished dressing. It was the first time I was going to meet my staff in London and I wanted to make a good impression.
We finished our breakfast quickly and said goodbye. His driver took us to the airport where his private jet was.
The ride was filled with comfortable silence.
“Are you going to be okay?” He asked, his voice laced with concern. I knew what he meant, going to London after leaving for seven years would mean a big deal to most people but not to me. I was okay, I had healed and moved on, and besides I was way better than the way I was then.
“Yes. I am going to be fine” I replied with a tight smile. He nodded his head giving me one of his usual burning gaze.
Then he turned to the window side watching the cloud “Just know that I am here in case you need anything” he said his voice laced with comforting softness.
I nod in approval. He was always there, he had always been there for me.
When we landed in London, I stood for a while as I took in the fresh air of London. The meeting with my staff went well. The brand was doing well here and its profit was rapidly increasing. I showed them some of the new designs I invented and our next projects.
I made my way to Andrew's office to discuss the investment he wanted me to oversee. He said he had an appointment with the people today.
As I breezed my way into his office the staff greeted me respectfully. I am sure most of them thought I was Andrew's wife because we were always together most of the time and I was seriously tempted to give in to his advances but I was just trying to protect my broken heart.
“Nikolai would be coming with them and the MD. They are going bankrupt and they asked for our help. I would want you to go through the meeting with them, ask them questions and run the affairs for a while till their company is on its feet again” he explained as he swayed his chair sideways playing with the pen in his hands.
“Okay, so if I take a look at the company and notice that it is not going to succeed I should withdraw our support?” I asked trying to clarify things
“Yes, we can't be throwing our money into a company that has no survival rate”
Nikolai walked inside after knocking. I followed him to the room where we were to hold the meeting, leaving Andrew to continue his job.
As I walked in, a wave of uneasiness fell on my shoulders. Some of the staff looked familiar. They all stood up and waited for me to sit before sitting down.
Nikolai showed me the company document. As I stared at the front page of the document I immediately went speechless, my skin turned pale.
“Particulars of F&J company” it read.
No, no, no this can't be happening I mumbled as I shook my head.
There was only one F&J company and that was Derek's company. It meant the company I was going to oversee was Derek's company. I was going to work alongside Derek for a while.
I closed my eyes as I tried to suppress the nameless feeling that rushed within me.
“Sorry, I am late” Derek's masculine voice interrupted my thought. I opened my eyes to see his artic blue eyes. They had not changed one bit.
“Ava?” He asked in a whisper, his voice filled with surprise.
I bottled whatever emotions rolled up within me and sat upright.
I sat upright, cleared my throat and said “You are late Mr Lockwood” . I addressed him with a stern voice, my eyebrows raised with a grin.
Writer’s POV. The months flew by in a blur of board meetings, late nights, and stolen moments of laughter with Tristan and Andrew. Ava’s life had transformed into something unrecognizable—she had gone from a struggling single mother to one of the most powerful business leaders in the world. Yet, despite her newfound success, Ava remained grounded. Each accomplishment, every milestone, was tethered to a deeper purpose: creating a stable, loving environment for her growing family and proving to herself—and the world—that she could rise above her circumstances.What surprised her most wasn’t the success or the wealth but the unyielding love she had found along the way. Andrew’s unwavering belief in her had been her anchor, a constant reminder that even amidst chaos, she was never alone.---Ava and Andrew’s WeddingThe day dawned bright and warm, sunlight streaming through the tall oak trees that lined the estate’s gardens. A soft breeze carried the scent of roses and lilies, mingling w
Ava's POV.Mrs. Pierce smiled through her tears, her gaze fixed on Tristan with a tenderness that tugged at something deep inside me.As the evening wore on, we sat around the dining table, the air still heavy with unspoken emotions. After dinner, Mrs. Pierce folded her hands on the table, her expression serious.“There’s something else I need to tell you, Ava,” she began, her voice calm but resolute.I raised an eyebrow, bracing myself for yet another revelation. “What is it now?”She glanced at Andrew and Tristan, then back at me. “I’ve kept my distance for years because I didn’t think I had the right to disrupt your life. But I’ve been following your journey, and I’ve wanted to come back sooner than this.”“Following my journey?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes.“Yes,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Ava, I wasn’t just trying to rebuild my life after I left you. I…well, I married someone. A man who believed in me and my dreams. Together, we built a life—a very successful one.”I fr
Ava’s POVThe weeks that followed Annabel's arrest were a whirlwind of emotions—relief, anger, and a lingering sense of unease. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t entirely gone from our lives, even as the police assured me she would be locked away for a long time.But life had a way of throwing curveballs.One morning, as I sat by the window sipping tea, the nausea that had plagued me for days returned with a vengeance. I barely made it to the bathroom in time. Tristan, ever the observant little boy, knocked on the door.“Mommy, are you okay?” he asked, his voice tinged with worry.“I’m fine, sweetheart,” I replied, forcing a smile when I emerged. “Just a little stomach bug.”But it wasn’t a bug. Deep down, I knew. The signs were unmistakable, and a test later that evening confirmed it.I was pregnant.I stared at the test in my trembling hand, the reality sinking in. Another child. A sibling for Tristan. A symbol of everything I’d fought so hard to protect.As the news settled in,
Annabel’s POVThey all thought they’d won. Ava, Derick, even Andrew—they all got to walk away happy. But what about me? Where was my happy ending? Where was the life I’d envisioned? Derick wasn’t supposed to go back to Ava. He wasn’t supposed to turn his attention to some child. Tristan. That boy had ruined everything.I stared at the grainy photo I’d taken of Tristan at the park last week. His laugh still echoed in my mind, grating against my nerves. Derick doted on him, Ava clung to him, and even Andrew looked at him like he was some precious treasure.It wasn’t fair.If Tristan were gone, maybe things could go back to the way they were supposed to be. Derick would grieve, of course, but I could help him heal. I’d be the one he turned to. The one he leaned on.The plan had been forming in my mind for weeks. It wasn’t impulsive—I wasn’t stupid. I’d spent hours studying their routines, noting every detail. Ava’s work schedule, Derick’s visitation days, and Tristan’s after-school activ
Ava’s POVThe judge’s voice echoed through the courtroom, cutting through the tense silence like a blade.“In the best interest of the child, the court has decided on joint custody. Both parents will share equal responsibility in raising Tristan.”I sat motionless, my fingers gripping the edge of the table. I had prepared myself for this outcome, but hearing the words spoken aloud still sent a chill down my spine. Sharing Tristan with Derick wasn’t what I wanted—but the court had decided, and I had no choice but to accept it.Tristan was my whole world. The idea of someone else, even his biological father, having a say in his life felt like an intrusion. But the judge was right. Tristan deserved both parents in his life. No matter how much I resented the situation, I had to focus on what was best for my son.As the courtroom emptied, Derick approached me. He walked hesitantly, as if unsure of how close he should get. I glanced at Diane, who nodded and took Tristan by the hand, guiding
Derick’s POVThe small park bench felt impossibly narrow as I sat there, nervously gripping the edge. Tristan was perched beside me, his little legs swinging back and forth, not quite reaching the ground. His curious gaze was fixed on me, a mix of innocence and wisdom far beyond his five years.I took a deep breath, unsure how to begin. The truth was, I had no idea how to talk to a child—especially one who looked so much like me, yet felt like a stranger.“Do you like the swings?” I asked, trying to break the ice.He shrugged, clutching the juice box I’d handed him earlier. “They’re okay.”Silence fell between us again, heavy and awkward. Finally, Tristan spoke, his voice quiet but firm. “Why weren’t you there when I was born?”The question hit me like a punch to the gut. I looked at him, my throat tightening. How could I explain something I didn’t even fully understand myself?“I didn’t know about you,” I admitted. “Your mom didn’t tell me until…until she needed help.”His small brow