LOGINAva:We lay in silence because I refused to answer him or give a response to his words. Not even a reaction.It was hypocritical that he was the exact same person I told days back that I didn't trust him.And I didn't even admit it because I didn't trust him. I did trust him, and I wasn't sure how to tell him that, which is why it has been safer to opt for a lie instead.When I lied and told him I simply didn't trust him, we left it at that, and he didn't demand more answers. But telling him I trusted him right there in the kitchen. The other night would have broken all my defenses and left me at his mercy.I didn't want to unravel myself in his presence yet. And I really didn't want him to see how much I was beginning to want him around. That I believed everything he has said to me, I was simply just finding it difficult to accept them.Because for a long time, I felt it was easier and better to reject whatever feeling was carving its way into my heart, than simply accept them and fu
Ava:He said nothing after that, and neither did I. We both let the silence simply settle between us.A quiet moment passed, and somehow, I started feeling drowsy.I pressed my hand to my mouth, yawning and feeling a cramp on my shoulder.Since none of us were saying anything, I was just about to turn around and simply doze off when Dante suddenly asoer, “How was your relationship with your sister like?”My lips pressed into a thin line because of all the things uw as expecting he’d ask about, I wasn't expecting him to start a conversation about my sister.“It was…” I hesitated, not certain whether I actually wanted to talk about her.Every single time a thought about my bestie had crossed my mind, it usually led to me trying to conjure the incidents before the accident, and that was frequently followed by a sharp pang on the side of my head.It has always been the same thing. Every single time. So I tried, I really trier to not think about it, instead I let the guilt just settle some
Ava:I walked into the room first, trying to avoid doing anything awkward as Dante walked in a moment later.My lips pressed into a thin line, and I knew with certainty that there was no turning back anymore. I had been the one to invite him in myself; it wasn't even his suggestion to begin with.I heard footsteps from behind me as he shut the door and walked into the room.A deep breath escaped my lips, and I tried my best to do anything—anything at all—that didn't involve having to turn around and face him, because as much as I wanted to ignore it, I could feel his eyes on me even from behind.It didn't make me uncomfortable; it just made me very aware of the fact that it was just the two of us in here.When I finally turned around, my breath hitched, and I forced the urge to take a step back because of how intensifying his gaze on me was.“I…” My words trailed, and I shook my head to gather them back. “You can take the shower here; I'll take the one in Belle’s room.” I didn't even
Ava:When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, his forehead stayed pressed against mine.And I closed my eyes, savouring the moment, letting myself just relax as I felt the walls I had wrapped around my heart slowly cracked. Little by little.I wanted him, I really did. But I was scared of what would happen if I let him in.It wasn't that easy considering our history.And it also wasn't easy considering the fact that even though he had wanted me from the beginning, Ivy had wanted him.The guilt was too much to ignore. I had spent years walking in them. His fingers gently brushed my arms, pulling my thoughts back to the present.“Ava,” he murmured, my name sounding rough in his throat.I kept my eyes closed, afraid that if I opened them, reality would come crashing back in. “Don't. Don't say anything.”Maybe if we didn't dwell on what just happened and act like it didn't happen, then I would feel less guilty of the situation.I… I insanely wanted him but at the same time
Ava:I let out a sigh, brushing my fingers through my hair and letting the silence settle between us before I finally spoke out, “She came here to talk about my father.”Dante's eyes narrowed slightly but his expression went back to normal immediately, “What about him?”“She said he went to see you.” I watched his face carefully, looking for any reaction at all that would give anything away, but there was nothing. “That he's planning something.”His brows furrowed tightly. “He did.”“And?” I pressed, subconsciously taking a step closer. “What did he want? Or what did he say?”Dante was quiet for a moment, not staring away from me at all. “He wanted me to take Belle from you.”The air left my lungs in a rush. Even though I'd suspected, hearing it confirmed made my stomach drop.My father was a intent on pulling every single card he had in order to take Belle from me.“He what?”He had no right to do that, but what was I expecting anyway? He wants seeing her as a child, or my child for
Ava:I shook my head. “I'm not doing this with you.”Without another word, I marched to the door and pulled it open, just enough to make my intention painfully clear.“Look, I'm very tired at the moment, and I need to rest.”I didn’t need to spell it out. She knew what I meant.She always knew when she was being dismissed and when she’d pushed too far, crossed a line, or walked straight into a wound she pretended she couldn’t see.Her lips parted, a soft gasp slipping out before she quickly closed her mouth again.Her eyes flickered toward my bedroom hallway, toward Belle’s room, then back at me. A thousand arguments seemed to rise and die on her tongue all at once.“Ava…” she tried again gently, “please don’t shut me out. I’m trying to—”“No.” My voice wasn’t raised, but it felt heavy. “You’re trying to do what he wants. And I’m too tired today to let you drag me into that.”Her shoulders sagged. For a moment, she looked older, not physically but emotionally, like years of silent bat







