LOGINAva: Right as I walked inside the room, my gaze caught onto my phone which I had left by the bedside table. I reached for it and slumped onto the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. Soon as I unlocked the phone, I was welcomed with about 29 missed calls and 10 new texts. My brows furrowed into a deep frown as I realized it was all from one person. Without wasting a moment, I tapped on Cecily’s number. It rang for only a couple of seconds before she answered. “Oh my God, I've been calling for almost an hour now. Where on earth did you leave your phone?” I brushed my palm over my forehead, “I was in the living room and I left my phone inside. What’s up?” “So you're at home yeah?” I heard the sound of a door creaking shut from the other end. “Yes. Why?” “Nothing,” she said, spacing out for a moment, “I just thought I saw you. It’s weird, I even got out of the car and came to the boutique you entered, but I didn't see you in here.” I chuckled, “How many hours of sleep did you get las
Ava: The cartoon Belle picked was some show about talking animals on a farm. A pig was trying to convince a chicken to share her eggs for a cake. Belle laughed at something the pig said, her small body pressed against my side. She had her doll tucked under one arm, eyes glued to the TV. I glanced at Dante. He was watching the screen, but I could tell he wasn't really paying attention. His jaw was set in that way it got when he was thinking about something else entirely. “You don't have to sit here and watch this with us,” I said, despite the fact that a huge part of me wanted him to be here and do such mundane things with us. He turned to look at me, “I want to be here.” “You look bored out of your mind.” “I'm not.” Belle giggled, kicking her feet. “Mama, the pig is being silly.” “He is, isn't he?” I had finished my toast and tea, which Belle and I had ended up eating, the plate was placed on the coffee table because when Dante had wanted to take it back, I told him to leave
Ava:I was beginning to like him being here, and that explained the inexplicable warmth that seared through me the moment our eyes met.“Yes,” I forced a smile and sat upright, my gaze landing on Belle who had somehow climbed the couch and sat cross legged, also watching me with the exact same look her father was giving me.I glance between them, and dipped my head back a little, letting out a low chuckle, “Now, why on earth are you two looking at me like I'm some fragile doll that’s about to break.”Belle pouted, and stretched towards me, “Mama, you're crying.”I went absolutely still, but then remembered how easily I fell for this same trick of Belle's weeks ago.So I rolled my eyes, “Belle, what did I tell you about lying?”At the same time, I felt the tears that had been threatening to slid down my eyes, finally warm it’s way down my cheeks.Belle's pout deepened, and she pointed at my face. “But mama, you really are crying. See?”I lifted my hand to my cheek, feeling the wetness
Ava:“Why didn't you tell me you were on good terms with Dante?” My father said the moment we settled in the living room.A frown settled between my brows, and I really tried to reign in my annoyance at the first thing he had to say.I wasn't even sure why I kept entertaining him, despote knowing it was the same pattern. That he wouldn't simply change overnight. And that the only reason he might have come was to exactly tell me to try and make amends with Dante since I do not want to give up custody of my Belle.It was really exhausting, and I felt more at blame because I kept on entertaining his shenanigans.A deep sigh escaped my lips, “Is that why you came here?”His piercing eyes sharpened, but instead of lashing out like he usually would have, his gaze darted to the kitchen where we could hear Dante and Belle’s voice.He took a deep breath, “Just happens to be one of the many reasons I came here, but I assure you that it's the least.”My frown deepened and I waited for him to con
Dante:“Dante,” my mother called out, surprise flickering through her expression, “What are you doing here?”My expression turned blank, and nothing would have screamed my displeasure at their sudden presence more than my face was doing at the moment. “I should be asking you two that.”“Who’s that?” Ava asked softly from behind me and I suddenly had an insane urge to obstruct her view so she didn't see them and then shut the door close on them.But that would be too disrespectful. And as much as I would care sending the two of them away, I doubted heavily that Ava would be pleased if I did that Perhaps she'd prefer handling the situation by herself. In a more respectful way.Her fingers brushed against my back, pulling my attention back to the present.“Who’s there?” she asked again, finally pulling the door wider.I stepped aside, and soon as she saw my mother and her father outside, she went completely still, her eyes widened a fraction and she took a step back.The warmth that had
Dante:I reached for my phone and swiped through the message notifications I had received over the past twelve hours. Tapping on Marcus’s contact, a frown settled on my brows when I saw the last message he sent.My frown tightened, and I typed, before sending a message that read:‘Have you been able to track the vehicle?’His response didn't come up on time, so I simply placed my phone back into my pocket and stepped into the bathroom to wash my face.Ava left a spare brush, which was placed right beside hers.About five minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom, wiping my face with a small towel. My hands reached for the three loose buttons of my shirt, and I buttoned them up, before stepping outside the room.The moment I reached the hallway, my ears caught Belle’s giggle which was coming from down the kitchen.A small smile tipped the edge of my lips, and my hands brushed over my chest at the warm feeling engulfing inside me.I loved being here, more than anything. And most impo







