LOGINDiana arrived at the restaurant a little before noon, the private club was one of the most exclusive places in the city, tucked away from busy streets and curious eyes. Wealthy people often met there when they wanted privacy, and the management made sure their guests were left alone.Normally, Diana enjoyed coming here, the atmosphere was calm and the service was excellent.Most importantly, nobody bothered her. Today, however, she found herself distracted.As she sat beside the large window overlooking the garden, her thoughts kept drifting toward the Hale family.The past few weeks had been frustrating. She had expected Ava's position in the family to become more difficult with time.Instead, the exact opposite seemed to be happening. The woman continued surprising everyone.Even Diana had to admit it.When Ava first appeared, she looked completely out of place among the Hales. She lacked the confidence, experience, and connections most women in her position possessed.Yet somehow,
The days leading up to Grandpa Hale’s birthday became increasingly busy.After successfully handling the unexpected change in the guest schedule, Ava finally felt like she could breathe again. The preparations were moving smoothly.Three days before the celebration, Dominic’s mother called a family meeting regarding the birthday banquet.Ava attended without much thought. She expected another discussion about decorations or guest arrangements.Instead, she found herself trapped in an entirely different situation.“As the women of the Hale family, we will all be wearing custom gowns for the banquet,” Mrs. Hale announced from her seat. “The fitting is tomorrow morning.”Several women immediately began discussing colors and designs.Ava remained quiet.Fashion had never been a major part of her life.Before marrying Dominic, most of her money had gone toward helping Mabel and Lina. Expensive dresses were something she admired from a distance, not something she purchased.Still, she under
The moment Dominic ended the call, Ava knew something was wrong.The calm and relaxed mood she had been enjoying all afternoon disappeared instantly. Just a few seconds earlier, she had been smiling while thinking about Lina and Mabel. Now, uneasiness sat heavily in her chest.She lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a moment.Rachel noticed the change immediately."What happened?" Ava shook her head."I don't know."That was the truth because Dominic hadn't explained anything.He had only told her to return home immediately and the seriousness in his voice was what bothered her most.During the drive back to the mansion, Ava found herself looking out the window without really seeing anything. Her mind kept creating possibilities.Had something happened to Grandpa Hale?Was someone sick?Was there a problem with the birthday preparations? The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became.Rachel drove a little faster than usual. Neither woman spoke much during the j
Ava woke up without thinking about guest lists, decorations, or Grandpa Hale’s birthday celebration. The moment she opened her eyes, she felt tired.Ever since Grandpa Hale had placed her in charge of the birthday preparations, everyone seemed to want something from her. There was always another meeting to attend, another decision to make, or another problem waiting to be solved.Even her free time no longer felt free. As she sat up in bed, her thoughts suddenly drifted to Lina and Mabel.She hadn’t seen them properly in weeks. The realization made her feel guilty.Lina had started her new school. Mabel was still working hard every day.Meanwhile, she had been so busy with her own life that she barely called them. Ava grabbed her phone and checked the time.It was still early.A small smile appeared on her face, maybe she could surprise them.The idea immediately lifted her mood. Half an hour later, she was already dressed and heading downstairs.Rachel was waiting as usual.The bodyg
The private lounge of the Sapphire Women's Club was filled with soft music and quiet conversations.The club was one of the most exclusive places in the city. Only wealthy women and members of influential families could enter. Every afternoon, wives from powerful families gathered there to drink tea, discuss business, and exchange the latest news.Today was no different. Some of Hale family women occupied one of the largest private sections.Expensive handbags rested on chairs. Delicate cups sat on the table. The atmosphere appeared pleasant from a distance.The topic of discussion had already turned to the same person.Ava Hale.One of the women stirred her tea before shaking her head."I still don't understand what Father was thinking."Another woman immediately nodded."Neither do I." The conversation quickly gained momentum. Everyone seemed to have an opinion.Grandpa Hale's decision had shocked the entire family.Many of them had spent years trying to earn his trust.Yet Ava had
The Hale family estate was busier than usual that weekend. Cars entered and left the large gates one after another. Workers moved around carrying decorations, flower samples, invitation designs, and stacks of documents. Everywhere people seemed to be preparing for one thing.Grandpa Hale's eightieth birthday celebration. Ava sat beside Rachel in the car as they drove through the gates.She looked out the window and frowned."I thought this was just a family meeting." Rachel glanced at her through the mirror."It is." Ava looked at the dozens of people walking around the estate."It doesn't look like one." Rachel's lips twitched slightly."Welcome to the Hale family.” Ava sighed.That answer somehow made everything worse, the car stopped in front of the main building.As soon as Ava stepped out, several workers greeted her politely. She smiled and greeted them back before entering the house.Inside, the atmosphere was even busier.The large living room had been turned into a temporary
Ava spent most of the afternoon trying to avoid Vanessa. Unfortunately, Vanessa seemed determined to stay.She sat comfortably in the living room as though she owned the house, chatting with the maids when she felt like it and making little comments whenever Ava happened to walk past.None of the c
Ava woke up feeling tired. The argument with Dominic the night before was the first thing that entered her mind the moment she opened her eyes.For a few seconds, she remained lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.She wasn’t sure how she felt about what had happened.Part of her believed she ha
Dominic stopped beside Ava and Ethan. The smile on Ava’s face faded slightly when she felt the sudden tension around them.Ethan remained calm. He looked between Dominic and Ava before offering a polite smile.“We were just talking.” Dominic’s eyes moved from Ethan to Ava.“Talking about what?”His
Ava stood quietly near the large window, holding a glass of juice in her hands. The ballroom was beautiful. Everywhere she looked, people were dressed in expensive suits and elegant gowns. Groups of businessmen talked about investments and contracts while their wives laughed and chatted beside the







