Justin nodded once, acknowledging that Ayva was right. However, he couldn't help but feel a sting to his ego. He had crossed a boundary even though he knew he shouldn't have done it. He had know Ayva for almost six years, and in all that time, she had never once raised her voice or been this upset with him."I'm really sorry," Justin apologized sincerely. As the elevator doors opened on their floor, he stepped out first, giving her some space.With careful steps, Ayva made her way to her office, mindful not to put any pressure on her injured leg. The employees on her floor exchanged glances, curious about why their boss was limping. However, none of them mustered the courage to ask.Soon after settling into her office, her phone rang. It was her husband, Zion, calling."Hello." She immediately said after picking up the call. And on her other phone, she watched him devouring pizza in their living room. The soft glow of the television illuminated the space, casting a warm ambiance."Why
Justin froze in place, his eyes widening in a mix of confusion and shock as Ayva's piercing scream filled the air. She was consumed by fear, it was evident in the way her voice trembled and her hands shook uncontrollably."Don't come any closer!" "Stay away from me!" Her words echoed in his ears. Justin, who had been attentively watching Ayva from his seat in the audience had immediately sensed that something was wrong during her Q/A session. He had immediately followed her without a moment of hesitation when she hastily fled the room.But the way she was looking at him now, a combination of fear and anger in her tear-streaked face, made his heart sink. It was as if... as if she believed something unthinkable."Surely you don't think that I'm..." Justin's voice trailed off, his words hanging in the charged atmosphere. He had refused to accept the horrifying possibility that had crossed his mind but then, her reaction, her tears proved that he was right. He stared down at Ayva, his e
Ayva's peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by a loud and persistent knock on the door. Startled, she slowly sat up from the carpet, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Searching for her phone to check the time, she realized it was still early afternoon.The knock came again, this time even more forceful, as if someone was determined to break down the door. "I'm coming," she muttered weakly, getting to her feet. She made her way across the room, unlocking the door without thinking to ask who it was.As the door swung open, Ayva found herself face to face with Justin, accompanied by a hotel staff member. Before she could react, Justin pulled her into a tight hug, letting out a sigh of relief. The hotel staff discreetly retreated, giving them some privacy.Confused and still groggy from sleep, Ayva pulled away from the hug and asked, "Is something wrong?" Her mind struggled to process the situation.Justin, trying to remain calm despite his worry, replied, "Why didn't you answer your
The atmosphere at the dinner table was thick with tension, particularly between Amanda, Zion, and Ayva. Their stolen glances at each other were subtle yet noticeable, and Ayva clenched her fist by her side to keep herself calm. Amanda's parents seemed completely oblivious to the underlying tension."Ayva, I must say, you are the most beautiful pregnant woman I've ever seen," Brenda Kerrington complimented with a smile."Oh, thank you so much. You're too kind," Ayva replied, mirroring the expression, although her smile seemed forced and insincere. The way Zion nervously twiddled his fingers under the table spoke volumes - he clearly didn't want to be there."I heard you managed to secure a collaboration with T&K Designs." Thomas Kerrington chimed in, taking a sip of water as they waited for their food. "You truly are the best at what you do. My foundation has tried countless times to get T&K's attention. Your influence makes me want to tap into it. Maybe if they find out that I raised
"Ayva, what's the matter?" Zion asked, concern evident in his expression as he placed a hand on her shoulder.Ayva startled, as if snapping out of a daze. She shook her head, gently removing his hand from her shoulder."I'm okay." She replied, realizing that she hadn't voiced her thoughts to Zion directly. She lacked the courage, she admitted to herself. It was all in her head. Without uttering another word, she turned around and made her way to their room.********(Two days later)As the early morning hours ticked by, Ayva found herself arriving at work earlier than usual. It was a restless night for her, unable to sleep as thoughts of her upcoming confrontation with Zion consumed her mind.With a sense of urgency, she monitored Zion's movement around the house, relying on the hidden cameras she had installed and when she realized he was about to leave home, she immediately grabbed her car key and headed out of the office. "Is something wrong ma'am?" Caitlyn, her secretary asked up
As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, Zion strolled into the room, a tray filled with an array of Ayva's favorite foods in hand. With a mischievous grin, he greeted her in a singsong voice, "Good morning, sunshine!" His playful tone was accompanied by a falsetto voice as he exclaimed. "Guess what day it is? It's Valentine's Day and you're starting the day with breakfast in bed!"Ayva's expression however, remained blank, as if she were looking at a stranger. She couldn't comprehend his sudden shift in demeanor. Just the night before, she had made it clear that she wanted a divorce, even handing him the papers to sign before retiring to bed. Yet here he was, acting as if their conversation had never taken place. She couldn't help but feel utterly confused."What... are you doing?" Ayva asked as she slowly sat up in bed, her voice filled with confusion and disbelief. It was barely 7 am, and there stood her estranged husband, entering her room as if everything between them was
Ayva's mischievous smirk grew wider as she glanced at Zion and Amanda, who both appeared as if they had just received the news that they only had a few minutes to live."Ayva, please tell me you didn't..." Amanda's voice trailed off, her gaze fixed on the bag of powder in Ayva's hands.With a whimsical smile, Ayva picked up a frozen grape and crushed it between her teeth."Shit!" Amanda and Zion exclaimed simultaneously, their expressions filled with panic as they dashed for the bathroom.As Ayva strolled down the corridor, she could hear the sound of their loud retching coming from the rooms. She entered her own room to find Amanda kneeling against the toilet, desperately trying to rid herself of the food she had consumed just moments ago.Leaning against the wall, her arms folded across her chest, Ayva observed Amanda's struggle with a satisfying look on her face. Amanda crawled out of the bathroom and knelt before Ayva, tears in her eyes from the intense retching."You don't want t
"I'm going to tell you everything Ayva." He said with determination as he gazed into Ayva's eyes, searching for a glimmer of understanding.Ayva crossed her arms, her expression guarded. "What else is there to know? I already found out everything." She spat, her tone defensive."No. You don't have the full picture or know the true nature of our relationship and the reality of what happened between Amanda and me." Zion pleaded, his voice filled with regret and desperation.Ayva hesitated, her curiosity piqued. She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the story than what she believed. Slowly, she uncrossed her arms, a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes."I'll give you the whole story, from the very beginning up until now. Just promise me you will listen." Zion implored, his voice filled with a raw sincerity that tugged at Ayva's heart.After a moment, Ayva nodded slowly, her anger starting to subside. "And promise me that whatever I say, you won't let it hurt you. Please, Ayva