Starting Again.

Ava sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the neatly unpacked suitcase beside her. The TV was off now, and the room was quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside her window. She had carefully put away every piece of clothing, arranged her toiletries, and even tidied the kitchen a little while making herself a simple dinner. Yet, despite the order around her, her mind was anything but calm.

She picked at the edge of her plate, lost in thought. Adrian… what had really happened?

For years, he had been everything she thought a husband should be. Always charming, always considerate, always sweet. But now she knew the truth and the bitter irony cut deeper than any lie ever could, the same man who had helped with her father’s medical bills, who had sorted out the seemingly endless hospital charges, who had made her feel safe and cared for… the same man was capable of this betrayal.

Ava’s stomach twisted as she recalled the countless times Adrian had reassured her during her father’s health crises. Her father’s bills had soared into millions of dollars, money she and her family could never have handled alone but Adrian had stepped in without hesitation. Always with a smile. Always insisting she not worry, even when the numbers were staggering and the chances were slim.

The thought of those efforts now, tainted by deception, left her feeling sick and hollow. How could someone who did so much for you, love you in front of everyone, give the same thing to another woman?

Her fork trembled in her hand, and she set it down, leaning back against the chair. How had it come to this? Four years of love, two years of marriage… all wreck in a single night.

She had trusted him. She had loved him. And yet, she now understood that all those sweet gestures, the generosity, the smiles, the whispered reassurances, had been a mask.

“Ava, dear…I'm back”Adrian's voice came from downstairs, cheerful as always but she didn't move.

A soft click behind her made her jump slightly.

“Hey,” came Adrian’s voice, smooth, teasing. The scent of his cologne, faint and yet unmistakable, drifted around her. The sensation made her skin crawl in a way it never had before.

He looked so innocent, like he wasn't the one she saw few hours ago in a shameful act…it made Ava blood boil but before she could process, he was behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her gently against his chest. His lips brushed her neck, soft and warm,, and for a moment, Ava felt a flicker of the old response she used to have…

Her pulse racing, a flush creeping over her cheeks. But the moment passed instantly. Now, his touch felt like thorns on her skin, sharp and intrusive.

She forced a small smile, careful to keep her composure. Adrian stiffened slightly, sensing something off.

“Everything all right?” he asked, his voice low and concerned.

“Yes… yes, everything’s fine,” she said lightly, stepping forward. “I… I just need to go take a bath.”

Adrian tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, as though reading her carefully, but he didn't release her from his grip.

“You know,” he murmured, his hands lingering at her sides, licking his lips lustfully “you really are something else, very attractive. Every time I see you, I can’t help but”

Ava stepped back slightly, placing a gentle hand against his chest. “Adrian, I said I just want to bathe,” she said firmly, her tone stern enough to leave no room for argument.

For a brief moment, Adrian froze, his eyes scanning her face. There was a flicker of surprise, even a touch of hurt in his expression. “I… I just”

“I’m not in the mood,” Ava interrupted softly but decisively. “I just… I need to rest for a while.”

Adrian blinked, visibly taken aback by her sudden firmness. Then, after a moment, he let out a low chuckle, almost sheepish, lifting his hands in surrender.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ve… I’ve missed you. Missed… everything. But… no problem. Go take your bath. I’ll wait.”

Ava nodded politely, she turned and walked toward the bathroom, ignoring the small pang of irritation that tightened her chest. How dare he touch her with this same hands he used on another woman few hours ago? How shameless is this man?

From the bathroom, she heard him moving around the kitchen, the faint clink of dishes, he was eating his dinner. Few minutes later his voice drifted softly toward her.

“Ava… just so you know… we’re supposed to meet my grandparents tomorrow. Family dinner. Hope you’re getting ready for that.”

“Yes,” she said, her voice neutral. “I know.”

“I left you a gift on the bed…need to check on something really quick, I'll be back”Adrian said as he left the apartment in a rush. That was Ava's sign to rinse quickly, the water ran cold against her skin but it was a tiny comfort against the heat of her anger and the betrayal.

When she emerged, towel wrapped around her hair, she found the apartment quiet. Adrian was gone. She paused at the doorway, catching a glimpse of the empty kitchen, the faint scent of his cologne lingering. A small scoff escaped her. She knew exactly where he was heading, to the other woman.

Her phone buzzed, and she looked down at the screen. It was the anonymous number.

[Sorry, had to borrow him for tonight]

Ava rolled her eyes and tossed the phone aside. Her chest tightened with a mixture of disgust and pity. She wouldn’t allow herself to be rattled anymore. Not tonight.

Instead, her mind drifted back to the years, to the moments she had sacrificed for love, to the passion she had abandoned. The collections she never completed, the designs that remained trapped in sketchbooks, the fashion house she had once dreamed of building from the ground up… she had put it all aside for Adrian, for marriage, for a life that now felt like a lie.

She could no longer let it stay dormant.

With a determined motion, she grabbed her phone and logged into F******k. Her fingers hesitated only briefly before typing a message to one of her former mentors from graduate school, Mr. Henry Thompson.

[Hello, Mr. Thompson. It's Ava Sterling. How are you doing?]

Almost immediately, a reply came.

[I’m doing well, Ava! How about you?]

Ava felt her lips curve into a small, hopeful smile. She typed quickly:

[I’m sorry to message you so late… I just wanted to ask if there’s a possibility I could return to designing. It’s been on hold for far too long, and I… I really want to get back to it.]

His reply was almost instant, filled with enthusiasm:

[This is the best news I’ve heard in years! I was genuinely wondering why you stopped. You were on the verge of something huge. Your designs had a voice, Ava. You could have built something extraordinary. Don’t let anything stop you now.]

Ava felt a warmth bloom in her chest for the first time all night. The smile that had been absent for hours returned, small but sincere. She typed back:

[Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Let’s start again… I’m ready this time.]

She set the phone down, a sense of calm and purpose washing over her. For the first time tonight, she felt a glimmer of control. Something good was finally happening, something that belonged entirely to her. She took a deep breath, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease slightly, pulling the blankets around her, she allowed herself to close her eyes, letting the quiet apartment absorb her, the faint hum of the city lulling her into a well-deserved rest.

For the first time in a long while, Ava Sterling felt… free.