Chapter 5: Five Years Later

Five years later, the woman who once walked out of a hospital with nothing but two newborns in her arms no longer existed.

In her place stood someone entirely different.

The grand ballroom of the Silverbrook Hotel shimmered under layers of golden light, crystal chandeliers hanging high above like frozen stars. Soft music drifted through the air, blending with the quiet hum of conversation as guests in elegant attire moved gracefully across the polished marble floor. Laughter rose here and there, accompanied by the clink of glasses and the subtle exchange of power, influence, and wealth.

Ava stood at the entrance for a brief moment, taking it all in.

Not because she was overwhelmed.

But because she remembered a time when she would have been.

Now, her expression remained calm, composed, and entirely self-assured. She adjusted the sleeve of her fitted black dress, the fabric smooth and perfectly tailored to her figure, before stepping fully into the room. Her heels clicked softly against the floor, each step measured, each movement deliberate.

She belonged here.

And everyone could see it.

“Miss Ava,” a voice greeted respectfully from her side.

She turned slightly, her posture straight, her chin lifted just enough to command attention without effort. “Yes?”

“The arrangements for tonight have been finalized,” the event coordinator said politely. “Everything is proceeding as scheduled.”

Ava gave a small nod. “Good. Make sure there are no delays.”

“Of course.”

As the coordinator stepped away, Ava’s gaze moved across the room again, scanning the crowd with quiet awareness. Over the years, she had learned how to read people quickly—their intentions, their confidence, their weaknesses. It was a skill she had never needed before, but one she had mastered out of necessity.

Because survival had required it.

Success had demanded it.

A soft voice pulled her attention back.

“Mummy!”

Ava turned immediately, and just like that, the composed businesswoman disappeared, replaced by something warmer, softer.

Two small figures ran toward her, their laughter light and carefree as they closed the distance between them.

Ava bent down without hesitation, her arms opening just in time to catch them both as they crashed into her embrace.

“Hey, my loves,” she said gently, her voice filled with affection as she pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads. “Careful, you’ll knock me over.”

They giggled, completely unconcerned.

“We missed you,” one of them said, wrapping small arms tightly around her.

“I missed you more,” Ava replied, pulling them closer for a moment before leaning back slightly to look at them properly.

They had grown.

So much.

Their features had become more defined over the years, their personalities beginning to shine through in small, unique ways. One was slightly more reserved, observant in a way that reminded her of someone she tried not to think about too often. The other was more expressive, quick to smile and speak, bringing a kind of lightness wherever they went.

But both of them shared something undeniable.

Something that had only become more obvious with time.

Ava brushed it aside, just as she always did.

“Did you behave?” she asked, raising a brow playfully.

“Yes!” they answered in unison.

Ava smiled faintly. “I’ll confirm that later.”

A staff member approached carefully. “They were very well-behaved, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Ava said, her tone polite but distant as she acknowledged them.

Once the staff member stepped away, Ava’s attention returned fully to her children. She smoothed down one of their outfits, adjusting a small detail before straightening again.

“Stay close to me tonight,” she said softly. “There are a lot of people here.”

“Okay, Mummy.”

They held onto her hands without hesitation.

And for a moment, everything felt perfectly balanced.

Until—

Across the room, someone stopped moving.

Lucas Carter.

He had just been in the middle of a conversation, barely paying attention to anything beyond polite social exchange, when something caught his eye. At first, it was nothing more than a passing glance—a woman entering with confidence, drawing subtle attention without trying.

But then he looked again.

And everything around him seemed to fade.

His focus narrowed completely, his breath catching slightly as recognition