"What?!" Emily said in shock.
"Yes, you heard it right Emily. He wants me to change my clothes into something not revealing before I go there again. And if I do what he wants he will finally tell me his real attention," Ava explained calmly."Aww! I think you got jackpot. Don't you feel that he might someone who like you secretly for so long? How he looks like? Is he a very handsome billionaire man?" Ava looked boredly at Emily as she grimaced."It's reality, not a fairytale, Emily. And you know what's more shocking? I don't know how to answer your last two questions.""And why?""He doesn't even want me to see his face. He's just sitting there with his back to me.""That's strange. I encountered a lot of clients, but no one from them have that kind of mysterious aura like that man. Most of them grabbed me immediately right after I entered the room and fucked me instantly. But this guy..." Emily trailed off."Okay, enough! Just go back there, so you can finally figure out the answers to all our questions." Emily smiled mischievously and even dragged Ava out of the dressing room, but then before Ava could walk further towards the VIP room again, her phone rang, it's her step-sibling who'w calling."Hello Mia?""Ava, Mom's suddenly passed out. Can you please come home ASAP?" Ava quickly go back inside the dressing room and get her bag."Ava, what's happening? Where are you going?" Emily asks with wide eyes."There's an emergency at home. I need to leave now," Ava says while removing her heels and putting her flat shoes on her feet."But how about your client? What about the one billion?" Emily asks once again with worry."Emily, there's an emergency, and I believe that there's more opportunities like this. But now, I really need to go. Just tell my reasons to our Manager," she explained and hurriedly run towards the club exit. That moment the man is already outside the VIP room, unbeknownst to her, a man is leaning on the wall with arms crossed on chest watching everything that's happening until she's already out of his sight."You are always stupid, Ava!" Her step-mom's hand landed on her cheek."Mom, enough. You are still weak," her step-sibling says while rolling her eyes."I'm just stating a truth here, Mia. You left your customer who paid one billion for you, are you that idiot?!" Ava sighed loudly."Mother, Mia called me and told about what happened, so I hurriedly go home to make sure that you'll be hospitalized as soon as possible. You are in danger, so what do you expect me to do?" She felt another slapped in her face."Idiot! How can we pay the hospital bills now? That billion can actually solve all our problems. It can already make us reach but you are being too dumb!" Mia interrupted again and tell Ava to just leave to make the situation not worsen. She doesn't want to hear anymore hurtful words so she just silently get out of the room.She found herself sitting at the waiting area with her hands on her knees. She was trying hard to hold the tears from escaping while thinking how could she do to find enough money to pay off those bills.The next day she prepared herself for an overnight shift at the club, but then before the night finally arrive, it's Emily message telling her that the club had been suddenly closed because of negative reputation and other legal issues she's not really expecting."No... It can't be." Ava feels like the whole world collapsed in front of her when she received those text messages."This can't be true," she muttered to herself, while her mind starts to imagine the worst scenario.Ava just talked to her step-mom's doctor, telling that it still needed more days for her step-mom to be discharged and the bills in the hospital grew per day. She knows that she can't just sit there and wait for a miracle, she can't just find a new job easily, she also already borrowed money from Emily but it's not really enough yet, so she came into her last choice and that is to approached someone who can possibly help her."Hello, Emily? About someone you recommended earlier... I would like to talk to him. I will borrow some money and will pay them also as soon as possible.""Sure, Ava! But as what I know, it's only some of his men who'll lend the money to you. You just need to meet them at the arch of the first residential area near the club we are working at back then, at that's the same time they'll also give you the money," Emily explained."Thank you, Emily.""But Ava, just make sure that you can really pay them on time. I actually didn't know very well how their transactions go, I just heard from someone that they're really helpful especially for those who have a situation like yours." After thanking Emily several times in her head she ends the call with a relieved smile on her face, yet full of uncertainties in her heart."Finally, I'm already back at home!" Ava's step-mom exclaimed and sat on the couch."Hey Ava, make sure to arrange my things properly in the closet. And cook something to eat already." She just nodded, but as she about to walked towards the room, her step-mom speaks."Until when you are planning to be a queen here, Ava? Why don't you just ask any men you can see in the street to fuck you then pay you right after?" Ava turned around to face her step-mom again."Mother, I am doing everything to find a new job. I actually passed my resume at some club but no one from them are calling me yet.""Whatever, Ava. Just leave out of my sight!" Ava just sighed and continued to walk towards the room.She didn't waste any moment to find a new work, since the deadline before their house get abolished by the landlord is coming. And she also need to pay back the big amount of money she borrowed from the unknown group of men, but then everything didn't turned easily for her.It's late night already, she just came from a job interview hoping to gain the approval of the club's manager, but it just end up disappointing her. With a heavy shoulder she massage the temple of her nose while walking alone in the street, not until she feels something strange, like someone's following her.It's her surprised when two men approach and stop her."Long time no see, Miss Ava. How's life? I hope you didn't have an amnesia that made you forget your debt with us." The older man said coldly, as Ava swallowed hard in nervousness."I'm doomed," she whispered to herself.Ava sat alone on a park bench, staring blankly at the horizon as the sun began to dip, painting the sky in a fiery array of oranges, reds, and purples. The beauty of it all felt distant to her, like something she was no longer a part of. She rested a hand on her growing belly, feeling the gentle movements of the baby inside her. Every kick was a reminder of how different her life was now, how much everything had changed since she’d left Isaac. She swallowed hard, trying to push back the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. It was always like this—whenever she sat alone, her thoughts would drift back to him, and the life they could have had together. Ava took a deep breath, blinking away the tears that were already welling up in her eyes. She couldn't afford to break down. Not here, not now. She was supposed to be strong. She was doing this for her child. She had convinced herself that leaving was the right choice—Isaac had moved on, after all. He was set to marry someon
Isaac didn’t answer. He couldn’t. Because deep down, he knew Gregory was right. But the guilt, the regret, it was too much. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had ruined everything. "Listen," Gregory said after a long pause. "Ralph and I were talking. We know you’re miserable. And honestly, man, we’re tired of watching you go through this. Yes, I won't defend myself, I actually don't want you to be with Ava because I think that you're just gonna hurt each other more. But...""Seeing you like that? Isaac, you know that I love Ava, and maybe... you're right, you're the only man she wants to spend her life with your baby." Isaac sat up, his heart suddenly pounding. "W-What?!""She's pregnant? And why didn't you tell me before?! Damn it, Gregory!" "I know, I made the wrong choice, Isaac. But you can't blame me. Ava almost begged me not to tell you, because she's even afraid that you might hate the child." "Arghh! Damn it!" For the first time in weeks, Isaac felt a glimmer of hope
Isaac’s mind raced, searching for something, anything that could change Gregory’s mind. But the more he looked at Gregory’s expression, the more he realized that there was nothing he could say. Ava was gone. And it was his fault."I didn’t mean to hurt her," Isaac said quietly, more to himself than to Gregory.Gregory’s face softened, just for a moment. "Maybe you didn’t. But you did. Over and over again. And now, she’s had enough."Isaac’s eyes dropped to the floor, his thoughts a tangled mess of regret and guilt. He had never intended for things to get this bad. He had always thought that, no matter what, he and Ava would work things out. But now, standing in this cold hospital hallway, he realized how naive he had been.Gregory watched him for a moment, then let out a sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Look, Isaac, I don’t hate you. But you have to understand... Ava needs to move on. She needs to be happy. And she can’t do that if you’re still around, dragging h
Isaac rushed into the hospital, his heart pounding with fear and guilt. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed softly as his footsteps echoed through the sterile corridors. He scanned the waiting area, his eyes darting from one person to another, searching for Ava. But she was nowhere in sight. His chest tightened with panic."Excuse me," Isaac asked a passing nurse, his voice tight with worry."Ava... Ava Peterson. She was admitted here, room 314. Is she still here?"The nurse gave him a sympathetic look, then shook her head. "I'm sorry, but she was discharged earlier."Isaac's heart sank. "Discharged? When?""About an hour ago."Before he could respond, someone stepped into his path. Isaac looked up and was greeted by the sight of Gregory, his face twisted in anger, a deep bruise on his jaw. His fist was already clenched at his side. Without warning, Gregory lunged forward and threw a punch. Isaac barely had time to react before he was sent stumbling backward, his head ringing fro
Isaac’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing faster than the car speeding down the highway. The headlights of the other vehicles blurred into streaks of light, his focus narrowing on the road ahead—and on the hospital where Ava was.Why didn’t Ralph tell me sooner? Isaac thought bitterly. I could have done something...His chest tightened at the thought of her lying in a hospital bed because of him. As another word of guilt is echoed in his mind: She’s in there because you never let up. You never gave her a moment of peace.Isaac’s jaw clenched as memories flooded back—the cold glares, the endless tasks, the way he piled work on Ava just to see her struggle. He’d told himself she deserved it after everything she put him through. But now, it seemed that spite had pushed her to a breaking point.“Damn it,” he muttered, the anger bubbling inside him. Not just anger at Ava—but at himself. He’d spent years hating her for abandoning him, and all that rage
"I-Isaac! B-Babe, I... I didn't see you there.""Clearly," he replied, his jaw clenched. "I heard everything. All your plans... to steal my wealth and disappear." Erica's facade crumbled. She swallowed hard, she doesn't care if she's seeing how anger and hurt he is. All she wants now is to think any words to fool him. "Isaac... please, let me explain." He held up a hand to stop her. "Do you have any idea how heartbreaking this is for me? I trusted you, Erica. I thought you were different. I thought you were the one who wouldn't betray me. Tears fakely welled up in her eyes as she reached out to him. "B-Babe, can explain!" Erica stammered, her voice trembling."Explain?" Isaac's voice was a low growl, barely containing his anger. "Explain how you were planning to use me for my wealth? How you were going to betray me like...like that fucking Peterson!?"Erica's eyes darted around the bar, seeking a way out of this confrontation. "It’s not what you think. You misunderstood. I wasn’