All Chapters of Entangled Affair: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Ava looked at Damien as though he had developed an extra head.“I should do what?”“Join me,” Damien reiterated, his tone consistent as ever. “This weekend. A business retreat. I need you there.”She crossed her arms. "And what would possibly motivate me to endure that?"Damien exhaled deeply, grasping the bridge of his nose as though he already wished he hadn’t mentioned it."Just remember—we’re engaged, alright?Ava scowled. “Fake-engaged.”“Yes, and we need to make it look real.”She let out a short laugh, pacing the length of the living room. “This is insane. You ignored me for days, and now suddenly, you want me to play doting fiancée at some billionaire retreat?”He breathed out, his patience wearing thin. "It's an event of great prominence." Investors, board members, and competitors—everyone will be observing. "If you fail to appear, it will prompt inquiries."Ava ceased her pacing, squinting her eyes at him. “And if I do?”His gaze locked onto hers, sharp and unwavering. “Then

The city silhouette shone beneath a rich purple twilight sky, the final traces of sunset vanishing over the horizon like a dissolving bruise. The buzz of life reentered Ava’s existence the instant they returned from the retreat Yet something had changed—something intangible and unspoken.Ava noticed it in the smallest of ways.Damien wasn’t just Damien anymore.Gone was the purely transactional coldness. In its place were small flickers of something deeper. Warmer. Almost… affectionate. Not that either of them dared acknowledge it. Not allowed.Their retreat had cracked open something raw between them. Being stranded had forced vulnerability where there used to be walls. But now, back in the real world, Ava wasn’t sure what to make of the shift.Damien remained exasperatingly inscrutable, still shrouded in his typical facade of cool detachment. Yet occasionally, she would notice him gazing at her when he believed she was unaware. His gaze was softer. Lingering. And it did things to he

From her position near the expansive window, Ava watched the city lights twinkle like celestial bodies in the distance. The restaurant fight with Damien continued to haunt her as she felt the persistent pain of their disagreement. Ava lost herself in her work as she tried to find comfort through the predictable flow of her daily tasks while believing that constant activity would heal the deep sadness inside her.But Damien had a way of showing up. Not always physically—though sometimes that too—but in the little things: in the scent of coffee brewed just how she liked it, waiting for her in the kitchen even when he wasn't home; the lingering glances when their paths crossed at home, eyes filled with a thousand things he never said.Ava attempted to ignore it. She aimed to remain emotionally indifferent to maintain the appearance of a relationship based on practicality and mutual benefits. However, with every moment they shared, each unexpressed feeling, every subtle gesture, every occ

After Ava walked away from Damien’s penthouse, her world became a blur of tangled emotions. A constant heaviness clung to her, sorrow wrapping itself around her heart like a second skin. Beneath the sadness simmered quiet anger—frustration that sometimes felt directionless. But above all, there was the aching hollowness, a void that slowly crept into her soul and refused to leave.She began getting up earlier than normal, consistently before the city’s rhythm. As the streets remained in deep sleep, Ava would quietly step into the crisp morning air, making her way to her studio. As she entered, the recognizable aroma of turpentine and unpainted canvas felt grounding to her—similar to an anchor. It was in that place, enveloped by paint and quiet, that she toiled tirelessly. Her art became louder, rawer, pulsing with emotion. Every brushstroke carried a piece of her she didn’t have the strength to speak aloud.Izzy noticed the shift almost immediately. She began checking in more often, d

The skyline of New York extended infinitely past the lofty glass windows of Damien Sterling's penthouse workspace. The setting sun poured golden light throughout the city, radiating a warm brightness over steel and stone. Yet within the shining confines of his office, there was no comfort. Documents crowded his mahogany desk, the specifics blending into one another as his distracted stare wandered over them. The only noise was the unyielding, regular tick of the wall clock—recording time he no longer sensed a bond with.Since Ava’s departure, Damien had thrown himself into work with a desperation that teetered on self-destruction. Days bled into nights, and the difference between Monday and Saturday blurred until they meant nothing at all. He buried himself in endless meetings, intricate deals, and strategic calls, as if the right business win could somehow fill the space she’d left behind. To outsiders, he was more driven than ever—some applauded him, others whispered concerns. But n