All Chapters of Ruthless Lady Series #1: The Ruthless Comeback : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Monica lingers in the hallway instead of leaving, her gaze fixed on Avyanna with a weight that suggests there’s more she wants to say. She crosses her arms, her jaw tight.“Look, I’m not trying to be cold about it,” she begins, her voice lower now, more serious. “But you need to think this through. Kairus seems like a good guy, sure. He’s kind, stable, grounded. But that’s exactly the kind of person who doesn’t understand the kind of fire we’re walking through.”Avyanna looks up at her, already feeling the tension growing in her chest.Monica steps a bit closer, voice firm but not unkind. “Lord Mendez isn’t just some distant threat. His reach is wide, and his interest in you hasn’t exactly disappeared. You’ve kept a low profile lately, but if he finds out you’re close to someone new—especially someone outside the circle—it’s not just your life at risk. It’s his too.”Avyanna’s lips part slightly, but she doesn’t speak. There’s too much truth in Monica’s words.“He could use Kairus,” M

At Avyanna’s apartment, the quiet was almost unsettling.Kairus stood frozen in the middle of her small living space, unsure of what to do next. The faint sound of the ticking clock was the only thing that kept him grounded as he glanced over his shoulder at the bed, where Avyanna lay unconscious but breathing steadily. She looked so different like this—so vulnerable, stripped of the guarded demeanor she always carried like armor.Ruth had gone out a few minutes earlier to buy medicine, telling him to keep an eye on Avyanna until she returned. He had agreed with a nod, but now that he was alone in her space, a strange wave of unease washed over him. He wasn’t used to this kind of stillness. Especially not when someone he cared about was lying pale and unresponsive just a few feet away.With a soft exhale, Kairus slowly sat down on the floor beside her bed, leaning back against the wall. His eyes scanned the room—small, modest, and filled with little things that made it unmistakably he

Days weren’t good for the two. Avyanna had become even busier, engrossed in securing good deals for herself, and as a result, she rarely visited Kairus’ coffee shop anymore. On the other hand, Kairus seemed to be deliberately avoiding Avyanna as well. During class recitations, Kairus didn’t even dare to argue with Avyanna, unlike before when their debates would sometimes light up the room. The entire class noticed the strange tension between them, but Avyanna didn’t give it much thought, nor did she care about their curious glances and whispered speculations. That was the right thing to do — to act like nothing was wrong.After all, they were never meant to be anything more. Kairus already had a fiancée waiting for him, and Avyanna’s life was entangled with dangers he could never imagine. Their paths were destined to diverge. Kairus belonged to a world of light, security, and a clear future, while Avyanna was submerged in a life filled with shadows and risks. It was as if he was the he

Avyanna dropped to her knees on the grass, her body trembling violently. Blood spilled from her lips, staining the ground beneath her. She clutched her side, coughing harshly, trying to catch her own breath, but each gasp only brought more pain.The agents had left her alive — barely — a message clearer than words: This is what defiance costs.Her vision blurred, the world spinning around her, and she could barely make out Kairus’ frantic voice calling her name, holding her tightly to keep her upright. She wanted to reassure him, to tell him she was fine, but all she could manage was another gut-wrenching cough that left fresh blood on her trembling hands.And then — her phone rang, its shrill sound slicing through the chaos.With shaking fingers, Avyanna fumbled for it, but before she could answer, Kairus snatched the device from her weak grip, holding her protectively against his chest with one arm as he answered the call with the other.He didn’t even bother checking who it was. Hi

After getting married, Avyanna and Kairus began a new chapter in their lives together. Though the ceremony had ended and the vows had been exchanged, the reality of daily life settled in smoothly between them like a quiet promise. Kairus was now working at his grandfather’s company, immersing himself in the demanding yet fulfilling responsibilities that came with being part of a powerful family business. Avyanna, on the other hand, remained committed to the same organization she had been loyal to before their marriage. Despite the change in her personal life, her role hadn’t shifted much—she was still considered a vital asset. Whenever an emergency arose, she could be called at any moment, either by her boss directly or through Ruth. In those cases, someone would be dispatched to pick her up from wherever she was.One quiet afternoon, while they were enjoying a rare moment together at home, Kairus turned to her with a slightly apologetic expression.“Grandpa wants me to go with him on