“Do you want me to drive you?”Alexander’s voice came steady, low, like he was testing the ground before stepping on it.Ava stood just outside the courthouse doors, her hands folded together in front of her, fingers pressing into each other like that was the only way to stay upright. People moved past them in both directions. Phones ringing. Shoes scraping. Someone laughing too loudly. Life doing exactly what it always did, like nothing important had just almost ended.She didn’t answer right away.Her eyes stayed forward, unfocused. Her chest still felt tight, not from panic anymore, but from everything that had poured out of her minutes earlier and hadn’t found a place to settle yet.“I can take an Uber,” she said finally.Alexander nodded immediately. Too quickly. Like he’d already braced for that answer and didn’t want her to see the disappointment behind it.“Okay,” he said. “That’s fine.”Silence dropped between them again.He stood there, close but careful. Ava could sense him

Last Updated : 2026-02-12

Alexander didn’t call ahead.He didn’t bring flowers or gifts, and he didn’t knock politely. He stood at Ava’s door with a brown paper bag in one hand, the pharmacy receipt folded into his palm, like he was holding a lifeline. His eyes were tired, the kind of tired that doesn’t come from working late...it came from living with guilt, and knowing the wrongs he couldn’t take back.Ava opened the door just enough to let him in, her hand still holding the edge of the frame.“You didn’t have to come,” she said. Her voice was calm, quiet, but threaded with something like disbelief.“I know,” he said. “But… you said I could. So I did.”The pause hung between them. Neither rushed to bridge it. Then she stepped aside.He entered slowly, like he was walking on fragile ice. He looked around her apartment...the soft gray couch, the small table littered with unopened bills, the corner of her kitchen counter where the leftover groceries sat.“You want me to put these away?” he asked, lifting the ba

Last Updated : 2026-02-13

June’s phone buzzed again, but she ignored it. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, a social media feed she had been scrolling casually, until she saw him.Alexander.And with him, not a model or a business partner, not some glamorous event guest. But Ava.Her stomach twisted.Her hand tightened around her coffee cup. She could feel the heat from the mug, the pressure in her fingers...but it wasn’t comforting. It was sharp. Angry.So it was true.They were back together.June’s jaw clenched. She could feel the muscles stiffen. She could taste bile rising in the back of her throat. She had planned. She had waited. She had orchestrated. And for what? A blink of happiness. A quiet reunion.She slammed the phone onto the counter, the mug rattling against the marble.“Too slow,” she muttered.The words sounded small in the kitchen, but they carried venom. Too slow. Everything she had set in motion had taken longer than she’d liked.She grabbed her phone again. Fingers moving fast. Tap, tap,

Last Updated : 2026-02-13

“Try it,” Alexander said, holding out the spoon with a grin.Ava scrunched her nose. “I’m not sure about this flavor.”“Come on,” he said, teasing, leaning closer. “Chocolate with… chili. Trust me. It’s life-changing.”She laughed, a small, bright sound. Her hand brushed his as she reached for the spoon, and he froze for just a second, eyes catching hers. The sunlight fell on her face, highlighting the curve of her cheek, the soft curve of her lips.“Fine,” she said finally, taking a tentative taste. Her eyes widened. “Oh. Wow. That’s… actually good.”Alexander laughed, low and warm, the kind of sound that made her chest feel full. “See? I told you.”They wandered down the small street lined with cafes and boutiques, Alexander’s hand brushing hers until she finally let him take it. Fingers laced, a quiet affirmation of something they had both fought for.“You’re taking my hand,” Ava said, smiling shyly.“I’m not asking,” he said, voice playful but firm. “I’m claiming it.”She rolled h

Last Updated : 2026-02-13

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and worry. Ava sat in the stiff chair beside Alexander’s bed, clutching his hand like a lifeline. He was pale, his shirt soaked from bandages applied to the gunshot wounds, but his eyes were open, alert, and watching her.“I’m fine,” he said, attempting a smile. “See? Nothing broken that can’t be fixed.”Ava squeezed his hand anyway, letting her thumb brush over his knuckles. “You took bullets for me,” she said softly, voice shaking. “Do you understand how insane that was?”He chuckled, low and ragged. “It was instinct.”“No,” she said, voice cracking. “It was love. And stupidity.”He reached up with his free hand, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I don’t care about stupid. You’re all that matters.”Her chest tightened, her hand resting against his bandaged side. “I thought… I thought I could handle danger. I thought I could be careful. But you… you put yourself in front of me. You...you’re supposed to be smart. You’re supposed

Last Updated : 2026-02-13

Epilogue

Ava’s breaths came sharp, uneven, each one a little victory over the pain that had been building for hours. Her hands gripped the hospital bed rails as another contraction rippled through her. The room smelled of antiseptic, but the overwhelming sensation was raw life...the ache, the anticipation, the trembling energy of creation.“You’re doing amazing,” a nurse said, adjusting the monitors. “Keep breathing. She’s almost here.”Ava nodded through gritted teeth. “Almost… almost… okay,” she muttered, voice strained.Somewhere outside the door, footsteps sounded...fast, anxious, but measured. Then the door opened, and Alexander appeared, his expression sharp with concern, eyes tracking her every movement. His suit was wrinkled, tie loosened, and his hair slightly disheveled. But all she could focus on was him.He rushed to her side, kneeling slightly so he was level with her face. “Ava…” His voice cracked just enough for her to notice. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve been here earlier.”She s

Last Updated : 2026-02-13

All Chapters of Ava, My Heart: Chapter 71 - Chapter 76

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74

Epilogue