Semua Bab Loving the enemy: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Ava’s povThe car slowed as the Vance estate came into view, and I held my breath. It wasn’t a house. It was a mansion. I stared in awe as I looked through the tinted windows of the car. Daniel sat in front with the driver scanning the area carefully as we drove in.My fingers clenched around the small clutch in my lap. I had spent hours preparing for this moment, and still, the place made me feel small, like an intruder walking into a kingdom that wasn’t mine.Liam sat beside me, calm as ever, one hand resting on mine. He hadn’t said much on the drive, but now, I felt his eyes flick toward me.“Breathe,” he said softly.“Easy for you to say. You grew up in this world.”“And now, so did my wife.” His lips curved. Looking at me with amusement.I shot him a look. “Wife? Don’t start using that like a magic word. It’s not going to stop me from embarrassing you in front of your mother.”“Hmm,” he hummed, completely unbothered. “Then at least do it in style. If you’re going to scandalize m

Ava’s povI dropped onto the bed, tucking my legs beneath me as the warmth of the room settled around me like a blanket. The night had drained me, but my mind wouldn’t quiet down. It kept circling back to moments at dinner, looping over the same pieces again and again. And at the center of all of it. Liam. That damn man. The way he leaned back in his chair like he owned the world, the way that smirk played on his lips, and those whispered comments he tossed my way. Somehow, they made me feel like I was the only person he truly saw… and at the same time, like he was making a fool of me without even trying.Waitress queen. Mama’s boy who can’t defend himself. Brave warrior.I found myself smiling at the memories, a blush creeping up my neck. He had this talent for teasing me at the exact moment I wanted to disappear. And somehow, it never annoyed me the way it should have. Instead, it made me feel… alive. Sharp. Like he had lifted me out of my normal life and thrown me into a world wher

Ava’s povThe elevator ride felt like it would never end. With every ding taking me closer to the top of Vance Holdings where Liam’s office was. I could feel my heartbeat but I ignored it, this is something I had to do. This morning, Liam had casually mentioned he had a noon meeting. That was all I needed,a small opening, a chance.By the time the elevator doors opened on the top floor, my palms were sweaty. The USB in my purse felt heavy, like it carried more than just files, it carried the truth. Project Phoenix. If it was connected to my family’s ruin, I had to find out.The floor was quiet, I glanced around searching for Liam’s office.“Mrs. Vance?” a voice called.I turned and saw a woman sitting behind a black desk, smiling sharply at me. Liam’s secretary. She had perfect posture, flawless nails, and watchful eyes that noticed everything.“Yes,” I said smoothly, forcing confidence into my voice. “I’m here to see Liam.”Her brow arched just slightly, polite but on alert. “He didn

Liam’s povThere was something about Ava I couldn’t get out of my head.I didn’t remember her but it didn’t feel like meeting someone new. It felt like finding pieces of something I had lost—her laugh, the fire in her eyes when she teased me, the softness in her voice when she let her guard down.I knew I should be careful. But I wasn’t. I wanted her. Like gravity, pulling me closer no matter how much she tried to keep space between us.And that scared me.Because if I truly didn’t know her… why did I want her this much?After a while, I stood up from the booth. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I said with a grin. “Try not to miss me.”She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away.I slipped down the back hallway, nodding at the waiter as I passed. I told myself I just needed a minute—to breathe, to clear my head, to understand why being near her made me feel out of control. Maybe it was the memory loss. Maybe it was something else. After a while I felt in control.When I came back, I s

Ava’s povI jumped when someone knocked on the door, my towel slipping before I grabbed it tighter.“Ava?” Liam’s voice came through the wood, smooth and calm. “You’ve been in there a while.”Hearing him so close made my heart race. I swallowed, holding the towel like it could protect me. My voice shook when I answered, barely loud enough.“One second.”But before I could breathe, the handle turned.“Liam—” I tried to stop him, but it was too late.The door opened, and steam rushed out into the bedroom. He stood in the doorway, tall, his shirt half-unbuttoned like he’d been getting ready for bed. His eyes went straight to me and froze there.I stood still, clutching the towel against my chest. Water slid down my skin, making me feel even more exposed.He didn’t speak right away. His eyes slowly moved from my wet hair down to my bare legs, the towel the only thing between us. The silence grew heavy, hotter than the steam around us.“You didn’t answer right away,” he finally said, his v