All Chapters of The Bet That Ruined Us : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Shayla opened her apartment door to the sound of laughter. She stood in the entryway for a moment, just listening. The sound was bright and genuine, filled with the kind of joy that made everything else fade into background noise. Following the sound to the kitchen, she found Ayven standing on a step stool at the stove, carefully stirring something in a large pan while Ruby stood beside him, supervising. "No, no, you have to keep stirring or it'll stick to the bottom." Ruby was saying, her hand hovering near Ayven's in case he needed help. "There you go. Perfect." "I'm doing it, Ruby! Look!" Ayven's face was flushed with concentration and pride. "I see you, big man. You're doing great." Shayla felt her chest tighten with love and something else. Guilt, maybe. For snapping at Ruby this morning. For being so caught up in her own drama that she'd taken it out on the people who mattered most. "Something smells amazing." She announced her presence, setting her bag on the counter. Bo

The rest of the day passed in tense, uncomfortable silence. Shayla stayed at her desk, going through emails and correspondence with mechanical efficiency. She updated spreadsheets. She confirmed appointments. She drafted memos. She did everything except look at Grayson's office. Every time she felt her gaze drifting toward the glass wall that separated their spaces, she forced herself to look away. Forced herself to focus on the screen in front of her. Forced herself to breathe normally. But she could feel his presence like a physical weight. She knew he was in there, he was probably dissecting every word of their conversation this morning and he was likely questioning everything she'd told him. Good. Let him question. Let him wonder. Let him drive himself crazy trying to figure out what was truth and what was lie. She wasn't ready to tell him. Wasn't ready to let him into Ayven's life. Wasn't ready to watch him become a father to the son she'd raised alone for seven ye

THE HALE APARTMENT>SHAYLA’S APARTMENT. "Momma, I invited a guest to my birthday party!" Ayven announced the moment Shayla walked through the door. She set down her bag and purse, exhaustion weighing on her shoulders. "A guest? Who?" "Ricardo! He's really cool. He sings that song you like. The one with the blue dress…something." Ayven bounced on his toes, his excitement palpable. "I told him the location already. Adventure Zone. He said he's definitely coming." Shayla blinked, processing the information. "Who is Ricardo?" "Ruby's boyfriend." Ayven said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's not…" Ruby started from the kitchen doorway, then laughed, shaking her head. "He's the guy I told you about. Ricardo Silva. The singer." "Oh." Shayla sank onto the couch, her mind immediately shifting to security concerns. Adventure Zone was public. Open. Exposed. What if Grayson is watching her? What if he shows up?? Too many variables she couldn't control. "Baby, I've been

RUBY'S MANSION>>AYVEN’S BIRTHDAY. Ruby's mansion was a masterpiece of modern architecture and old-world elegance combined. The three-story structure sat on five acres of meticulously landscaped property, with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded every room with natural light. The interior was decorated in soft neutrals and rich textures…cream walls, hardwood floors, plush furniture that looked like it belonged in a design magazine. Despite the obvious luxury and space, Shayla had never been able to stay here comfortably. Ruby has been her backbone since college, she had left her family just to be with her, during her pregnancy Ruby did everything for her and staying in her best friend's house, depending on her completely is not something Shayla would do. That's why Ruby spent most of her time at Shayla's modest apartment instead. Because her friend wouldn't collect any more money from her. Today, the mansion was perfect and all Ayven’s. The backyard had been transformed into a ch

Shayla pulled up to the gates of Grayson's penthouse building, her hands still shaking on the steering wheel. Before she could even reach for her phone to call, the gates swung open. A security guard stood outside the booth, his expression carefully neutral but his posture alert. He nodded at her as she drove through, clearly expecting her arrival. Grayson must have told them to let her in. She killed the engine and sat there for just a second, trying to steady her breathing. She got out of the car and hurried to the private elevator that led directly to his penthouse. Her hand shook as she pressed the button. The ride up felt endless. When the doors finally opened into his foyer, she stepped out into darkness broken only by ambient city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Grayson?" Her voice echoed in the silence. No response. "Gray, where are you?" She moved through the penthouse, her eyes adjusting to the dimness. Past the enormous living room with its