บททั้งหมดของ He was never mine: บทที่ 111 - บทที่ 120

Avery’s POVI stepped into the corner of my office. Elise was still there, watching.I turned my back before answering the call, putting more distance between us.He spoke first. “Avery.”My breath caught. His voice… after two long weeks… and he just called me by my real name out loud for the first time.I went completely still.“Wyatt,” I called, my hand gripped the phone tight.“Yes,” he answered. “Listen, I’m sorry…”“Wyatt, I need to go.”I ended the call before he could say anything else. I didn’t want to hear whatever excuse he had for disappearing without a wordI stood there, phone in my hand, my heart racing in my chest. He’d called me Avery on the phone. In front of Elise!Well, she couldn’t hear him. But that doesn’t matter…he’d just called me by my real name, the one I had buried years ago. And somehow it sounded unfamiliar.“Everything okay?” Élise asked behind me, breaking me out of the spiral. I turned, forced a smile and tried to look normal. “Fine. Just… something

Wyatt’s POV“I want this,” I said quietly. “I want you. For real.”She didn’t answer immediately. I could see her processing. Every thought moved behind her eyes. She was weighing everything I just put in front of her. What it meant and what it would change between us.I leaned forward, needing her to understand. “I’m not asking for an answer now,” I added, my voice steady. “I’m not rushing you. Take your time. I’ll wait… as long as you need.” She held my gaze a second longer then smiled. “Okay.”The tight knot in my chest loosened.We stayed for dessert. She went for chocolate and I went for cake. I barely tasted it though. I couldn’t focus on anything except her across from me, her smile, the way her fingers traced the edge of her glass when she wasn’t thinking.We left the restaurant not long after. We got in the car but I didn’t drive towards her apartment. Not yet. I wasn’t ready to end this. “Where are we going?” she asked, glancing at me.She was curious, not worried.“Y

Avery’s POVMy phone rang at seven in the morning. It was too early for most people to be awake this time. But I had been up since five finalizing lists for Fashion Week. I checked every detail again and again. I made sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.I looked at the screen. It was Wyatt. After days of silence. I’d wondered if he would ever call and finally he did.I answered the phone, tried to sound as normal as possible. “You’re alive.”“Barely,” he said, his voice was rough, tired in a way that went beyond missing sleep. I frowned, already sitting up. “When’s the last time you slept?”“What day is it?”I laughed a little even though I felt worried. “That bad?”“Worse,” he exhaled. “But I’m not calling to complain. How are you? How’s prep going?”“Chaotic,” I said, pushing a file aside. “But we are able to control it.” A faint smile showed on my lips.“Is there any other kind with you?” He said, his voice sounded lighter now.“Not really.”We talked for a few minutes. It felt e

Avery’s POVThe backstage was louder than usual. Voices filled the air. People moved fast in different directions. Energy buzzed all around like electricity. Tension and excitement mixed together. My show was tonight. Not in two days like we planned. Tonight, in an hour, in minutes. I stood in the middle of it all, my heart beating fast. Models were seated. Twenty of them. Tall, composed, and trained, some of them looked a little nervous. Stylists rushed around them, fixed hair, did final touches of their makeup, adjusting clothes, shoes, and accessories. Everything had to be perfect. I moved through them myself, not waiting for anyone else, adjusted a neckline, pulled a hem, fixed a strap, and switched two looks entirely. “No, switch those,” I said, pointing to outfits on the rack. “That one goes last.” My team moved with me. They worked fast and smoothly. We had done shows before. But never with this kind of pressure, never with this many eyes watching.My assistant leaned in

Avery’s POVAnother voice cut in from behind. “Not just adjust.”I turned.Another organizer had stepped in. He looked straight at me, his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t bother lowering his voice.“We’ll pull you from the closing events,” he said. “Unless this is resolved by tomorrow evening.”My fingers curled at my sides, nails pressing into my palm.“Resolved how?” I asked.He held my gaze without blinking, expression unreadable.“You control the narrative,” his hands dropped to his sides. “Before it controls the rest of the week.”“Because right now,” he added, glancing briefly at the corridor behind me, “this is becoming bigger than your show.”I let out a slow breath, and my face steady despite the tightness in my chest.“Understood.”The first organizer gave a small nod, his shoulder relaxing a little. “We’ll expect clarity by morning.”The corridor didn't empty after they walked away, the atmosphere just changed. People were still standing around, they were still talk