All Chapters of The Woman He Lost : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The weekend brought quiet chaos to Ava’s small apartment. The twins were restless, their energy bouncing off the walls like tiny storms, and Ava barely had a moment to sit. She moved with practiced efficiency, guiding them through breakfast, play, and the occasional tantrum, all while keeping her composure intact.The doorbell rang. She frowned slightly unexpected visitors were rare, and she liked it that way. Setting down one of the babies safely on the play mat, she approached the door cautiously.Through the peephole, she saw Lucas, holding a small bag. He looked nervous, an unusual tension in his posture that made her pause.Taking a deep breath, she opened the door just enough to speak. “Lucas.”“Hi,” he said, voice soft. “I brought something for them.”She glanced behind him, then down at the twins, who were already eyeing him curiously from the play mat. “For them?”He nodded, holding out the bag. “Just a few things books, toys… nothing extravagant. I thought it might… help.”

Ava’s apartment was unusually quiet that afternoon. The twins had settled into a puzzle, their small brows furrowed in concentration, while Ava herself scrolled through emails on her laptop. Lucas sat across the room, carefully flipping through a magazine, making sure not to disturb the fragile peace.Then the phone rang.Ava glanced at the screen an unknown number. She hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen, but curiosity won. “Hello?”The voice on the other end was urgent, tight with worry. “Is this Ava Harper? I… I work at the daycare. One of your twins Eliana just had an accident she fell off the climbing frame. Nothing major, but… we need you here.”Her heart stopped for a moment. Panic surged immediately, and she rose, grabbing her coat. “Thank you,” she said quickly, hanging up. She turned to Lucas, who was already on his feet.“I’ll come with you,” he said before she could ask.“No,” Ava said firmly, grabbing her keys. “This is my responsibility. You… stay here.”Lucas he

The weekend arrived with a quiet tension that Ava hadn’t anticipated. She sat in her living room, the twins sprawled on the soft rug in front of her, each playing with small toys. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the room, but Ava hardly noticed. Her mind was elsewhere—on the arrangement she had reluctantly agreed to.Lucas had asked to spend the weekend with the twins. He hadn’t demanded, hadn’t barged in. Just a simple request, carefully worded, respectful of her rules. After much internal debate, she had given him permission—but only with boundaries.Now, as the clock ticked closer to his arrival, Ava felt a flutter of anxiety she hadn’t expected. Could he really handle them? Could he be trusted—not with the children, not with her heart?A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.“Lucas,” she said, opening it cautiously.He smiled, a little sheepishly, carrying two small backpacks for the twins. “Morning, Ava. Ready for this?”A

The next morning brought the familiar hum of city life outside Ava’s apartment, but inside, a tension lingered—a quiet unease she couldn’t quite shake. The twins were already up, giggling and chasing each other across the living room, while Ava and Lucas prepared breakfast in near silence. Lucas stirred the pancake batter, careful not to spill a drop. “Do you think… your mother suspects anything?” he asked quietly, glancing toward Ava. Ava froze, spatula in hand. “Not yet,” she said, her tone flat, but her mind raced. She knew her mother’s sharp instincts, her ability to sniff out any sign of disobedience or betrayal. If Mrs. Carter caught wind of Lucas being involved in their lives, it would set off a chain reaction Ava wasn’t ready to face. Lucas sighed, setting the bowl down. “I just… I don’t want to make things harder for you. For the twins.” Ava softened slightly at his concern, but the cold edge of reality returned quickly. “It’s already hard, Lucas. Every day is a balanc

The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Ava’s apartment. The twins were playing quietly with blocks on the living room rug, their laughter light and carefree—a sharp contrast to the tension that lingered just beneath the surface.Ava sipped her coffee slowly, her mind already racing. Ever since Mrs. Carter’s visit, she felt an uneasy pull at the edges of her carefully constructed life. That brief encounter had left her alert, wary, and aware that the storm had only just begun.Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. She picked it up, scanning the screen. An unknown number.Ava hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”A cold, clipped voice replied. “Miss Ava… I think it’s time you learned the truth.”Her grip on the phone tightened. “Who is this?”“You’ll know soon enough,” the voice said, and then the line went dead.Ava set the phone down slowly, heart racing. Lucas, who had been kneeling beside the twins, noticed her expression immediately.“What is i