The Ex wife's Revival

The warm sunlight hit my exhausted face, and I slowly opened my eyes, feeling drained and weak.

The sun's rays flooded my eyes, forcing myto shut them again. Gradually, I opened them gently, letting my eyes adjust to the light around her. Where was I?

I sat up, trying to recall what had happened. Lifting the quilt, I was shocked to find myself naked. What had occurred? Why was I here? When did I undress?

I vaguely remembered Tiana helping into a room the night before, but everything else was a blur... until the horrifying realization dawned on me : I had been assaulted!

I checked myself again, and the evidence was clear the hickey, blood stain, and painful tears confirmed myfears. I was married, and there was no way to explain this to Julian.

How would I tell him that I had given away my precious gift to someone that was not him.

I stood up in haste,picked my clothes that were on the floor, looked around and ran into the bathroom as I heard the sound of footsteps.

At that moment,Julian and his mom walked in along with Lina.

“Our plan has worked, that fool has been taken advantage of. Don't move around much. Just take pictures of the bloody mattress and let's go before anyone comes in.” Julians mother Irene was the one speaking.

“I now have enough reason to divorce without paying a dime and then get married to the love of my life” Julian added like the loser that he was and moved closer to Lina, holding her close to him.

“Very soon my love, we will be married and then I will become yours forever. Now that my sister is out of the way” Lina said, her voice shaking with glee.

I heard their conversation and could not believe what I was hearing. My sister and husband had plotted against me.

I waited until I could no longer gear the footsteps before I came out of the bathroom with my clothes on. I hurriedly moved out of the room, scanning the area

ust in case someone was around.

I had always been a strong woman. I married Julian out of compulsion. Their marriage was an arranged one.

Our marriage was just five months old. Even though we did not love each other, we agreed to grow their relationship first before becoming intimate.

Despite the fact that we had never been intimate, I did not feel like it made myany less of a good wife to him. I could have never in my wildest dreams imagined that my sister and husband could do this to me.

My thoughts were interrupted by the taxi driver. I gave him the money and got out of the taxi.

Only then did I realize that I had been crying.

The moment I stepped into the sitting room, I was met with glares that could rival the heat of the sun.

“ slt, you clearly have no shame left in you. That might be the reason why you brought that cursed body of yours back into my son's house.” Irene cursed at her.

“You are a married woman, yet you still go around selling yourself out to men. Are you so casual and loose that you do not even consider your status?. Julian ranted.

Hypocrites, I thought. He was pretending to be angry when he had been the one to carry out the evil work. He was the one who gave the drugged drink to her.

“This marriage is over,I cannot stand the sight of you. How do I pretend that I do not know what happened?. Julian eyed mywith clear irritation.

I walked up to him and slapped him. He had gotten on mylast nerve. Irene shouted “why did you hit my son, are you even worth him, low class whore”

“What right do you have to say such nasty words to me? What man would drug his wife in order to trap her?.

Don't think that I don't know about your little affairs with my sister. You wanted a divorce right?. All you had to do was tell me rather than this despicable act” I snapped at him in anger.

“What gives you the right to accuse my son without evidence? A woman like you should not face the society. It would even be better if you could hang yourself.

But look at you, going off pretending after spending the night with your lover boy. Irene continued.

“If you understand what is good for you, sign the divorce paper and leave or else, I will make your life a living hell”. Julian threatened.

Before he could finish his statement, I walked past him and was going upstairs only for Irene to scuttle up the stairs and dragged me by the hair. my head hit the rail.

My scalp stung as my motherinlaw dragged me across the room.

My body was already hurt. Manhandling me seemed to be the Cherry on the cake. Then everything went blank.

Three days later, I found myself on the hospital bed. I could remember the last thing that happened but did not know how I ended up in the hospital.

No one was with me there. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of how cruel life was to her. I had been assaulted and my husband was the cause of it. I was coerced into a loveless marriage.

My step mother insisted on my marriage with Julian. He was the second son of the Garcias.

They were one of the four richest families in Orland. Even though Julian was not the heir to the fortune,my stepmother made it compulsory to marry Julian.

My step mother wanted Lina, my stepsister , to marry the eldest son of the Garcia's as he was the heir.

But as fate would have, Logan returned from America with the woman he had married. His parents infuriated, stripped him of all the wealth.

I did not know when and how my sister and Julian had gotten entangled with each other.

I was lost in thoughts when the door opened and a man walked in.

3rd person POV

Julian's lawyer walked into the hospital ward looking like someone had stolen his wallet. He stood before Ava before pulling out a seat to sit on.

He opened his bag to bring out the divorce papers. “Ms Ava, please sign these papers and free my client”. The lawyer spat.

Ava did not know if crying was the best option or if she was to smile at this point. He did not even allow her to recover before bringing the papers to her. It had been said that humans were worse than animals, Julian proved that saying right.

“And if I refuse to sign?” She said, to what extent would they go to get rid of her. Oh she forgot, they had already proved it.

Her marriage stood as an obstacle to Julian being with Lina. He was in no position to force her, as he was the one who drugged her.

“ Then my client will have to take drastic actions. Your adultery will be made known to the public. I am sure you would not want that, considering the fact that you are an illegitimate child. Your mother will be questioned. The media will hound you”. The lawyer replied with a smug tone.

Ava felt her heart skip a beat. She had always lived her life differently from her mother's. Her mother gave birth to her out of wedlock. Her mother had died untimely, that was why she was illegitimate as her mother did not marry her father.

She was five when her father had remarried. Then Lina was born. She was kept in the care of her stepmother.

As every stepmother, Jennifer tolerated her. She had kept her hatred hidden. But she never bothered about Ava. They lived together in peace. The peace lasted till her father's death.

Her father had shared the property between his two daughters. When the will was read, Jennifer had been enraged. She wanted everything for her daughter. She had done everything to frustrate Ava.

“Ms Ava, sign the papers fast, I have limited time here.” He was putting pressure on her.

Ava moved carefully to sit upright without the infusion being affected. She collected the pen from the lawyer.

The papers stated that she was not to take anything away from the house. The shares her father had given to her were also not in her possession anymore.

Julian had stated that she engaged in adultery so her property was given to him as compensation. Ava's hand shook with anger and bitterness as she read the conditions.

She took in a breath, stilled herself and signed the papers.The papers that freed her from a loveless marriage, the papers that freed her from her hypocritical relationships. The papers that also thrust her into a life of poverty.

She handed the papers back to him. He collected it and placed it into his briefcase. He then looked at her and smiled. His client would pay him handsomely.

“ Have a good life Ms Ava and take care” the lawyer greeted. He stood up and left the room.

The moment the door closed, the dam burst. Hot tears streamed down her face. She was ruined, financially ruined, emotionally ruined. She was officially empty.

No husband, No parents. No sister. No one to stand beside her. The sister she thought was true was nothing but slow poison waiting to kill. She had no one. Who would she go to for help?

She cried until there were no more tears left. Her eyes stung. She had nothing else besides the clothes she wore last. It seemed the nurse had folded it and left it beside the bed.

The lawyer stepped out of the hospital and into a car. Julian and Shameless Lina were in the car.

“How did it go, did she sign it?” Julian asked the lawyer.

The lawyer laughed”She had to. I threatened her with her scandal and her status as an illegitimate child.”

He boasted.

“She did not want her mother's name to be soiled”.

“I knew you were capable of making Ava dance to our tunes. I will increase your fees, don't worry”. Julian replied with glee. He was like a child who was given candy.

“Thank God, I am now free from that socalled bondage called marriage.”

He had been pretending for the last five months. Seriously, he hated that girl.

“Darling, you are simply the best. '' Lina placed her head on his shoulders, running her hands through his chest, purring like a cat.

They kissed hungrily and the lust blinded Julian was feeling elated. The chauffeur turned the car on and left.

No one even bothered about her well being as she remained in the hospital.

She ordered food as she was hungry. She had found her phone by the bedside. She was thankful for it.

Thankfully, she had little money saved in an account only she knew of. With this , she was able to pay the hospital bills. She got discharged. Now it was time to leave. She could not go back to that house, so she had to go to her stepmother's house for now.

The house had belonged to her father, so she still had some right to it. Or so she thought. She would stay there for a while and figure out the way forward for her life.

She hailed a cab and told him the address. She was of the opinion that Jennifer would support her. She would definitely not be in support of her daughter’s actions. Even though she did not care for her , she had been the one to get her marriage fixed with Julian. She was at fault for forcing her to be with that man whore.

If she got to know that her daughter had been part of breaking up the marriage that she worked hard to cause, Jennifer would be angry at her daughter.

The cab came to a halt at the address. He turned to inform her, but was surprised at the fact that she was crying. She was lost in thoughts that she did not hear the driver. She sat still like a lifeless corpse.

The cab driver shook his head sadly, Everyone was going through one thing or the other. He saw that she was sad and distraught but did not know what could be the problem.

He had his battles to fight and as much as he would have loved to help, he could not trespass. He sighed,looking around as he called out. “ Ma'am, we have arrived. ‘

But Ava, lost in thought, did not hear him speak. He called out again and tapped her. Ava was startled , looking around. She saw that they had arrived and the driver was looking at her. She felt embarrassed.

The man had been calling her for a while now and she did not hear him at all. He had to tap her to get her attention.

She wiped her tears, coming down from the cab hurriedly. She gave the man his money. As she moved to go inside , she heard the man's voice “ I do not know you ma'am but I know that you are facing troubles but don't give up. Everything will be alright”. Ava smiled for the first time in a while.

At least a stranger cared for her, even if her relationship had failed , there were still good people out there.

“Thank you” she shouted to the cab driver who was already driving away.

She then walked in the gate. The guard greeted her.

The moment she reached the doorstep, her mind went blank upon hearing the voices speaking.

Ava was shocked to the bone. She was rendered speechless. Even the song speechless was not enough to describe the way she felt.

“I finally got everything I wanted. That fool should have never been allowed to live in this house from the beginning. But now everything was in its rightful place. It all belonged to me” Jennifer said excitedly.

She appeared to be with some people. Ava never thought that she would be a victim of a plan so disgusting, so inhumane.

“I had told you to leave everything in my hands aunty. I stripped her off everything that she had. Ah I not only ruined her financially, I also gave her to a hooker. Now she is not innocent anymore”.

“Who is going to marry a poor and adulterous woman? Such women drive men far away from them.” Julian praised himself like he had done something worth remembering. After all ,Ava refused to sleep with him. It had hurt his ego very much.

“ Mom, hope you see now that Julian Is the best husband for me. I had told you that he would prove himself. He has proven that he is the most competent son in law” Lina announced.

“ absolutely my darling Lina, congratulations on your win” Jennifer said and Ava heard the sound of glasses clinking.

They were having a toast to her ruin?. She pulled the door knob and stepped on. The hypocrites were surprised when they saw her and none of them could say anything for a moment.

Ava's hand clenched into a fist. They plotted against her and she like a fool fell into their traps gullibly.

She looked around, at the people in the room. There were four in number, her dear ex husband,his malicious mother, her pretentious step sister and her wicked stepmother.

They ruined her.

But they would pay, she would make sure of that.

“Tsk tsk tsk, look who we have here, the unfaithful woman. You still have the audacity to return to this house. You seem to have sold your remaining shame, who knows perhaps you gave your body out in exchange as well for good.” Jennifer mocked her.

She scanned Ava from head to toe. She walked over and walked around her. Before she burst out laughing.

“ I believe you must have heard the conversation right?

Well let me tell you about how this whole thing started.

I had planned this a long time ago with my friend. Irene. “

We had his son help us execute the whole plan In exchange for his marriage with Lina. I forced you into this marriage so that we could get everything back”

That is why Julian never touched her and did not have sex with you. He was Lina's before and after. He would not waste his time and his manliness on you. We organized the party solely for this purpose and Julian was the one who drugged you. You were sent to an unknown man and you know the rest like.”

This house is out of bounds for you. If you dare step here again,I will break your legs. I have taken care of you for all your life. So now you can live with those memories.” Jennifer includes without guilt.

Ava wanted to cry but held her tears. She will not appear weak before the people otherwise they will build on it and use it to taunt her.”

“What have I ever done to you to deserve this ?. Ava asked. She wanted to know what their reason was. Was it because her father had split the properties into two. She was her father's eldest daughter. Or was it because her parents could not get married before giving birth to her. ?

“It is because you are Bosco's illegitimate daughter .” Jennifer replied and eyed her before drinking from her wine glass.

“Julian and I are already married, Ava, look,” Lina interrupted, raising a finger and letting Ava see the diamond ring on her finger.

“Congratulations Lena I wish you both happiness and all that you truly deserve. Ava replied, while Julian was looking at her dumbfounded.

She was not wishing them happiness at all , what she meant by all that they truly deserve was that karma would come to bite them in the ass. It seemed that Julian knew what she was talking about.

He was not in any position to speak about it but he knew that she was bitter and vengeful.

He felt nervous with the way Jennifer treated Ava but what difference was there between them. He was now at a point of no return. He couldn't change his mistakes even if he tried to. It did all this because he was promised the entire Brown empire if he married the legitimate daughter.

What else was Ava waiting for ? there was nothing left for her in that house. She turned around and left. When she reached the gates, she stopped and looked back at the house where all her childhood.

This was the house where her father had played with her where all the fun memories were created. Now she was nothing but a stranger to that place.

She left the mansion, the guard greeting her again. She walked like a lifeless corpse. The tears she had been holding back were now running free. The tears were hot against her cheeks.

She strolled down the street, wandering like a lost soul. She was moving on the road when her friend from her childhood saw her.

“Ava, ava” she called out and ran to her. Ava suddenly turned and saw that a car was coming at high speed towards her.

Clara rushed and pulled Ava away from the road. The car zoomed off, the owner shouting at Ava for standing on the road.

“Do you have a death wish? Ava, what is wrong with you? Clara scolded her angrily. Ava's face was pale, her eyes red and full of tears.

“Thank you Clara, I am just tired” Ava said, she would have been dead by now if Clara had not come there on time.

Maybe dieing was the better option , after all she had nothing left. Her miserable life would be over and she would finally be free of this cruel world. She preferred to die at this point.

Murmurs were heard from the sidewalk,as some people were asking if she was alright while some were asking if she was blind.

The others simply pitied her shaking their head and left.

Clara took her by her hand, mohing away from there.

“where were you going Ava? Clara inquired. Last time she had heard about Ava was that she had gotten married a few months back. It was a quiet wedding as not many knew about it.

“I don't know,” Ava answered truthfully. She did not have a home, niehter did she have anywhere to stay. Maybe of she was lucky , she would find a bench at a corner to sleep on.

Why was she looking so miserable? Where were her family members? Her husband, sister? Clara wondered.

“ How can you say that you do not know? Where do you live? Clara curiously asked. She was married so she definitely would have a house. And her father's mansion as well.

“I have no home anymore, Clara. Perhaps death would be a better option for me”. Ava replied with sobs.

Clara immediately understood the issue. Ava was definitely going through a tough time. It seemed that it was related to her marriage. She wanted to ask more questions but felt it would be inconsiderate of her to do that at this point.

She called a cab and took Ava home with her.

Clara lived with a modest house with her brother and mother. It was little compared to what Ava was used to so she only hoped that Ava would feel comfortable there.

Clara's mother saw that Clara had returned home with someone. She recognized her, it was her child's old friend. She welcomed Ava. She was about to inquire about Ava’s wellbeing. But when she saw her sorrowful look, she did not ask.

“ My dear, you are welcome to stay her as long as you want” Clara's mother said. Clara had told her that she had nowhere to stay for now.

“Clara , show her the guest room. Dear freshen up and come back to eat alright. I have prepared Clara's favorite food today. I hope you will like it”.

She took her bath and ate. Luckily, Clara gave her some clothes to wear as that were almost the same figure.

Ava could not believe that she would be treated so well by someone who was not family. She had received great hospitality from them. Life. An old friend who had become family.

Three days had passed since she started living there. They had spared no effort to make her smile. And it had finally paid off. She smiled to a joke Clara's little brother had cracked.

No one asked her anything for the mean time. Until she became free with them. She was still a bit reserved but nothing like before.

Clara's mother had called both Clara and Ava that evening after a fun time.

“What happened to you, Ava” Mrs Castello asked.

Ava was scared to speak. What would happen to her if Mrs Castello decides that she was an immoral woman and decided to kick her out of the house. It would not really matter if she was at fault or not. Where would she go?

Rosa did not speak a word. She was in no position to speak, for two reasons. One, she did not know her story. Two, and even if she did know ,she would not do it, it was not her story to tell.

She did not know what had happened to Ava for her to be in this state and for her to ask for death like it was a joke.

She looked at Ava and both of them kicked eyes with each other. Ava's head bowed as fresh tears streamed out like a river.

Clara's mother saw this and she was troubled . The girl seemed to have gone through challenges that had broken her.

She should have asked, she blamed herself. Now she had reopened the girl's old wounds. Nobody would like that.

She did not want her to feel hurt anymore.

"You don't have to say anything Ava if you don't want to. I'm sorry to have asked you in the first place," Clara’s mother coaxed and had given up on hearing Ava's story when the latter sniffled and smiled faintly.

She told them all that befell her and how she ended up in the hospital. How that heartless bastard had sent his lawyer to get her to sign the divorce papers.

Clara shed a few tears for her friend's story. How can someone be so cruel to another person's daughter simply because she was her husband's daughter and not hers?

"How was it my fault that my parents had me out of wedlock? Or how am I to be blamed for my parents' inability to suppress their sexual desires for each other? I am bearing the brunt of her affairs,"

Such a malicious conspiracy to throw me out shamefully. If this had happened when my dad was alive, I would have been able to find my feet and not have allowed myself to be ridden by a strange man,"

Ava explained. Rosa and her mother were quiet to all she had said. She had definitely suffered and had been abused. Her arranged marriage ended so shamefully to pave the way to her stepsister. It’s a cruel world.

Where would she have gone if she hadn’t bumped into her that day? No wonder she said she had no home. She was actually right.

"We are not that rich like where you are coming from, but be rest assured that you will find a family with us. Stay here as much as you want and find your feet again. You have to be strong and live your life not for anyone now but yourself. The best is yet to come, my dear. Please don't put their evilness to heart,"

Clara’s mother coaxed. Ava lived with Clara and her family for a month and a half.

Julian sent his men everywhere to search for Ava. He did not hate her or anything, he only wanted the Brown empire to be his. He was looking for her to compensate her.

He wanted to give her something you could use to start afresh. To offer her a source of livelihood.

But he searched in vain. His men searched and searched but could not find her. There was no trace of her. He had begun to get worried.

He hoped she had not done anything foolish. He could not rest. Or maybe she left the city. He thought.

Lina had seen that Julian had become more moody for days now. She had been observing him for a long time. Why was he this worried?

What was going on with him? . Was he starting to miss Ava? . That was impossible. For someone who did not touch Ava for five months, it could be said he did not like her at all. ..

Even when he and Ava were married he and her were already screwing with each other. They were like dogs in heat. Anywhere, anytime they would do it. The only time they stopped was if they had both been tired.

During all of those, Lina felt that she was his wife legally but he was her heart and soul.

She had grown tired of thinking ,so she decided to ask him what was happening to him. Julian lord that he was only worried that the company had sent such proposals to clients and he had not heard any feedback from any of the clients.

Lina sighed tired. This must be it . She knew it was definitely not connected to Ava. She simply consoled him .

She suggested sending those clients reminders and see what their response was going to be. Julian praised Lina. Telling her that she was intelligent.

Clara had managed to get Ava a job at the company where she worked. She was to resume on Monday of the coming week.

Everything was going well until Ava realized that her aunty flow was supposed to be here already. It had been two weeks. She was supposed to see her aunty flow and there seemed to be a delay.

She lost sleep countless time thinking about it. She was afraid that what she was thinking might be true.. After the incident had happened she had completely forgotten to use the pills.

When Irene and Julian were planning the act, they should have at least asked him to use protection. Were they not scared for her safety. What was she even expecting,that they would care for her?.

When Ava left work, she sneaked out. She was on her way to the nearby hospital. She wanted to do a pregnancy test.

Time felt as if it stood still as she waited for the results. It was said that time always stood still when someone was anticipating something. She felt the minutes turn into hours and hours into years as she sat there.

Why was it taking them so long? She began to question if the hospital was registered or if they were professional. They were taking too long.

When the doctor finally invited her to his office for the report. He handed her the report. Ava's hands were shaking.

.

She was the one complaining moments ago about the lateness of the report. Now that it was time to take the report ,Ava could not even talk. Her hands and body were shaking.

The doctor glanced at her. Women who behaved like this were the ones who got pregnant without any support. It seemed that this lady also had problems with him earlier. Now she was unstable. Her Face was pale and body tremors were getting more severe.

“ What is written inside Doctor? Tell me ? .

The doctor looked at Ava with a soft expression. He saw how terrified she was, how her fingers trembled as she held the report. The paper crinkled slightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

“Miss Brown,” the doctor began, his voice gentle, trying to calm the storm brewing in her heart. “The test came back positive. You are pregnant.”

Ava’s breath hitched, and she felt the world spin around her. Pregnant? The word echoed in her mind, crashing against the walls of her thoughts. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Not like this. She had always dreamed of starting a family, but not in this way, not with a stranger, not with the memory of that horrible night hanging over her like a dark cloud.

She felt a wave of nausea rise within her, her body responding to the news in a way she couldn’t control. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat sending shockwaves through her as if her body was trying to reject the reality that was now hers.

“How… how far along am I?” she managed to whisper, her voice barely audible as she fought to keep herself together.

The doctor flipped through her file, his brow furrowed as he read the details. “Approximately six weeks,” he said, looking up at her with concern. “But you need to take care of yourself, Miss Brown. The stress you’re under isn’t good for you or the baby.”

Ava couldn’t respond. Her mind was racing, trying to process everything. Six weeks. That meant… it happened that night. The night her life changed forever. The night she lost everything.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to cry in front of the doctor. She had shed enough tears already. But how could she do this? How could she bring a child into this world under such circumstances?

She thought about Clara’s mother, the kindness she had shown her, and how she had told her that the best was yet to come. But Ava couldn’t see it. All she could see was darkness and the overwhelming weight of the responsibility she now carried.

“I… I don’t know what to do,” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. She looked up at the doctor, searching his eyes for some kind of guidance, some kind of answer that would make everything okay.

The doctor sighed softly, leaning forward with his hands clasped together on his desk. “Miss Brown, you don’t have to decide everything today. You have time to figure things out. But I will say this: you are stronger than you think. You’ve been through so much already, and yet you’re still here, still fighting. Whatever you decide to do, know that you’re not alone. There are resources and people who can help you.”

Ava nodded numbly, though she didn’t fully believe his words. She felt utterly alone, lost in a sea of uncertainty. She thanked the doctor quietly and left the hospital, clutching the report in her hands as if it were a lifeline. But it felt more like an anchor, dragging her down into the depths of despair.

As she walked out into the cool evening air, Ava felt the weight of her situation pressing down on her, suffocating her. She had no idea where to go from here. How could she face Clara and her mother with this news? How could she explain that she was carrying the child of a man she didn’t even know?

She found herself wandering aimlessly, her feet carrying her down streets she didn’t recognize. The world around her blurred as her thoughts consumed her, each step feeling heavier than the last. She knew she couldn’t go back to Clara’s house, not yet. She needed time to think, to figure out what to do next.

Eventually, Ava found herself at a small park, the quietness of the evening providing some solace to her troubled mind. She sat down on a bench, staring blankly at the ground, the reality of her situation settling in. She was going to be a mother. Whether she was ready for it or not, there was a life growing inside her, a life that depended on her.

A part of her wanted to reject it, to deny that this was happening. But another part of her, the part that still held onto hope despite everything, knew that this child was innocent, that it deserved a chance. It wasn’t the baby’s fault that it was conceived in such a horrible way. The baby didn’t ask to be brought into this world, just like she hadn’t asked for any of this to happen.

Ava felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. She couldn’t allow herself to fall apart, not now. She had to be strong, not just for herself, but for the child she carried. But how? How could she be strong when she felt so weak?

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to make a decision. She couldn’t run from this forever. But no matter what she chose, her life would never be the same again.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, Ava made a promise to herself. She didn’t know what the future held, but she would face it headon. She would fight for herself and her child, no matter what it took.

With that resolve in her heart, Ava stood up from the bench and began walking back to Clara’s house. She still didn’t have all the answers, but she knew one thing for sure: she wasn’t going to give up. Not now, not ever.

Chapter 6: Return to the City

The city welcomed Ava Brown with open arms as she stepped off the plane, the cool breeze teasing her hair as she gripped Logan’s small hand. It felt like forever since she’d last been here, but this time, it was different. This time, she wasn’t just Ava Brown—she was a mom, and everything revolved around the brighteyed boy at her side.

“Mommy, look!” Logan’s voice bubbled with excitement as he pointed at the moving walkway in front of them. “Can we ride it?”

Ava chuckled, her nerves easing a bit as she nodded. “Sure, but hang on tight, okay?”

They stepped onto the walkway, Logan’s laughter filling the air as they zipped past other travelers. Ava couldn’t help but smile, her heart swelling with love and a bit of relief. This new chapter was going to be challenging, but as long as she had Logan by her side, she knew she could handle anything.

The terminal was alive with chatter and the hum of rolling suitcases. Logan’s energy was infectious, and Ava found herself laughing at his amazement at every little thing. They were in the city now, a place filled with new opportunities—and memories Ava wasn’t quite ready to face.

As they reached the baggage claim, Logan tugged at her hand, his eyes wide. “Mommy, can we get ice cream?”

“First, let’s get our bags, and then we’ll see,” Ava said, ruffling his hair. She glanced around, her eyes searching for their luggage among the sea of people. It was then that she noticed a tall figure striding through the crowd, exuding an air of authority that made others step aside.

Logan, ever the curious one, was drawn to a nearby rack of colorful souvenirs. “Mommy, look at these! Can I see?”

“Okay, but stay where I can see you,” Ava called after him, her attention momentarily diverted by a large suitcase on the carousel.

In his excitement, Logan darted toward the display, unaware of the man walking in his direction. The inevitable collision happened in a blink, sending Logan stumbling back. The man stopped abruptly, turning with a look of surprise mixed with irritation.

Ava’s heart skipped a beat as she saw her son bump into the stranger. She hurried over, her eyes widening as she recognized the man standing in front of Logan.

It was him.

Mason Hernandez.

Wait. Why did he look so much like her son.

Mason looked down at Logan, his sharp features softening for a moment before a frown creased his brow. “Watch where you’re going, kid,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind.

Logan, unbothered by the scolding, looked up at Mason with wide eyes. “Sorry, mister,” he mumbled, his gaze flickering to Ava as she approached.

Ava’s breath caught in her throat as she finally stood facetoface with Mason. Her heart pounded in her chest, the years they’d been apart melting away in an instant. Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.

“Logan, come here,” Ava said softly, holding out her hand. Logan quickly obeyed, slipping his small hand into hers.

Mason’s gaze shifted from Logan to Ava, something unreadable in his eyes. “You should be more careful,” he said, his tone now directed at Ava.

She nodded, unable to find her voice as a wave of memories crashed over her. This was not how she’d imagined their reunion. In fact, she hadn’t imagined any reunion at all. But here they were, in the middle of an airport, with her son—their son—standing between them.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Hernandez,” she finally managed to say, her voice steadier than she felt. “Logan didn’t mean any harm.”

Mason’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, as if trying to place her in his mind. Then he gave a curt nod, his gaze shifting back to Logan. “No harm done,” he said, his tone neutral.

Ava felt a mixture of relief and disappointment as he turned to leave. It was as if he hadn’t recognized her at all—or maybe he had and just didn’t care. She squeezed Logan’s hand, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.

“Mommy, who was that man?” Logan asked, his voice filled with innocent curiosity.

“Just someone I used to know,” Ava replied, forcing a smile. “Come on, let’s get our bags and find that ice cream.”

But as they made their way to the exit, Ava couldn’t help but glance back at Mason. He was already disappearing into the crowd, his tall frame blending in with the sea of travelers.

She hadn’t expected to see him, and she definitely hadn’t expected Logan to run into him—literally. But something told her this wasn’t the last time their paths would cross.

Not by a long shot.

The next morning, Ava found herself walking into the sleek, modern office building where she would be working. Logan was safely dropped off at his new school, and now, it was time for her to face her new reality.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she stepped into the elevator, clutching her bag. It had been so long since she’d worked in an office, and this one felt especially daunting. After all, this wasn’t just any company—this was Mason Hernandez’s company.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a bustling office space filled with people moving about with purpose. Ava took a deep breath and stepped out, trying to calm her nerves. She could do this. She had to do this—for Logan.

“Ms. Brown?”

Ava turned to see a friendlylooking woman approaching her. “Yes, that’s me,” she replied, offering a small smile.

“I’m Julia, Mr. Hernandez’s assistant. Welcome to the team,” Julia said warmly, extending her hand. “I’ll show you to your office.”

Ava shook her hand, feeling a bit more at ease. “Thank you, Julia. I appreciate it.”

As they walked through the office, Ava couldn’t help but take in the sleek design and the hum of productivity around her. This was a far cry from the small, cozy life she and Logan had built abroad, but it was a change they needed.

Julia led her to a spacious office with large windows that offered a stunning view of the city. “Here we are,” Julia said, gesturing for Ava to step inside. “You’ll have everything you need here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Ava smiled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the luxury of it all. “This is wonderful, thank you.”

Julia nodded, then hesitated for a moment before adding, “Mr. Hernandez asked me to let you know that he’ll be in meetings for most of the day, but he’s looking forward to meeting with you tomorrow.”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mason’s name. She’d managed to avoid thinking about their encounter at the airport, but now, the reality of working in his company was sinking in.

“Of course,” Ava said, keeping her voice steady. “I’ll be ready.”

As Julia left, Ava set her bag down on the desk and looked out the window, the city stretching out before her. This was her chance to start fresh, to build a new life for herself and Logan. But the thought of facing Mason again, of working in such close proximity to him, sent a shiver down her spine.

What if he recognized her? What if he remembered that night all those years ago? And what if he found out the truth about Logan?

Not that she was 100% sure that he was the one but anyway it would be better to be careful.

So much for a peaceful life. Funny ho what she wished for was always not granted.

Ava shook her head, trying to push those thoughts aside. She needed to focus on her work, on making a good impression and proving herself in this new job. The last thing she needed was to get caught up in the past.

But as she settled into her office and started unpacking her things, she couldn’t shake the feeling that fate had other plans. The past had a funny way of catching up with you when you least expected it.

And Ava had a feeling that her past with Mason was about to come crashing into her present—whether she was ready for it or not.

Chapter 8: The Suspicion

Ava was determined to make this day go smoothly. It was her second day at Hernandez Corporation, and today she was scheduled to meet Mason Hernandez officially as her boss. Despite her resolve, a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. She took a deep breath and reminded herself why she was here—for Logan and for herself.

The morning passed in a blur of paperwork and brief introductions with the team. But as the clock ticked closer to her meeting with Mason, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. Their encounter at the airport had been awkward and tense, and now she had to face him in a professional setting. What if he remembered her too well? What if he started asking questions she wasn’t ready to answer?

Lily, Mason’s assistant, knocked lightly on her office door, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Miss Brown, Mr. Hernandez is ready to see you now.”

Ava nodded, trying to steady her nerves. “Thank you, Lily.”

She followed Lily down the corridor, her heart pounding with each step. The closer they got to Mason’s office, the more she felt the tension build. When they finally reached his door, Lily offered her a reassuring smile before knocking.

“Come in,” Mason’s voice called from inside.

Lily pushed the door open, ushering Ava in before closing it behind her. Mason was seated behind a large mahogany desk, his eyes fixed on a document in front of him. He didn’t look up immediately, giving Ava a moment to take in her surroundings. His office was a reflection of the man himself—powerful, intimidating, yet refined.

“Miss Brown,” Mason finally said, looking up. His gaze was steady, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—recognition, maybe? “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hernandez,” Ava replied, keeping her tone as professional as she could. She took the chair across from him, trying to ignore the tension thickening in the room.

Mason leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. “I trust your first day went well?”

“It did, thank you,” Ava answered, meeting his gaze. There was a part of her that wanted to look away, to avoid the intensity in his eyes, but she held firm.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Mason said, though his expression remained unreadable. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, Miss Brown, and I expect nothing but the best from my team.”

“Of course,” Ava agreed, keeping her voice steady.

Mason’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to watch her. The air between them was charged, the unspoken tension from their past encounter hanging over them. But Mason didn’t mention the airport. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, discussing the projects she would be involved in and what he expected from her.

Yet, as he spoke, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that he was studying her—searching for something. It was subtle, but it was there. His gaze would linger just a moment too long, his questions slightly probing, as if he was trying to connect the dots in his mind.

Finally, as the meeting drew to a close, Mason’s tone softened slightly. “If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, Mr. Hernandez,” Ava replied, standing as the meeting ended.

As she turned to leave, Mason’s voice stopped her. “Miss Brown.”

She paused, glancing back at him. “Yes?”

He hesitated for just a second, but it was enough to make Ava’s heart skip a beat. “I hope you’ll find your time here fulfilling.”

Ava nodded, a small, polite smile on her lips. “I’m sure I will.”

With that, she exited the office, the door closing softly behind her. The moment she was out of Mason’s sight, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. The tension between them was palpable, and she couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning of something far more complicated than she had anticipated.

As she walked back to her office, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that Mason knew more than he was letting on. She had seen the way he looked at Logan at the airport, the suspicion in his eyes. Was it possible that he had connected the dots? She pushed the thought aside. There was no way he could know, not without proof.

But the nagging feeling remained, and Ava knew that it was only a matter of time before the truth came out—one way or another.

Chapter 9: The Discovery

Ava had been busy all morning, caught up in a whirlwind of preparations for the company’s upcoming charity gala. It was one of the biggest events of the year, and as part of the planning team, she had been running around ensuring everything was in place. Logan, too young to understand the significance of such an event, had begged to come along with her to work that day. With no other option and a firm promise from him to be on his best behavior, Ava had agreed.

By noon, the grand ballroom where the event would be held was abuzz with activity. Ava was focused on finalizing the seating arrangements when Logan, clutching his favorite toy car, wandered off in search of something more exciting.

Mason had arrived early at the venue, wanting to ensure everything was running smoothly. As he stepped into the ballroom, his eyes scanned the room, making sure all the details were in order. He was in the middle of a conversation with one of the event coordinators when he noticed a small figure darting between the tables.

It was a boy, no more than five years old, with dark hair and eyes that mirrored Mason’s own. The child was engrossed in playing with his toy car, oblivious to the world around him. Mason paused, his gaze locking onto the boy, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him.

Logan, still unaware of Mason’s presence, continued to play. But as he spun around, he accidentally bumped into Mason’s leg. Startled, Logan looked up, his wide eyes meeting Mason’s.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Mason stared at the boy, taking in the striking resemblance—the same dark hair, the same intense gaze. There was something unnerving about how much the child looked like him. His heart skipped a beat, and a flood of questions rushed through his mind.

“Are you okay, little man?” Mason asked, his voice softer than usual as he crouched down to Logan’s level.

Logan nodded, clutching his toy car to his chest. “I’m sorry, mister.”

Mason offered a reassuring smile, but the unease wouldn’t leave him. “What’s your name?”

“Logan,” the boy replied simply, his innocent eyes studying Mason with curiosity.

“Logan,” Mason repeated, the name echoing in his mind. “Where’s your mom, Logan?”

Logan pointed in the direction of Ava, who was busy at the other end of the room, her back turned to them.

Mason’s breath hitched. There was no denying it now—the resemblance was too strong to ignore. But how? How could this boy, this Logan, look so much like him? The thoughts churned in his mind, creating a storm of suspicion and confusion.

Just then, Ava turned around, her eyes scanning the room for Logan. When she saw him with Mason, her heart dropped. She quickly made her way over, trying to keep her expression neutral despite the panic rising inside her.

“There you are,” Ava said, her voice betraying only a hint of the anxiety she felt. She gave Mason a polite smile, trying to ignore the way his eyes bore into her. “I’m sorry if he disturbed you, Mr. Hernandez. Logan, come here.”

Mason stood up, his gaze shifting between Ava and Logan. The resemblance was undeniable. And now, standing close to Ava, the pieces began to fall into place. His mind raced with the possibilities, the suspicions growing stronger with each passing second.

“No trouble at all,” Mason replied, his voice calm, but his eyes intense as they locked onto Ava’s. “He’s a good kid.”

Ava managed a weak smile, feeling the weight of Mason’s stare. She gently took Logan’s hand, ready to leave, but Mason’s next words made her pause.

“He looks a lot like someone I know,” Mason said, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it that made Ava’s heart race.

She forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow even to her own ears. “Kids can be like that. They often look like people we’ve met before.”

Mason didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes told her that he wasn’t convinced. As she led Logan away, she could feel Mason’s gaze following them, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

For the rest of the day, Mason couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that had settled in his gut. The more he thought about it, the more the similarities between himself and Logan seemed impossible to ignore. Could it be? Was it possible that Logan was…?

The thought was almost too outrageous to consider, but Mason couldn’t let it go. He needed to know the truth. And there was only one way to find out for sure.

That evening, after everyone had left the event venue, Mason made a call. He arranged for a DNA test, his voice steady but his heart racing. He couldn’t wait any longer. He needed answers. And he would get them, even if it meant going behind Ava’s back.

As he hung up the phone, Mason stared out the window of his office, the city lights twinkling in the distance. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. If Logan was indeed his son, everything would change. But first, he needed the truth. And soon, he would have it.

The results arrived two days later, sitting ominously on Mason’s desk.

His hands trembled slightly as he opened the envelope, heart pounding in his chest. The words blurred for a moment as he tried to focus, but when he finally saw them, his breath caught in his throat.

99.9% match.

Logan was his son.

A wave of emotions surged through Mason—shock, disbelief, anger, and something else he couldn’t quite name. How could this have happened without his knowledge? Why hadn’t Ava told him?

Without wasting another second, Mason stormed out of his office. He couldn’t wait any longer. Ava needed to answer for this.

He found her in the office break room, completely unaware of the storm heading her way. When Mason appeared, the intensity in his eyes made her stomach drop.

“We need to talk,” he said, his voice cold and clipped.

Ava’s heart pounded as she followed him into his office. The moment the door closed behind them, Mason turned to her, his eyes burning with accusation.

“Logan is my son,” he stated bluntly, the words slicing through the air.

Ava’s world tilted. She had feared this moment, and now that it was here, she felt utterly defenseless. “Mason, I—”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mason cut her off, his voice hard. “Did you think I didn’t have a right to know?”

Tears welled up in Ava’s eyes, but she fought to stay composed. “I was scared, Mason. Scared of what you’d do, scared of losing Logan…”

"Not that I was sure about it anyways, I do not know who you were. The only way I was somehow aware was because we bumped into you at the Airport the other day".

"I could not just come out to a total stranger and tell him that I think that he is the father of my children. It does not work like that"

" Trust me , it was never my intention to keep him away from. You know the circumstances and the timing was totally wrong. There was nothing either of us could have done about it"

"

Even that fateful night was by accident, I did not come to your room on purpose, I never intended for any of this to happen. I hope you understand that it was not my fault that all this happened".

Mason ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room as he tried to process everything. “You should have told me, Ava. We could’ve figured this out together.”

“I know,” Ava whispered, her voice breaking. “But back then, I didn’t know what to do. I was alone, and then… then it was just easier to keep quiet, I did not want to ruin anything for either of us".

Mason stopped pacing, his anger slowly ebbing as he saw the fear in Ava’s eyes. The woman standing before him wasn’t the enemy—she was the mother of his child, just as terrified and lost as he was.

“Alright,” Mason finally said, his voice softer. “We’ll keep this between us for now. But we need to figure out what’s best for Logan.”

Ava nodded, relief washing over her. She had feared the worst, but Mason wasn’t pushing her away. Not yet, anyway.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” Mason added, his eyes locking onto hers. “For Logan’s sake.”

And with that, an uneasy truce was formed between them, both unsure of what the future held but determined to protect the one thing they now shared—a son.