Ethan's POVI watched as the sun dipped below the horizon from where I stood on the luxury ship deck. The cold evening sea breeze made me rub my palms together to try to get some heat, as I had strangely rejected a jacket.“How about a cigarette?” Jeffery offers, producing a pack of cigarettes from his trouser pocket, but I immediately look away. “No thanks.”A chuckle rings from him. “Don't tell me it's because you have not smoked since then.”I hate to admit it, but it's the truth. Ever since Avery seized my pack of cigarettes and said something about me damaging my health and leaving her as a widow, smoking didn't seem as appealing to me the way it was before."Damn, so it's the truth! I can't believe a day like this would come!” He whoops and puts an arm around my shoulders, giving me a friendly squeeze. “You have changed a lot!”“Whose changed a lot?" Anthonio's voice sounds from behind us, and I can't help but puff out my cheeks when Jeffrey starts to tell Anthonio that I refuse
Ethan's POV“I think I should be asking you that question, Avery. Why the fuck are you dressed like this and serving drinks to men who can't stand toe to toe with me? You left our kids alone just to do this! What the fuck for?” I boomed, fighting the urge to punch the wall.I didn't know I was even this mad at her right now, but recounting everything, even though I already knew, made my chest squeeze with pain. I don't remember being this angry—not when I lost a business deal in my early days, and not even when Dimitri pulled that stunt because I knew I could protect her.I scoff as I glance at the bottle I just snatched from her. A fucking pepper spray was all she had to protect herself! She was literally a lamb in the midst of hungry, wild wolves.Tears started to fall from her eyes. “The kids are at Nana's.” She stops when she notices the angry look I give her. “I am sorry, honey." She whimpers,“This is not just about sorry, Avery. Why are you here?”Please tell me the truth, baby
Avery's POV My eyes slowly open, and a small groan leaves me when the bright reflection of the sunlight hits my face. I throw a pillow over my face to block the bright morning sunlight. Ah,such peace.I felt particularly lazy this morning and plan on getting more sleep till I feel energized enough to leave the bed. The sound of a ringing phone fills the quietness of the suite, and I am forced to sit up when I realize it's my own phone. I had left the phone in Angela's small suite, where we changed last night, and didn't expect it to be here already. It could only be here because of Ethan!I pick up the phone from the nightstand, and a smile forms on my lips when I see Anita's name on the screen.“Good morn—”“Girl! I have been calling you since last night.” She screams, and I move the phone away from my ear. “You got me worried that I couldn't even sleep a wink. You know, I almost drove down to the harbor this morning, but I remembered you wanted this a secret, and Jeffery doesn't ev
Avery's POV "Girl, I can't believe you went through all that!” Anita exclaims, her eyes wide in surprise.It is a weekend, exactly a week after I signed the contract, and we were both sitting in the pavilion, enjoying some fresh snacks and fruit juice. Marcella was almost due for delivery and stayed at home. I recounted the whole experience on the luxury ship to Anita, from finding out Vivian was the owner of Calliers Accessories to meeting Ethan and signing with D&R Mining Company.I smile at her reaction. “I couldn't believe it too, but here we are.”“No wonder I heard a rumor of your husband cheating on you with a seductive blonde. It must be Vivian behind it then, and that explains Jeffery's weird behavior this week; he seemed to be on edge around me.” Anita frowns and points an accusatory finger at me. “You better get your husband to come clean to my man. Poor guy is probably feeling guilty that he saw your husband cheat on you!”“Cheat on me? That's ridiculous,I was with Ethan
**Two weeks later**Avery’s POV Every day after that night had gone by in a blur, and I had never felt so distant from him before. Ethan had said we needed a break, and he took it so seriously. I woke up the next morning after crying myself to sleep and found out he had moved most of his things out of our bedroom. It felt so heartbreaking, and I couldn't even make it downstairs for breakfast or see the boys off to school that morning.We stayed in the same mansion, but we were as distant as the north and south poles. The only time we spoke was in front of the boys. I have never been more grateful for my sons,their presence and smiles were the only reason I had not lost my mind. Ever since Ethan stopped sleeping in our bedroom, most nights after we read the boys their nighttime stories and they fell asleep, I would later sneak in and spend the night on the couch and make sure to leave very early in the morning. It felt better than crying myself to sleep like I did the first three nigh
Avery's POV My question is met with silence, and Mr. Steve glances from me to Ethan in fright. “I think I should leave.”Mr. Steve hurries out of the study, slamming the door loudly behind him.“What do you mean divorce?”“You heard me clearly. I want a divorce, and I am taking my kids along with me.” I state my decision firmly.“Avery, stop this joke at once! Do you even know what you are saying? There is a contract —”“A contract that doesn't exist anymore.” I interrupt, walking towards him. “I heard everything. I must say I was touched because it sounds so romantic. What is it? Putting the power of attorney in my name? Taking off the marriage contract? Buying properties in my name?” I chuckled and stopped in front of him."Oh, you know, if you had told me or if I heard that any other day, I would have thought you felt more for me,maybe I would have even thought you loved me.” I poked at his chest angrily. “But you are a hypocrite! You were just using me, and I am done with you!”M
Avery's POV"Stop running around!""I came first!""Who started the race?""Don't play with the swing!"The noise from the children in the kindergarten fills my ears as I stand in the distance, watching them. My eyes sting with unshed tears as I watch the little boys run happily around the slide. Vivid memories of when I first held them in my arms flood my mind, and I bit my lip to prevent myself from sobbing loudly and attracting attention.A nice-looking lady, presumably the kindergarten teacher, holds the children to play with the rest of the other kids who were running around with so much energy in the open space of the kindergarten playground.I finally move my feet and settle on a bench,some distance away from the playground. The cool breeze and the noise from the children in the background bring a kind of serenity to me—a rare occasion for my turbulent mind. Sometimes,it is hard to face reality, and I still can't believe my reality from five years ago, when my whole life came c
Avery's POVMy eyes slowly open, and an expensive chandelier dangling from the ceiling is the first thing that enters my vision. Where am I? I sit up on the bed,my heart hammering against my chest in panic, and memories of how I was knocked unconscious on the kindergarten playground flood my mind.My eyes scan the expensively furnished bedroom, and a scream almost escapes my throat when I see a man seated on a couch not far from the bed where I am sitting. He is fiercely handsome. He has dark hair that is perfectly slicked back, and his deep-set features are like those of a fallen angel. The first three buttons of his long sleeve are left open, and I can see a peek of a tattoo on his hard chest. He exudes an intimidating aura, and for some reason,I am very wary of him.I quickly climb down from the bed. "w..who..are you?" I ask,my voice shaking.A dark chuckle reverberates across the room. "Avery Rosaline Williams." He calls my full name, and I wonder why his voice sounds familiar."