Chapter 54

" Thank you, Lily, " he managed to utter, his voice subdued as he attempted to contain the whirlwind of emotions churning within him. As Lily left the room, Bryan remained seated, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic absence of the woman who had inexplicably woven herself into the fabric of his life.

Bryan's fingers trembled slightly as he reached for his phone, a sense of urgency compelling him to dial Ava's number once more. The seconds stretched into an eternity as the phone rang, each unanswered ring amplifying the silence on the other end.

Frustration and concern coalesced within him, evident in the furrowed lines etched across his forehead. He tossed the phone onto his desk with a frustrated sigh, the unanswered call a testament to the void that lingered between them.

The impulse to rush over to her place, to shake some sense into her and make her understand the depth of his feelings, briefly flickered in his mind. He wanted