Ayva’s POV"Hey, stop!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening in surprise as Jace playfully poked my side. A mischievous grin spread across his face, a clear sign that he was up to no good. He poked me again, this time on my left side, and I involuntarily flinched, my body reacting to the unexpected touch. "Jace, seriously, stop!" I pleaded, my voice tinged with annoyance and amusement. But he seemed to be enjoying himself, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he continued to poke me. "So... you're ticklish?" He said, a devilish smile forming on his face, his tone filled with playful curiosity. "No, I'm not." I smoothly lied, trying to maintain a composed facade because I knew that if he found out, he would take advantage of it."Then why do you react like this?" He asked, his voice laced with amusement, as he poked me once more, causing me to jerk in response. "Because it hurts." I replied, my voice betraying a hint of laughter, unable to suppress the smile that was tugging at the corners

Justin's POV "What do you mean Ayva's unwell?" I asked Zion, my skepticism evident in my voice. I had been living with Ayva for over two weeks, and I was certain that nothing was wrong with her. She was perfectly fine, which made me doubt Zion's claim."I found this," He said, placing a small white container on my desk.I immediately recognized the container as Ayva's. She used to carry it with her everywhere she went, and I knew it held the pills she used to take. She would often pretend they were just painkillers, but I knew there was more to it."Do you know what this is?" He asked, seeking my response. I remained silent, waiting for him to continue. "It contains Ayva's medications. Did you know she was taking medications? How did she hide it so well from me, from everyone?"I looked at him with impassive eyes, thinking he was foolish for living under the same roof as Ayva for years and yet being oblivious to her secret. "I was aware that she was taking those," I deadpanned, feel

Ayva’s POVI stirred awake when I felt someone gently lifting me in their arms. The familiar scent of fresh wood and a hint of cologne filled the air, instantly letting me know it was Justin. I felt a sense of security and decided to keep my eyes closed. When my back hit the bed, I intended to drift back to sleep and forget about dinner. But then, I felt his warm breath fan my face, and a mixture of fresh mint and a subtle fruity fragrance tickled my nose. Without thinking, I blurted out, "Are you going to kiss me in my sleep?" As soon as the words left my lips, I regretted it. Silence hung in the air, yet I sensed his presence lingering. I could still detect the faint scent of his cologne and the lingering fruity aroma on his breath, hinting that he might have had apple juice or champagne before coming here.Curiosity got the better of me, and I snapped my eyes open, finding him exactly where I had suspected. His gaze met mine, his brow slightly furrowed. He wasn't as close as I h

Justin’s POVAround 10 am, Bella unexpectedly showed up at my house on that Saturday morning. I wasn't anticipating her visit, but I didn't let her know that as she approached for a hug."Hey," she murmured, slowly pulling away with a bright smile on her face, looking up at me."Hey," I greeted back, discreetly checking the corridor to see if Ayva was coming out of her room yet."You look good. It's refreshing to see you in something other than suits and ties," she commented, placing a hand on my arm. I couldn't help but notice that she had become more touchy and bolder lately, especially with our wedding approaching. When she moved into my house six months ago, she used to ask for permission for everything. She couldn't even stand close to me without stuttering, even though we had known each other since high school."You've seen me in other clothes that aren't formal," I replied, taking a bite of an apple I grabbed from the basket. I mean, we'd been living together for months."I kno

Justin’s POVI could feel the weight of my misery hanging over me like a dark cloud. It was supposed to be my bachelor party, a night of celebration and revelry. But instead, I found myself unable to enjoy the company of the ladies like the other guys. The mere thought of their touch made me cringe.If it weren't for the fact that Ayva was at Bella's bachelorette party, I wouldn't have even bothered showing up. It had been six days since Ayva had left my house, and in that time, I had purposely avoided any contact with her. I was furious with her for agreeing to be Bella's bridesmaid, despite my heartfelt pleas for her not to. She had called me after making that decision, but I had stubbornly ignored every one of her calls. And now, every fiber of my being ached for her presence.I tilted my head back, downing the last of my drink in a desperate attempt to drown out the thoughts of Ayva. The alcohol burned my throat, but it offered no solace.Suddenly, a scantily dressed woman approach