LOGINAVA“We get the certificate.”There it was again.I released a heavy breath, looking away for a second before facing him.“Lucien.”“I’m serious,” he said like this was the most logical thing in the world. “It ends all of this.”“All of what?” I asked.“This,” he gestured between us. “The distance. The arguments. The uncertainty.”I shook my head. "That doesn’t fix anything.”“It does,” he insisted. “It makes it stamped.”“And that’s exactly the problem,” I shot back. “You’re trying to make something stamp that we haven’t even figured out yet.”His jaw clenched. "I’ve figured it out.”“Of course you have,” I muttered.He didn’t miss it. “What is that supposed to mean?”“It means you always decide things on your own and expect me to just… fall in line,” I said. “Like this...this certificate thing. You didn’t even talk to me about it, you just decided it’s what we should do.”“I’m telling you now.”“That’s not the same as asking me.”“You’re making it more complicated than it needs to b
AVAThe planner gathered her things and left with a bright smile.Sera clapped her hands, her excitement still very much alive. “Well, that was lovely,” she said. “Next, we’ll need to arrange food and cake tasting.”I shook my head gently. “I’m not really interested in that. You can handle it for us.”She paused. “Are you sure, dear?”I nodded. “Yes.”She stared at me, then smiled. “Alright then. I’ll make sure it’s perfect.”I knew she would. She had exquisite taste which I could trust at anytime.“And fittings,” she continued. “Do you have a designer in mind for your dress?”A small smile touched my lips. “Stella will design it.”Sera’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s wonderful. That makes it even more special.”I nodded. “It does.”“Any outfit changes?” she asked.I shrugged. “I’ll go with any designer you recommend.”That seemed to please her even more.“Oh, I have just the person in mind,” she said, already mentally planning.Then she turned to Lucien. “And you,” she said, placing her h
AVASaturday came quickly.I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.I groaned, dragging the pillow over my head, but it didn’t help.The ringing continued relentlessly so I blindly reached for the phone.I squinted at the screen and immediately sat up.Mother.I cleared my throat and answered.“Hello… good morning, ma’am.”Her voice came through warm and bright as always. “Good morning, darling. How are you?”I rubbed my eyes before replying. “I’m fine. You?”“I’m very well,” she answered sweetly. Then without missing a beat, she continued, “So, what time should we expect you?”I froze. “Ex-expect me?”“Yes, dear. You’re coming over, remember?”My stomach dropped.Oh no. The meeting with the planner, I had completely forgotten.“I-" I started, then stopped because I didn’t even have a proper excuse. I still haven't heard from Lucien.“Lucien is already here,” Sera muttered casually.My head snapped up. “He’s what?”“He's here, at the estate,” she clarified. “He arrived earlier this
AVA The moment we got outside, I stopped completely. Right there, parked in front of the building was a car and not just any car, but a car with a big bow sitting perfectly on top of it like something straight out of a movie. My breath caught. “What is that?” Stella froze too. “Oh my days." I knew that car. It was a lilac Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. My lips parted. “No way…” I turned to Michael, still trying to process what I was seeing. “This isn’t-" “It’s yours, ma’am,” he said calmly. My eyes widened. “Mine?” He nodded, then extended an envelope to me. “The boss asked that you read this.” My fingers felt unsteady as I took it and opened it. There was a note in Lucien's handwriting. "For acing the race." My heart fluttered. He remembered. "You like to win. I like to reward what’s mine when she does. Enjoy the ride." I let out a breathless laugh. That was so...him, yet sweet. I shook my head as I lowered the note. Stella grabbed my arm. "Ava??”
AVASeraphina’s voice stayed bright, bubbling with excitement as she wrapped things up.“You and Lucien must come home this weekend,” she said. “We need to meet with the event planner and really go through everything. There’s so much to decide.”My grip tightened on the couch. This weekend?I forced my voice to stay calm. “Yes, ma’am.”“Good,” she said warmly. “We’ll make it perfect, I promise.”“Thank you,” I whispered.“Alright, dear. Take care.”“You too.”The call ended.I released the laugh I had been holding in.Stella glanced at me. “Okay, that didn’t sound so good.”I shook my head slowly, still laughing. “I don’t even know where he is. I don’t know when he’s coming back....I don’t even know if he’ll be back before the weekend.”I looked down at my hands. “And he’s already telling his parents we agreed on the wedding timeline.”My laugh faded. “After everything that happened.”I swallowed, then looked at Stella. “Do you think I’m making the right decision?”She didn’t answer.
AVA I shook my head, exhausted. “It’s just… everything,” I whispered. “We keep arguing. Every single time and it’s like no matter what I say, it’s wrong.” “He wanted us to get married immediately. Not the wedding, the certificate, like right now.” Stella blinked. “What?” I let out a hollow laugh. “And when I said no, it became another problem. I just… I don’t know how to deal with him.” My voice dropped. “I’m scared that no matter what I do… I’ll keep getting it wrong.” I wiped at my face again, but the tears kept coming. “And then last night…” I trailed off, shaking my head as I didn't even know where to begin. Stella tightened her arm around me. “What happened?” I let out a shaky breath. “He came home really late....like… past 2 a.m. He smelled like alcohol, Stella and his hands...” I swallowed, my chest tightening again at the memory. “His hands were bleeding.” Stella’s brows pulled together. “What?” “I don’t even know what he did,” I continued. “He wouldn’t tell me any
AVAStella was already standing in front of me before I could even process the call.“What did he say?” she asked quickly. “Don’t skip anything, tell me everything.”I blinked at her, still a little stunned. “Apparently, I’m starting work next week.”Her eyes widened.“At Hale Corporation.”She lea
AVA“Picture this,” he continued. “Lucien… with another woman.”My brows pulled together. “What?”“Just imagine it,” he insisted.I sighed, but still, I did and the reaction was instant.My stomach turned and my chest tightened. Something ugly twisted inside me so fast it shocked me.My face must h
AVA My chest rose and fell rapidly. “How dare he.” I muttered under my breath. I started pacing the room because staying still would make me explode. “How dare he make decisions for me like that?” My hands clenched at my sides. It wasn’t just what he said. It was how he said it like it was fi
AvaThe moment he left my room, my legs gave out. I didn’t even realize when I sat down on the bed.My heart was still racing and my thoughts were running faster than I could hold onto any of them.Marry him?Lucien?I placed my hands on my face to try to calm my breathing. But the more I thought a







