xandra and Sebastian in the living room. As they entered, Alexandra, despite her simm

"My dear, I hope your day went well?" he asked with

ering his usual polite greeting, though

portant news," he said, his voice carrying a sense of finality. "Ava, here," he continued, as he lovingly he

arp as he replied, "What? Why, sir? With all due respect, I've been running this com

has been managing the company all this time. How can you just bring a stranger in to ta

e'll be assisting Sebastian," Mr. George

e said, her tone smooth, almost rehearsed. "I'll do my very best to help improve the company.

hat exactly do you mean by that, Ava? Are you suggesting the company i

to Mr. George, forcing a warm smile. "George, I'm feeling a

miled back warmly. "Of course, my

ir of grace and mystery as she ascended the stair

and sat beside him, her voice lowering. "Dad, I really don't understand. You barely know Ava, and yet you've made her a part of the co

ar, I may not know her for long, but I trust her. I've seen something

e she could, Sabastain stood, excusing himself from the room. Withou

. She didn't have to wait long before the door flung open with a bang, s

d furious. "What's the meaning of this? You're alread

sarcasm. "Are you insane? You barged in without kn

hat's there to hide, Ava? I've seen it all before," he s

anged. I know exactly why you're marrying Alexandra. It's not for love-it's for her father's money. But don't think I'll let you

exactly what you're trying to do, Ava. You want wealth for yourself, don't you? Well, l

asp. "No problem then," she said, her voice thick wit

d it. It was a constant reminder of how things had changed. F

d, her tone sharp, "I'll scream. I

ehind him. Ava, unfazed, sat down on the edge of her bed, a faint smirk playing on her li

knew it would come to this. He was a man driven by ambition and greed, someone who believed that power, wealth, and manipulation could get him anyth

nge him like that? Who did she think she was? She thought she could expose him, play her little games,

r confrontation still surging through him. How could his father-in-law be so blind? Why was he trusting someone like Ava, someone who had no real place in their world, no history,

ion was no longer secure. Ava was dangerous, and he couldn't

.

Ava into the company felt like a betrayal. She had worked so hard alongside Sebastian to build their life, their future, and now it seemed like everything was slipping through her fingers. Wh

ver the company. She glanced toward the staircase, her mind drifting to Sebastian, who hadn't come back downstairs yet. Was he

taken over her mind. For a moment, Alexandra stared at the screen, the soft glow casting

e sudden flood of emotions she had been battling all morning pressed on her chest like a weight. Her

oman who had been nothing but a source of tension in the family, had been hired to take over a key ro

nd unlocked it, glancing

r dad hired Ava. What's go

hadn't even been half an hour since her father made the announcement. Was she tal

er, always so intuitive, so caring. But even that didn't ease the discomfort building in Alexandra's

ghts running in every direction at once. She had to keep it simple, jus

aling with a lot. I'l

now. She put the phone back down and leaned back into the couch, closing her eyes. She needed

. Her father had always been the rock of their family, and she had trusted his judgment, but n