31 You deserve happiness.
The morning sunlight filtered through the thin crack in the curtains, illuminating the room softly. Ava fluttered her eyes open, still drowsy from sleep, and she immediately became aware of Dylan’s arms wrapped tightly around her.
The events of the night before came rushing back, her heart skipping a beat. She stiffened, turning her head to look at him, who was still asleep.
Ava blinked, unsure of what to feel. She had always dreamed of waking up in his arms, but in her past life, it had never happened. Now, as she had resolved to finally break free from him and distance herself, he refused to let her go, acting weirdly. It was as though Dylan had changed as if he cared more than he ever had.
But was it real?
She squinted at him skeptically. Did he finally change for good?
Before she could think too much about it, Dylan stirred, his eyes slowly fluttering open, meeting hers. Ava’s heart leaped in her mouth, and she froze. She couldn’t ignore the sudden embarrassment that washed over her, realizing he had caught her watching him. She shifted awkwardly, trying to move away from him.
But Dylan’s grip only tightened. He drew her closer. Ava’s breath caught in her throat as she became acutely aware of his morning wood pressing against her abdomen. A flush crept up her neck, spreading across her cheeks.
She stirred again, trying to create a distance between them.
“Don’t move!” he warned, his voice hoarse from sleep. “Are you trying to seduce me?” He smirked.
Dylan’s mood was light and easy. It had been the first night since he returned from the business. trip that he had slept soundly, free from the nightmares. He felt lighter, happier.
Seducing?
Ava’s nerves jangled at the word. She pushed him away with more force than she intended. “Who wants to seduce you?” She rolled to the edge of the bed, ready to get out as quickly as possible.
But Dylan was quicker. In one swift motion, his hand shot out and grasped her arm, pulling her back toward him with ease. Before she could react, he flipped her beneath him, his weight pinning her down, his smirk never leaving his face.
“Too late,” he murmured. “You’ve already succeeded.” Without hesitation, he dipped his head, hist lips finding the soft curve of her neck, kissing her with a heated intensity.
“Dylan, stop it.” Ava protested, wriggling beneath him, trying to free herself. But no matter how much she struggled, his lips kept moving against her skin, his grip unyielding.
His phone rang in the meantime, forcing him to pause. Ava heaved a small sigh, thinking he
- You deserve happiness
would finally
Stop. But
instead of reaching for the phone, Dylan ignored it entirely, continuing to kiss her with the same fervor.
Ava’s frustration spiked. “Why aren’t you answering the call?” she snapped. “It might be important work, maybe!”
“You’re such a mood spoiler,” he muttered, clearly annoyed at the interruption, before rolling onto his back beside her.
Taking his phone, he checked it, only to find Erica’s name blinking on the screen.
Dylan frowned, suspecting something. He swiped to answer, his tone suddenly grim. “Hello?”
“Where the hell are you, Dylan?” Erica’s voice exploded from the other end. “Such a tragic accident has happened with Gianna, and you are nowhere to be found.”
“What happened to Gianna? Is she okay?” Dylan jumped out of bed urgently.
The mention of Gianna’s name cut through the room, and Ava froze. Her eyes darted to him. The change in his demeanor was instant. Worry lined his face, and something about that look sent a sharp pang through Ava’s chest.
“Alright, I am coming. Stay there.” Without even glancing back at Ava, he threw on his suit jacket, his movements rushed. Before she could even process what was happening, he was out the door. Ava was numb in her place as she watched him leave, her mind swirling with unanswered questions and a growing sense of resentment.
A few minutes ago, he was so warm with her, not letting her leave from his arm. But then, a single phone call about Gianna had erased all of that. He had left–just like that–without a word, as if she was invisible.
Her chest constricted with bitter realization. How foolish she had been to believe–just for a moment–that things might be different this time that he might have changed – that he had finally developed feelings for her.
How could she forget the fact that it was always Gianna he held so close to his heart? No matter what Ava did, she would never be able to change that.
Ava cursed herself for still hoping that things between them would change. It seemed as if she hadn’t learned her lesson enough.
“Ava, you fool,” she muttered under her breath, disgusted at her own hopefulness. How could she have forgotten what he had done to her in the past?
She clenched her fists tightly at self–deprecation.
“Ava!” Her father’s voice cut through her thoughts, startling her back to the present. “What is going on? When did Dylan come?”
Ava quickly stood up, smoothing her clothes as she stepped out of the bedroom, her mind still swirling with frustration. “I’m sorry, Papa,” she said, forcing calm into her voice. “We didn’t mean
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31 You deserve happiness
to disturb you so early in the morning. Dylan came last night.”
“Is everything okay?” Thomas asked. “I saw him leave in a rush. He seemed… troubled”
Ava let out a sigh, the resentment simmering inside her barely contained. “Yes, he was worried. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but it’s about Gianna–his dear friend.
“I see.” Thomas nodded thoughtfully.
Ava thought it was time to tell her father about her strained relationship with Dylan. She couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine.
“Papa, I realized that I made a mistake by marrying Dylan,” she started seriously. “He…doesn’t have any feelings for me and I’ve finally come to terms with it. We’re not compatible. We never were. I want a divorce, Papa. Please help me.”
Thomas’s face tightened with disbelief, unable to reconcile the words he was hearing with the girl who had once been so determined to marry Dylan. Ava had been head over heels for Dylan, doing everything she could to make the marriage work. And now, she was saying she couldn’t be with him anymore?
“Is it because of Gianna?” he asked skeptically. “Look, Ava… Gianna and Dylan… their relationship might not be what you think it is. They are…”
“Papa, please,” Ava interrupted. “I know exactly how close they are.” She took a shaky breath, the emotions she had been holding back spilling over. “I was a fool for not seeing it sooner, but now I can’t ignore it. I can’t be with him anymore. More tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her
vision.
Thomas’s heart ached as he watched her crumble in front of him. He pulled her into his embrace. “Ava,” he said softly, “you don’t have to hold it all in. If you’ve decided that leaving him is what’s best for you, I’ll stand by your side. You deserve happiness. You deserve someone who loves you fully.” ”
