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Chapter Fifty–Two
Ava’s POV
I used to think that when the world collapsed, it would do so with some warning signs. But now, I know better. It crumbles silently, and sometimes suddenly, it leaves you gasping in shook, until you are free–falling without a chance to catch yourself.
The scandal had ripped through my life like an inferno, but what I hadn’t expected was just how far its reach extended. It just wasn’t me anymore.
Kyle’s life and his company were dragged right into the mud alongside mine.
It was everywhere. In whispers, in articles and on every major news station and the internet.
How his company’s stocks were trembling under the weight of rumors.
How his investors were pulling out, one by one, the same way my clients were.
How the media wouldn’t let go of the fact that one of the biggest names in business had a hidden son with his ex–wife.
It had been chaotic for him, and I should have felt something close to relief, or even satisfaction about that. But all I felt was emptiness and a feeling of unease. Because it wasn’t just Kyle paying the price. I was too. “How are they?” I asked Laura, one of my employees, my phone pressed tight to my ear.
Since the scandal, my team has started working from my home. It was an inconvenience, yes, but it was necessary, considering reporters had made it their full–time job to camp out at our office building’s entrance. They hadn’t seen me, still wouldn’t stop digging, finding new ways to spin Kyle and me into clickbait.
“Yes, they’re okay. Phoenix hasn’t left her room, but the last time I checked, she was asleep. And Zareon…” A burst of babyish laughter echoed through the line, answering for her.
Laura laughed. “As you can see, hyper as ever.”
A small smile curled on my lips, but the heaviness in my chest didn’t wither. Phoenix hadn’t stepped out, and that alone made my heart sink. After thanking Laura, I ended the call.
I wish there was something I could do for her.
It was rare and unnerving to see Phoenix break down the way she had. The sight had been shocking and heartbreaking. She’d been under stress and forcing smiles ever since her ex had made it nearly impossible for her to see her daughter.
After the divorce, he’d restricted her from getting close to her daughter, offering only limited visitation. Phoenix had been cool with that until one day, without warning, that little window was slammed shut. She couldn’t reach him or her daughter.
What finally shattered Phoenix was being rudely thrown out of his office when she showed up, desperate to see her daughter. She hadn’t even seen him. Just his security team, who overpowered her and tossed her out like trash. Phoenix, being herself, had thrown a fit, but she was no match for them.
With a sigh, I smoothed down my nude–colored dress suit and untied the scarf I’d been using to shield my face from being recognized. I tied it instead like a bow at my collar, giving my outfit an oddly out–of–place but
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Chapter Fifty–Two
sophisticated look
With that, I walked into the large room, which looked exactly as I’d left it. Frowning, I turned to Elson
“He’s not here yet?”
Elson shrugged. I called him thirty minutes ago and he said the same thing. Til be with you shortly”
I groaned.
He’d said that same sentence two hours ago, yet he hadn’t arrived.
The only reason I hadn’t lost patience was because, despite most of my clients pulling out, this particular one, a massive potential partner, had reached out to me, despite all odds and chaos.
They’d requested a private meeting. Said they wanted to work with me and even chose a secluded spot downtown, away from media suspicion. It had been surprising, but despite my heart flapping with suspicion, had jumped at the opportunity anyway, with my heart thudding with a mixture of hope and doubt.
And now, the longer we waited, the more that doubt began to claw its way to the surface.
Maybe this was part of the media’s game. Maybe this was a trap. Maybe….
The front door slid open.
A tall man in a neatly pressed grey suit walked in. My stomach flipped as I rushed to meet him halfway.
“Mr. Noor, so glad you could make it,” I greeted with a practiced smile. He returned it with a wider grin, clasping my hand in his for a handshake.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Had a few things to take care of.”
“That’s alright,” I said.
With a warm smile, Elson and I guided him to his seat. For a moment, I allowed myself to breathe. To actually
relax.
Immediately, we dove into the meeting, discussing my company, our market strategies, and expansion goals. Mr. Noor seemed engaged and enthusiastic about knowing how my company works. At least, that’s what I thought. Until he suddenly leaned back in his seat, clasped his hands together, and gave me a glinting look! didn’t quite understand… until he said:
“So…tell me, Mrs. Kings,” he said casually,
Elson and I exchanged a glance. It was like he could sense something had changed just as I did.
“What’s it like raising a child with a man who’s clearly moved on with someone else? Is the boy even his?”
I blinked, stunned.
“Excuse me?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Elson and I said in unison.
But Mr. Noor just grinned mischievously. Like the devil he truly was.
And before I could even process what was happening or find a suitable remark for his rudeness, the door
burst open.
I whipped around. Eyes widened as a flood of reporters stormed into the room, cameras flashing,
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Chapter Fifty–Two microphones raised.
It was an ambush.
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Shutters clicked furiously. Voices screamed over each other as they tried to fit through the door all at once.
“Ava! Why did you hide your son from the public for so long?”
“Is your son really Kyle Hunter’s biological child?”
“Are you trying to ruin Kyle’s image because he left you?”
“Was this your plan all along, to shake his company with this bombshell or had he been aware?”
“Is this really about your son, or is this about revenge?”
“Did Kyle offer you money to stay quiet?”
I stood up so fast that my chair toppled backwards with a loud crash.
“What the hell is this?” I shouted, my voice shaking as I glanced at the man who looked pleased with himself, even as Elson had his shirt in a tight grip.
What’s his gain from this? What joy did people get from watching others break? I couldn’t understand.
The reporters swarmed the table anyway, flashing cameras in our faces as they took repeated pictures of us, no, me. Some even tried to touch me, shove microphones into my face, while some climbed the table just to get a better shot.
My heart pounded from the shock of the terror before me. I stumbled back, nearly tripping over myself as a reporter reached forward to grab my hand.
Then suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me out of the reporter’s reach.
“Back off, retard!” Elson barked, shielding me with his body.
“What the hell do you people think you are doing?!” he roared, his voice echoing through the room. But no one seemed to care. It was like Elson’s question bounced back in the reporters‘ ears even before it seeped in. Instead, their questions took a drastic turn.
“Isn’t this the same man who took your son that night?”
“What’s your relationship with him? Are you sure he’s just a worker?”
More reporters flooded in through the doors. It was like they had planned this thoroughly before seeking me
out.
Oh God!
I had been so damn naive.
I let myself believe this might be the start of something new, something good. I ignored my instincts and allowed myself to walk right into their trap.
The room became a blur of flashes and noise. I didn’t know where to look. What to do.
“This is an ambush,” Elson whispered beside me. “They’re increasing. We need to get out of here now.” Without waiting for my response, he pulled me toward a back door that surprisingly led to a hallway. But like hungry vultures, the reporters gave us chase. Their voices were like an uproar.
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Chapter Fifty–Two
“s**t!” Elson cursed.
We sprinted through the halls, taking sharp corners. The reporters followed, like we owed them something,
with their voices like a chant and foot pounding like a war beat.
Finally, we turned one last corner. And there, like a miracle, was a door.
Elson pushed it open and slammed it shut behind us.
My back hit the door, while Elson’s chest pressed to mine.
We stood there like that in silence, breath ragged and chest rising fast as we caught our breath. Outside, we could still hear the furious banging of reporters, but eventually, it faded.
Silent tears streamed down my face, and I wiped at them furiously.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered back, eyes shut tight, trying to erase the memory.
“That wasn’t your fault,” he said gently.
“It is.” I sniffled. “I should’ve known. A random client reaching out in the middle of all this chaos? I ignored my
gut and pushed us right into it.”
Maybe the media was right. Maybe I wasn’t fit to run a company. I lacked the most basic thing, which was rational judgment.
“You’re human, Ava,” Elson said firmly, though his voice was soft. “You’re allowed to hope. To believe that something good might come out of this disaster. You can’t blame yourself for their cruelty.”
“But look where that got me,” I choked. “Running for my life. Like a damn joke.”
How ridiculous, except I was laughing.
Elson gently wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
“You didn’t deserve that. You don’t deserve any of this, so don’t beat yourself up for their despicable actions,” he murmured. “And they’re going to pay. Every last one of them. We’ll sue them. They’ll regret it.”
I stared at him for a long moment.
At the softness in his eyes when they looked at me. The way he never judged me. The way he always stayed by my side, even when my heart was still bleeding and scarred for someone else.
He stood by me anyway.
How could I not love a man like that? He was everything a good man should be, and any woman would be lucky to have him.
So why… why did my heart stay frozen, unmoved, even when he looked at me like I was the only woman in the
world?
A low groan escaped him, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“If you keep looking at me like that,” he said, voice suddenly husky, “I won’t be able to stop myself from
kissing you.”
The bluntness of his words turned my face crimson. I looked away, burning up inside.
He chuckled, but my attention had already shifted.
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<Chapter Fifty Two
Across from us was a mostly empty restaurant. We hadn’t noticed it earlier, as we were distracted by something else. A few people sat inside, eating, relaxing.
But what caught my eye wasn’t the people. It was the huge TV screen plastered to the wall.
My breath seized.
“Ava?” Elson said, but I couldn’t hear him. Couldn’t stop my feet from moving forward.
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The pounding in my chest grew louder as I stared at the screen, at the footage of someone collapsing, then being rushed to the hospital on a stretcher.
My vision blurred, and then turned dizzy.
Oh my God!
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