NICHOLAS’ POV
The moment Ava’s eyes met mine, something undeniable hit me.
The atmosphere in the room changed all at once, as if the oxygen had vanished, making every word and every movement suddenly matter.
Anna was still sitting too close, her perfume filling the air, her body positioning to me like a question I had no interest in answering.
But when I saw Ava standing frozen at the doorway, the thought struck—this is my chance.
A chance to push her away.
To remind her and myself that she had no place in my world beyond the one we agreed on.
I didn’t touch Anna.
I didn’t have to.
Instead, I reached for my phone on the table, flipping it sharply, as though the screen held something more interesting than the woman staring dangerously at me from the doorway.
I let out a quiet ch
