Chapter 2
1307 Words
Ella’s POV:
“Oh, Ella,” Ava’s voice dripped with false sweetness, smooth and taunting. “It’s been so long. How are you?”
My throat went dry. “I—I’m fine,” I stammered, glancing from Ava to Damien’s desk and back to her, struggling to keep my composure.
“I heard you two got married. Isn’t that surprising? Completely unexpected,” she said, her words cutting beneath the saccharine tone. “I had no idea you were interested in your boss while we were together. How dare you?”
“No! It’s not like that,” I blurted in panic. “It just… happened.”
Damien sat at his desk, focused on his laptop as if I weren’t even in the room.
Ava chuckled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Aww, don’t be so scared, sweetheart. I’m just teasing.” She smiled smugly, enjoying my discomfort. “We both know Damien only has eyes for me, so don’t flatter yourself.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to remain calm. “What are you doing here, Ava?”
Her smirk deepened. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but Damien invited me. We have some unfinished business to discuss.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “Unfinished business?” My voice wavered as anxiety crept in.
“Yes,” she said with a purr. “You know how it is with old flames—something always lingers, doesn’t it?”
My heart felt like it was sinking. “I… I need to get back to work,” I whispered, suddenly remembering I was supposed to remind Damien about the gala.
“Alright, sweetheart,” Ava said with a sly grin. “I’ll drop by your office later, so you can tell me how married life is going.”
I turned toward Damien, ignoring her taunts. “I didn’t know you had an appointment with her.”
Damien barely looked up. “It just came up,” he said dismissively. “Can you leave now? I’m in a meeting.”
His cold tone cut through me. I forced down the lump in my throat, placed the gala file on his desk, and turned to leave, feeling humiliated.
Back in my office, I struggled to hold back tears. My thoughts raced. Why would Damien invite Ava without telling me? And why did she act so comfortably, as if she still had a claim over him?
As I stared blankly at my computer screen, Ava waltzed out of Damien’s office, her heels clicking confidently against the floor.
“Well, if it isn’t the ever-dutiful wife,” she said with a smirk.
I looked up, forcing myself to appear indifferent. “What do you want, Ava?”
She leaned against my desk, her expression playful. “Just saying hello. It’s not every day I meet Damien’s wife.” She scanned me with thinly veiled amusement. “You’re not exactly what I imagined.”
I crossed my arms. “And what did you imagine?”
“Someone with more… presence.” Ava’s smile sharpened. “But I guess Damien needed someone easy. Someone manageable.”
Her words cut deep, but I kept my face neutral. “If you’re here to gloat, I don’t have time for it.”
Ava chuckled. “Relax, Ella. I’m just making conversation.” She glanced toward Damien’s office, her playful expression fading into something more calculating. “It’s funny, though—people think they know someone, but life always throws a curveball. Damien’s always been good at keeping secrets, hasn’t he?”
My stomach tightened. “What are you trying to say?”
She shrugged, her smile coy. “Nothing… yet. But it’s good to see you’re paying attention.” With that, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked away, leaving me drowning in doubt and unease.
The rest of the day dragged painfully. Around 4 p.m., Damien stepped out of his office.
“I’ll be leaving early. Clear my schedule for the rest of the day,” he said flatly.
“Where are you going?” I asked, frustration bubbling to the surface.
He raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you question my movements?”
“I just thought we could leave together,” I said softly.
“We’ll see each other at home,” he said dismissively, already heading toward the elevator.
I rushed after him. “Don’t forget about the charity gala tonight. It starts at 8 PM.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly annoyed. “I’ll be there. If not, I’ll text you the amount to donate. Take some staff with you.”
The elevator doors slid shut, and I stood there, feeling more like a stranger than a wife.
That evening, I handed out invitations to the staff attending the gala. Some were excited, while others were irritated by the late notice. I tried to focus on preparations, but Ava’s words haunted me.
When I got home to change, Eleanor was lounging in the living room, a glass of wine in hand.
“You’re late,” she remarked, a smug smile playing on her lips. “Buying more useless things, I assume?”
I forced a smile. “No, just work.”
Eleanor scoffed. “As if what you do matters. You’re lucky Damien married you. I still don’t understand what he sees in you.”
I clenched my fists, biting back a sharp retort.
“And speaking of Damien,” Eleanor added, her voice laced with malice, “you might want to keep an eye on him. Old flames can be… persistent.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
Her smile widened. “You saw Ava today, didn’t you? Don’t tell me you thought it was just a friendly visit.”
I swallowed hard. “What do you know about Ava, ma?”
Eleanor leaned in slightly. “Let’s just say, dear, men like Damien always get what they want. And if he wants Ava back… well, let’s hope you’re ready for that.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I excused myself and went upstairs to get ready for the gala.
When I arrived at the venue, my heart sank. Ava and Damien were already there, standing together, laughing as if they were meant to be.
I approached Damien, trying to maintain composure. “What is she doing here? She wasn’t invited.”
“She insisted,” Damien replied, shrugging. “So I brought her.”
“You could’ve told me,” I whispered angrily.
“Since when do I report to you about who I bring to events?” he asked coldly.
The crowd’s eyes were on us, sensing the tension.
“We’ll discuss this at home,” Damien said, cutting off the conversation. I turned away, forcing a smile as I carried on with my duties.
Ava, meanwhile, played the role of Damien’s companion with unsettling ease.
Halfway through the event, Ava took the microphone.
“I have a special announcement,” she said, her voice cheerful. The crowd hushed, turning toward her.
I stiffened. What is she doing?
Then, from behind the stage, Ava led out a little boy, no older than two or three, holding his hand tenderly.
“We’d like to introduce you to Damien’s heir,” she declared, a triumphant smile on her face.
The room erupted in whispers, and the air felt like it had been sucked out of my lungs.
Damien stood beside Ava, his expression unreadable — no surprise, only acceptance.
It felt like the world had stopped spinning. My heart raced painfully in my chest as I stared at the child, my mind reeling.
This was Damien’s heir? Ava’s son?
And in that moment, everything inside me shattered.
- Writer
