Ava's POV
Today at work, I was barely holding it together. The investors seemed pleased enough with the blueprint I presented, but deep down, I knew it wasn’t my best work—it had Liam’s last-minute touches all over it. I was thankful he’d saved the day, but an undercurrent of frustration gnawed at me.
As I trudged back to my office, Mrs. Blackwell’s voice called out. “Ava, do you have a moment?”
I turned to find her watching me with that familiar, concerned gaze. “You didn’t seem quite yourself today. You looked... distracted during the presentation. I’m surprised the investors didn’t notice.”
I forced a laugh, trying to mask my exhaustion. “I’m fine, just a bit worn out, that’s all.”
Mrs. Blackwell raised an eyebrow, her lips tightening in a skeptical line. “You did well with the blu
