His son broke me His father claimed me: A Christmas affair

Chapter One Ava’s POV The tears had been falling for hours as I mechanically folded clothes into my suitcase. December 23rd—one day before Christmas Eve—and I was heartbroken, trying to pack for a trip I absolutely didn’t want to take. Derek’s text still burned in my mind:”I didn’t think this can work, we need some space. This isn’t working anymore. Sorry.” Eight months reduced to a casual “sorry” delivered like I was some random hookup. “Ava, sweetheart!” Mom’s voice drifted upstairs, artificially cheerful. “Are you almost ready? We leave for the airport in two hours!” The last thing I wanted was to spend Christmas pretending to be happy around strangers. But Mom and Richard had been planning this trip for weeks to visit Richard’s best friend Marcus Newman—some tech billionaire he’d known since college—at his Aspen mansion. I’d heard about Marcus my entire life. Ever since Mom married Richard when I was twelve, every conversation circled back to his college roommate who’d struck it rich. How he’d started three companies before thirty. How he’d never remarried after losing his first wife. How he and Richard talked every week despite living on opposite coasts. But we’d never actually met. He’d become this mythical figure who sent expensive wine and remembered birthdays with gifts that cost more than most people’s rent. My phone buzzed. Dana, thank God. “Hey, babe. How are you holding up?” “Like garbage. I have to get on a plane to spend Christmas with people I’ve never met.” “You should be my key girl, cause what?” “What?” I asked cause Dana sound like she had just be punched on the face. “Aunty Bella said her ticket got canceled, so she’d not make it but will surely comes by 31st so we could celebrate Christmas together,” Dana continued, “so apparently my family reunion got moved to New Year’s. I’m completely free.” Hope flickered through my mind. “What if you came with us?” An hour later, Dana burst through our door with an overnight bag and that infectious grin. “Emergency best friend support mission activated.” The relief was intense. At least I wouldn’t face this alone. At the airport’s private terminal, Dana kept up steady chatter while Mom and Richard discussed their excitement about introducing me to Marcus. “He’s going to love you, Ava,” Richard said. “I’ve told him so much about you over the years. He says he feels like he already knows you.” Something about that made me uncomfortable, though I couldn’t pinpoint why. The flight passed in a blur. As we descended, snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly, scattered lights like tiny jewels against white landscape. The drive through Aspen was magical, but as we climbed into the mountains, my nervousness returned. “There it is,” Richard said softly as we rounded a curve. The Newman mansion was breathtaking. Modern and angular yet warm, built into the mountainside like it had grown naturally there. Floor-to-ceiling windows caught the evening light across multiple cascading levels. “Holy s**t,” Dana breathed, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, Mrs. Chen!” Mom laughed. “No, honey, that’s exactly right. It’s stunning.” A uniformed housekeeper led us through an entrance hall bigger than my dorm room, fresh flowers everywhere despite December. The living room was breathtaking—one wall entirely windows overlooking snow-covered mountains, a fire crackling in a massive stone fireplace. Standing by those windows, silhouetted against the landscape, was a man who made every coherent thought disappear. Even from behind, I could see his broad shoulders under perfectly fitted cashmere. Dark hair, tall enough to tower over me. When he turned at our footsteps, my knees went weak. He was absolutely, devastatingly gorgeous. Not handsome in Derek’s clean-cut way. This was dangerous. Sharp cheekbones, strong jaw with stubble, intensely blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me. Lines around those eyes spoke of experience. Probably Richard’s age—early forties—but where Richard was comfortable dad-attractive, this man was dangerous in a way that made my pulse race. “Richard!” His voice was deep, warm, with roughness that made something low in my belly tighten. “Finally. It’s been far too long.” Even as Marcus hugged Richard, those incredible blue eyes found mine. The intensity hit like physical force. I felt naked, exposed. “And this,” Richard said, stepping back with obvious pride, “is my daughter Ava.” Marcus stepped forward. I caught expensive, masculine cologne that made my head spin. He extended his hand. “Ava.” The way he said my name, low and careful, like testing how it felt. “I’m Marcus Newman. Your father has told me so much about you.” I forced myself to take his hand. Electricity shot up my arm straight to my core. His hand was warm, slightly calloused despite obvious wealth, strong enough that I felt completely enveloped. “It’s nice to finally meet you too.” My voice came out breathless. “The pleasure is entirely mine.” His thumb brushed my knuckles before releasing my hand, contact lasting just longer than it should. “Richard wasn’t exaggerating when he said you were beautiful.” Heat flooded my cheeks. Was Marcus Newman actually flirting with me? No, that was ridiculous. I was reading signals that weren’t there because I was hurt and vulnerable. This was family friend politeness. Nothing more. But the way he was looking at me… “Dad?” A familiar voice called. I turned slowly, praying I was hallucinating. But there he was. Derek, my ex-boyfriend, standing in Marcus Newman’s living room doorway.