Seduced by My Ex's Tycoon Brother

Cheated

Ava's POV

I didn't feel good.

It showed in everything I did, especially now as I grumpily shut down my computer and grabbed my purse in a rush. I headed out of my office, my steps hurried as I tried to keep my thoughts under control.

Of course, my sour mood had everything to do with Liam.

I had a boyfriend, yet it never truly felt like I did. Still, these past few days have been worse than usual. He never called, and whenever I tried reaching him, he suddenly became the busiest man in New York.

I was sick of it. Deep down, I already knew why. I just didn't want it to be true.

After saying goodbye to a few colleagues, I hurried back to my apartment. By the time I'd finished dinner and taken a hot shower, it was already late. Sitting on the edge of my bed with my phone in hand, I fought back tears.

I'd been calling Liam nonstop, especially because our engagement dinner was only a week away, and he hadn't even had a proper conversation with me. Yet he never returned a single call.

"I'm exhausted," I muttered to myself. I slipped beneath the covers and closed my eyes.

Not even a second later, my phone started ringing. My heart leaped. I grabbed it immediately, excitement surging through me when I saw Liam's name on the screen.

I answered at once. "I've been trying to reach you, Liam. What's going on?" I said in relief. "You didn't even reply to my texts."

There was no response. At least, that's what I thought. Then I heard muffled noises.

My brows furrowed. The sounds gradually became clearer, turning into rhythmic noises that made my stomach twist. Heat crawled up my body, and I jerked upright, trying to understand what I was hearing.

And then it hit me. Moans, and ragged breathing. Breathless moans filled the line. At first, I pulled the phone away from my ear and squeezed my eyes shut, praying I was imagining it.

Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. Maybe I was exhausted. Maybe… But it wasn't. When I slowly brought the phone back to my ear, I immediately recognized Ariana's voice.

"Liam?" I shouted into the phone, tears spilling down my cheeks. "Liam, what's going on?" Suddenly, there was shuffling. Then the call ended.

A gasp escaped my lips as I stared blankly at the empty space beside my nightstand. My chest felt as though someone had driven a burning blade straight through it. He called just so I could hear, so I would know. So I would understand that he had chosen her again. Just like he always did. I slid off the bed and cried until my eyes burned.

Until there were no tears left to shed.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I woke up to my phone buzzing relentlessly beside me. Still sprawled on the floor, I stretched out a hand and answered the call.

It was my best friend. "What the f**k, Ava? Why aren't you at work?" Sarah snapped.

Frowning, I glanced at the screen and froze when I realized it was almost noon. "Oh my God!"

I shot to my feet, ignoring the pounding headache threatening to split my skull. "I swear, I don't know how I missed my alarm."

I heard her scoff. "Girl, get your ass over here. I have to go now, though. There's a meeting. Bye." The call ended.

Hissing, I tossed my phone onto the bed, only to notice a text message from Liam. Instantly, last night's memories came rushing back. My heart stopped and my hands turned clammy.

Slowly, bile rose in my throat.

LIAM: I can't do this anymore, Ava. We don't belong together. I'm calling this off.

A bitter laugh escaped me. I slowly sank to the floor, staring at the message through blurred vision. He broke up with me through a text. A text.

I felt worthless, used and humiliated. It took everything in me not to scream. What had I expected after he cheated? An apology? Some remorse? Maybe even a little guilt? Anything? But… No. He simply ended things and walked away.

My phone buzzed again, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I glanced at the screen. An unknown number.

Without thinking, I answered. "Ava." Thankfully, my voice didn't sound nearly as broken as I felt.

A high-pitched laugh echoed through the speaker. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. How cute."

My eyes closed immediately. It was Ariana.

"You b***h. Playing therapist while I was away?" she sneered. "You've got some nerve."

I remained silent and refused to speak. Refused to give her the satisfaction of hearing me cry when I was already on the verge of tears. But I couldn't bring myself to end the call either.

"For years, I suspected you had a thing for him," she continued. "But I ignored your boring ass. Now look where we are. I leave for a little while, and you sneak in? You actually thought he'd marry you?"

She burst into laughter. "You're foolish. Pathetic and boring. Why would he ever want you?"

Her laughter grew louder before she took a breath. "I was so worried that I even accused him of cheating on me with you..." My hand flew to my mouth as a sob threatened to escape. "Only to find out he didn't even sleep with you."

The words hit harder than any slap.

"He'd rather stay celibate and please himself than touch you. That's how unexciting and bland you are. You…"

I ended the call. Then I hurled my phone across the room. My hands trembled violently as a broken sob ripped from my throat. Liam couldn't even pretend to care. I'd helped him through so much. I stood by him. I'd begged him not to throw our relationship away. He promised he'd cut ties with her. And this was what I got.

I crawled back onto my bed and cried until exhaustion took over.

Work was the last thing on my mind today.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

I wasn't supposed to be here.

But that didn't stop me from walking confidently into a booth and taking a seat, even though my nerves were anything but calm.

I was at ECSTASY. The same club I'd fled from barely three weeks ago in disgust. I wasn't entirely sure why I had come back. Maybe because this was my way of saying f**k you to the sham that had been my relationship.

I'd spent the entire day wallowing in self-pity before finally forcing myself to eat, shower, and slip into the skimpiest dress I owned. A silky off-shoulder mini dress that stopped at mid-thigh. Even after arriving, I'd lingered in the hallway for several minutes, debating whether to turn around and go home.

But I wanted this… Needed this.

Without allowing myself time to think, I pressed the call button and drew in a deep breath. I was done centering my life around a man who couldn't care less about me.

A few minutes later, a woman approached carrying a tablet. "What services would you like?" she asked with a professional smile as she held out the tablet.

She held out the tablet, but I clasped my hands together. I refused to glance at the options or grab the tablet. "The lap dance, please."

“And would you prefer a male or female?” She asked.

That was the problem. I had no idea.

KADE’S POV

I couldn't stop thinking about her, the girl I'd run into at the club a few days ago. Even now, as I sat in my office staring at the screens, I couldn't forget the way my body had reacted to that brief contact. The encounter had lasted only seconds, yet it lingered in my mind. I was determined to find her, no matter how long it took.

I shook my head and was about to turn back to my desk to finish some paperwork when I caught sight of a girl standing in the hallway. It wasn't an alarming sight, and I was ready to dismiss it and look away, but then recognition struck. It was her.

She eventually made her way into the club, and I waited for her to appear on the security cameras. A scoff escaped me as a smirk tugged at my lips. I could have gone out to look for her myself, but seeing her walk in on her own only strengthened my resolve.

This time, she wasn't going to slip away.