Chapter 2

She looked at him, disbelief etched across her face. “Is that really the first thing you have to say to me?” she whispered. “After all these years, you’re not even happy to see me?”

Just then, a voice called out from deeper within the mansion. “Sebastian, who’s at the door?” Ava turned, and her heart twisted as she saw a woman—a striking brunette dressed in designer clothes, her demeanor poised and polished.

“It’s nothing, honey,” Sebastian replied over his shoulder, his voice cold.

Ava’s heart shattered. Nothing. That was what she was to him now. Nothing.

“I can’t believe this,” she murmured, her voice quivering with the weight of her betrayal. “I went to prison for you, Sebastian. I took the blame for the money you stole from our company because I loved you. I believed in you.”

Sebastian stiffened, but his face betrayed nothing. “Look, Ava,” he said, his tone dismissive, “that’s all in the past. You were foolish to take the fall.”

Ava’s voice broke as she fought back tears. “I gave up everything for you, and you left me to rot. Why, Sebastian? Why would you betray me like this?”

Her words seemed to glance off him, his expression growing colder. Just then, Alexandra joined them, her gaze flicking between Ava and Sebastian, confusion and suspicion growing on her face. “Sebastian, who is this?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Sebastian paused, his eyes darting to Ava before turning to Alexandra with a forced smile. “She’s just an old friend who’s fallen on hard times. She got out of prison recently… probably just needs some money.”

Ava’s heart seared with fresh pain as she watched the couple exchange glances. Alexandra’s brow furrowed, but her expression softened with pity as she reached into her designer bag. Pulling out a stack of cash, she extended it toward Ava, the bills dangling in her manicured hand.

“Here,” Alexandra said with a gentle smile. “I hope this helps you get back on your feet.”

The humiliation was almost unbearable. Ava stared at the money, her cheeks burning as the reality of her situation sank in. But as much as it hurt, a surge of defiance rose within her. Straightening, she looked them both in the eye and shook her head.

“Keep your money,” she said, her voice steely. “I don’t need your pity or your handouts. I need you,” she continued, turning to Sebastian, “to admit what you did—to own up to the truth and clear my name.”

The challenge hung in the air, her words echoing in the grand, empty silence. For a moment, she saw a flicker of fear in Sebastian’s eyes, but he quickly masked it, his face hardening as he looked away.

Without another word, Ava turned on her heel, walking out of the mansion with her head held high. She felt their stares on her back as she left, but she kept going, refusing to look back. She knew the pain she carried would be a part of her for a long time, but she would bear it with dignity. As she stepped out onto the driveway, her resolve sharpened—she would make Sebastian pay for what he had done, and she would reclaim the life he had stolen from her.

Inside the mansion, Alexandra turned to Sebastian, her gaze questioning and uneasy. “Sebastian… What did she mean by that? Why did she say you need to own up to your crimes?”

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably, stumbling over his words as he tried to reassure her. “It’s nothing, really. She… she’s just confused. Prison must have affected her.”

But Alexandra’s eyes narrowed, doubt clouding her gaze as she watched him carefully. Sighing, she dropped the subject for the moment, though unease still lingered between them.

Later, as they sat in her car, driving to Alexandra’s family estate, Sebastian felt the weight of his lies pressing down on him, suffocating him in the quiet tension.

The further they drove, the more his mind raced with the fragile threads holding his life together. Yet the nagging fear remained, whispering in the back of his mind—the life he’d built, the empire he’d amassed, all stood on a foundation of deception that Ava now threatened to expose.

As the car pulled up to the Harrington mansion, the grand façade bathed in the soft morning light, he tried to bury his unease, hoping desperately that the ghosts of his past would remain buried.

But as he stepped inside, he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that everything he had worked so hard to build was about to unravel.

Mr. George Harrington shifted his gaze to Sebastian, his expression one of careful scrutiny. "So, son, how are you managing my company?" he inquired, his tone a mix of genuine curiosity and unspoken caution. His voice carried the weight of a man who had spent decades building an empire and was now balancing his faith in Sebastian with his reservations.

"Everything is going well, sir," Sebastian replied confidently, his eyes bright with determination. It was important to him that he impressed Mr. Harrington—not just as the heir to his business, but as the man who would one day marry his daughter.

Despite Sebastian’s words, the tension from the earlier encounter with Ava still lingered in the air, casting a subtle shadow that Alexandra could feel keenly. It made her uneasy, but she refused to let it shake her resolve.

Driven by a fierce love for Sebastian and a desire to anchor their relationship in permanence, she turned to her father with hopeful eyes. "Dad, I want to marry Sebastian as soon as possible," she announced, her tone edged with urgency as she moved across the room, perching herself gently on her father’s knee.

Mr. George listened with a steady, unreadable expression as his daughter’s words hung in the air. He reached up, placing a gentle hand on her back, and then glanced at Sebastian. The young man’s gaze was unwavering, locked on Alexandra’s face with an intensity that left no room for doubt.

"I love you, Alexandra," Sebastian said, his voice low but certain. "I can’t wait to be your husband, legally and in every way that matters."

After a thoughtful silence, Mr. George nodded, his decision made. Slowly, he lifted Alexandra from his knee, setting her gently on her feet as he rose. "Very well, my dear," he said, his tone imbued with warmth and determination. "We’ll hire the best wedding planner money can buy and start the preparations right away."

As Mr. George made his promise, miles away, Ava was making her way back to the modest home she now shared with the woman who had taken her in—a woman she had grown to see as the mother she had never known.

Ava’s life had been marked by hardship from the start; abandoned as a child, she had survived years on the streets, learning to fend for herself with an independence that belied her youth. Through relentless effort, she had put herself through school, hoping to carve out a place in the world for herself.

When she arrived, she entered the small but cozy home with a gentle greeting. "Good afternoon, ma," she said, still adjusting to the warmth of this newfound family dynamic. The woman, who insisted on being called "mum," raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Mum," Ava corrected herself with a small smile. "I’m back."

As they settled into the evening, Ava found herself opening up about her encounter with Sebastian. Her voice wavered as she recounted the painful details—his betrayal, his harsh dismissal. As she spoke, her mother figure listened quietly, her gaze filled with both understanding and compassion.

Finally, she reached across and took Ava’s hand, squeezing it gently.

"Don’t let the past trap you, my dear," she murmured. "You have dreams, ambition, a world waiting for you. Focus on that. Build the life you want, and everything else will follow."

Buoyed by the woman’s words, Ava felt a spark of determination ignite within her. She had a degree in fashion design, a passion she had nurtured through countless nights of study and creativity. And now, as if a door had opened before her, she felt a strong pull toward the future she had always dreamed of. The very next day, she set out on her journey, ready to find a place for herself in the fashion industry.

Early the next morning, Ava woke before dawn, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Today marked her first interview—a chance to showcase her talent and step into the world she had worked so hard to reach. She dressed carefully, her fingers lingering over each detail as she prepared herself mentally and physically for the day ahead.

When she arrived at the elegant glass-fronted building of the fashion house, she was greeted by the receptionist, who gave her a warm smile and directed her to a waiting area. "The hiring manager will be with you shortly," the receptionist informed her.

Ava took a seat, glancing around at the polished surfaces and stylish decor, letting her mind drift back over all she had overcome. Her life had not been easy, but every obstacle had only made her stronger. With each passing moment, she felt her resolve harden. She was ready for this.

"You can follow me now," the receptionist said, returning to lead Ava down a quiet hallway to the hiring manager’s office. Ava took a deep breath, steadying herself as she entered.

Inside, she found herself face-to-face with a man who had an air of quiet intensity. Without preamble, he handed her a pen and a blank sheet of paper. "I’d like you to sketch two unique wedding gown designs," he said simply.