Chapter 217

Chapter 217

-Grayson’s POV-

The air around us felt thick, charged with something I couldn’t quite put into words. My pulse quickened. The shock that came with seeing her after everything that had happened–everything that had gone wrong–flooded my system, paralyzing me for a brief moment.

Her eyes, those swirling eyes, locked onto mine, and I saw the million guards she had put up between us.

Like she knew I was coming. And had been preparing to face me

But I was the one who didn’t know how to face her.

For the longest moment, I couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. My mouth was dry, my brain malfunctioning, short- circuiting under the weight of seeing her again. Awake. Staring at me.

Then, instinctively, my eyes went to her stomach.

Just like Elaine’s at three months. Even though we knew the truth now, hers was no different. But I didn’t know anything about pregnancy. Still hadn’t decided what I was going to say about it because my head wasn’t agreeing with me.

I opened my mouth to form words, but she beat me to it in a neutral tone, “I was going outside to get air. Please excuse me.”

I didn’t move.

She shimmied past me, brushing my shoulder, and I turned, watching her walk away.

I finally found my voice, “Ava…”

But she didn’t stop walking. She didn’t even hesitate.

I stood there, frozen, my body refusing to move even though every instinct in me screamed to go after her. My fingers clenched into fists at my sides as I swallowed against the tightness in my throat.

This was wrong. This silence between us. This distance.

I forced myself to snap out of it, my legs moving before I had fully processed what I was doing. I followed her outside, my eyes scanning the garden until I found her.

She was standing by Ricardo’s fountain, staring at the water. A mother duck swam in slow circles, her ducklings trailing behind her in perfect formation.

A mother and her children.

Something in my chest twisted at the sight, at the way Ava was watching them so intently, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding herself together.

I took a step forward, and I felt it–the rift between us.

Tangible. Heavy. Unforgiving.

sorry.” I

Feb 18 D

Chapter 917

the

at the fountain, as

my throat. “He planted the

Nothing.

even the

a long moment, I thought she

then, without looking at me, she

almost detached, “What do you want me to

I stiffened.

turned her head slightly, her gaze flickering to me, but

to believe that I was capable of doing all those horrible things? Playing you from the start? Betraying you by telling the

I could

she had screamed at me, cursed me, thrown something–anything–I could have handled

But this?

quiet, resigned neutrality?

worse than rage.

her giving

tighten, but I

swam closer to their mother. I swallowed. My voice felt

head toward me so fast

expression didn’t change, but her eyes–her eyes–burned with something

She said sharply, “There is nothing you can say to

took a steadying breath, forcing it back to that

exhaled, shaking her head slightly before continuing. “I told you I didn’t do it. But you wouldn’t listen to me. You would just believe me for a fraction of a second before letting doubt creep

heart pounded in

Tue, Feb 18 • D

Chapter 917

74 1973

then she whispered, more to herself han to me, “Maybe there was never anything

opened my mouth to speak, but no words came

let out a soft, humorless laugh, shaking her head

it was all lies from the start,” she murmured. “Maybe it should stay that

“Ava.”

need to bridge this

mid–step, the rejection hitting the harder

the water danced in her eyes, making the unshed tears

unforgiving. I had no right to feel the pain that came

in her voice.

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