Chapter 5
The office quieted, and a few colleagues turned their heads, drawn by the
commotion.
Liam’s expression darkened immediately. His eyes narrowed as he responded, coldly, “Don’t mention that I gave her the position. If it makes her happy, I’ll give her anything she wants.”
His words hit me like a punch. My breath caught, and I felt a sudden clarity.
“Fine,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside. “If that’s how it is, then I‘ 11 leave the company. Will you sell my shares at a discount, or should I resell them myself?”
Liam was visibly agitated. His hand trembled as he pointed at me, his voice rising with frustration. “Ava, are you really making such a scene over something so trivial? We’re about to get married, and
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you’re still holding grudges like this?”
Before I could respond, Evelyn rushed in, tears streaming down her face. “Liam, please, stop arguing. It’s all my fault. Can’t I leave?” Without waiting for a response, Evelyn turned and fled the room, her sobs echoing behind her.
“Evelyn!” Liam shouted after her, his gaze shifting to me, seething with anger. “Are you happy now?”
Before I could answer, a voice cried out from outside. “Hurry, Evelyn jumped off the building!”
Liam’s face drained of color as he bolted out of the office in a panic.
I stood there, numb, no longer willing to be caught up in the chaos. I contacted my partner, only to be informed that someone. else would be taking over. Without
hesitation, I called my lawyer, sorted
through my shares, and sold them to Liam’s greatest rival as swiftly as possible.
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Once everything was in place, I grabbed my luggage and headed for the airport. Before boarding my flight, I sent Liam a final message:
I’ve let go. When we meet again, we’ll be strangers.
When I landed, I was met by the sight of my father waiting at the exit. He looked older than I remembered, his face marked by the passing years. Tears welled up in my eyes as I rushed toward him and threw myself into his arms, longing for the comfort I had missed.
“Dad, I missed you so much.”
He patted me gently, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s good to have you back, but why are you still acting like a child? Aren’t you worried about embarrassing yourself?”
I sniffed and looked up, only to see a tall man standing next to my father. He smiled warmly and extended his hand to me.
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“Jameson Pierce, your fiancé. Welcome
home.”
Despite being mentally prepared, I hadn’t expected to be greeted by him so soon after landing. His calm and composed
demeanor made me relax, and I smiled, responding politely.
“Thank you for taking the trouble coming here.”
Jameson grinned and took my suitcase. from me. “It’s no trouble at all. It’s my pleasure to pick up my fiancée.”
The word fiancée caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but blush.
My father watched us with amusement, clearly pleased. “Alright, let’s talk while
we walk.”
As we made our way home, my father leaned in, his voice quieter now. “So, what do you think? Is he more dependable than the one you were with?”
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I hesitated, my thoughts drifting back to the past. “I didn’t expect you to come with him. It was Jameson who suggested it. He said it was too late, and he didn’t want you traveling alone in the dark.”
My father’s words pulled me deeper into my memories. I remembered a time not too long ago, when I had come back from a business trip. My flight had been delayed, and by the time I finally arrived in Cleveland, it was already early morning.
I hesitated for a moment but ultimately called Liam, asking him to pick me up. As the call neared its end, his voice came through, impatient and sharp. “Can’t you just come back on your own? It’ll take me an hour to get to you. You could have been home by now.”
The night wind bit at my skin, and I sniffed, trying to steady my voice. “It’s late, aren’t you worried it’s not safe for me to travel alone? Or you could just stay on the phone with me for a while.”
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Liam’s tone grew even more annoyed. “How many accidents can there be, Ava? Do you have paranoid delusions? I have a
meeting tomorrow and don’t have time to baby–sit you. Evelyn isn’t as sensitive as you. Just get back here on your own.”
The phone clicked off, and though I tried to shake it off, I couldn’t help but feel a deep chill. I would never forget how I spent that night, alone in the back of a taxi, nerves on edge, wondering if I was truly safe.
But now, seeing Jameson standing in front of me, a subtle warmth spread through my chest. His calm presence offered a quiet contrast to the coldness I’d just experienced.
As soon as we arrived home, my father, eager for us to have some time alone, took the luggage inside, leaving Jameson and me standing together.
