Chloe’s POV

Orion left without so much as a backward glance, ignoring my desperate plea. My heart clenched, and a deep, hot jealousy burned through me. I had begged him not to go. I had told him I was scared, but he hadn’t cared.

And for what?

To chase after Ava.

The realization was humiliating, but humiliation wasn’t something I wore well. Fury suited me better.

Mrs Miller’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Chloe, dear, are you all right?”

I let out a shaky breath, blinking back tears that weren’t entirely fake. “I—I’m sorry. It’s just… everything’s becoming too much.” My voice cracked, and I made sure to sound as pitiful as possible.

She immediately leaned forward, her face etched with concern. “What do you mean, my dear?”

I hesitated, carefully crafting my response. “It’s Ava.” I lowered my head, letting my voice tremble. “She’s ruining everything, Mrs Miller. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Mrs Miller's lips pressed into a thin line, her posture stiffening. I had her attention now.

“I’ve given up everything for Orion,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “My family, my career, my home… I left it all behind because I love him. Because I wanted to protect him.” I let a tear slip down my cheek for effect. “And now, this—this girl comes in and thinks she can just… take him away from me? After everything I’ve done?”

Her face darkened, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve done more for Orion than anyone ever could. That little tramp has no idea what she’s up against.”

I sniffled, biting my lip as though trying to hold back more tears. She clenched her hands into fists, her jaw tight with anger. “That ungrateful boy…”

I reached out, placing a trembling hand on hers. “I don’t blame him. I blame her. She’s manipulating him, turning him against me. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

She stood abruptly, pacing the room with fury radiating from her. “That little gold-digger won’t win, Chloe. I won’t let her. She thinks she can waltz into this family and disrupt everything? I’ll make her regret ever stepping foot into our lives.”

“Maybe…” I began hesitantly, letting the idea sound like an afterthought. “Maybe if Ava were uncomfortable here—if she realized she didn’t belong—she’d leave on her own.”

Mrs Miller's eyes lit up with understanding, and a cruel smile curved her lips. “Oh, don’t worry, Chloe. I’ll make sure she knows exactly how unwelcome she is.”

I nodded, feigning gratitude as Mrs Miller patted my hand before pulling out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen as she muttered to herself.

Satisfied, I excused myself, claiming I needed rest. But my mind was already spinning with my own schemes.

---

Once I was back in my room, I locked the door and picked up my phone, dialing a number I hadn’t used in months.

The voice on the other end was low and familiar. “Chloe.”

“I need your help,” I said, my voice cold and commanding.

There was a pause before they responded. “What’s the job?”

I smirked, leaning back against the headboard. “First, I need you to shake Orion up. Make him realize just how much I mean to him. I’ll tell you when and where to act.”

“And?”

“And,” I continued, my tone growing sharper, “I want you to take care of Ava’s sister. Holly, right? She’s scheduled for surgery soon. Make sure she doesn’t make it to that operating table. I don’t care how—just get it done. No failures. Only results.”

The voice on the other end chuckled darkly. “Consider it done.”

“Good.” I hung up, a wicked grin spreading across my face.

I picked up my phone again, dialing another number. “Come to me now,” I said, my voice low and seductive. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

Almost an hour later, my phone beeped with a notification. I slipped out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and crept downstairs. The house was silent, the only sound was my soft footsteps against the floor.

The moment the back door creaked open, and I saw him standing there, my breath hitched. His sharp eyes drank me in, and before I could say a word, he closed the distance between us. I leaped into his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist, and our mouths collided in a fiery, desperate kiss.

He kicked the door shut behind us, and I barely registered the sound over the frantic beat of my heart.

“God, I missed this,” he growled against my lips, his voice low and dangerous.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging just hard enough to draw a guttural groan from him. “Then don’t make me wait,” I whispered breathlessly.

We stumbled through the quiet house, my pulse quickening with every step. The thrill of sneaking around, of knowing we could be caught at any moment, only fueled the heat pooling in my core.

By the time we reached my room, I was already aching for him. He kicked the door shut and pressed me against it, his mouth trailing down my neck, leaving a blazing path of kisses and soft bites.

I gasped when his teeth grazed my collarbone, a wicked smirk playing on his lips as he pulled back to meet my gaze. “You’re mine tonight,” he murmured, his voice thick with lust.

“Yes,” I breathed, my nails dragging down his back as he lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it aside.

His lips found my breasts, his tongue circling a hardened peak before he drew it into his mouth. I arched into him, my body trembling under his touch. I moaned softly, the sound barely contained as I bit my lip to keep quiet.

He growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating against my skin as he worked on the other nipple, his hands already undoing the waistband of my shorts.

With one swift motion, he yanked them down, his fingers brushing against the damp fabric of my panties. “So wet already,” he teased, his voice a sinful whisper.

“Don’t tease me,” I begged, my hips bucking against his hand.

He grinned, but the playfulness didn’t last. In one fluid movement, he slid my panties down and discarded them. His fingers explored me, stroking the slick heat between my thighs until I was writhing against the door.

I reached for his belt, fumbling with the buckle until it came loose. His pants dropped to the floor, and I pushed his boxers down with trembling hands, freeing his hard length.

He didn’t waste time. Lifting me effortlessly, he carried me to the bed and laid me down, his body covering mine as his lips captured mine again.

When he finally thrust into me, I bit back a scream, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he filled me completely.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his hips rolling in slow, deliberate movements that drove me wild.

“Faster,” I begged, my voice breaking as I clung to him.

He obeyed, his rhythm quickening until the sound of skin against skin filled the room. Each thrust sent a wave of pleasure crashing over me, and I couldn’t hold back the moans that spilled from my lips.

“Please,” I gasped, my nails raking down his back. “Harder.”

His grip on my hips tightened, his movements growing more frenzied as he pounded into me, the bed creaking beneath us.

My body trembled as the pressure built inside me, and I knew I was close. “I’m—”

“I know,” he growled, his voice strained as he drove deeper, harder, until stars burst behind my eyelids.

I cried out, my body arching as the orgasm tore through me, leaving me breathless and shaking. He followed moments later, his hips stuttering as he buried himself deep, a low moan escaping his lips.

We collapsed together, our bodies slick with sweat and tangled in the sheets. I could feel his heart pounding against mine, his breath warm against my neck.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of our breathing and the lingering heat of our passion.

But as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, satisfaction curling through me, one thought remained clear.

Ava would never win. I wouldn’t let her. And I have the perfect plan ready to be unleashed.