Ava’s POV

I turned to Orion, who looked both relieved and conflicted. “She actually did it,” he murmured, almost to himself. “She didn’t have a choice,” I replied, setting the phone down. Orion’s gaze softened as he looked at me. “You were brilliant, Ava. I don’t know how you do it.”

I shrugged, trying to downplay the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. “Someone had to put her in her place.”

Rose chuckled, but there was a hint of admiration in her tone. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, boss.”

Despite the victory, a lingering unease settled over me. Chloe’s confession was public, but the fight wasn’t over. The video she posted earlier might be discredited, but her actions had set events in motion that couldn’t be undone.

By going live, she had indirectly exposed herself. She really has something she’s hiding. What could that be? I guess I’ll have to call Joe to send me the security footage from the day I left the mansion up till when Rose sent Chloe out.

I’ll have to keep something like that handy, just in case she decides to act up again.

Orion reached for my hand, his touch putting me at ease. “We’ve cleared one hurdle,” he said. “But there’s more to this. Chloe wouldn’t have pulled this off alone if she didn’t get help.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. He was right. Chloe might have been the face of the scheme, but there are many forces at play, especially the Jamesons and I don’t think she’s going to give up that quickly.

“We’ll take them all out,” I said firmly, my resolve hardening. “And when we’re done with them, they’ll regret ever trying to destroy us.”

Orion nodded, his determination mirroring my own. Rose stood, brushing off her hands as if preparing for battle.

“Well,” she said with a smirk. “Let’s find out who else needs to be taken down.”

And with that, we plunged back into the chaos, ready to uncover the truth, no matter how dark it might be.

***

It had been four days since the press conference, and everything seemed to have settled, at least on the surface. Orion and I hadn’t left the penthouse or returned to the company. Instead, we’d been operating from here, trying to recover from the scandal before reentering the public eye. These past four days, Orion had been…different. A completely changed man.

He’d made breakfast for me every morning, and we’d spent hours talking and laughing like we had no worries. Last night, he told me a funny story from his childhood, and I couldn’t stop staring at him. The way his eyes lit up, the warmth in his smile—I’d never seen him like this before. It hit me just how much this scandal had changed everything.

“Ava?!” his voice called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah?” I called back, walking into the bedroom where he stood, looking dashing as ever in a tailored suit.

We have to look our best for today.

“Are you ready?” he asked, glancing at the clock.

I smoothed down my dress and turned my back to him. “Can you help me zip this up?”

He stepped closer, his hands brushing my exposed back as he pulled the zipper up. The light touch sent a shiver down my spine, and before I could stop myself, I leaned into him.

“Orion, stop,” I said breathlessly, trying to regain control. “We’re going to be late.”

But he didn’t listen. He turned me around, his gaze smoldering, and captured my lips in a deep kiss. One thing led to another, and by the time I realized what was happening, my dress was ruined, and I was stepping into the shower—again.

Back in the room, Orion was helping me buckle my heels, a smug grin plastered on his face.

“Why do you keep doing that?” I mumbled, trying to hide my amusement.

“Doing what?” he asked, feigning innocence.

“Ruining my dresses,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “You do it every single time! Remember that day at the office? You ripped my shirt?”

We both burst into laughter, the memory vivid in our minds.

“Well, Mrs. Miller,” he said, standing and taking my chin in his hand. His thumb gently traced my jawline. “I can buy you as many dresses as you want,” he teased, leaning in for another kiss.

I pressed my hand against his lips and pushed him back. “Nope. Not again. We’re already running late.”

He groaned dramatically as I grabbed my phone. I glanced down and noticed the telltale sign of his arousal, making me shake my head in mock disappointment.

“Tsk, tsk, Mr. Miller. You really need to learn some self-control,” I joked, darting out of the room with him hot on my heels.

It felt perfect—this life, this version of us. It was everything I’d always wanted. But as we rode to Mrs. Priscilla Miller’s mansion, reality began to creep back in.

I glanced out the window, the old house coming into view. It held so many memories, most of them painful. My mind drifted to Richard—the sacrifices he’d made for me and my sister. My chest tightened with guilt. I hadn’t told Orion everything about him yet. One of these days, I would.

“Hey,” I said softly, turning to Orion.

He leaned closer, resting his forehead against mine. “What is it?”

“Don’t you think we should visit your father sometime?” I asked hesitantly, unsure of his reaction.

He stiffened, guilt flickering in his eyes. For a moment, he said nothing.

“Hey,” I whispered again, reaching for his hand. “It’s fine. Whenever you’re ready.”

He nodded, squeezing my hand as we pulled up to the mansion. “Thank you. And you’re right. We should pay him a visit.”

Hand in hand, we entered the house. The moment we stepped inside, I was hit with a wave of memories—cold rooms, harsh words, and the constant feeling of being trapped.

Mrs. Priscilla Miller appeared at the top of the staircase, her head held high, every inch the queen of her domain. Her eyes narrowed when she saw us walking in together, our fingers intertwined.

“And what is the meaning of this circus?” she spat, descending the stairs with practiced grace.

“Hello, Mother,” Orion said coolly. “I’ve come to fulfill my duty as your son—with my wife.”

“Wife?” she repeated, her voice rising with rage. “She is no wife of yours! She killed your father. She’s a cheap whore—a gold digger! How dare you flaunt her in front of me?”

I flinched at her words, but Orion held me steady, his gaze never wavering from hers.

“Well, Mother,” he said, his tone sharp as a blade. “I thought it could be helped, but your sickness… it’s gotten worse.”

Her eyes flashed with fury. “What sickness? You mean the lies you spun at your press release? You think anyone with a brain would believe that nonsense?”

Orion laughed coldly. “Oh, they believed it. And now, Ava and I have decided to ensure you get the best care possible.”

She is indeed unwell. Orion told me about the call from the family doctor, and his concern for Mrs Pricilla’s mental health.

Before she could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed behind us. A team of nurses and a doctor entered the room.

“What is this?” she hissed, panic creeping into her voice.

“They’re here to help you, Mother,” Orion said. “You’ll stay here, under constant care, until your condition improves. No visitors. No contact with the outside world. Doctor Noel and the nurses will monitor your progress.”

The nurses moved toward her, but she fought them, screaming and kicking. “You can’t do this! I’ll destroy you both! Do you hear me? This isn’t the end!”

Her threats sent a chill down my spine, but Orion’s grip on my hand steadied me.

As they carried her upstairs, she turned her wrath on me. “You witch! You’ll pay for this! You’ll pay for killing my husband and turning my son against me. Everything will come crashing down around you, and you won’t be able to stop it!”

I watched as they locked her in her room, her rants echoing through the house like an incantation.

“Don’t ever let her out,” Orion instructed the nurses. “And no access to phones or visitors, especially Chloe Roland.”

When it was done, we walked out of the mansion hand in hand. But as we reached the car, I glanced back. Mrs. Miller stood at her window, her face twisted into a cold, haunting smile.

“She won’t stop,” I whispered.

“She can’t,” Orion replied, his jaw set. “But she’ll never win.”