Ava’s POV

The incessant ringing of our phones jolted us awake. I stirred, unwilling to leave the warmth of Orion's arms. He hesitated for a moment before reaching for his phone on the headboard. His body stiffened as he listened to whoever was on the other end. Suddenly, he shot upright.

“What do you mean by that?” he barked into the phone, his tone sharp and commanding. My curiosity piqued, I sat up and watched him intently.

“Schedule a meeting for today,” he ordered before tossing the phone aside and raking his hand through his disheveled hair.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice cautious.

He turned to look at me, his expression softening. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, just some… minor concern at my company,” he replied, placing a reassuring kiss on my hand. His lips then trailed from my hand to my arm, my shoulder, my neck, and finally to my ear.

“Stop,” I said, smiling as I half-heartedly pushed him away. But before things could go further, my own phone rang. Orion groaned, reluctantly moving away from on top of me.

It was Rose.

“Is the company on fire?” I asked jokingly.

“How did you know that?” she replied frantically.

My heart skipped a beat. “Wait, what? It’s on fire? Like actual fire?” I barked.

She chuckled nervously. “No, not literally. But we have a problem. The Jamesons just informed the legal department about their plans for a deal, and they’re coming over this morning. It’s chaotic here. When will you arrive?”

“What time is the meeting?” I asked, checking the clock.

“Nine, and it’s already eight. Please get here as fast as you can—I don’t trust these hungry board members,” she said, the sound of her tapping away on her tablet filling the background.

I hung up and relayed the situation to Orion. We hurriedly got ready and headed downstairs.

“Don’t you have an important meeting at your company?” I asked as we stepped into the living room.

“This one is more important,” he replied. “And that meeting isn’t until this afternoon.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll be there with you, okay?”

He nodded, his hand briefly brushing mine. After a quick check-in with Holly to ensure she was safe and sound, we headed out.

A notification popped up on my phone. It was from Joe, who I’d asked to comb through the security footage at the mansion. My eyes widened as I scrolled through incriminating videos of Chloe. The most shocking part was the person she was sleeping with.

How original.

“What is that?” Orion asked, noticing the smirk playing on my lips.

“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” I replied, turning the screen away from him. His jaw tightened as he tried to make me tell him what that was about. But before he could say another word, my phone rang again.

“Uncle Theo!” I answered eagerly. “Are you there already?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Alright. We’ll be there in five.”

Uncle Theo and I had spoken two days ago, planning for the final showdown. He was arriving with a grand plan to expose Mr. Jameson, and I couldn’t wait to see the shame on that man’s face.

“Babe?” Orion called softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Mmm?”

“It’s your father,” he said cautiously. “He’s been arrested and is being flown into the city today. He’s being charged with murder.”

My heart should have skipped a beat, but instead, I felt a rush of vindication. “Is that what you’re saying so sadly? This calls for a celebration! He killed my mother, Orion. He deserves to rot in jail—him and his conniving new wife. And I’ll make sure of it.”

Our conversation ended abruptly as the car pulled up in front of the company. We stepped out, and there she was—shameless as ever—Chloe Roland.

I let out a mocking laugh. “Chloe Roland. Tsk, tsk. The months have not been kind to you, have they, dear?”

She looked worn out and dirty, as if she’d been through hell.

“It’s all mine,” she raged, her voice filled with bitterness. “Everything you’re enjoying now—it’s all mine. Especially Orion.”

Her words attracted a small crowd, some recording the scene on their phones.

“Orion, we’re expecting a baby. I’m carrying your child!” she screamed, provoking gasps from the onlookers.

Orion smiled coldly and clapped his hands. “Remind me, Chloe, when did we make this child that you speak of?”

“You can’t do this to me, Orion! Remember that night—that night…” She faltered, unable to remember the lie she was trying to spin.

“How low you’ve fallen, Chloe,” I mocked. “You know, we could have been peaceful enemies if you’d just learned to respect boundaries—and yourself. But now? We have everything on record. Every single thing you’ve done. And the father of your child? Sweetheart, it can never be my husband because you were too busy screwing his ex-assistant, the pathetic coward, Peter.”

Orion’s eyes widened. “Peter? It was Peter?” he asked, disbelief etched on his face.

“Liar!” she yelled. “You’re all liars. You want to shut me up for good because you people are rich? You want to oppress me and make me disappear?”

Her voice carried across the crowd as she tried to rile them up. I knew exactly what she was doing—trying to win public sympathy. But judging by the silence around us, it wasn’t working.

“Get out of my way, miss. I have a meeting with one of your allies,” I said coldly, stepping forward. But just as I moved toward the entrance, she pulled out a knife, brandishing it wildly.

“Get back. Get back, Ava! I am the rightful Mrs. Miller. Not you, not anybody! It’s all mine. The company is mine. Orion is mine. Get back!” she screamed, waving the blade erratically. Security had already surrounded her, carefully closing in to avoid anyone getting hurt.

One guard managed to grab her, struggling to restrain her as others rushed to assist.

“You disgust me,” Orion spat in her direction as we stepped away.

We had barely turned toward the glass doors when I caught sight of her out of the corner of my eye—she was running toward us. Everything happened so fast. I shoved Orion out of the way just as she lunged.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder by the second. Police were almost here. It will all be over soon. Behind me, more than six security guards tackled her to the ground as she thrashed and screamed, fighting to get free. But I already knew—we had won.

“Ava?” I heard Orion’s panicked voice, his tone raw with fear and pain. Turning toward him, I saw tears streaming down his face. Orion...crying? He never cried.

And then I felt it.

A sharp, searing pain in my stomach. I looked down, my breath catching. Crimson spread across my dress, blooming like a terrible flower. A knife. It was buried in my stomach.