Ava's POV

The night before replayed in my mind, every moment burned into my memory with sickening clarity as I reached for the elevator. I remembered how it started—the jealousy on Orion's face when he picked me up at the restaurant to the subtle softness in his touch, his fingers trailing along my jawline as if I was a fragile treasure.

For one fleeting moment, I thought it meant something. I thought I meant something. The way he had looked at me with those dark eyes, as if I was the only one who existed in that restaurant, had almost convinced me that the worst was behind us. I had foolishly thought that maybe he's seeing me differently now.

I should have known better.

But the illusion shattered quickly enough. I woke up minutes later, shivering on the cold leather of the living room couch, discarded like an afterthought. It took a second for reality to snap into focus, but the muffled sounds coming from upstairs—the unmistakable rhythm of lovemaking, the way Chloe’s moans pierced the silence—made it impossible to pretend.

I lay there in stunned silence, my stomach twisting with revulsion and hatred. He was in bed with her, making a show of their twisted affair while I was left to rot in darkness.

Hatred for Orion solidified in that moment, molten rage cooling into an impenetrable barrier around my heart. Whatever spark of attraction had once dared to ignite was snuffed out, replaced by something far darker. He would regret underestimating me. They would both regret it.

They plan to make me look crazy? I couldn’t let it be known. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing their plan was working, that they had broken me.

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft whoosh, and I leaned against the cold metal wall, willing myself to stay calm. The lights flickered, dimming ominously, but I barely flinched. This was just another of their pathetic tricks. I’d expected it. I welcomed it.

I've resolved to move with purpose, feigning vulnerability and slipping easily into the role they had crafted for me. Crazy. Unhinged. Fragile Ava. If that was what they wanted, I would give it to them.

The space around me felt smaller with every passing second, but I forced a wild smile onto my face, determined to play my part to perfection. Let them think they had the upper hand. Let them believe I was crumbling.

“Is this the best you’ve got?” I muttered to the empty air, my voice laced with mocking amusement. I couldn’t see them, but I knew they were waiting to see me break apart. They always were. “Come on, give me a real challenge.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, tugging at the strands until they fell around my face in a tangled mess. My breath came in ragged gasps as I leaned closer to the reflective surface of the elevator door, eyes wide and manic. “Tick tock, Ava,” I whispered to myself, mimicking the message they’d left for me. “Tick tock.”

The lights flickered again, and I let out a high-pitched cry—forced, hollow, but convincing enough. My heart was pounding, but I kept the mask in place. If they wanted a show, I would give them one they’d never forget.

The elevator jerked to a stop, and for a moment, there was nothing but darkness. I pressed my back against the wall, letting out a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the confined space. It felt too real, too raw—but that was the point. I wanted them to believe they were winning. I wanted them to see just how far I was willing to go.

When the doors finally slid open, light poured in, blinding me momentarily. I crumpled to the floor, my chest heaving as if I’d just escaped from the depths of hell. My hair was a tangled mess, my makeup smeared, tears streaking down my cheeks.

Perfect.

There was a collective gasp from the hallway. My employees. Board members. A sea of faces, all staring at me as if I’d lost my mind. Exactly as planned. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Orion, leaning lazily against a pillar with that infuriating smirk on his face. He thought he’d won. He thought he’d broken me.

‘Good’, I thought, letting my lips curve into a weak, broken smile. Let him think that.

A hand touched my shoulder, guiding me to my feet. One of the employees, eyes filled with genuine concern. I leaned into their support, playing the part of a woman on the verge of collapse. Every step toward the exit felt like a victory.

“Are you alright, Mrs. Miller?” someone asked, their voice soft and careful.

“I’m fine,” I lied, my voice barely a whisper. “Just... need to get home.”

My driver, Joe, rushed to my side the moment I stepped outside. “Ms..Ava what happened?” he asked, eyes darting nervously to the building behind me.

“It’s under control,” I said, forcing a smile that I hoped looked reassuring. “Everything’s fine.”

Just as I was about to climb into the car, Orion appeared, his stride confident, his eyes glinting with false concern. He leaned in, too close, his breath warm against my ear. “You should go home and rest,” he murmured. “I’ll take care of the remaining meeting. No need for you to worry.”

I met his gaze, swallowing back the bile that rose in my throat. He was enjoying this, savoring every second of my supposed breakdown.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice trembling just enough to sell the illusion. I stepped into the car and shut the door, feeling his eyes on me until we pulled away.

The moment we were out of sight, I let my smile drop. “Drive,” I told Joe, my voice cold and steady. “We have work to do.”

The sun’s rays sliced through the sky, deceptively bright against the brewing storm. This wasn’t over—not by a long shot. I would make sure of that.