Ava

The moment Priscilla Miller walked in, it felt like all the oxygen was sucked out of the room. Her presence was a storm, silent at first but filled with the promise of devastation.

She closed the door behind her, her eyes cold and confrontational as they landed on me. She looked pristine in her tailored green suit, every inch the formidable matriarch of the Miller empire.

“I should have known I’d find you here,” she said, her voice like a whip crack. “Playing your little games. Trying to seduce my son now, aren't you?”

I squared my shoulders, refusing to let her see how her sudden appearance rattled me, and how ridiculous her accusation sounded. “Mrs. Miller,” I said, my tone flat. “What an unpleasant surprise. I never knew you could find your way to this company after so long.”

Her eyes, so much like Orion’s but devoid of warmth, narrowed. “Don’t pretend, witch. I know what you’re doing. Trying to sink your claws deeper into this family.” She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor, the sound echoing in my ears. “You’ve been a thorn in my side for far too long. Don't you think it's time you quit and stop with all the manipulations?”

I kept my face unreadable. “I’m not here to play games, Priscilla.”

“No?” she sneered, crossing her arms. “Then what is it, exactly? Seducing my son to keep your grip on the Miller fortune? Manipulating anyone you can to keep yourself relevant? Pathetic.” Her words dripped with venom.

My chest tightened, but I refused to let her see me flinch. “I’m here because I’ve earned it. Every single step I’ve taken in this company, I worked for. And I won’t apologize for that.”

Priscilla’s lip curled in a cruel smile. “Spare me the righteous act. We both know what you are. If you truly cared about this family—if you had any decency—you’d walk away and leave everything to Orion. Hand over the Miller fortune and disappear. Prove you’re not the gold-digging parasite we all know you to be.”

I laughed, a sharp, mirthless sound that echoed in the room. “You think I’m a gold-digger? That’s rich, coming from you. If I walk away, the board and the lawyers will tear this company apart. They’ll seize control, and you and your precious son will be left with nothing but ashes. So no, Priscilla. I won’t be handing over anything. Not for your sake, but for the sake of Richard.”

Her face darkened, and she took another step forward, her eyes blazing. “Watch your mouth. You dare mention his name? You dare speak to me like that?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice low and cold. “And it’s about time someone did. Your husband saw through you, and it’s why he distanced himself. You destroy everything you touch, and you refuse to take responsibility for it.”

“You insolent little—” she began, but I wasn’t done.

“You know why Richard avoided you?” I pressed on, fury driving my words. “Because you never think about the consequences of your actions. You only care about yourself.”

“Enough!” Orion’s voice cut through the air, filled with disbelief. He stepped between us, his eyes fixed on me. “Have you lost your mind, Ava? You can’t speak to my mother like that. Who the hell do you think you are!”

“I am Ava Miller!” I screamed back at him, the fury in my eyes matching his.

Priscilla’s eyes glinted with triumph as she moved closer to Orion, placing a hand on his arm. “See what I mean, darling? She’s poisonous. She’s tearing this family apart.”

I barely registered the sting of her words before Priscilla stepped closer and, with a force that belied her elegance, slapped me.

The crack of it echoed in the room, and the sting burned my cheek. I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter.

“You are Ava Rodriguez,” she spat with so much hatred. “You can't and will never be a Miller. You're worthless.”

The room descended into silence, heavy and charged. I lifted my hand slowly to touch my cheek, feeling the heat spread across my skin. Priscilla’s eyes dared me to retaliate, her lips curling in a smile that was anything but kind.

“You don’t belong here, Ava,” she continued. “You never did. You just forced yourself in and now, it's time to leave.”

I glanced at Orion, searching his face for anything—a sign, a spark of pity maybe, a shred of doubt. But his expression was unreadable, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that was impossible to decipher.

“Definitely a mama's boy,” I muttered with a soft chuckle and stared at him mockingly.

He moved closer and grabbed my wrist forcefully. His expression shifted a bit when his eyes landed on the bandage on my wrist and he let go as though he had just been burned.

“Watch your tone, Ava. You don't want to push too far now, do you?”

The room felt suddenly too small, the walls pressing in, suffocating. I could taste the bitterness of fighting alone on my tongue, and my heart pounded in my chest.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders, refusing to be cowed. “This isn’t over,” I said, my voice firm, even as my vision blurred with unshed tears. “Neither of you can get rid of me so easily. And Orion, I will push as far as I want to because I can!”

Turning on my heel, I stormed out of the room, the weight of their combined fury trailing behind me like a dark cloud. But as I reached the elevator, I paused, the enormity of what had just happened crashing over me.

I wasn’t out of the storm yet. Not by a long shot.

The elevator doors slid shut, and I was left alone with my thoughts, the faint taste of blood on my lip and the promise of a battle that had only just begun.

I won't let them win.