Ava didn't sleep much that night.
Not because of nightmares or discomfort—but because her mind couldn't stop replaying everything that had happened.
The kiss.
The way Jace had held her like she mattered.
The way he whispered her name like it meant something.
It felt too close to real. Too close to everything she told herself she'd never feel again.
She turned over in bed and found the spot next to her cold. He hadn't stayed. Not that she expected him to—but part of her had hoped.
---
By the time Ava came down for breakfast, the staff had already cleared the dining area. A note lay neatly folded beside a cup of still-warm coffee.
> Meeting downtown. Didn't want to wake you. Back by noon — J.
She read it twice, biting her lip.
There was a softness in his words now. A shift in his tone. It wasn't the same Jace she married weeks ago.
She reached for the coffee and walked outside to the terrace, the early sunlight warming her skin. The morning air helped clear her thoughts, but questions kept buzzing.
What was she doing?
Was she falling for him?
Or worse—was she already too deep?
---
Later that morning, Ava wandered into his office on the second floor. A sleek, glassy space with bookshelves, polished black floors, and a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city skyline.
She wasn't snooping. Not really. She was just… curious.
A framed photo on the shelf caught her attention. Jace looked younger, maybe mid-twenties, dressed in a tuxedo with a tall brunette clinging to his arm.
The woman was striking—model-perfect cheekbones, piercing eyes, a dazzling smile.
The kind of woman who didn't just walk into a man's life—she stayed.
Ava tilted her head. Something about the woman felt oddly familiar.
Footsteps approached from behind. She spun quickly, heart jumping.
It was Mrs. Landon, the housekeeper.
"Oh! I didn't mean to startle you," she said kindly.
"It's fine," Ava replied, stepping back from the photo. "Who's the woman in the picture?"
The housekeeper hesitated. "That's Lena."
"Lena?"
"Yes… Jace's ex-fiancée."
Ava blinked. "Ex-fiancée?"
Mrs. Landon offered a careful smile. "Before you. They were engaged for over a year. Everyone thought they'd get married."
"What happened?"
She looked down. "She left. Right before the wedding. Took a slice of the company's PR contracts with her, too."
Ouch.
"She works in PR?"
"Still does, I believe. Last I heard, she was in Europe. Haven't seen her since."
Ava turned back to the photo. "He never talks about her."
"He wouldn't. It took a long time for Mr. Carter to… move on."
Move on? Had he?
"Do you think he still cares about her?" Ava asked before she could stop herself.
Mrs. Landon looked at her gently. "I think… he's trying to care about you now."
---
The conversation stuck in Ava's mind all afternoon. Even when Jace returned and invited her to attend a business brunch the next day, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought.
And if Lena ever returned… would she still have a hold on him?
---
The next day, Ava stood in front of the full-length mirror in their walk-in closet, adjusting the delicate silver necklace that rested against her collarbone.
She wore a fitted blush-pink dress that hugged her curves but still looked classy enough for a business meeting. Her hair was swept into soft curls that framed her face.
Jace stepped in behind her and paused.
"You look…"
She raised an eyebrow through the mirror. "Like a trophy wife?"
He shook his head. "Like the woman no one will forget."
Ava's cheeks flushed. He stepped closer, brushing his fingers along her exposed shoulder.
"You ready?"
"Always."
---
The brunch was held at a high-rise venue downtown, with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sunlight stream in. The room was elegant, filled with polished executives, investors, and sharp suits.
Ava held her own at the table, answering questions when spoken to, offering thoughtful remarks when the conversation allowed.
She caught a few impressed glances from the men across the table—but Jace's gaze never left her. He was proud. It showed in the way he smiled at her responses. In the way he slid his hand under the table to rest gently on her thigh when she made a particularly clever comment.
It felt like… teamwork.
Like something real.
Until the doors to the room opened.
Ava turned.
And the world tilted.
A tall woman in a cream pantsuit walked in like she owned the building. Sleek brown hair, sharp eyes, heels that clicked against the marble floor like war drums.
Jace tensed beside her.
Ava didn't need to ask who it was.
She knew.
The woman from the photo.
Lena.