CHAPTER 1

Prologue

The constant ticking of the clock and the rain hammering the roof of the building were the only sounds in the highest floor of the building.

The only light in the large office came from the fire at the marble hearth which also produced just enough warmth for the weather as a heavy storm fell over the city.

Two men stood in the large, well furnished office, one had a wrinkled face with a broad frame, holding a cane to support his weight, while the other looked young, handsome, tall and clean-shaven, his well chiseled features shook with rage.

They stood in the shadows, one placed a fat cigarette between his lips, lit it and drew deeply from it as he leaned on his cane, the other leaned over the table with his two hands supporting his weight as he muttered inaudible words under his breath.

The older man spoke first, voice low and gravelly, “you want some?" He asked, lifting the cigarette towards him,

He shook his head, not uttering a word.

"Sir!” A woman in a black tailored suit called out, walking breathlessly, her eyes wide with panic, “It’s falling apart, everything’s crashing... the stocks, the press... they have been downstairs for hours now, refusing to leave, more entering the building under the rain, and they know... they know everything.”

"It’s happening faster than we expected, the crash of our stocks, the media’s propaganda.”

Silence followed afterwards, the younger man clenched his fists.

His jaws clenched.

“And he caused all of this?” His voice trembled, laced with anger.

The older man didn’t answer, he took a deep drag from his cigarette, offering just a slow nod as a response.

The younger man stared blankly at the fireplace for a minute before whispering, “does he have anything left?”

The servant hesitated, "no sir."

“He has a child, a daughter,” the older man chimed in.

The room fell silent again, "how can I find her?"

Ava's POV

"Increase the figures by 1.2% and rerun the simulations, I need projections on my desk in ten minutes!" My voice cut across the buzzing room.

Every staff member was on standby, scrambling like ants all over the room, this contract is everything, months of spreadsheets, sleepless nights, last-minute calls, board meetings, appeasing clients, presentations... we were finally on the edge of sealing a deal that would reshape my legacy.

Or, his legacy.

I glanced at the giant glass structure at the corner of the room, branding the name, Li Technologies, a name that commanded the industry, feared by competitors.

Liam Reynolds the name and face behind the company's success over the years, or so people thought, not many know of the efforts I have been putting into the company since I married Liam, leaving no time for myself, let alone a child... one of the reasons I still don't have one, everything I do, I do it for him, for our love.

"Mrs Reynolds!" Clara, my assistant, came running, waving her tablet in the air.

Her face was flushed with disbelief, "We got it! The contract’s ours, GlobalTech has signed, it just got announced now, the multi-million dollar deal just got sealed!"

The entire room froze, then erupted, celebrations everywhere.

I didn’t even wait for the champagne or the applause, I hurriedly snatched the final drafts off the printer and clutched the contract documents to my chest like they were made of gold.

My chest rising and falling hard, the excitement taking over my body, pushing me to scream.

He would be so proud, he would finally appreciate my efforts.

"Liam!" I called, the moment I stepped into our apartment, "Liam, baby!"

No response.

I dropped my handbag on the foyer table, still buzzing with excitement, I stepped into the warm scent of lavender and leather... familiar and warm.

But under it, a strong scent, a perfume I wasn't used to scenting around him.

“Liam?” I called again, louder, stepping deeper into the hallway.

And then I heard it.

Soft moans...hushed laughter.

I froze, getting closer to the room the sound came from... our room.

No. No, I must be mistaken.

Then I heard his voice, “God, you are so perfect, Vivienne.”

Vivienne?

"Yeahh, I love the way you hold me, so strong, and the way you kiss me—the way you look at me... like I am already yours," a female voice slurred,

"You're mine, my love, there's no one else," Liam said again.

I pushed open the door, revealing a painful sight.

Right there, on our matrimonial bed, Liam, my husband... shirtless, beside him lay Vivienne Monroe—the manager’s daughter, the one who talked back at me at any given opportunity, the one who always looked at me with a disgusted look.

They didn’t even stop.

Vivienne clung to him tightly, her lips brushing his ear, “I can’t wait til you get rid of her, I want to have you all to myself,” she whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

I stood frozen, the contract nearly slipping out of my grip.

“Li-Liam…” My voice cracked.

They didn’t stop, completely ignoring my presence as Liam pulled her closer to himself, his lips kissing hers deeply.

“Liam!” I said louder this time, trembling.

Still nothing, "soon my love, just a matter of time, you know I can't stand her, it's only you I want," Liam responded to her, completely ignoring my presence.

I stepped forward, holding up the thick folder of papers, then slammed it against the table.

Shaking the table, causing the glasses on it to fall and shatter, only then did he glance at me... annoyed, like I had interrupted a meeting.

“What the hell are you doing here, Ava?” he said casually, like I was a stranger who had broken in.

“I—I” the air around me felt suffocating, “I came to show you the contract, we sealed the deal, the GlobalTech deal, the one we have been waiting for, I—I thought you’d be happy.”

Vivienne scoffed, “congratulations,” she mocked, wrapping the sheet around her half-naked frame, “now run along and celebrate it with your fellow peasants.”

She pulled Liam to herself, planting her lips on him as her hand lowered to his waist, rubbing his crotch.

Desperate, I turned to Liam, “this is our home, Liam, our bed, how could you... how could you bring her here?”

He gasped, pulling away from her, “there is no 'our', this is my house and I will do whatever I want to do with it, now get lost," he said breathlessly, sitting up as Vivienne wrapped her arms around his chest, clinging onto him.

“This isn't fair” I whispered, tears threatening to fall at the corners of my eyes, “I gave up everything for you, building your company... our company.”

He didn’t flinch, “then you should’ve stayed at the office.”

Vivienne smirked and moved closer to him, “honestly, Ava, it’s pathetic, you still think this is about love?”

My hands shook as I picked up the contract, shoving it at his direction as I spoke, “this is what we dreamed of, Liam, why would you throw it all away?”

"I won't," he said, reaching over and pulling the papers out of my hands forcefully.

"Baby, don't you have something for her too?" Vivienne slurred, caressing his chest.

"Thanks for reminding me, my love," he leaned back, reaching under the pillow.

He pulled out a slim envelope and with a smug look, he threw it at me.

“There is something for you, too,” he said.

I picked it up and looked at it, the colour draining from my face as I read the bold words written on the letter.