.
The ballroom pulsed with low music and soft clinks of glasses. It was Ethan Cameron's night—a celebration of his triumphant deal, months in the making. Well-wishers surrounded him and his wife, Ava, offering congratulations, handshakes, and praise.
"Congratulations, Mr. Ethan Cameron," Benzamin said, his voice tight, a bitter smile barely holding as he extended his hand. "You snatched the deal I worked so long for."
Ethan returned the handshake with a confident grip and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maybe you didn't work as hard as you thought," he said, his tone casual but sharp. "That might be why you lost."
Ava stood beside them, sensing the current of tension underneath their civil words. She gave a polite smile but said nothing, watching closely.
"Ethan…- she called him trying to smoothen the atmosphere but before the conversation could turn colder, Jonathon, one of Ethan's oldest friends, cut in loudly. "Oh Natalia…" he said suddenly, dragging the attention of everyone nearby.
Ethan turned instinctively, and his eyes locked on her.
Natalia.
She stepped into the room like it belonged to her. She wore a blood-red dress that clung to her body like it was made for her alone. Her long hair cascaded over bare shoulders, and her skin glowed under the lights. The dress shimmered slightly as she walked, commanding every eye in the room—including Ethan's.
Jonathon whistled. "Oh my god, Natalia. You look… fucking hot."
Ethan stared, frozen, his mouth slightly parted. He wasn't hearing the music anymore. He wasn't hearing Ava's voice beside him. His focus narrowed—just Natalia, wearing that dress.
The same dress he had given her months ago.
Ava turned her head just in time to see the look in his eyes. Hunger. Regret. Recognition. Whatever it was. And it wasn't for her.
Her heart shattered, eyes were stared to fill with tears. She saw how Natalia was looking back at Ethan—bold, unflinching, like they were the only two people in the room like Natalia was one he has right and Ava was third wheel.
Ava's heart sank.
"Excuse me…" she said abruptly and walked away, heels clicking sharply on the floor.
Ethan blinked, finally snapping out of it. He looked around and saw Ava disappear into the crowd.
He called her but Natalia stood before him, "Congratulation Mr. Ethan Cameron for touching the new height of your another success."
"Natalia," he said, striding toward her, voice low. "You are looking ravishing, Lia."
"I know… I specially wore this dress for you. Since I know how much you like red on my baby."- Natalia said with tempting eyes.
Ethan was completely unbothered Ava left the place; he was busy admiring his lover. All his mind on her, "You shouldn't be looking at me like that, Mr. CEO," Natalia whispered, stepping closer. "Not in front of your wife."
"Looking at you how?" he asked, though his tone already hinted at the answer.
"Like you want to eat me alive," she said, her voice dripping with bold confidence.
He didn't deny it. His expression told the truth.
"Room 7," he said quietly, then walked off without another word.
Natalia followed not long after.
When Ethan entered the room, she was already there—waiting, smiling, a glass of wine in her hand.
"So eager," he said with a half-smirk.
"I don't like wasting time," she purred, setting the glass down.
She moved toward him quickly, lips parting to kiss him, but Ethan placed a hand against her chest, stopping her.
"Not your lips there," he said coldly and she got his cue what he wants,
"As you wish my master."- She didn't wait anymore as she went on her knees and unbuckled his pant and as his length sprung out like a proud king, it's hard, "Don't waste time; I need to again join the party."
...…
Ava stayed in the washroom longer than she needed to. Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, her cheeks damp from tears that had already dried. She stared at herself in the mirror, but she barely recognized the woman looking back.
Did anyone care?
No.
No one ever did.
The only people who truly loved her were gone. Her mother, Serena, had died when Ava was just nine. And after that, her father, Richard, was all she had. He loved her, protected her… until he remarried.
Suzi,
The woman wore a perfect smile when Richard was around, pretending to be a kind, loving stepmother. But the moment he left the room, that mask vanished. What came after was years of cruelty, harsh words, and cold eyes. Her stepsister, Nora, made it worse—hating Ava without reason, treating her like she didn't belong.
And in all that darkness, the only light had been Ethan.
She was just fifteen when she met him. He was older, kind, her protector in a world that always seemed against her. And over time, that care turned into love.
Real love.
Or at least… that's what she believed.
Now, she wasn't so sure.
Ava closed her eyes and gripped the sink. Her heart was heavy. Her head ached. The pain inside her chest was sharp, growing worse each day.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to break something. But all she did was breathe.
It's all my fault, she thought. I shouldn't have gone to the reunion. If I had listened to him that day, maybe… maybe our baby would still be here. Maybe he wouldn't hate me now.
She stepped out of the washroom, her body moving before her mind could catch up.
As she walked through the hallway, she heard it—a voice.
Her stomach dropped.
It was a voice she knew too well. His grown. Poisonous.
Natalia.
Ava froze in front of the door, her hands trembling. She knew what she might see. She had already seen it once, in Ethan's office—the betrayal, the way he gave his body to someone else without a second thought.
Her heart begged her to turn away.
But her hand moved on its own.
She pushed the door open.
And there they were.
Natalia on her knees. Ethan leaning back, his head tilted, eyes closed, lips parted in pleasure.
A soft groan escaped him.
The sound stabbed through Ava's chest like a knife as the phone dropped from her hand causing them alert as Ethan opened his eyes saw his Ava stood at the door whereas Natalia immediately distance herself from Ethan , and wiped her mouth.
Their eyes met as Ethan stayed on bed, like that. He didn't even bother to hide anything nor did he try to cover himself. He was so proud whatever he did and have no shame nothing.
.......
To be continued