Chapter 14
Ava’s voice was shaky, like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. She called his name again, almost hoping she’d heard him wrong.
But Brad just stared at her, his face cold and unreadable. The tension in the room made her heart race. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice sharp as ice.
“Why did you do it?“}
Ava just blinked, completely lost. “What are you talking about, Brad?“}
The next moment, Brad’s patience snapped. He shouted, the words echoing off the office walls.
“I’m asking why! Why did you lie about Christine?“}
His outburst startled her, but when she heard the secretary’s name, Ava was even more confused.§
“She’s just a secretary, Brad. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Didn’t you say yourself–she’s just a secretary?“>
She sounded so sure of herself, so righteous, that for a split second, Brad’s anger fizzled out.
Right. He was the one who told Christine to leave. So why was he so angry now??
Ava stepped closer, reaching out like she wanted to hug him. “Don’t be mad, Brad. Let’s just go get something to eat, okay?“>
But her sweet, coaxing voice only made Brad feel more trapped. All he could see was Christine’s face–so hurt, so betrayed–and he realized how many times he’d chosen to hurt her, to doubt her, instead of just believing in her.”
How much must that have broken her heart?>
The more he thought about it, the harder it was to breathe. He didn’t even try to hide his frustration–he pushed Ava away.
“If you’re hungry, go eat by yourself. I’m not in the mood.“}
He hadn’t pushed her hard, but Ava still stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. The man who’d been so gentle with her, who’d done whatever she wanted these past few weeks, was now pushing her away–over Christine, of all people. Over a secretary who didn’t even work there anymore. Ava’s anger flared up.”
“Brad, what’s wrong with you? You’re really going to treat me like this–over Christine? What’s next, are you going to break up with me and go chase after her?”
Her words hit Brad right where it hurt. He didn’t even understand himself anymore–why he felt so restless, so miserable. Christine was gone. Wasn’t that what he’d wanted? There shouldn’t have been anything between them, anyway.»
But now, all he could do was clench his fists, fighting to keep it together.
“I’m just tired. Go eat by yourself.“}
Ava snorted, turned on her heel, and walked out.”
Left alone in the wrecked silence, Brad’s head throbbed. He didn’t bother ordering any food–just buried himself in work, desperate for something, anything, to distract him.”
He worked straight through from afternoon until night, cleaning up the messes that had piled up at the company. The worst part? Most of the trouble was Ava’s fault, and fixing it had almost wiped out the company’s profits for the year.”
He leaned back in his chair, let out a long, exhausted breath.
It was pitch dark outside. He glanced at his phone–still no messages.
Emptiness settled over him, thick and suffocating.
He was the only one left in the office now. He couldn’t help himself–he whispered her name into the darkness.
“Christine.“B
It was the first time he’d said her name out loud since she left.
Just saying it felt like breaking a dam. Memories came flooding back, impossible to stop.
No matter how late it got, she’d always stayed with him, quietly making sure everything was in order. They’d stand together at the big windows, lost in each other. Christine’s cheeks would turn bright pink, like she’d been caught in the sunset, her eyes wide and nervous and sweet. Sometimes, when he teased her too much, her eyes would get all shiny with unshed tears–and she never realized that those moments only made him want her more.
The memories kept coming, one after another. He couldn’t hold back anymore—he grabbed his phone and called his sister.
Every second waiting for her to pick up felt like an eternity. Finally, she answered, and he rushed out, “Tina! Do you know where Christine went?”
Chapter 14
Tina just laughed, the sound sharp and mocking.
“Brad, you and Ava look so happy together. Why do you care where Christine is now?”
He swallowed, gripping the phone until his knuckles hurt.
“I know everything. What really happened. Ava made it all up. I want to apologize to Christine. I want to bring her back. I won’t let Ava hurt her again, 1–“%
He didn’t get to finish. Tina cut him off, her voice cold.#
“Don’t bother. Christine doesn’t need your apologies. And you’ll never find her–so don’t even try.“%
She hung up.%
All he could do was stare at the silent phone. Regret and fury crashed over him, leaving him hollow. He hurled his phone to the ground–just as the office door creaked open.8
Brad shot to his feet, hope flaring so bright it hurt.%
Maybe just maybe–it was her.%
“Christine.!“Z
He stared at the doorway, breathless, waiting.%
