Chapter 114 Go Inside
Even in heels, she ran fast. Within seconds, she vanished around the corner.
Keith said, “You know she’s shy. Why the hell would you grab her waist?”
Mason stood still. His brows were drawn tight. Ava’s reaction was worse than he expected. “Something’s not right.”
“What’s not right?” Ryan asked with a frown.
Kason turned to Keith. “That’s
between a couple. You think I crossed a line?”
Keith didn’t say a word.
“I touched her for one second. Her whole body locked up. It wasn’t subtle. She rejected me like I was fire.” Mason hadn’t cared much at first. She slapped him last time, and he thought it was just embarrassment.
“You’re saying…” Keith didn’t finish the sentence. He looked at Mason. One look was enough. They both got it.
Ryan cut in with irritation. “If you’ve got something to say, then f*cking say it. Don’t stand there acting cryptic.”
Keith’s face turned cold. “If someone went through trauma as a kid, it can mess them up long after. But I hope this is just us being paranoid. Maybe she’s just shy.”
She was only twenty–five. Technically an adult, but still so young. That thought planted itself in his mind, and he froze. He couldn’t pull at it. He didn’t have the guts to lift the veil. He didn’t want to reopen her pain. Just imagining her going through something awful made him sick.
Mason stared out toward the edge of the lawn. “I hope I’m just being stupid.”
But deep down, he knew he wasn’t. Her instincts couldn’t lie. No matter how well she covered it up, her reflex had already spoken.
Ava went straight to the bathroom. She shut the door, leaned back against the wall, and closed her eyes. Her heart thudded in her chest. She tried to slow her breathing.
Even that kind of touch? Was it that bad?
They were locked in now. This was her life. Unless something massive happened, they’d stay together. She’d already accepted it. She even thought she’d prepared for it. She had planned how to deal with each one of them.
But her body had betrayed her. His hand had felt scalding hot. The second it touched her, she froze like a statue. Her breath caught. Her chest locked up. And before she could think, she shoved him away.
She crouched down slowly and wrapped her arms around her knees.
She couldn’t stay like this forever. She knew d*mn well no man got close just for emotional bonding. They were married. Sooner or later, it would come up.
Chapter 115 Her Past
“Major Caswell. Hi. Just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Roxy. Nice to meet you.
Laurent turned. A woman stood in front of him. He glanced at her once, then looked away without saying, anything.
Roxy repeated herself. “Major Caswell, I’d like to get to know you.”
“I do not see the necessity in that, lady,” Laurent said flatly. “Try someone else.” Then he walked right past her like she didn’t exist.
The silence around Roxy hung heavy, like she know what just hit her.
Mireya burst out laughing. She nearly shed tears of joy. “Oh my God! Roxy, I told you he looked like a brick wall! But no, you had to try. Well? Happy now?”
Watching her usually–confident friend crash and burn was just too good. Roxy never made the first move.
Roxy gave a lazy shrug. “Whatever. It’s his problem passing up on me. There’s plenty of guys out there.”
She just happened to think this one was hot. Nice build. Killer face. That’s the only reason she shot her shot. She hadn’t expected to get iced like that..
Lianne stood next to Caela with a pout on her lips. “Told you my brother wasn’t into her. But no one ever listens to me.”
Caela pinched her cheek with a grin. “Ignore her. She’s dramatic. She just got the cold shoulder. She’s sulking. Roxy’s loud and bold, but she knows when to back off. Don’t worry. Your brother already turned her down. She’s not gonna chase him.”
Lianne didn’t answer. But in her head, she jotted Roxy’s name down in bold ink. Messing with Ava’s man? That was stupid. Thank God her brother didn’t take the bait. Because if he had, she’d have gone nuclear.
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Ava hadn’t realized there was that much manipulation behind his rise in the industry. No wonder no one ever mentioned that he and Ethan were brothers. They didn’t look much alike. And even with the same last name, Brock, people wouldn’t connect the dots unless they already knew.
“You don’t have to quit for me. I’m not asking anyone to drop their career for my sake. That’s just dumb, no matter who you are. I just need time to level up. Right now, I’m still too weak, and I can’t stand people thinking I’m some helpless girl clinging to a man,” Ava said with a spark in her eyes. “I want something equal -a real partnership. We’ll rise together!”
“Well, look at you two. Couldn’t have picked a colder d*mn spot, huh?” Mason’s voice came from behind. them.
Ava turned and saw Mason and Keith standing nearby. She didn’t even hear them come over.
“How’d you even find us out here?” she asked, caught off guard. She thought they were still stuck in the crowd.
“We asked Jane. She said you were with Ryan,” Keith replied, smiling easily as his eyes flicked to her jacket. “We looked around inside and didn’t see you anywhere. Figured you must’ve stepped out.”
“It’s freezing. You should head back in,” he added, calm as ever. “It’s your big night. Being gone too long doesn’t look great.”
Ryan gave him a look. “Who cares about those people? Ava doesn’t need to stand around kissing up to everyone. Jane and Asher are still inside. They can handle it.”
Ryan’s mood soured again. He’d barely gotten a moment alone with her, and now these two came barging in.
Mason stepped up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Ava’s ear. “You couldn’t pick somewhere warm and private instead? What are you, Ryan, a toddler?”
His tone sharpened, and the look on his face wasn’t friendly. “Her hand’s like ice.”
He took Ava’s hand, cupped it in his own, and breathed against it. His warm breath hit her skin, and her heart pounded. The tension between them surged like a live wire.
“It wasn’t his idea,” Ava said softly. “I wanted to take a walk, and he just followed me out. We’ve only been here a couple of minutes. We were already heading back.”
Ryan’s frustration melted. That one sentence cleared out all the bitterness.
Keith reached out, ruffled her hair, and leaned in close to her ear. “I see. Then you’ll have to take my flowers too, Ava.”
His breath brushed her skin, leaving a hot trail across her neck. Her ear turned red in an instant.
She really was a blusher.
Keith laughed under his breath. “If you don’t say no, I’ll take it as a yes. Gotta keep things fair.”
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Chapter 114 Go Inside.
What a smug b*stard, she thought.
Ava felt her last shred of composure slip right through her fingers.
Finiched
Ryan scowled at Keith hanging off her like a leech. He hadn’t dared to get that close earlier. But this guy? Totally shameless. The world needed to see what kind of person Keith really was behind that fake saint act.
Ryan finally lost it and yanked Keith away by the collar. “Get a grip, man. Stop acting like some horny dog
Keith didn’t come back in. He just brushed off his jacket. “Says the
“If you two hate each other that much, then go beat each other up.”
guy begging her to take his flowers.”
Mason slid his arm around Ava’s waist, ready to take her inside. She flinched and quickly pushed him away.
“I’ll walk myself. Don’t touch me.”
He paused. “Not even a quick hug?”
Ava looked disgusted. “Hands off.”
“Fine. I said I wouldn’t force you.” Mason stepped back.
“Don’t pull that crap out here in the open again!”
“Oh? So, it’s okay in private?” He smirked and leaned in like he was ready to push more.
Ava balled her hands into fists. Her cheeks flushed as she snapped, “Can you stop being gross for five seconds?!”
She spun and stormed off. Then, she stopped, turned, marched back, shoved the jacket into Ryan’s arms, and stormed off again, this time jogging ahead, fuming
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The Five Powerhouses Who Match the Unwilling Bride
