Ava’s expression darkened instantly. She said respectfully but firmly, “Mom, please don’t mention Ambrose again. I don’t want to hear his name right now.”Elizabeth stood up, looking concerned. “What’s wrong, Ava? Why are you angry all of a sudden just because I mentioned Ambrose? Aren’t you worried that he’s out there?”“I’m not, Mom,” Ava snapped. “Wherever he is, I don’t care, and whatever he’s doing is none of my business. It’s never been my business, Mom.”Before Elizabeth could respond, Ava cut her off. “It’s late, Mom. I’m going to sleep. You should too; I have something important to work on tomorrow.” With that, Ava walked upstairs.Elizabeth watched her daughter ascend the stairs, then turned to Dera with a puzzled expression. “What’s wrong with your friend?”“Uhm, she’s just stressed, Auntie. She’ll be fine,” Dera said before also heading upstairs.Once Ava entered her room, she locked the door behind her. She undressed, revealing her perfect figure, and stepped into the sho
"I dare say you wouldn't beat me in cooking," Ambrose teased. "Haha. What are you saying? That's a lie! Do you really cook?" she asked, curious. Ambrose nodded confidently. "Of course. Ninety-seven percent of the meals we ate, I was the one who cooked." "Wow!" Aurora was genuinely shocked. "Isn't it your wife who's supposed to cook?” Ambrose smiled and said, "Well, my mother-in-law also cooked once in a while. Ava was always working, so it wasn’t a big deal for me to handle the cooking." Aurora nodded, understanding. "Well, anytime you want me to cook, I’ll do it for you wholeheartedly, leaving everything I’m doing," she offered sincerely. Ambrose didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply picked up his spoon and continued eating. Aurora followed suit, picking up her own spoon. As they ate, Aurora glanced at Ambrose and said, "The juice is really nice; you should drink some.” They kept talking for a while as they continued eating. Within ten minutes, they had fini
As the hours passed and the night deepened, the house was enveloped in a calm silence. It was around 4:15 a.m. when Aurora's eyes fluttered open. She blinked, adjusting to the darkness of the room, and then slowly sat up, feeling something unusual. She reached down, lifting the duvet off her body, and immediately noticed the dampness on her sheets and pajamas. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized what had happened—it was a wet dream, and the thought of Ambrose had been the cause. Aurora glanced at the clock beside her bed and saw that it was already close to morning, just after 4:15 a.m. She sighed, knowing that sleep would probably not return. She got up from the bed, quickly changed out of her damp clothes, and slipped into something fresh and comfortable. Deciding to distract herself, she picked up her laptop from the bedside table, opened it, and started working on some tasks. The quiet hum of the machine filled the room as she typed away, trying to focus on he
After the hug, Dera walked out of the room, and Ava followed her. They both made their way downstairs, chatting lightly. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ava noticed the entire family gathered in the living room, all standing up and looking at her expectantly.Ava furrowed her brows in confusion. "What's wrong? Why are you all standing like that?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room.Grandma Margaret quickly stepped forward, her face beaming with excitement. "My granddaughter, have you forgotten that today is the beginning of the million-dollar project? I'm very, very happy because this campaign is progressing, and very soon our family will make a lot of profit."Ava smiled at her grandmother’s enthusiasm because she herself was happy, but then her father, William, chimed in. "That's true, Ava. You need to work hard. Your dad needs money," he added with a chuckle.Elizabeth, interjected with a cold tone. "Is it always your daughter who has to work hard for you to get money?
As Elizabeth disappeared from sight, Grandma Margaret shook her head in disapproval and turned to William. "That woman has no respect, no manners," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "Imagine speaking to you like that! She’s always been too proud for her own good. I don’t know how you put up with her, William. She's nothing but trouble, always trying to undermine you and now even me, in my own house!” She crossed her arms, her face twisted with irritation. "You should've put her in her place a long time ago. She doesn’t appreciate the life she has, the roof over her head, or the food on the table. If it weren’t for me, where would she be? She thinks she’s so high and mighty just because Ava brings in money. But that girl’s success has nothing to do with her—Elizabeth’s just riding on her coattails.” William nodded in agreement, his face contorted with anger. "You're right, Mom," he said, his voice firm. "Elizabeth has no idea how good she has it. She’s always trying to act
Finally, she noticed her grandfather standing there, watching with a mix of amusement and mild irritation. Ameera turned to face him, her expression softening slightly but still stern. “Grandfather, I’m doing this because I care about you,” she said. “You might think it’s unnecessary, but your health is too important to be left to chance.” Elder Wei sighed, clearly moved by her concern but also a bit weary of her strictness. “Ameera, I understand your intentions, but you’re being too harsh on them.” “Not harsh, just careful,” Ameera replied, turning back to the kitchen staff. “I trust you all to follow these instructions. If there’s anything you’re unsure of, you can always consult with a nutritionist to ensure the meals are both healthy and enjoyable.” The head chef stepped forward, bowing slightly. “We understand, Miss Wei. We’ll make the necessary adjustments immediately.” Ameera gave a satisfied nod. “Good. I’ll be checking in regularly to ensure everything is as it should be.
Walking in, she realized the pharmaceutical company had a clean, industrial look. The entire facility exuded a sense of functionality and efficiency, with walls painted in stark whites and grays. The flooring was utilitarian—either tiled or polished concrete—contributing to the overall sterile atmosphere. The areas that Ava’s company would work on were particularly bare and unfinished. Exposed ceilings revealed ductwork and wiring, while basic lighting fixtures provided a harsh, functional glow. The walls were unadorned, adding to the space’s utilitarian feel. The layout of the building was straightforward, with designated areas for laboratories, offices, storage rooms, and common spaces, but each area felt stark and underdeveloped. Walking through the hallways, Ava noted the emptiness of the space. The lack of decorative elements or personalized touches made the environment feel cold and unwelcoming. Some sections were cluttered with boxes, lab equipment, and materials that had be
Ava felt the intensity of Ameera’s words, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she met Ameera’s gaze with a firm nod. “Understood,” she said calmly. “I assure you, there won’t be any issues. I’m committed to delivering exactly what you expect.”Ameera remained silent for a moment, assessing Ava one final time. Then, with a slight nod of approval, she stepped back, signaling that the conversation was over. Ameera turned to Chen with a decisive tone. “Chen, please bring the checkbook.”Chen nodded immediately and quickly retrieved the checkbook and a pen from a nearby desk. He approached Ameera and Ava, handing them over with a respectful demeanor.Ameera took the checkbook, carefully filled out the check for 30 percent of the total amount, which amounted to $300,000. After signing it, she handed it to Ava with a firm but measured gesture.Ava’s eyes lit up with satisfaction as she received the check. Her relief and happiness were palpable, and she took a moment to express her gratitude.“T