Ava's Pov
Ava stood by the window of her penthouse, the city lights flickering below like scattered stars. She could hear the echo of Hazel's words from the night before sharp, accusing, raw. The argument had left Ava shaken, and for the first time in years, she questioned everything she'd built.
Her heart was still tethered to Hayden, whether she admitted it aloud or not. But Hazel had seen through her, seen the truth she refused to face.
"Ava," came a soft voice behind her.
She turned sharply, half-expecting it to be Hayden. But it was Elara, her best friend and business partner, holding two cups of coffee.
"You didn't come into the office today. I figured you'd need this."
Ava smiled faintly. "Thanks. I couldn't face anyone."
"Hazel?"
Ava nodded.
Elara sat beside her, placing the cup on the table. "You know, she's not mad because you lied. She's hurt because you kept her out. She admires you. You're like a second mother."
"That's exactly why I didn't want to involve her in my mess," Ava said. "Hayden...he's not just a past mistake. He's the wound I've never let heal."
Elara placed a comforting hand over hers. "Then maybe it's time to stop running."
***
Meanwhile, across the city, Hayden sat at his office desk, staring at the unsigned contract that could change everything.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. His assistant entered, looking hesitant.
"There's a woman here. Says she's your sister. Hazel Carter?"
His chest tightened. "Send her in."
Hazel walked in, head high, her eyes a mirror of Ava's determination.
"You knew," she said before even sitting.
"Yes," Hayden replied, guilt already creeping in.
"You broke her. And now you think a contract and a few grand gestures will fix it?"
"I'm not trying to fix the past," Hayden said quietly. "I'm trying to build a future. One she deserves."
Hazel's expression didn't soften. "Then prove it. Not with words. But by standing beside her. No more secrets. No more pride."
He nodded.
She walked to the door but paused. "She still loves you, you know. That's what scares her most."
When the door closed, Hayden let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Hazel was right.
This wasn't about grand gestures.
It was about showing up. Being real. And finally loving her the way he should have years ago.
****
The next morning, Ava found herself sitting alone in the quiet café she used to frequent before her life became a whirlwind of obligations and broken promises. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, but it barely touched the heaviness settling deep inside her chest.
Her phone buzzed a message from Hayden.
Can we talk?
She stared at the screen, the words seeming to pulse like a heartbeat. After a long moment, she typed back simply, Yes.
An hour later, she stood in the park near their old university, the place where everything had started so many years ago before secrets, betrayals, and heartbreak.
Hayden was already there, pacing slowly near the fountain. His eyes held a mix of regret and hope.
"Ava," he began, voice low. "I know I don't deserve this second chance, but I need you to know I've changed. Not because I want to fix us because I want to fix me. For you. For Hazel. For what we once were... and what we could still be."
Ava swallowed the lump in her throat. The pain from their past was a shadow that refused to fade, but somewhere beneath the hurt, a flicker of hope ignited.
"Why now?" she asked, voice trembling. "Why after all this time?"
"Because I was scared. Scared to admit I was wrong. Scared to face what I'd lost. But Hazel made me realize love isn't about pride or perfect timing. It's about showing up when it matters most."
Ava looked away, tears threatening to spill. "I'm tired of fighting ghosts, Hayden."
He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. "Then let's fight together. No more secrets, no more running."
For the first time in a long while, Ava allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, their fractured hearts could find a way back to each other.
**
Later that day, Hazel sat in her apartment, scrolling through old photos of the three of them Ava, Hayden, and herself laughing, dreaming, alive with possibilities.
Her phone rang. It was Ava.
"Hey," Ava's voice was soft but steady.
"Hey," Hazel replied.
There was a pause, filled with unspoken feelings.
"I talked to him," Ava said finally.
Hazel's heart skipped. "How did it go?"
"Honestly... it was the hardest conversation I've ever had. But I think it was the start of something real. For all of us."
Hazel smiled. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks. I'm scared, though. What if it doesn't work?"
"Then we'll face that too. Together."
That night, Ava lay in bed, the city's pulse humming outside her window. The scars of the past ached, but they were no longer chains they were reminders of survival, strength, and the possibility of new beginnings.
She closed her eyes, letting the memory of Hayden's touch, Hazel's fierce love, and her own resilience wash over her.
For the first time in a long time, she felt ready to rise from the ashes.