Chapter 23: The Letter and the Lioness
Ava's hands trembled as she sat on the edge of her bed, the brown envelope still sealed. The echo of Juliana's lips pressed against Dominic played like a broken reel in her mind.
Stop it, she whispered to herself. You don't owe him your tears anymore.
She took a deep breath, slid her finger under the seal—and opened the letter.
---
To my Ava,
If you're reading this, then I'm no longer beside you—and I'm sorry.
I made choices I thought would protect you. But protection without truth is a prison.
Dominic came to me out of desperation, yes, but also out of love. He saw something in you—something fierce, something rare. I agreed to the marriage not to sell you off... but because I believed you could save him. And maybe he could save you too.
But if he ever made you cry more than smile—walk away, Ava. And don't look back.
You deserve love that doesn't come with contracts.
Love that chooses you freely.
—Dad
---
Tears spilled silently down her cheeks.
Her father… hadn't betrayed her. Not entirely. He'd gambled on Dominic's heart—and lost. And now, Ava was left with the pieces.
She folded the letter slowly, placed it back into the envelope, and stood.
---
Later That Day – Grey Enterprises
Juliana looked up from Dominic's desk like she owned it.
"You again?" she said when Ava entered.
Ava shut the door behind her.
"No. Not again. This time, I came for clarity."
Juliana tilted her head. "And what makes you think I owe you that?"
Ava smiled—a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Because I'm not scared of you anymore. And because you don't love him. You want to destroy him."
Juliana's silence spoke volumes.
Ava stepped closer.
"You used my father's deal as leverage. And now you're using Dominic's guilt to pull the strings. But here's the thing—Dominic might've hurt me, but he didn't lie to me the way you did. You're the one who kissed him when he was broken. That says more about you than him."
Juliana's expression cracked for the first time.
"Careful, sweetheart," she said quietly. "You're standing on a wire that could snap."
Ava narrowed her eyes.
"Then I guess I'll learn to fly."
And she walked out.
---
Meanwhile – Dominic
He stared at the letter Ava had left on his desk.
He'd read it three times already.
Love that doesn't come with contracts...
He sank into his chair, raking a hand through his hair.
Juliana was winning. The board was turning. The company—his empire—was slipping.
And the woman he loved?
Might never trust him again.
But he wasn't done.
Not yet.
He pulled out his phone and sent a message.
DOMINIC:
"Ava, meet me tonight. No lies. No walls. Just truth. If you don't come… I'll let you go. But if you
do… I'll tell you everything. Starting with why I begged your father in the first place."