Ava Sinclair thought she had buried her past. Five years after a whirlwind romance with billionaire playboy Julian Drake ended in heartbreak, she's built a quiet life for herself and her son, Ethan. Her bakery, Sweet Reverie, is her sanctuary until Julian strolls back into her life, unknowingly upending everything she's fought to protect. Julian has spent years chasing success, but the thrill of power and wealth has begun to feel hollow. When he runs into Ava, the woman he never truly forgot, he's determined to win her back. But what he doesn't know is that he left more than just a broken heart behind he left a son. As Julian and Ava are drawn back together, old wounds resurface, and secrets threaten to unravel. Complicating matters is Harold Kent, Ava's scheming landlord, whose sinister agenda could destroy everything Ava holds dear. With love, betrayal, and redemption on the line, Julian must prove he's more than the reckless billionaire Ava once knew. But can Ava trust him with her heart and their son's future?
Chapter 1 One
Rain drizzled against the city's skyline, casting New York in a misty glow that blurred the bright lights into hazy smears. Ava Sinclair tightened her scarf around her neck as she stepped out of Sweet Reverie, her bakery nestled on the corner of a quiet street. She tugged the hood of her coat up against the chill and glanced back at the glowing interior through the glass. Inside, her assistant, Claire, waved while wiping down the counter.
"Don't forget to lock up!" Ava called out.
Claire gave her a thumbs-up. "Got it! Go get some rest for once, Ava!"
Ava smiled faintly and turned down the street. Rest felt like a distant luxury these days. Between managing her bakery and raising a five-year-old, her days blurred into a cycle of exhaustion and stubborn determination. Tonight was no different, except for the nagging feeling crawling up her spine-a feeling that something was about to shift.
She walked briskly toward the subway station, the soles of her boots splashing against the wet pavement. The world felt quieter than usual, though the city never truly slept. A cab honked in the distance, and laughter spilled from a nearby bar. She kept her head down, blending into the city's anonymity.
That's when she saw him.
Julian Drake.
Ava froze, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes locked onto the man standing across the street. The rain had soaked through his dark coat, and his unruly black hair was damp, yet it did nothing to diminish the sharp angles of his jawline or the piercing blue eyes that had once left her breathless. He stood like he owned the world-an air of confidence that hadn't dimmed over the years.
Her stomach churned. It had been six years since she'd last seen him. Six years since he'd walked out of her life without so much as a backward glance. And now here he was, looking like a storm she wasn't ready to weather.
Before she could duck away, his gaze snapped to hers.
"Ava?" His voice carried across the rain-soaked street, low and unmistakable.
Her heart thudded painfully, but she forced herself to remain calm. She couldn't let him see her falter. Not after everything.
"Julian," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her.
He crossed the street toward her, his long strides unhurried but purposeful. Up close, he was even more devastatingly handsome than she remembered, and that realization sent a pang of anger through her. How dare he still have that effect on her?
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his tone warm, almost familiar. "What are you doing in the city?"
She arched an eyebrow, folding her arms over her chest. "I live here, Julian. Have for years. Not everyone spends their life jet-setting across the globe."
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he chuckled softly. "Touché. I guess I deserve that."
"More than that," she muttered under her breath.
He tilted his head, studying her intently. "You look... different."
"People change," she replied sharply, taking a step back. "Why are you here?"
Julian shoved his hands into his coat pockets, his gaze never leaving her face. "Business. A new venture brought me back to New York. I was walking to a meeting when I saw you."
She laughed bitterly. "Business. Of course. That's always been your priority."
He flinched at her words, but before he could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Grateful for the distraction, she pulled it out to see Claire's name flashing on the screen.
"Excuse me," she said, turning away to answer the call. "Yes?"
"Ava, there's a man here asking about you," Claire said nervously. "He says his name is Harold Kent?"
Ava's stomach sank. Harold Kent was the last person she wanted to deal with tonight.
"I'll be there in ten minutes," she said, ending the call.
She turned back to Julian, who was watching her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "I have to go."
"Ava, wait-"
"Goodbye, Julian."
Without waiting for his response, she hurried back toward the bakery, her mind racing. Harold showing up unannounced was bad news. And Julian's sudden reappearance? That was an entirely different kind of disaster waiting to happen.
Chapter 1 One
18/01/2025
Chapter 2 Two
18/01/2025
Chapter 3 Three
18/01/2025
Chapter 4 Four
18/01/2025
Chapter 5 Five
18/01/2025
Chapter 6 Six
18/01/2025
Chapter 7 Seven
18/01/2025
Chapter 8 Eight
18/01/2025
Chapter 9 Nine
18/01/2025
Chapter 10 Ten
18/01/2025
Chapter 11 Eleven
18/01/2025
Chapter 12 Twelve
05/02/2025
Chapter 13 Thirteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 14 Fourteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 15 Fifteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 16 Sixteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 17 Seventeen
05/02/2025
Chapter 18 Eighteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 19 Nineteen
05/02/2025
Chapter 20 Twenty
08/03/2025
Chapter 21 Twenty one
08/03/2025
Chapter 22 Twenty two
08/03/2025
Chapter 23 Twenty three
08/03/2025
Chapter 24 Twenty four
08/03/2025
Chapter 25 Twenty five
08/03/2025
Chapter 26 Twenty six
08/03/2025
Chapter 27 Twenty seven
08/03/2025
Chapter 28 Twenty eight
08/03/2025
Chapter 29 Twenty nine
08/03/2025
Chapter 30 Thirty
08/03/2025
Chapter 31 Thirty one
08/03/2025
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