The Fiancé He Severely Underestimated

er's eyes, wide and triumphant, confirmed Jax's despicable assessment. My heart, already a battlefield of shatter

y voice flat, devoid of emotion. I took a step back, need

, Ava. It's about love. Jax and I, we have a real connection. A pure one." She smirked, a flash

y. "Love," I murmured, the word tasting bitter. "How quaint." My gaze flickered past her, then back. "

scene of my own demise. But as I spun, Ember, perhaps trying to block my path or simply caught off

collapsing gracefully

his face a mask of primal fear. "Ember! My god, are you alright? Is the baby okay?" He scooped

his betrayal. He didn't even consider Ember's own clumsiness, or her cal

joying the drama." My gaze fell to his desperate, protective embrace, a mirror of

dressed man with an aura of power strode in, followed by a phalanx of security.

e was deep, resonant, and commanded immediate attention. The

r eyes wide. "Uncle Kane?" she whispered, a hint of confu

ed across continents. He was a legend, a myth, rarely seen in public. And Ember... was his niece? My blood ran cold, a new, un

Briggs?" The narrative shifted, the 'innocent artist' instantly elevated to a powerful dynasty. The publi

yes narrowing slightly. "And who is this young woman?" he asked, his voice deceptively mild. His eyes linge

body! Just Jax's ex! Don't pay attention to her!" Her voice was

is not your niece, Mr. Briggs." Something deep

hrough them. "Indeed? And how would you know that, young lady?" he

er stomach. "My head... I can't breathe... the baby!" She fainted dramat

y behind layers of pain and betrayal. Too broken to ever truly love. The words echoed, a cruel reminder of the chasm within me. I h

The only tangible link to a past I had tried to forget. I had left it in our old apar

d to retrieve something from the apart

and cold. "Fine. But Ember is

. The paint still peeled, the fire escape still creaked. But as I approached the do

er voice venomous. "I told you, this is

box," I stated, my v

threw out last week? It was taking up space." A triumphant smirk played o

e was barely a whisper, laced with a dangerous

ling her eyes. "It was trash. Just l

tepping forward, my eyes blazing. "That apartment, that building, everything

cked, Jax owns it now. He renovated it for me. For us." She gestured

, Ember. Jax Madden only owns half of this building. The other half," I paused, letting the words hang in th

"What are you

half Jax owned was part of our shared assets. Now, it's mine. All of it." I met her terrified gaze. "And sin

d, her voice cracking. "

were here, he wouldn't stop me. Because I'm not just taking back what's mine. I'm

. This wasn't just about a music box. This was about reclaiming my narrative. And Ja