CHAPTER 46

Ava awoke groggily, her head throbbing as if she'd been hit with a sledgehammer. She instinctively reached up, cradling her head in her hands, trying to clear the fog clouding her thoughts. Panic surged through her chest as she blinked, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn't her home. The walls were different, the furniture foreign. Where were her children?

Her heart raced as she frantically swung her legs over the edge of the bed and bolted towards the door. Just as her hand reached the doorknob, it swung open from the other side. And there he stood—Xavier Knight, the man who had haunted her thoughts for the past three years.

Her breath hitched in her throat. He was more imposing than she remembered, his presence both devastatingly handsome and terrifying. His broad frame filled the doorway, and the fire in his eyes made her stomach twist into knots. She could tell just by his stare—she was in deep trouble.

"Hello, Charlotte," he greeted her in a low, dangerously calm voice. His lips curled into a smirk. "Clever of you, using your middle name to try and hide from me."

Each word he spoke was like a blade, sharp and cutting. Xavier began walking toward her, slow, deliberate steps that felt like the ticking of a time bomb. Ava instinctively backed up until her spine hit the cold wall behind her. She was trapped.

He leaned in, bracing one hand against the wall beside her head, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her knees weak. "Tell me, Ava, was it fun?" he asked, his voice a deadly whisper. "Was it fun raising our children in Chicago, keeping them from me? Speak, damn it!"

She met his furious gaze, summoning all the strength she had left. "They're my children, not yours," she shot back, her voice cold and defiant.

Xavier chuckled, but it wasn't out of amusement. It was dark and menacing, a laugh that chilled her to the core. "Your children?" he growled, his voice rising. "They are our children, Ava!" His face was inches from hers now, his fury barely contained. "I missed three years of their lives—three years! Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

Ava's heart ached, but she refused to back down. "And what? So you could turn them into the beast you've become?" she snapped, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "You betrayed me, Xavier. You broke my heart when you cheated on me. And the thought of them growing up to be like you—" She shook her head, disgust in her eyes. "That terrified me more than anything."

Her words sliced through the air like daggers, and for a moment, Xavier's expression faltered. But he quickly recovered, his lips curving into a wicked smile. "Let's settle this the right way, then," he challenged, his tone mocking. "Let's take it to court. Let's see who gets custody of our children."

Ava's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would." His voice was low and threatening. "Try me."

Xavier took a step back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You have two options, Ava. Either we get married and raise our children together, or we fight this out in court and see who gets custody." He tilted his head, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Think carefully. But for now, I have something else in store for you."

Before she could protest, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her from the room. They walked down a long hallway until they reached another room. When he opened the door, Ava's breath caught in her throat. There, in the center of the room, were her boys—Alexander and Lucas. They were playing quietly, unaware of the storm brewing just outside their innocent little world.

Xavier's gaze softened as he looked at them, though his voice remained stern when he asked, "What are their names?"

Ava hesitated for a moment, before reluctantly answering, "This is Alexander Jones... and that's Lucas Jones."

She kept her distance, avoiding Xavier as if he were a contagious disease. She hated the way he could still affect her, and she was determined to keep her resolve.

"No middle names?" Xavier asked, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement.

Ava knew what he was fishing for—validation. She knew how his ego would swell if she had used his name for their children's middle names. She shook her head, denying him the satisfaction.

He hummed thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on their sons. "Well, their last names will be changed in a week," he announced casually, as if it were already decided. "We're getting married in a week." The words fell from his lips like a bomb, leaving Ava reeling.

Her eyes widened in shock as she snapped her head toward him. "What?" she gasped, unable to believe what she was hearing.

Xavier didn't bother repeating himself. He simply stared at her, his expression a mix of triumph and determination. There would be no arguing with him.

Xavier's eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curling into a sly smile. "But first, we should probably get your parents' blessing, shouldn't we?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. His smirk deepened as he added, "You know what happens if you say no, don't you, Ava?" The question hung in the air like a threat.

Ava glared at him, her jaw clenched in defiance. She inhaled sharply before finally speaking. "You may force me into this marriage, but you'll only ever be a husband and father on paper, Xavier," she spat, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You'll never have my heart. You've left me with no choice, and for that, I hate you even more." Her voice was sharp, cutting, and after a tense pause, she added bitterly, "I'll marry you. Happy now?" Without waiting for a response, she turned and stormed out of the room.

Xavier's smirk faltered for just a second, a flicker of pain crossing his face. But he quickly regained his composure—he needed to stay in control.

The following day, Xavier, Ava, and their two sons, Alexander and Lucas, arrived at Ava's parents' home. As they stepped through the door, Alexander immediately broke free, running toward his grandmother with tiny, excited steps. "Nana!" he squealed, throwing his little arms around Bethany's legs, completely unaware of the palpable tension in the room.

Lucas, quieter and more observant, gazed around the unfamiliar house, his blue eyes wide with curiosity. When he spotted his brother, he followed suit, toddling over to join the embrace, both boys clinging to their grandmother.

Marc and Bethany stood frozen in shock. They had been taken off guard by the sight of their daughter standing next to Xavier, the man who had caused her so much pain.

Xavier's smug voice cut through the silence. "What's the matter? Surprised to see me?" His tone was mocking. "Or perhaps it's more shocking to see us together? I've found your daughter, my dear in-laws." His words were thick with possessiveness as he took Ava's hand in his, a gesture that made her stiffen.

He strolled further into the house, settling himself confidently on the couch, his eyes flicking between Ava's parents. "Next week," he declared, "Ava and I are getting married. I expect you both to attend. I hope we won't have any... issues." His gaze was cold, as though the entire matter was a done deal.

Marc's face turned red with anger. "You cheated on her, and now you have the nerve to act like you own her? There's no way in hell we'll stand by and watch this!" His voice was a growl, his fists clenched at his sides.

"Careful there, Marc," Xavier warned, his voice icy as his eyes darted to the children. "The kids are here. And for the record, your daughter misunderstood the situation." His eyes flashed toward Ava, who stood tense beside him. "She assumed I cheated, when in fact I was merely putting a girl in her place who thought she could seduce me."

Ava's body stiffened, guilt washing over her. But before she could react, Bethany spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "Ava went through hell to escape you, Xavier. Don't you see? She doesn't belong with you. Ava, please... don't marry him."

Ava's heart sank. She glanced at her mother, her eyes filled with helplessness. "I can't, Mom," she whispered, her voice breaking under the weight of the situation. "I don't have a choice."

Marc's face contorted with fury as realization dawned. "So, that's it," he hissed through gritted teeth. "You've trapped her into this, haven't you?"

Xavier didn't deny it. "Yes, I have," he said coldly, his eyes never leaving Marc's. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have wedding preparations to attend to." Without waiting for a response, Xavier stood, lifting both Alexander and Lucas into his arms. As he made his way toward the door, he paused, casting a pointed glance over his shoulder. "The next time you'll see the boys will be after you've accepted our relationship," he warned, his words aimed squarely at Marc and Bethany.

Ava lingered behind for a brief moment, her heart heavy with guilt as she hugged her parents goodbye. She hated that she had misunderstood the past, but even if she apologized to Xavier, things could never go back to how they were. Too much had happened.

Later that night, Alexander crawled into Ava's lap, his little hands playing with her short hair as she softly whispered the names of the places they passed outside the window. He repeated her words in his toddler's lisp, his voice sleepy and soft. Soon, he fell asleep, his tiny face snuggled into her chest. Ava stroked his hair gently, staring out of the window, her mind racing.

From the passenger seat, Xavier's eyes flicked to them, and a rare softness crept over his features. She was an incredible mother. Despite everything, her devotion to their children was unshakable. It stirred something inside him, a realization of what he had missed out on all these years.

When they finally arrived back at their estate in Virginia, Greta took the children upstairs, leaving Ava and Xavier alone. As Ava moved to exit the car, Xavier grabbed her arm and, without warning, crashed his lips against hers. She froze, shocked by the suddenness of it, but she didn't respond to the kiss. His lips moved over hers, seeking something—some kind of reaction—but she remained still. After a moment, he pulled away, breathless.

Ava glared at him, her eyes filled with fury. She yanked her arm free, storming out of the car and heading inside their new mansion without saying a word. Behind her, Xavier chuckled darkly to himself, following her at a casual pace.

When they entered the house, they were met with an unexpected sight. Standing in the middle of the grand foyer was Mia, Ava's best friend.

Before Ava could react, Mia's daughter, Ariana, came running to Xavier, her tiny arms outstretched. "Uncle Xavier!" she squealed as he scooped her up effortlessly, smiling as he carried her away, leaving the two best friends to face each other after three long years.

Mia's eyes were red with unshed tears, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she spoke. "Look who finally decided to show up," she said bitterly. "At my wedding, you promised the goodbye for three weeks. Three weeks, Ava. And then you vanished—for three years." Her voice cracked. "You were my best friend. You abandoned me when I needed you most."

Ava remained silent, guilt gnawing at her insides. She didn't know how to explain everything she'd been through. How could she?

Mia's patience snapped. She stormed toward Ava, gripping her shoulders and shaking her. "I needed you, Ava! I was pregnant, scared, and you just disappeared! Fine, Xavier broke your heart, but what did I do to deserve this? You ruined years of friendship!" Her voice wavered, her eyes brimming with hurt. "I hate you, Ava. You selfish bitch."

Ava pushed her back, her own voice breaking. "I had no choice!" she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I went through hell, Mia. I missed you, I missed everyone, but I couldn't come back. I was stupid, I made a mistake, and I regret it every single day. I'm sorry!"

The room was filled with tension, their emotions raw and exposed. After a long, tearful confrontation, the two women finally reconciled, though their bond was not quite the same. There was distance between them now, but with time, they hoped they could rebuild what had been lost.

"Do you want to meet my kids?" Ava asked softly, trying to break the heavy silence.

Mia nodded, wiping her eyes. Together, they went to find the children. When they arrived, Alexander, Lucas, and Ariana were all playing happily together.

"How old is she?" Ava asked, watching the children.

"Two and a half," Mia replied with a soft smile.

Ava's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you get pregnant?"

Mia smirked. "Right at the end of my honeymoon." Both women exchanged a glance before the realization hit them—one of their childhood wishes had come true. They had given birth to their babies around the same time, just as they'd dreamed.

"Where's Noah?" Ava asked after a moment.

"He's in Chicago," Mia replied. "He's working on some museum project." With that, she left, her bodyguard trailing behind her, leaving Ava alone with her thoughts once more.

That night, Ava slept in the comfort of her children's arms instead of beside Xavier. The bed felt safer, warmer, when shared with her two little boys rather than the man who now felt like a stranger to her.

As the wedding day approached, the tension grew heavier. On the morning of the ceremony, Ava stood quietly behind the grand doors of the church, dressed in an immaculate white gown. Her heart raced, and her mind was a flurry of thoughts. Marc, her father, stood by her side, ready to escort her down the aisle.

When the doors finally opened, all eyes turned to her, but her gaze immediately locked onto Xavier. He was standing at the altar, looking devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit. The devil, she thought bitterly, is always beautiful. Her inner voice echoed the sentiment as she approached him.

For his part, Xavier felt his breath hitch as Ava stepped into view. She was radiant—her elegance, grace, and beauty were almost otherworldly, like a goddess descended from the heavens. His gaze devoured her, but beneath the admiration, a darker hunger simmered.

The ceremony proceeded as expected, each word of their vows recited with careful precision. After exchanging rings, the priest's voice rang out, announcing to the crowd, "You may now kiss the bride."

Xavier didn't hesitate. He pulled Ava into him, his grip firm around her waist, lifting her delicate veil. His lips hovered close to hers as he whispered softly, but with a hard edge, "Kiss me back, Ava. The media is watching." Without waiting for her reply, he pressed his lips against hers.

Ava complied, though her body tensed under his touch. But Xavier was not content with a simple, chaste kiss. His hand tightened around her waist, and his lips became more insistent, more forceful. What was meant to be a quick, gentle kiss for the crowd turned into something deeper, more possessive. The memory of how he used to kiss her three years ago rushed back as his mouth moved harshly yet sensually over hers. It was a kiss that awakened the fire within her, one she had long thought extinguished. Their tongues battled fiercely, her breath quickening as he pulled her closer, ignoring the loud cheers from their audience.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were panting. Ava's chest heaved, her eyes wide and unfocused, her body betraying the turmoil inside her. Xavier's eyes darkened with desire. He hadn't touched another woman in the past three years, and seeing her like this—so vulnerable, so responsive—ignited a primal need within him. He was burning for her.

Later that evening, after fabricating a perfect story for the media about their secret four-year relationship and the birth of their children, the world brought into their lie. Everyone believed they were a happy, albeit private, couple. The truth, however, was far more complicated.