The Broken Trust

Ava's POV

I stood speechless outside Lucas' office, my fingertips anxiously tapping on my thighs. The words from his assistant replayed in my head: "Mr. Blackwood would like to see you. It's really urgent.

"Urgent? What could possibly be so urgent? And why was I being called now? The days felt increasingly difficult. Every effort to reach Lucas seemed to widen the new rift between us. I had hoped things would improve, that he'd eventually realize how much I cared, how hard I was trying to support him from behind the scenes.

But no, everything just kept crumbling.Just yesterday, I overheard a horrible chat between Lucas and his best friend. The things they said about me cut deep. They believed I was merely a gold digger, a woman only after the Blackwood wealth.

It was more than I could endure, especially since all I had ever done was try to assist.

"She's just here to take your money, Lucas. You can't trust her."You've been deceived again. I warned you she was trouble."

The ache of their words still echoed in my mind. I felt let down, not just by Lucas but by those around him. How could they not see that I wasn't like that? How could Lucas, after everything we'd shared, still not have faith in me?I shook my head, attempting to truly concentrate.

I couldn't let my feelings control me everything about taking right now. Not when something more significant was at stake.I pushed the door open, stepping into the dim office. Lucas was in his wheelchair, his back to me as he stared out the large window.

He didn't even acknowledge my arrival at first even ."Lucas," I called gently, entering and shutting the door behind me.

He turned, his gaze locking onto mine, but there was no warmth. No affection at all. Just a cold, distant assessment.

"Sit down, Ava," he said sharply, motioning to the chair opposite him.I complied, my heart racing. Something felt off. The air was thick with tension, stifling. He wasn't himself he was blocking me out again.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, my voice shaky, unsure of how to engage him.He crossed his arms over his chest, his jaw tightening.

"I've just received some... troubling news," he said, his eyes turning steely. "It seems that my therapist has been compromised. Some of my private medical information has gotten out."

My stomach sank. Compromised? What did he mean? And why was I only hearing about this now?

"Compromised?" I repeated, striving to keep my voice steady, though internally, I was in a frenzy. "How? Who could have done such a thing?"

His eyes narrowed, a fierce intensity to his stare. "I'm trying so hard to understand this. And I'm beginning to question if I can rely on anyone in this company anymore." A sharp ache twisted in my chest.

"Lucas, you must have believed meI would never harm you like that. I would never interfere with your medication, or your wellbeing, or..." He raised a hand madec to silence me.

"Ava," he interrupted, his tone low and icy, "I'm not accusing you. But I'm starting to doubt those around me. I can't risk anything anymore."

I gazed at him, confused, attempting to comprehend his words. "What do you mean? I've been doing everything I can to support you. Why would I put that at risk?"

His gaze grew even more stern. "Because you definitely want something from me, don't you? You aspire to be the one in my life. You want to take Victoria's place. You seek to continue getting the money, the influence, the status. Don't pretend that I don't see what you're truly after."

I was taken aback. His words struck me hard. Was this genuinely how he perceived me? That I was merely after his riches, after the authority that came with being his spouse?

"Is that really your belief?" My voice shook with pain. "I've done all I can to prove I care, Lucas. Everything. Yet you only push me away and suspect the worst of me. How can you say that? How can you even think that of me?"

He paused before replying. For a moment, he just stared at meanalyzing me, as if he was trying to determine if I was lying. I wasn't. But it didn't change anything, as he didn't believe me.

"I think you're just trying to keep me at a reasonable unear," he said after a lengthy silence, his tone gentle yet accusing. "Trying to ensure I remain where you wish me to be. You don't want me with Victoria. But you're not deceiving me. I know precisely what you're doing."

My heart sank. Was this to be my reality? All my efforts everything I had given up had been pointless. He didn't trust me.

"Lucas, please," I murmured, tears brimming in my eyes. "I'm not like that. I'm not her. I'm not trying to take her place. I just... I want to assist you. I want to stand by you, through it all."

He looked away, his expression tightening. "You're not like her, Ava. You're right. But you're still exploiting me. You're trying to take from me what you can. You're the one who's been interfering with my medication, not Victoria. You're the one creating the issues."

I inhaled sharply, my heart constricting with anger and pain. "No! That's terribly false! I didn't interfere with your medication. I'm here to keep you safe. You have to hear me out, Lucas.

"Victoria is using you once more. She's playing a game. She's persuading your therapist to spill your most valuable secrets. She's been controlling you."

His face softened a bit, though still unacceptable, but he remained unconvinced. He didn't have faith in me."You just want to be the one who stays in my life," he said bitterly. "I can't count on you, Ava. You've just shown me that."

The words pierced like countless sharp needles. I had tried. I had given him everything my time, my energy, my love but it wasn't sufficient. In the end, he still didn't trust me.

"I guess there's nothing left to say, then," I murmured, rising slowly, my legs unsteady. "I just... I thought you could believe me, Lucas. But I guess I was mistaken."I turned away, the tears streaming down freely now. I couldn't hold them back.

"Wait," he called, but I kept moving. I couldn't. I had tried. I had done everything to prove my value. But now, I was the one under suspicion. I was the one left amidst the ruins of a relationship that had never truly been mine. And in that instant, I understood: it wasn't just my love for Lucas that was shattering. It was my own heart.

As I exited the office, my heart weighed down by his accusations, I couldn't shake the dread that I was about to lose everything.But what if I was mistaken? What if Lucas was already too far gone to have faith in me?I couldn't allow it to finish like this. Not without one last struggle.