YONNARI

Ethan Cole, a ruthless CEO of Cole Dynamics, built his empire from the ground up, burying his past along the way. But one secret he's never been able to shake is the woman he loved—and lost—five years ago: Ava Bennett.

Ava, a brilliant and ambitious woman, left Ethan without a word, disappearing from his life with a broken heart and a trail of unanswered questions. Now, fate has thrust them together again when Ava applies for a position at Cole Dynamics. Her return feels like a cruel twist of destiny, especially when Ethan’s emotions for her still run deeper than he’s willing to admit.

As they reconnect under the professional guise of employer and employee, old sparks reignite, and buried truths begin to surface. But Ava is hiding something—something that could shatter Ethan’s world all over again. Can they navigate the murky waters of business and rekindled passion, or will their second chance only lead to more heartbreak?

The CEO's Lost Love is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and second chances, where the lines between business and personal feelings blur, and the past refuses to stay buried.

THE CEO'S LOST LOVE

COLE DYNASTY IN DISARRAY? ETHAN COLE CALLS OFF ENGAGEMENT MID-MEETING

MYSTERY WOMAN STRIKES AGAIN: Ava Bennett at the Heart of Corporate Scandal?

Ava scrolled through the articles on her phone, each one worse than the last. Her name was in bold. Her face—snapped at the gala, half-turned toward Ethan—was plastered on thumbnails and gossip blogs. The speculation wasn't just cruel. It was calculated.

By the time she entered the office, Claudia was waiting.

"Damage control," Claudia said, her voice sharp, clipped. "I warned you what this would do."

Ava met her gaze evenly. "I didn't call off your puppet engagement."

Claudia's eyes narrowed. "You didn't have to. Your presence is a provocation. And now my son thinks rebellion is romance."

"I'm not here to play games, Mrs. Cole."

"No," Claudia said. "But you're in one—whether you want to be or not."

She walked off with the cold elegance of a queen exiting her throne.

By lunch, Victoria's retaliation arrived like clockwork.

Photos of her holding Ethan's arm—old pictures reused to imply the engagement was still on, that Ethan's outburst had been a misunderstanding. "Stress," they claimed. "Family matters."

Ethan barged into Ava's office, phone in hand. "Did you see what they're running?"

"No," she said, standing. "You're going to stop reacting. Let them spin. Let them bluff. You want to fight back? Then we do it smart."

Ethan looked at her like he was seeing her again for the first time—not as the girl he'd loved, but the woman she'd become.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

Ava stepped closer, calm and sure. "We hold the next board meeting ourselves. You lead with transparency. I lead with results. We show them what Cole Dynamics really stands for—and who's building its future."

Ethan's lips curved. "You always were better with strategy than I was."

She raised a brow. "And you always underestimated me."

He laughed, soft and shaken. "Not anymore."

And as they stood there—side by side, not as lovers, but as something newer, fiercer—a quiet promise passed between them:

No more pretending. No more playing by anyone else's rules.

Of Promises and Power Plays