The next morning, Ava Collins arrived at Kingsley Corporation with a decision weighing heavily on her heart.
The sleepless night had left her eyes puffy and her spirit heavy, but she knew what she needed to do. This wasn't about pride or fear — it was about love. The kind that requires letting go when holding on would only bring pain to the one you cherish most.
As she stepped into her office, Liam Kingsley was already there, waiting by her desk. His tie was loosened, and his eyes were red-rimmed. He hadn't slept either.
"You weren't answering my calls," he said quietly.
"I know." She set her bag down, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Liam, I'm resigning."
The words hung in the air like smoke — sharp and suffocating.
His expression darkened. "No. You're not doing that."
She took a steady breath. "I have to. You said it yourself — they're forcing you to choose. If I stay, you lose everything you've worked for. If I go…" Her voice faltered. "Maybe you get to keep it."
He crossed the room with a tight jaw. "Ava, do you really think leaving makes this easier? It doesn't; it just tears us apart."
Her eyes filled with tears. "It's already tearing us apart."
For a long, painful moment, neither spoke. The office — their world — suddenly felt too small for the love and heartbreak swirling between them.
Finally, he whispered, "You're not just my assistant. You're the woman I—" He paused, his voice catching. "I can't lose you."
She reached up, trembling as she touched his face. "You won't. Not really."
"Ava—"
Before he could say more, she leaned in and kissed him.
It was soft and desperate, filled with everything they couldn't express in words. It was a farewell wrapped in a promise — that even distance couldn't erase what they had found in one another.
When she finally pulled back, tears streamed down her cheeks. "Take care of yourself, Liam. And please don't come after me."
He stood frozen as she turned away, his voice breaking. "Ava, don't do this."
But she didn't look back.
The elevator doors closed behind her, sealing off the space where their love had bloomed and shattered in an instant.
And as she walked into the morning light with one hand resting on her growing belly, Ava whispered, "I'll love you enough for both of us."