AVA
"Happy anniversary, guys," Ava said, wrapping her arms around both her parents at once.
They had just welcomed her and Blake at the front door of the house. The sounds of laughter and conversation from the living room drifted all the way to the entrance, making Ava only slightly nervous.
She pulled back from the hug only long enough to kiss both her parents on the cheeks before embracing them again.
"Aww, thank you, my little one," her father,said warmly, returning the hug.
He used the nickname he'd called her ever since she was a little girl. Even though she was all grown up now, Ava still didn't mind hearing him call her that. Sometimes, it felt like her father was the only one in the world who understood her.
"You both look wonderful," Ava said as she finally stepped back to admire her parents.
Her father,Harvey Morgan, looked as charming as ever, his salt-and-pepper red hair neatly styled. He wore a well-tailored suit that made him look effortlessly handsome. His soft green eyes—the same shade as Ava's—were full of warmth.
She shifted her gaze to her mother and smiled.
She looked absolutely breathtaking.
As Ava had been the one to recommend the dress Audrey was wearing, seeing her mother in it filled her with a quiet sense of pride. The elegant red gown complemented her figure perfectly, highlighting her graceful beauty. Their matching hairstyles made the resemblance between mother and daughter even more striking.
Her mother blushed beneath the compliment.
"Thank you," she said. "But don't think you're flattering your way out of being late."
Ava chuckled because she knew her mother was trying to shift the attention away from herself. Before she could come up with a reply, however, a voice spoke from behind her and Blake.
"Being late is probably not her fault, Audrey," it said. "With how pretty Ava is, I'm sure my son was too distracted to get her here on time."
They all turned.
Standing behind them was Imogen Cooper, looking effortlessly sophisticated in a tailored black jumpsuit and heels.
"Mom, please stop embarrassing me," Blake said with a tight, awkward smile.
Imogen placed a hand on her son's shoulder, completely unfazed.
"There's nothing embarrassing about loving your girlfriend, baby," she teased.
Blake rolled his eyes, looking as though he wished either he or his mother were somewhere else entirely.
As everyone smiled at his discomfort, Ava came to his rescue.
"It's not Blake's fault we were late, Imogen," she said, using the imposing woman's first name, as Imogen always insisted. "Traffic was a literal nightmare."
There was only a hint of nervousness in Ava's voice as she spoke. Although Blake's mother had always treated her kindly, Imogen Cooper possessed an intensity about her that was difficult to ignore.
The woman could be ruthless when she wanted to be, Ava knew. She had witnessed that firsthand five years earlier when Imogen had represented her in court.
"Sure it was, Ava," Imogen replied with a suggestive wink.
Ava shifted her eyes away, not knowing how to respond to this.
The next few minutes were filled with warm greetings, congratulations, and hugs. Imogen apologized for her husband not being able to be there because of a hospital emergency.
Ava's mother told her friend that they didn't mind, as she usually did to this statement. It seemed to Ava that Blake's father almost never showed up to these events for whatever reason.
Eventually, Ava's father clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention, his expression turning purposefully serious.
"Alright, let's not stand around here all night," he told them. "The party's inside."
With that, Ava and Blake allowed their parents to usher them into the celebration.
The moment she stepped into the living room, Ava found herself awestruck.
The decorations were beautiful.
Soft golden lights bathed the room in a warm glow. Elegant purple-and-white floral arrangements decorated nearly every table, while the laughter of family and friends filled every corner of the house.
She spotted familiar faces immediately—relatives and longtime family friends she only ever saw on special occasions like this. The room was more crowded than Ava usually preferred, but for once...
It didn't make her nervous.
Maybe, she thought with a small smile, this party might actually turn out to be fun.
*******
Ava and everyone else headed inside, where they placed their gifts on the gift table.
Well... everyone except Ava.
That's because her gift couldn't exactly be wrapped. And it would come later, she had mysteriously informed everyone when they asked about it.
Imogen, an extremely impatient woman, had tried several times to pry the secret out of her, but Ava had remained tight-lipped, insisting it was a surprise.
Ava told herself that her while gift wasn't a big deal, but she still wanted to keep it a secret.
She had prepared an little slideshow that she planned to play later that evening. It was filled with old family photos, embarrassing moments of her parents, and heartfelt messages she'd spent days putting together.
Ava had a feeling her parents would love it, just as they always seemed to love every gift she gave them.
At moments like this, Ava truly felt as though she'd won the parent lottery.
Before the party could start, Ava's mom insisted that all of them take pictures.
Naturally, she and Ava's dad went first. After taking a few photos together, the couple insisted on taking more with Ava, determined to include their daughter in their special day.
Ava protested, insisting the celebration was about them.
But her dad—who never missed an opportunity to show affection to his daughter—wasn't having it.
"You're a big part of our story, little one," he insisted, beckoning her over with a grin. "Get in here already."
Knowing there was no point arguing, Ava finally gave in.
She slipped between her parents, smiling as the camera was raised.
"Happy twentieth anniversary!" the three of them said as the flash went off.
"Perfect!" the hired cameraman declared. "Now one more."
Before Ava could stop them, both of her parents kissed her on the cheeks at the same time.
Another flash lit up the room.
Ava laughed as this happened, her face turning pink.
"There," she said the moment it was over, quickly stepping away before they could trap her again. "Now take one with Imogen."
Her parents didn't even have time to protest as Imogen was already moving into position, promptly striking a pose.
"Smile!" the cameraman instructed.
The three people did this without question.
Leaving them to it, Ava went in search of Blake, who had disappeared to the bathroom shortly after they arrived. She weaved through the crowd, greeting relatives and chatting with old family friends along the way.
A genuine smile stayed on her face the entire time.
The party had barely begun, yet she was already enjoying herself far more than she'd expected.
Still looking for Blake, she accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. She felt a bit thirsty and needed to take something.
She had barely taken a sip when a strange sensation crawled over her skin, raising goosebumps along her arms.
Ava froze where she stood, wondering why it suddenly felt like...
...like someone was watching her.
Ava slowly lowered the champagne glass and scanned the beautifully decorated room.
Guests laughed together.
The orchestra played softly in the background.
Waiters moved gracefully between groups, serving drinks and appetizers.
Everything looked perfectly normal.
And no one seemed to be paying her any special attention.
At least...
...no one Ava could see.
She pursed her lips, wondering if she was imagining things.
"Hey," a familiar voice said beside her, startling her. "Look over there, your parents are being adorable."
Ava turned to see Blake, who was smiling as he gestured toward her parents.
His voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
She forced herself to smile back, deciding not to mention what she'd just felt.
It was probably nothing.
This was her parents' anniversary party after all.
Who on earth would be secretly watching her?
Following Blake's gaze, Ava looked across the room.
Her dad had scooped her mom into his arms and was kissing her while holding her off the ground.
The guests cheered and laughed.
Ava, who had never been particularly comfortable watching her parents be overly affectionate, resisted the urge to look away.
Instead, she took a fortifying sip of champagne.
"'Adorable' is definitely not the word I'd use to describe... whatever is happening over there," she said, shaking her head.
Instead of Blake replying, another voice spoke from beside Ava.
"Oh, Ava," it drawled. "Mr and Mrs Morgan may be your parents, but they're allowed a little romance. Don't be such a prude."
Ava turned to the source of the voice.
"Mandy," Ava said, recognizing the girl immediately.
The girl was the daughter of Ava's parents' next-door neighbors, the Lewises. And while Mandy's parents were as sweet as can be, Mandy was quite the opposite.
She was the same age as Ava, yet her petite frame and youthful face made her look several years younger. Combined with the barely-there dress she was wearing, she often attracted plenty of attention.
"Hi, Ava," Mandy greeted.
But she wasn't looking at Ava.
Her blue eyes were fixed on Blake, practically undressing him on the spot.
Ava wasn't surprised.
Mandy had a reputation around the neighborhood for being a ruthless man-stealer. Since Ava was practically the opposite of her in every way imaginable, the two had never gotten along despite growing up next door to one another.
"Good to see you," Mandy said sweetly.
Her tone gave no indication that she meant it.
"Sure," Ava replied flatly, returning her lack of sentiment.
Mandy tilted her head.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your handsome friend?"
She continued seductively looking up at Blake without the slightest hint of shame.
"Blake Cooper," he answered immediately, extending his hand politely. "I'm Ava's boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" Mandy repeated in a tight voice, taking Blake's hand with her manicured one. "I never would have guessed."
Blake gave the woman an amused look.
"One would think that would have been obvious," he muttered. "Considering we came together and have barely separated since."
"Some people only see what they want to see, Blake," Ava added in a casual tone after sipping her champagne.
Mandy clearly didn't appreciate the comment, narrowing her eyes at Ava. She then shifted her gaze back to Blake.
"You're very good-looking, Blake," Mandy purred, completely ignoring Ava. "How on earth did Ava manage to land someone like you?"
Ava rolled her eyes, knowing that since she'd been rejected, Mandy was simply trying to get under her skin.
She was about to tell Mandy to go away when a voice spoke behind them.
"Let me answer that, dear," Imogen told Ava as she stepped beside her.
She then turned to Mandy.
"Just to name one of Ava's attractive features, she doesn't go around dressing or acting like a teenage hussy... unlike some people here tonight."
At the comment, several nearby guests turned toward them, eyebrows raised.
Looking around, Ava immediately felt panic bloom in her stomach.
As she had feared, the party was beginning to go sour.
Mandy's face reddened as she looked at Imogen.
"And who exactly are you?"
"Blake's mother," Imogen answered proudly. "And Ava is my future daughter-in-law."
Ava raised her eyebrows at the words.
Future daughter-in-law?
Was Imogen really exaggerating the nature of her and Blake's relationship just to defend her?
Ava couldn't decide if she was grateful or annoyed. After all, she and Blake had never even discussed marriage and Ava certainly did not feel ready for that. But she didn't have the chance to dwell on this as Mandy spoke again.
"Future daughter-in-law? Ava is going to marry a Cooper? As in the Coopers?"
When Imogen confirmed this with a smirk, Mandy's surprise quickly turned into annoyance. She let out a disgusted sound.
"Do you know that your son is going to marry someone who got arrested for stealing... how much was it... ten million dollars?"
Ava felt the blood drain from her face at Mandy's words. She immediately wanted to die.
It was humiliating enough that Mandy was bringing up her arrest, even in front of Imogen and Blake, who already knew the truth.
But it was worse because it was happening at her parents' anniversary party.
And Mandy was completely exaggerating the amount. It had been two million dollars instead of ten.
"Ava was innocent in that," Blake said immediately, his voice taking on a rare coldness.
"If she was innocent, she wouldn't have been arrested," Mandy insisted.
Blake opened his mouth to respond, but Imogen cut him off, her expression darkening as she looked at Mandy.
"Listen carefully, you little bitch—"
Before Imogen could finish, Ava gently placed a hand on her arm to stop her.
It took far more courage than Ava expected.
At that moment, Blake's mother looked genuinely terrifying. But Ava knew she had to stop this before it escalated into something that would draw her parents' attention and ruin their evening.
"Don't let her get to you, Imogen," Ava said quietly.
She looked back at Mandy.
"This petty girl isn't worth it."
Mandy's expression hardened.
" I may be a petty girl but at least I'm not a thief."
With those words, Mandy turned on her heel and stalked away, dramatically flipping her blonde curls over one shoulder.
"What a little bitch," Imogen muttered.
"Just forget about her," Ava told the woman. "That's what I'm going to do."
"Good for you, dear," Imogen replied nonchalantly, grabbing a second glass of champagne.
Imogen then turned toward Blake with a slightly disapproving expression.
"As for you, son..."
Blake raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you do a better job defending Ava?"
"I was trying not to make a scene, Mom," Blake said in a low voice. "It's a special occasion for Ava's parents, after all."
Imogen dismissed his explanation with a wave.
"That woman is your fiancée."
She pointed in Ava's direction.
"You don't let people like that speak to in that manner under any circumstances."
Ava frowned again at Imogen's implication that she and Blake were now engaged.
She opened her mouth to question Imogen about it when—
CRASH!
Every head turned.
Mandy stood frozen, red wine dripping down the front of her face,dress and shoes.
"Shit!" she shrieked. "My clothes are covered in wine.Its all over me."
Her head then snapped up to the waiter who had led to this disaster.
"You ruined my dress, you stupid waiter!"
She looked so furious that Ava was certain the woman was about to burst a blood vessel.
On the other hand, the waiter in question didn't even slow down after the mistake, continuing to walk away.
"Come back here and apologize to me!" Mandy snarled after him.
Nothing changed, which only served to make the scene more comical.
Laughter began rippling through the room as Mandy stood there looking completely ridiculous.
Her face grew even redder as several guests openly pointed and mocked her.
"What's going on?" Ava's mother asked, approaching the scene.
"Karma," Imogen assured her with a smile.
Her mother looked confused by the answer, but she became distracted as another waiter appeared to clean up the mess.
Imogen whisked her friend away to their seats for the evening, making up an excuse on the way.
Still smiling, Ava thought about the waiter who had unexpectedly become her hero.
Her smile slowly faded.
She had only seen his back profile, but now that Ava thought about it... the waiter had seemed strangely familiar.
Very familiar.
But who did he resemble?
Ava immediately began going through everyone she knew in her mind, trying to match the waiter to someone.
Who else was tall, had broad shoulders, and blonde hair?
She asked herself casually.
The answer came immediately.
But it caught her completely off guard.
There was only one person.
Maxim?
But no...
It couldn't be.
Blake must have noticed her troubled expression because he looked at her with mild concern.
"Ava?"
Before he could say anything else, Ava started moving, muttering an excuse about needing to fix her makeup in the ladies room.
She made her way toward the kitchen, all her thoughts consumed by the possibility that Maxim was here tonight.
After all, how could two people be so similar?
But what would Maxim be doing at her parents' house, as a caterer?
Her mind searched for an explanation, but there was none.
She was probably mistaken, she told herself.
It couldn't possibly be him.
Yet Ava continued toward the kitchen, needing to verify this.
She stopped at the kitchen doorway and immediately began scanning the room.
Inside, caterers rushed around carrying trays while guests wandered in and out.
Her father was even there, speaking on the phone and dealing with a client, as he often did at all hours of the day.
But there was no sign of the waiter from earlier.
And most importantly...
No sign of Maxim.
She stared into the room, unable to understand.
She had seen him enter here.
And a small part of her had been so certain—so convinced—that the waiter had actually been Maxim.
"Ava?"
Her father walked over, concern written across his face.
"What are you doing in here? And why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Ava licked her lips as she looked at him.
She wanted so badly to tell him what was happening and ask whether he or anyone else had seen Maxim who was also dressed up like a waiter.
But how ridiculous would that sound?
Very, she answered herself.
And not only that, the question would upset her dad, who also hated Maxim for what he had done to her.
He definitely wouldn't appreciate being reminded of him, especially today of all days.
"I'm... I'm fine, Dad," Ava said, forcing a smile.
"I just... came to get you."
"I mean, it's your party, so you can't be sneaking away to handle business."
Her father sighed guiltily.
"You're right, little one," he said. "Let's go."
He slipped his hand through Ava's arm and gently led her back toward the party.
Ava glanced over her shoulder one last time.
The waiter was still nowhere to be seen.
She frowned to herself, wondering what was going on, and if she was losing her mind.