Chapter 1 A late start ....

Ring... Ring... Ring!

The alarm blared for the third time that morning, but Ava still lay buried under her blanket. She groaned, rolling over and slapping the snooze button once again. The warmth of her bed was too tempting to leave, but reality hit her like a thunderclap she was already an hour late for work!

"Holy crap!" she yelped, eyes darting to the clock.

Throwing off the covers, she stumbled out of bed, moving sluggishly like a log of wood. Her entire body ached from exhaustion, and she wished she could call in sick. But she couldn't afford to lose her job not when she had bills to pay.

Ava was a stunning young woman in her early twenties, with golden blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, striking blue eyes, and full, plum lips that gave her an effortlessly alluring charm. Her straight, slender legs added to her elegance, and though she lived alone in a small apartment, she remained close to her mother and younger sister, who resided in the same city.

After rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she dashed into the bathroom, freshened up within minutes, and hurriedly dressed. Thankfully, she had laid out her outfit the night before. Pulling her long hair into a sleek ponytail, she grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.

Mrs. Pat's wrath was something she could never escape.

As she booked a cab and made her way to the restaurant, her heart pounded with anxiety. The moment she arrived and stepped out, she spotted a familiar figure at the back entrance. Madam Pat.

Before Ava could even plead for mercy, a loud smack! echoed through the air.

"You lazy miscreant!" Mrs. Pat fumed, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you? Two whole hours! Where have you been?!"

"I'm so sorry, ma'am," Ava winced, rubbing her stinging cheek. "I was exhausted from yesterday's shift. We closed really late, and-"

"Enough of your excuses!" Mrs. Pat cut her off. "Now get inside and get to work before I lose my temper even more!"

Ava swallowed her frustration, wiped the forming tears from her eyes, and slipped on her apron. She had been working at the restaurant for seven grueling months, enduring everything from insults to outright abuse. But she had no choice; the pay wasn't great, but it was better than nothing, she has a dream of having her own bakery so she has been saving heavily for it, loosing her job would be really bad for her

As the evening drew closer, she and her colleague Lola began cleaning up, preparing for closing time.

"Lola, can you turn off the gas?" Ava called out from the back.

It was just the two of them left in the restaurant. Mrs. Pat had gone out with some workers to handle catering orders, as the festive season was her busiest time.

Mrs. Pat wasn't just a chef; she was a force to be reckoned with in the culinary world. Her restaurant was one of the most renowned in the city, and she was highly sought after by wealthy clients for home service and large events.

After locking up, Ava bid Lola goodnight and started her usual routine trekking home to save money. It had become a habit: take a cab to work in the morning and walk back at night.

By the time she reached her apartment complex, she was relieved. Having just paid her rent the previous day, she walked in with a sense of satisfaction. But as she approached her door, a sudden wave of unease washed over her.

Her door was slightly open.

Had she forgotten to lock it in the morning?

Heart pounding, she removed one of her shoes and held it like a weapon as she slowly stepped inside. The living room was empty. But then a noise.

From the kitchen.

She crept closer and-boom!

"Nick?!" she gasped, seeing her boyfriend standing over her stove.

He turned with a grin, licking his fingers. "Hey, babe. Nice pottage."

Ava gawked at him in disbelief. "How the hell did you get in here? And what are you doing with my pot?

Nick gave her a lopsided smirk. "Relax, baby. I came to check up on you."

She folded her arms. "Check up on me? You ghosted me for a whole month, Nick! And now you show up acting like nothing happened?"

Nick sighed, setting the pot down. "Come on, babe. I missed you, okay? That's why I'm here."

Ava narrowed her eyes. "How did you even get in?"

Nick grinned mischievously and dangled a spare key in front of her face. "I still have this."

Her jaw clenched. "Nick, we need to talk."

His playful expression faded. "Babe, let's not ruin the moment."

Ava took a deep breath, crossing her arms. She had a bad feeling about this.

Meanwhile...

Across the city, in a grand mansion, a couple sat in their lavish living room.

"Honey," Mrs. Alexandra spoke, turning to her husband. "Don't you think it's time we called the children home? It seems they've forgotten about our Christmas tradition."

Mr. Alexandra, the powerful CEO of Nova Spark, leaned back in his chair. He was one of Avalon's most influential business tycoons, with enterprises spread across the country and beyond.

He chuckled. "Calm down, dear. I'm sure they haven't forgotten. They'll be home soon enough."

Little did they know, this holiday season would be far from ordinary