Tangled In Vengeance And Desire

Ava's pov

As I walked home from the store, just a few blocks away, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

Julian had been distant lately, and i had been trying to brush it off as stress from work. But the silence between us had grown thicker.

I pushed open the door, calling out ''Hey, I'm home!" but the response was not what I expected.

"Harder baby!" a loud scream echoed from upstairs and I frowned.

I wondered who was having sex in my house at this hour. I approached the direction where the sound was coming from.

"I'm about to cum, daddy," a female voice said, I placed my ear against the door to hear clearly.

"Cum for daddy," my husband commanded and I pushed the door open.

My world came crashing down around me. I stood frozen in the doorway, my eyes fixed on the scene before me.

My husband, Julian and a woman, lay naked in our bed, wrapped in each other's arms. The pain and betrayal cut deep.

"Julian!" I yelled in a shaky voice and his mistress smirked. Julian avoided my gaze, my chest tightened and tears stung my eyes.

I couldn't process what I was seeing. How could he do this to me? To us? We had built a life together, or so I thought.

"How could you do this to me? To us?" I demanded, trying to hold back my tears. His mistress laughed.

"You don't have to be jealous, Ava. You are getting a divorce from him today," she said.

I felt a pang of sadness and betrayal. Divorce? He was going to throw away what we shared for five years because of her?

"Julian, this is a prank right? We are not getting a divorce, we work through this," I said weakly, pain evident in my voice.

"This marriage is over, Ava," Julian said with no emotion on his face. His mistress kissed him and I felt a surge of anger.

"What did I do to you? I tried to make this marriage work but you are willing to throw away what we had for five years for her," I pointed out.

I was pathetic, here I was begging a man who clearly doesn't love me anymore.

If we divorced, I had no where to go. We had been together for five years.

My family was killed by a mafia Lord because of debts. Julian found me on the streets.

He loved me despite his tough exterior and his position as a mafia leader.

He was gentle with me when we first met. I fell helplessly in love with him and he did too. That was when we got married.

Our marriage was blissful until two years ago when Julian became focused on having an heir.

I tried all my possible best to get pregnant but all efforts were unsuccessful. That was when the distance grew between us.

I ignored the signs, the text messages, suspicious late nights and whispered phone calls.

I believed I could make the marriage work but I was wrong. He doesn't love me anymore because I couldn't provide him an heir.

"Sophia is pregnant, Ava. What do you expect me to do? I need a son to maintain my position as the mafia leader," he said sternly.

I couldn't believe my ears. She was pregnant with my husband's child. My legs trembled and I held the door for support.

"You should have waited for me! You should have stood by my side, Julian!" I yelled at him.

He stood up from the bed and walked closer to me. "You won't talk to me like that," he said angrily, his eyes darkening.

"You betrayed me!" I yelled again and his palm smacked against my cheek leaving a stinging sensation.

I opened my mouth in shock, his mistress giggled.

"That's so sexy, daddy," she said. My hand balled into fists as I tried to approach her but he pulled me back.

"What you couldn't do in five years, Sophia did it in a month. You are nothing but an empty barrel," he spat.

I watched him as he walked to his wardrobe and brought out a file. "Sign them," he said as he threw the file at me.

The man in front of me was not the Julian i married. He had turned into a monster.

"I have no where to go, Julian," I muttered.

"That's not my concern, you have money just sign the papers and leave," he ordered.

I drew in a deep breath as I brought out the papers out of the file.

"Don't waist my time, Ava. You know i don't have patience," he warned.

My hands trembled as i took the pen on the table beside me.

This was it, the end of the love we shared. I signed the papers and handed it to him.

"Go pack your things and leave," he said. I looked at him for the last time, my heart heavy in pain and betrayal.

"Goodbye," I said, my voice barely a whisper before slamming the door shut.

I ran to my room, broke down and cried uncontrollably.

I never imagined there will be a day when Julian and I won't be together anymore.

As I packed my bags, I felt dizzy and nauseous. I had no where to go and the money left on me was little.

It couldn't rent an apartment but i could afford a hotel room for the night. "Ava! What are you still doing here?" Julian yelled.

I rushed quickly out of the house with two bags in my hands. I walked down the street with a heavy heart.

After walking a distance, I became so tired. My legs almost gave out and my vision was blurry.

I didn't know if it was the heartbreak or exhaustion that made me felt this way. I tried to walk further but there was no strength left in me.

"Gosh", a faint whisper escaped my lips. I felt my head spinning. "Careful there," a voice said and caught me by my arm as I was about to fall.

I felt a sharp pain in my head and everything blacked out.

Ava's pov

I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in a hospital bed. I tried to remember what happened and how I got here.

"You are awake," a man said with a smile as he walked in. I stared at him, he was gorgeous.

He was tall, well built, dark hair, full pink lips and handsome face. I wondered if he was the doctor.

"Who are you?" I asked politely and he chuckled as he walked closer to me.

"My name is Alex, I saved you three days ago on the streets," he replied and my eyes widened.

" Three days ago? I have been out for three days?" I asked in disbelief, my heart racing and he nodded.

Sweat formed on my forehead as I panicked about the bills. I had no money on me, how was I going to pay the bills?

"The bills has been sorted out, you don't have to worry about a thing," he assured me, as if he just read my mind.

"Thank you so much," I said, my voice shaking and he smiled. I have to worry. I have no money and no home.

"It's fine and you must not go through any stress because of your baby," he urged gently and i raised a curious brow.

"What baby?" I questioned with confusion etched on my face.

His eyes widened. "Don't you know?" He asked, his voice soft and i shook my head.

I sat up feeling hot all of a sudden. I better not be pregnant for that monster.

"You are three weeks pregnant," he announced, and I felt like I had been hit by tons of bricks.

"No, I couldn't be pregnant. I can't..." I stammered as tears stung my eyes. I couldn't be pregnant with Julian's child.

I remembered that night three weeks ago when Julian came home drunk. We had sex but it was quick.

I never thought it could lead to a pregnancy. Tears streamed down my face as i thought about my situation.

"What's wrong? You should be happy not sad," Alex asked, his voice full of concern.

I couldn't go back to Julian. He wouldn't believe me anyway. I had no money to take care of myself and the child.

"There's nothing to be happy about," I whispered, shaking my head as i wiped my tears.

"You can tell me what's wrong. I can help you," he offered and i took in a deep breath.

"My husband divorced me because I couldn't give him a child. I caught him in bed with another woman and she is carrying his baby. I have nothing, Alex. No money, no home... I'm all alone," I explained.

"I'm so sorry about that. Why would he do such thing to a beautiful woman like you?" Alex growled, his face darkening.

"I don't know what to do about the child. I'm not financially capable to take care of a baby," I groaned, Alex touched my hand.

"I will help you. I will take responsibility for you and your unborn child," he promised, and I laughed bitterly.

My laughter died down when I saw the seriousness on his face.

"Why? Why do you want to help me? You barely know me," I asked him.

"I need a wife. You can be my wife, a contract marriage thing," he proposed. Another marriage? I shook my head.

"I don't think i want to get married again. Julian has put me through enough trauma," I disagreed.

"Did you just say Julian? Julian, the mafia leader?" He asked and I nodded.

"That son of a bitch," he muttered and I raised a curious brow.

"You know him?" I asked and he nodded, his hands balled into fists.

"Julian is a fucking monster and I will see the end of him soon," he nodded, his jaw clenched.

"He is strong, Alex. He is the leader of all the mafia lords in America," I pointed out.

"I'm also the leader of all the mafia lords in Mexico," he revealed and I opened my mouth in shock.

I felt a spark of hope ignite within me. Julian would know him and maybe i can get back at him by accepting his rival's proposal.

"I accept the marriage contract, Alex. I want him to know that I can live without him," I said with a smile spreading across my face.

"You are not weak. Don't let any man pull you down," he encouraged, smiling back.

"My name is Ava," I introduced myself, feeling a sense of determination wash over me.

"I came here for a business meeting, Ava. I will be going back to Mexico tonight," he informed me, standing up.

"I will go with you," I decided, making up my mind.

I needed a change of environment and I would make sure Julian doesn't know about my unborn child.

"I will go see the doctor now," he said with a smile before walking out of the room.

I closed my eyes feeling happy about the new development. I would have a roof to my head and money to survive.

"I will come back here bigger and stronger, Julian," I promised myself.

"Let's go now, Ava," Alex said as he pushed the door open. He helped me out of the hospital bed.

My legs trembled, he supported me by wrapping his arms round my waist as we walked out.

"What did you know about me?" He asked as he drove away from the hospital.

"Only that you are a mafia leader from Mexico and Julian's rival," I replied.

"That's a good start but let me tell you more. I'm not only mafia leader, i'm a business man and i'm Julian's nemesis," he said with a chuckle.

"Nemesis? That's a strong word," I raised an eyebrow.

"Julian and I have a complicated history. I'm looking forward to making him pay for what he has done," he said.

"Is that why you asked me to marry you?" I asked and he shook his head.

"I asked you to marry me before I knew Julian was your ex husband, Ava," he corrected, I nodded in agreement.

"Let's build something new. Let's make him pay for betraying you, Ava," he said as his gaze locked into mine.

"I'm in, let's make him pay for what he has done," I nodded in agreement with a smile on my face.

Five years later

Ava's pov

"Mommy! I want to go play in the park," my son, Aiden exclaimed, his big brown eyes pleading with me.

"Mommy is busy now, sweetie. Go meet your nanny she will take you," I said as i gave him a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"I want you or daddy to take me," he whined, crossing his arms and i sighed.

"Aiden, we will take you to the park on Saturday okay? Just go meet your nanny," I assured him.

"Promise?" He asked and I nodded. He didn't seem satisfied and I rolled my eyes.

"Promise," I replied and he ran off. Kids can be so difficult and Aiden was stubborn like his father.

Alex, my husband, approached me and gave me a warm kiss.

"Hey babe," Alex said. I shivered at the feeling of his lips on mine.

"I thought you were asleep," I said smiling up at him and he groaned.

"Aiden's voice woke me up," he replied chuckling.

"He is so stubborn," I complained, rolling my eyes. Alex smirked and wrapped his arms round my waist.

"I want more kids running around in this house, babe," he said. I pulled away.

"We have discussed this several times, Alex. I am not having anymore children soon," I reminded him firmly.

Alex frowned as we both sat on the couch. "You still haven't let go of the past, Ava," he muttered softly.

I couldn't deny because it was true. Since moving to Mexico, Alex had been nice to me.

We got married based on a contract at first but he fell in love with me when I had Aiden.

Alex loved my son like his own, but I struggled to reciprocate his love. I have tried to love him but something was pulling me back.

Everytime i looked at Aiden, I saw Julian in him. Everything about them was the same.

Alex and I had planned our revenge against Julian before we leaving America but we hadn't taken action yet.

I had trained alongside Alex to be a strong woman physically. He taught me how to fight, how to use a gun and other things about mafia.

I represented Alex in many mafia's meeting and earned respect from our peers.

"Alex..." I called his name and saw sadness in his eyes.

"What else do you want from me? Why can't you love me like i love you?" He asked, his voice laced with pain.

I drew a deep breath feeling guilty. I knew i hurt Alex, i couldn't change me feelings.

"Alex, I love you," I whispered trying to assure him but he shook his head.

"You don't love me, Ava. I see it in you, your heart still belongs to Julian," he said.

I stood up and sat on his lap, locking eyes with him.

His gaze held love and pain. I pressed my lips against his. It was a gentle kiss and he sighed, breaking the embrace.

"I will fight for you, Ava," he whispered

We sat together, embracing each other's warmth.

"I need to go get my phone," I said when I heard my phone ring and he nodded.

"Hello boss," Max, my personal assistant said.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"We found him, boss. The one who stole the gold worth of ten billion dollars," he replied and I smiled.

"Good job. Wait for me at the house, i'm on my way," I said and ended the call.

I turned to see Alex standing behind me. "Were you eavesdropping?" I teased trying to lighten up the mood.

"Not at all, boss lady," he replied, grinning and I chuckled.

"I have to go. The guys are waiting for me," I said and he nodded.

"Don't kill the poor guy because I know you. Your hands are quick to pull the trigger," he advised, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Okay," I nodded. I changed into a black hoodie and sweatpants.

I pulled my hair into a ponytail and stared at the reflection of my self in the mirror.

My experience for five years had changed me. The person standing was the new Ava. I was proud of my new self and person i had become. The strong and confident Ava.

I left the house and went to the car garage. I chose the 2024 model Ferrari and drove down to the house.

"Welcome boss," one of the guards greeted me with a bow. I nodded and entered.

A guy was tied on the chair with blood all over him. Max has done him dirty and I liked it.

"Welcome boss," Max said. I walked closer to the guy and grabbed his jaw.

"Where is my gold?" I demanded in an authoritative voice. "I don't know where it is," he replied in a shaky voice.

Max and I exchanged glances. "I will ask you for the very last time, young man. Where is my gold?" I asked impatiently.

"I don't know where your gold is," he repeated. Anger raged in me, i grabbed my gun and cocked it.

I pointed the gun to his head and he struggled to free himself. "Are you ready to talk or not?" I questioned.

"Your gold is in amer.. ica. It will be sold at a mafia party ne..xt week in front of everyone," he stammered.

I took a step back, signaling Max to come closer.

"Waste him," I whispered to Max. "Yes boss," he answered and I walked out of the building.

I heard the sound of a gun silencing the man who dared to cross me. My mind raced with thoughts of the gold and my inevitable return to America.

The thought sent shivers down my spine but i knew it was necessary. I had to retrieve my stolen gold.

I slid into my Ferrari and sped away from the scene. I thought about the coming mafia party where my gold will be sold to the highest bidder.

I couldn't let that happen, I had to get it first. Was Julian going to be at the party? What does he look like now?

I shook my head and pushed the thoughts of Julian aside and focused on the task at hand.