Chapter 25

Ava’s POV

The room went still. Elaine froze, probably surprised that Liam wasn’t falling for her little performance. Monica stiffened beside her, clearly unsure what to do now that things weren’t going their way. Even Isabella’s fists unclenched slightly, though her eyes still flashed with anger. As for me, my heart pounded, but I nodded without a word, knowing better than to argue.

Without another word, he turned and started walking toward Grayson’s study, and we followed, the tension thick in the air.

The next thing I knew, the four of us were seated in Grayson’s study. The room was thick with tension; all of us glared at one another but were too cautious to say anything. Liam stood off to the side, arms crossed, with a glare that could freeze fire.

Isabella, always unable to keep quiet, pinched my arm and leaned in closer to whisper, “Feels like we’re in high school, getting called to the principal’s office.”

I glanced at her and whispered back, “I was never called to the principal’s office. That was always you, Bels. And stop pinching me.”

She snorted, her grin mischievous. “Oh, I remember. You used to be such a bore. But hey, if it’s any consolation, I’m really proud of you.” She let out a small laugh, making me chuckle too.

Of course, that was the exact moment everyone turned to look at us, just as the door swung open and Grayson walked in. Everything fell into a cold, suffocating silence. He didn’t say a word. He simply moved with intimidating calm to his desk, sat down, and let his gaze slowly sweep over the room. He took in everything—the bruises on our faces, the tension in the air—without so much as a flicker of emotion. The silence stretched, and I felt every second drag painfully slowly. It felt like an eternity before he finally spoke.

“Isabella and Monica. Leave.”

Both Isabella and Monica opened their mouths to protest simultaneously, but Grayson cut them off with a single look. His voice dropped, colder, more threatening. “Do not make me repeat myself.”

They both stood up in unison, their expressions ranging from shocked to furious. Isabella squeezed my hand, her voice low as she whispered, “Act dumb and fake cry. It always works.” Then she walked out with a smug smile, while Monica shot Grayson a death glare before storming off. The door shut behind them, and the silence settled back into the room like a heavy blanket.

Liam moved to stand in the corner, his frown deepening. Grayson’s attention turned fully to me, his sharp eyes boring into mine. “How old are you?”

That wasn’t the question I was expecting. I blinked, then answered quietly, “Twenty-four.”

He shifted his gaze to Elaine. “And you?”

“Twenty-five,” she muttered, her eyes now glued to her hands.

“So explain to me,” Grayson said, his voice calm but laced with an edge that sent a shiver down my spine, “why you are acting like children.” His words were slow, deliberate, and each one landed with the weight of a hammer. “I gave you an apartment in this estate, Elaine, and I have granted you permission to come here as you wish. You and Ava will be staying here from now on, which means you will cross paths. Often. I will not tolerate this behavior.”

Isabella was right. This did feel like being in the principal’s office.

Grayson didn’t wait for a response before continuing, his tone cold and final. “I do not want Monica in my house. If she is to visit you, Elaine, let it be in your apartment. And you,” he turned to me, “I told you to keep your friend under control. I have no business with her.”

His gaze felt like ice, freezing me in place, but I forced myself to keep eye contact.

Grayson then turned to Elaine. “You are my cousin, and you, Ava, are to be my wife.” The word ‘wife’ landed like a stone in the pit of my stomach, heavy and suffocating. “It is your responsibility to act with dignity, and that extends to whoever you associate with. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes,” I managed to reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

“But this was all her friend’s fault,” Elaine spat, not even pretending to hold back. “She attacked me first, then Ava went after Monica! I don’t see why I’m getting scolded.”

I saw Grayson’s jaw tighten, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he fixed his gaze on her. “What did I just say about acting like a child?” His voice was low and cold, each word dripping with the threat of consequences. “This petty quarrel between the two of you ends now. I don’t care who started it.”

Elaine’s lips quivered, and I could see the familiar routine starting. Her chin wobbled, and her eyes filled with tears. She sniffed, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

I almost rolled my eyes. I had never seen anything more fake in my life, but I kept my face neutral. I could feel Grayson’s gaze on me again, sharp and penetrating, and I did everything in my power to avoid looking at him. My fingers fidgeted in my lap, betraying the nerves I tried to suppress.

“If there’s one more incident,” Grayson continued, his voice steady but filled with warning, “and your friend is involved, she will be banned from my estate. Permanently. Do you understand?”

I didn’t hesitate, keeping my tone firm and controlled. “Yes.”

Grayson’s stare didn’t waver, and I felt the intensity of his gaze deep in my chest. His presence in the room was overwhelming, like he could suffocate us with his silence alone. There was no warmth in his eyes, no softening. He was a man who expected control and obedience. Every word out of his mouth was an order, and you’d be a fool to challenge him.

Elaine shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but she dared not speak again. For once, I think she understood she was teetering on the edge of pushing Grayson too far, and that was a place none of us wanted to go.

Liam, who had been silent the whole time, finally stepped forward. His face was as unreadable as always, but I could see the tension in his posture. He glanced at Grayson, a silent exchange passing between them, before addressing us. “You’re both dismissed.”

I felt a wave of respect for Liam for not picking sides or letting any of us get away with it. Elaine glared at him before she bolted up first, her heels clicking against the floor as she practically ran for the door. I took a deep breath and stood, my legs feeling heavy beneath me. The weight of the whole situation was suffocating, and part of me just wanted to escape the icy cold presence of Grayson, even for a second.

But just as I was about to follow Elaine out, Grayson’s voice cut through the air again, stopping me dead in my tracks.

“Ava.”

I froze, my hand halfway to the door handle. Slowly, I turned back around to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. He hadn’t moved from his seat, but his eyes were locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding. His presence alone was enough to make the room feel smaller, more suffocating.

“Stay a moment,” he said, his tone commanding but with a subtle, terrifying calm.

Elaine glanced back at me, but she didn’t dare say anything. She slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind her, and I was left alone in the study with Grayson and Liam.

The silence was deafening, and I felt the weight of both their stares on me. My palms were sweating, and I clenched my fists to hide it. Whatever this was, it wasn’t going to be good.

Grayson leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been quiet this entire time,” he said, his voice deceptively soft. “I find that interesting.”

I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. “I—”

“Don’t,” he cut me off, raising a hand slightly. “I don’t need excuses, Ava. I need explanations. Why did it escalate like this?”

I felt my throat tighten. I wanted to blame Monica. I wanted to explain how Elaine had been provoking me since I got here, how I was tired of playing the quiet, obedient role. But none of that would matter to him. Grayson wasn’t the kind of man to care about justifications. He cared about results, control.

“I didn’t want it to go this far,” I finally said, keeping my voice steady, though my heart was racing. “But it did.”

His eyes flickered with something—annoyance? Disapproval? I couldn’t tell. But whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

“That’s not an answer,” Grayson replied coldly. “I didn’t ask you what you wanted. I asked you why you let it escalate. You knew better, didn’t you?”

I flinched at the harshness in his tone. “Yes, I did.”

Liam shifted slightly, his gaze still trained on me but remaining silent. I felt like I was under interrogation, trapped between two walls of ice.

He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. His gaze never left mine. “I can tolerate many things, Ava. But I will not tolerate chaos in my house. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded in that moment. I wanted to stand my ground, but in front of Grayson, it felt impossible.

“You are to be my wife,” he continued, each word precise and deliberate. “That comes with responsibility. Order. Discipline. You can’t afford to let yourself get pulled into petty squabbles.”

I bit my lip, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “I understand.”

“Good,” Grayson said, his tone softening just slightly, though his eyes remained as cold as ever. “Now go get dressed.”

“What?”

He leaned back. “One of the Alphas I am aligned with is throwing a ball. You and I are attending together.”