Ethan Hawthorne was once deeply in love with Ava Carter-until betrayal shattered their world. Now a self-made billionaire, he's retreated into isolation, building an empire but losing himself in the process. When fate forces Ava back into his life, old wounds resurface, and buried emotions ignite. Can they find their way back to each other, or is their love beyond repair?
The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of vanilla and cinnamon. Ava Carter stood behind the counter of Coastal Brews, wiping her hands on a towel as she watched the early morning crowd filter in. The little café had been her sanctuary for the past five years-a small, warm space with wooden tables, soft yellow lighting, and a wall filled with handwritten notes from loyal customers.
It was a place built on love, on memories, on survival.
She had fought tooth and nail to keep it running.
And she wasn't going to lose it now.
The moment the door swung open, a gust of cold ocean air rushed in, along with the deep, controlled footsteps of a man she hadn't seen in ten years.
Ava's fingers tightened around the coffee mug in her hand.
Ethan Hawthorne.
He stepped inside like he owned the world-which, in a way, he did. The man who once kissed her like she was his last breath, who whispered promises under the stars, who vanished from her life without looking back.
He had changed.
The warm, easy-going Ethan she had once loved was gone.
In his place stood a ruthless billionaire, his presence commanding the entire café. Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked like he had just walked out of a Wall Street meeting rather than a sleepy coastal town. His face, all sharp angles and dark stubble, was unreadable.
But his eyes-those piercing stormy-blue eyes-landed on her.
And Ava felt herself being dragged back in time.
Silence stretched between them. The noise of the café faded, drowned out by the roaring pulse in Ava's ears.
She forced herself to breathe, setting down the mug before she shattered it.
Ethan, for his part, remained perfectly composed.
Until he spoke.
"You look well."
The deep timbre of his voice sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.
Ava swallowed, keeping her expression neutral. "You don't."
A flicker of something-amusement? Annoyance?-passed through his gaze before it vanished behind a mask of indifference.
"I see you still have a sharp tongue," he murmured.
"And I see you still have a habit of showing up uninvited," she shot back.
That got a reaction. His jaw tightened.
"Actually," he said, sliding a document onto the counter, "I have every right to be here."
Ava frowned, hesitating before reaching for it. As her eyes scanned the bolded words at the top, her stomach dropped.
Hawthorne Industries is now the official owner of this establishment.
The words blurred.
Her fingers clenched the paper as she lifted her gaze, her heart hammering. "No. This... this is a mistake."
Ethan's expression remained infuriatingly calm.
"It's not a mistake," he said, tilting his head slightly. "I own this entire block, including your café."
Ava felt like the ground had been yanked from beneath her.
"You're lying."
Ethan arched a brow. "I don't waste my time lying."
Her chest tightened. No. No, no, no.
This café was her everything. Her safe place.
And now, it was his.
Ava forced herself to hold her ground. "So, what? You came all this way just to throw this in my face?"
Ethan let out a slow breath. "I didn't come here to argue, Ava."
Her laugh was sharp, bitter. "Then what did you come for, Ethan?"
Silence.
His lips parted, as if he was about to say something, but then he stopped himself.
His hesitation sent a sharp pang through her chest.
She knew this man. She once knew him better than anyone.
And the fact that he was hesitating meant one thing-there was more to this than he was letting on.
Ava's hands trembled, but she gritted her teeth and steadied herself. "You should go."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "Ava-"
"I don't care why you're here. I don't care what games you're playing. But you're not getting this café without a fight."
A slow smirk curled at the edge of his lips. "Oh, I was hoping you'd say that."
The moment Ethan walked out, Ava collapsed onto a chair, gripping the paper in her hands.
This couldn't be happening.
Not now.
Not when she had finally rebuilt her life.
She took a shuddering breath, forcing herself to focus. There had to be a way out of this.
But before she could even form a plan, her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown Number: "He's back. You need to leave. Now."
Ava's heart stopped.
Her blood turned to ice.
She stared at the screen, reading the words again and again.
Unknown Number: "You're not safe, Ava. Get out while you can."
Her breath caught.
Because she knew exactly who had sent that message.
And if they were reaching out now...
It meant the past was catching up to her.
When struggling designer Elena Carter is cornered into signing a marriage contract with ruthless billionaire Damian Blackwood, she believes she's just exchanging six months of her life for financial security. But as she steps into his world of power and deception, the line between business and desire begins to blur. Will their arrangement end in heartbreak-or has Damian met the one woman who can break his icy façade?
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"