JoyReadChapter 18
-Ava POV-
“I think you've had enough conversations for the day. Drops that bottle and go to bed. And keep your friend
under control.”
Grayson’s voice was ice-cold, like a command carved out of stone, leaving no room for argument. Without
sparinganother glance, he turned on his heel and walked away, his tall frdisappearing into the dim
hallway like a shadow. The sound of his footsteps faded into the distance, leavingstarling there, feeling the
weight of his control settle over me.
My heart pounded in my chest, but it wasn’t from fear. It was frustration, confusion and something else | couldn't
quite name. Every encounter with Grayson leftfeeling off-balance like | was constantly playing a game
where | didn’t know the rules. And the worst part? He was the only one who held the pieces.
| shook my head, trying to clear the fog that had crept in. How much thad passed? Suddenly, the fact that
Isabella was still here registered, and panic surged through nie.
How had | forgotten?
| hurried back to the spot where I'd left her, only to find it empty. | scanned the area, my pulse quickening. Where
had she gone? After a few minutes of searching, | gave up, defeated. | could only hope she’d gone back to the
rooth Grayson had askedto stay in. | made my way there, my mind racing with all the things | didn’t want to
think about.
When I finally opened the door, relief washed over me. She was asleep, curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow
like it was her lifeline. | couldnt help but smile, a wave of affection softening the edges of my anxiety. She was
my rock in all of this chaos.. and just seeing her there, peaceful and unaware of everything that had happened,
madefeel grounded again.
I quietly set the bottle down and slid into bed next to her, wrapping my arms around her like | used to when we
were
younger
“Lilian?” she mumbled sleepily.
“It’s me. Go back to sleep.”
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“Hmmm.. was all she managed before drifting off again.
| lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying not to think about Grayson or the mess | had somehow found myself in.
But the more | tried to push it away, the more it gnawed at me. Why was he so obsessed with keepinghere?
The questions. swirled in my mind like a storm, but eventually, exhaustion pulledunder, and | let sleep take
over
The morning sun was ruthless, its rays piercing through the curtains and landing right on my face. | groaned,
pulling the pillow over my head in a feeble attempt to block it out.
“Wake up!” Isabella’s voice broke through my sleep-induced haze “There's a lot to be done today!”
| grumbled something incoherent, refusing to emerge from my cocoon of blankets. “Fifty seven more minutes...”
She laughed, “You are so weird. Normal people say five more minutes now con! Get up!” She yanked the
covers off ofwith a tic flourish.
“Ugh!” | groaned louder, curling into a ball. “I don’t want to!”
She wasn't listening. She was already pacing around the room like a woman on a mission. “I've been up for
hours. Jameson helpedmake scalls and there was an ad put out, and guess what?” She turned to face
21:55 Thu, Dec 12
Chapter 18
That joltedawake. Ishot gap in bed, my eyes wide. “Wait, what Why didn’t you lead with that
She just grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “Because | knew i get you out of bed”
| was fully awake now, and reality ccrashing in like a tidal wave. “Oh my Goddess, what am | going to wear?
I didn’t pack anything for this. | mean, | was trying to get away from Dylan, nt land a job interview! | can't walk
into a hospital looking like this.”
Panic started bubbling up inside me. | hadn't brought anything permotely appropriate for an interview. Sure, |
had the name, skills and qualifications, but showing up in last night's outfit wasn’t going to cut it. Not when first
impressions mattered.
“I need to look the part, Isabella. It doesn’t matter who | am or what my nis. They're not going to hireif |
show up looking like I've been through hell.”
Isabella just rolled her eyes at my tic outburst and smiled in that knowing way of hers. “You haven't seen
you?”
“Seen what?” | blinked at her, completely confused.
yer have
Without another word, she grabbed my hand and pulledtoward the corner of the room. | followed, half-
expecting her to reveal skind of magic trick. Then, she swung open the door to a walk-in closet that | hadn't
even noticed before.
| gasped, my eyes widening as | took in the sight before me. It was a closet straight out of a fashion dream, filled
with every type of clothing and accessory a woman could ever need. Rows of designer dresses, shoes, bags-
everything was perfectly arranged, like a high-end boutique. And the best part? It looked like it had all been
tailored to my exact size.
reached out, touching one of the dresses as if it might disappear under my fingertips. “What.. how
got some
Isabella leaned against the doorway, grinning like the cat that got the cream. “Apparently our royal hotness got s
connections and good taste too.”
My head was spinning. “Where? When? How did he even know my size? And when did he have tto do this?”
She shrugged, still grinning. “I don’t know, but it seems like he’s taken an interest in you.”
1 didn’t know whether to feel flattered or terrified. “This is insane.
Isabella laughed, stepping inside the closet and pulling out a sleek, professional outfit that looked like it had
been plucked. right off a runway. “Well, my friend, you've just hit the literal jackpot. Now, let's get you dressed.”
1 still couldn't believe what | was seeing. My fingers grazed over the clothes, every fabric softer and more
luxurious than the last. It was overwhelming, but | didn’t have tto process it. | had an interview to get ready
for, and, like it or not, Grayson had apparently already planned for it.
I pulled out a crisp white blouse and a tailored skirt, holding them up to my body. They fit perfectly, like they
were made for me. | glanced over at Isabella, who was watchingwith a smug smile.
“You seriously have no idea how this happened?”
She shook her head, still amused. “Nope. But I'd say you owe him a thank
k you.
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A pit settled in my stomach. | was starting to owe Grayson more than I could ever repay, and that unsettled me.
The thought of it was suffocating but | pushed it aside and let Isabella helpget dressed. We both pretended
the growing weight of it didn’t exist..
Before we left, | debated telling Grayson where | was going, but he had made it clear he had no intention of
controlling me. So, | climbed into the taxi with Isabella, she got dropped off at her work place and in no time, |
was sitting inside the hospital, waiting for my interview.
Chapter 18
Medicine had never been my choice. My parents had pushedinto it because that’s what every Pierce studied,
but
somewhere along the way, | found my passion for saving lives. | hadn't worked in six months, though, not since
Dylan madequit my job, and to say | was excited was an understatement
The last person who had gone in for the interview cout, and | braced myself for my turn. But then, the
woman who had been calling people in stood up and announced, “That's all for today,”
| stood up, confused, my heart sinking. “Wait!” | called out, catching the woman's attention. “I haven't been
interviewed yet.
“I'm sorry, but that’s all the people we're taking today,” she said, her voice firm but polite.
| was about to argue when | saw an older woman walking out of the interview room. My breath caught. | hadn't
realized she’d been transferred here. “Laura?” | called.
Her eyes landed on me, and her eyes flickered with unease before a half smile plastered itself on her face. “Ava!
It's so nice to see you. How have you been?” She turned to the woman, “It’s fine. I'll take it from here.”
| smiled back politely, “I'm as fine as | can be. Why didn’t they callfor my interview?”
Her smile faltered, and sadness filled her eyes. “I'm really sorry Ava and as much as I'd love to help you, | would
rather not cross the Pierce family.”
“What are you talking about?”
She sighed, lowering her voice. “You should talk to your mother. She's been calling every hospital in the country
to have your blacklisted.
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