That night, Ava went to the store, gathering some veggies, fresh meats and some snacks to restock her kitchen.   Approaching the drinks section, she overheard a man apologizing with his head facing down while pleading with a customer. "Sir, the drinks are all sold out." As she got closer, she recognized the man was Nathan.

Ava headed to the counter to pay for her items while darting her eyes to where he was.

Nathan saw sneaky eyes from afar and instantly recognized her. He smirked while dismissing the manager. Ava saw Nathan approaching and she quickly fastened her footsteps towards the entrance. 

After she thought she had finally escaped him, Ava felt a hand on her shoulder tapping her, and she froze. "Miss?" Nathan asked. Ava, staring at him with her mouth wide open, taking a close look at his face. She found him familiar, but couldn't recall exactly where.

Brought out of her thoughts, Ava replied, "Nina." If Nathan was a private investigator sent by her father, she couldn't reveal her true identity to him.

"Nice to meet you," Nathan said, acting cluelessly. "I met you at our family mansion, one of our guests, huh?" He wanted to see if Ava had any other motives. 

Ava found the perfect opportunity to cling to him. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Nathan," she replied.

"Oh,  please, just call me Nathan," he smiled. "Do you need a ride home?"  "Yes...Yes.. please." Ava stuttered out of nervousness. 

The car was filled with silence, and  Ava tried to stop the awkward moment by starting a conversation. "Mr Nathan, do you have other business that you do?" She asked.

Nathan's eyes darkened without looking at her, and he replied sarcastically, "Seems like Miss, want to know more about me, huh?"

"Not that I am invading your privacy, but I actually know your secret," Ava replied, with confidence.

The car came to a halt on the highway.  "What's my secret?" Nathan asked, gazing at her with a frown.

"That you have another identity apart from being a CEO," Ava replied nervously.

Nathan smiled, eager to hear what she wanted to say. "Which is?" he asked.

"I know you're  importing hard drugs to the elites." Ava said nervously, hoping her lie will pay off. 

Nathan got speechless for a while, until he decided to play along. "Really! And how did you know?" he asked.

Ava, thinking she has exposed him, she smiled and said, "That isn't important right now. Let's make a deal."

Nathan raised his brows, while staring at Ava, waiting for her to continue talking. 

"Marry me then I will keep your secret safe," Ava said with a smile.

Nathan leaned in closer to Ava, his lips only an inch away from hers. 

Staring at her lips before looking into her eyes, and smiled. "You shouldn't be doing this," he warned. "Entering a sleeping lion's den can be dangerous."

Ava smiled and said with determination in her eyes, "Deal or no deal?"

"For how long?" Nathan asked. "For a year, after a year we can divorce," Ava replied.

Okay, deal, little chick.  You can't go back on your words now," Nathan  said as he drove down to the marriage registry office.

Ava couldn't believe that she was finally married to a man she barely knew.

 Staring at the marriage certificate, she felt a mix of excitement and regret, but she had a mission she needed to accomplish within one year with him.

"Are you going to keep on standing there?" Nathan asked, drawing her out of her thoughts.

Ava smiled nervously, " I'm coming" She said, as she walked towards the car. "So where are we heading to?" Ava asked.

"Mrs Walton, I am obviously going to your house,  where do you think we are going??" Nathan asked sarcastically.  

"Don't forget you are just my wife on papers, you can't interfere with my private life and I won't do the same. This marriage should be a secret, for the meantime, you will be staying in your house. If you need anything don't forget to call me." Nathan said as he arrived at her house.

Ava went on with her normal routine,she was given whatever she wanted, she couldn't stay at home all day, so she had to continue working. 

After one  month, Ava didn't see Nathan because he was so busy to meet her, he always sends his assistant. She wasn't worried since he said she has no right to interfere in his private life, but she needs to be close to him to start plotting her plans.

"Welcome! What do you want to order?" Ava said, her eyes focused on her phone. "Can I get a latte and a sandwich please," a deep voice said.

"Okay," Ava said as she looked up to take his orders, her eyes came into contact with her childhood friend, whom she hadn't met for seven years.

"Charles," Ava called out, but she couldn't say it out loud. Charles smiled and said," look who we have here, the almighty Ava." He said, sarcastically.

When Ava finished high school, she left for another town. She had been crushing on him then, but he had a girlfriend who wasn't supportive of their friendship, causing them to lose contact. After his family business expanded he left for the US to continue his studies. 

After Ava gave him his orders, he left to take a seat. When he finished eating, he didn't stay for long. "I have to get going, Ava. I'll come to visit often." Charles said.

Ava smiled, she didn't want him to visit at all. If Charles' family found out that she ran away, her whereabouts would definitely be exposed by Charles, and she would be in trouble.

"Do you know that guy? Jessica chimed in excitedly.  "Ava replied,  "Kind of."

"He is our regular customer," Jessica said. "He has increased our sales for the past six months and is  admired by many ladies who come to buy from the cafe." Jessica smiled, not noticing the frown of Ava's face.

"I think my shift is over," Ava interrupted her. "I need to be going, bye," Ava waved her goodbye and exited the cafe's entrance.

A mile away, a black car was waiting for her. After she got married to Nathan, his assistant always takes her home after work.

"When is your boss coming back?" Ava asked Leo. "My boss is back, he is home waiting for you," Leo replied.

The atmosphere became quiet, with a lot on Ava's mind. She didn't notice when the car arrived at their destination. She had never been able to go to Nathan's house before. The mansion was very similar to the one she had gone to, but the building was bigger. 

After Ava went into the mansion, she felt a chill while entering the living room. It looked as though nobody was living there, the paintings were all white and black, giving off a deathly vibe.

"Love it?" Nathan asked as he came downstairs.  "Hmm.."Ava said, not like her opinion mattered

"Now that I have seen you're okay, you can now go back to your house,"Nathan said. 

Ava stared at him speechless. "What? You just brought me here to see if I am fine? You should have called me.  Also you couldn't offer your wife a coffee or something?" Ava frowned.

"My maids are off work today, if you want to eat anything, go to the kitchen  and make a meal yourself, then leave." Nathan said coldly.

"What a rude, crazy man"Ava thought and walked towards the front entrance. 

 Ava asked Leo, "What's wrong with your boss?" 

"Sorry miss. Something just came up in the company. He's really upset." Leo replied with a sad expression.

Suddenly remembering something she walked back to the living room, where Nathan was immersed in what he was watching on the television. 

"I have something I want to discuss with you," Ava said to Nathan.

"Go on," Nathan replied coldly.

"I want to move into your house," Ava said.

Nathan smiled. "You're pushing things too fast, don't you think so, Mrs Walton?"

Ava blushed and said, " No, I have my reasons, not what you're thinking."

"What was I thinking?" Nathan asked Ava, acting dumb. "If you want to move in with me, you will have to keep our marriage secret if my family visits, is that clear?" Ava agreed and left the mansion to move in the next day.

The next day Ava moved in with her property, hoping she will be staying with Nathan.  

    'Where are you going Mrs Walton? ' Nathan asked with a smirk.

 Ava felt her body stiff, her palms sweaty avoiding eye contacts with Nathan, unsure of what to say. 

Nathan saw she was avoiding eye contact with him. 'Mrs Walton I never knew you have such an ulterior motive, you can just say so, we can do our wedding night right now.' He teased her.

 "Sure, why not? It is no big deal for a legally married couple to sleep together, right  Mr Walton" Ava decided to play along.

Nathan's eyes darkened, "You  will be staying in the guest room till our marriage is over and don't pass the boundaries." He said walking into his room, leaving her speechless. 

Ava, shocked by his sudden attitude, moved into the guest room, remembering how her life went from sunshine to darkness within a week.

Days passed on so fast, Ava stopped working at the cafe, went on to look for remote  work to keep herself busy  and tried calling her best friend's number several times yet no response on the line. 

No sight of Nathan in the house, always on business trips. If he keeps disappearing, how will she get information regarding her father within a year. Ava sighed, making her way to the kitchen to make a meal for herself.

'Nina what are you doing here?' Granny Walton asked with a shocked expression on her  face, while holding some groceries.

'Granny.....'

Granny waited for her reply. Ava stuttered, 'I..I...I am... I am his umm..M'

 Before she could complete her word someone interrupted, 'Granny what are you doing here?' Nathan asked while glancing at Ava.

'I came to visit since you can't visit me,' Granny replied to him with a warning look. 'What is she doing in your house?' She shifted her gaze to Ava.

'That's my maid,' He quickly said with a straight face.  'Granny, let's go get  your favorite meal outside."  

Granny sighed,  "l didn't know you had a young maid, since I am here with the groceries, it won't be fair to go outside to eat right, Nina?' 

Ava nodded, still recalling what Nathan just called her, a maid? gazing at him with her hands clutching onto the kitchen knife tightly.

Nathan smirked, "Yes my maid will make a meal, let's head to the garden. He said stretching his hand at his granny.

As they strolled towards the garden, Granny leaned heavily on Nathan's arm, her eyes filled with suspicion. "A maid, you say? She looks more like a wife, doesn't she?"

Nathan chuckled, a nervous edge to his voice, " Granny you're overthinking, she's just helping out around the house." He knew what she meant by more like a wife but Nathan wasn't ready to talk about it.

He subtly glanced back at the kitchen  window where Ava stood frozen, her hands still clutched in her hand. He could practically feel her gaze burning into his back.

In the kitchen, Ava finished dishing out the meal. She walked towards the garden, a sweet smile plastered on her face. "Mr Nathan," Ava called out, her voice dripping with false subservience. "The meal is ready." I will be leaving now, she thought, shooting Nathan a dangerous look.  

"Join us for dinner," Granny said, pulling Ava towards the dining table. Ava was led by Granny, while Nathan followed from behind. 

"Nina, are you single?" Granny asked, piling dishes onto Ava's plate. Nathan silently glanced at Ava, waiting for her reply.

Ava smirked, "Yes, I divorced my husband." 

Nathan's eyes darkened, and he dropped his spoon harshly. Walking out of the dining room without finishing his meal.

Granny kept asking her questions like nothing happened after eating, she left to meet an old friend while Ava did the dishes. 

That night Nathan did not return home early. While waiting for him , Ava tried sending messages to Angel,later that night Nathan arrived completely ignoring her as he strode towards his study room with documents in his hand.

 Ava quickly followed him. "We need to talk," she simply said, before he finally glanced at her. "I am busy, later," he replied curtly, disappearing into his study and closing the door firmly behind him. 

Ava stood there speechless for a moment, frustrated she headed back to her room, the next day she would talk to him. 

Nathan stayed in this study room all night, burying himself in a pile of documents. He sighed in frustration until it was 9 a.m the next day,  Ava walked into the kitchen, drawn by the smell of grilled meat. She licked her tongue, ready to devour the meal,when an old lady walked out of the kitchen.

"Granny!" Ava shouted, shocked.  She nearly fell down. 

Granny noticed her nightwear and frowned, "Nina, l did not know that maids these days can  wear such revealing nightgowns," Granny remarked. Realizing that Ava was  sleeping at her grandson's place, she shouted.  "No way! Are you dating Nathan? Are you sleeping with him? Granny bombarded her with a lot of questions, not giving Ava a chance to defend herself.

Hearing the commotion, Nathan came out only to see Ava wearing a transparent gown, he frowned. What is this woman trying to do? Nathan did not notice another pair of eyes glaring at him, his gaze focused on Ava remembering that night. He quickly asked, his voice husky, "What are you wearing?" 

Granny chimed in, "Are you two dating?"

"Yes.." "No.." Nathan and Ava said in unison.

 Ava frowned. What has gotten into him? He said the marriage should be a secret or was he already being seduced? She has not started her plan, and he is already tempted. Tsk, tsk. This would be easier than she thought. 

Nathan, still dazed by Ava's appearance and Granny's sudden arrival, managed to say, "Actually, we are not dating...." Ava sighed in relief, glad that he was still sticking to his words. "We are married," he smirked, glaring at Ava as if he could read her mind.

Ava's expression turned sour. She wasn't angry that he had told Granny, she was angry that he had forced her to lie. 

Granny glanced at the two figures, speechless. She smiled not caring how they met, but her grandson was finally married. "When will you give me a great-grandchild?" she blurted out, her gaze focusing on Nathan.

Ava chuckled to herself, not for at least seven years, she thought. 

Nathan  smiled half, " Very soon. But for now,  you need to leave. Nina and l have things to discuss." He glanced at Nina with a warm smile.

After Granny left, his eyes darkened,  "My  room, quickly." He stopped as if he had forgotten something. " First, change your gown." 

Ava changed her gown to something comfortable, then went to his room. 

Nathan stood close to the vanity with his eyes closed, inhaling the summer breeze. As Ava closed the door behind her, silence hung in the air, broken only by the sound of their breathing.

Then Nathan's  expression shifted, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Very well, Nina," he said, his voice strangely calm. "Let's talk,"

"Do you remember me?" he asked, staring into her eyes, searching for something.

"..."

Ava rested her hands on her hip, staring at him, confused. What has gotten into him, she thought. Before she could utter a word, the door widely open.

Leo dashed inside, breathing heavily , "Sir, we have a problem! Your mother is not responding." 

With Nathan's heart pounding, he quickly raced towards the car and sped off to the hospital, without glancing at Ava and Leo 

Leo was still catching his breath when Ava cornered him, "What happened to his mother?" she demanded.

" He knows nothing about your family, why do I care about him?"  her inner voice, questioned.  

Leo hesitated, unsure whether he should tell her,   "It's best if the boss tells you himself." he finally said.  Without waiting for her to utter a word, he quickly dashed towards the front entrance.

"Her liver is failing. We need an organ donor, and fast, so we can perform the surgery quickly,'' The doctor reported to Nathan in the private ward. 

Nathan's mother had been suffering from hepatic encephalopathy at an early stage, a sickness that has plunged her into coma for a year. His father had abandoned them long ago, running off with his rich mistress.

Raised by his Granny while his mother worked hard to provide for him and his little sister, Jessica. Till he was twenty, he built his wealth from scratch. 

"Get an organ donor. I don't care if I have to pay billions to get one!" he instructed the doctor, breathing heavily.

As the doctor hurried away, Nathan sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands. He was a tycoon in the business world,  but here, he was just a son desperate to save his mother.

Nathan arrived home late, his face pale, dragged his feet sluggishly to his room to freshen up and  returned to the living room, where Ava was  waiting for him. "Granny invites us for dinner tomorrow," he said.

Ava stared at him, waiting for him to talk about his mother, but he said nothing. She nodded, agreeing to him silently. 

Nathan stayed in his study room all day, while Ava went shopping to get gifts for Nathan's family members and some casual clothes. 

Ava found herself smiling at the mirror, admiring the red gown she had selected. The gown revealed her cleavage, stopped below her knees  with a bow at the back with a slit behind. 

She marched down the stairs, gracefully counting her steps.

"Can you be fast?" Nathan grumbled, his gaze lingering on her cleavage. Remembering that night,  he frowned.