CHAPTER 90: THE ADVICE BY AVA

Julie started speaking as Ava walked closer, her voice thick with guilt.

"Ah, my dear, I’m so sorry I left you out there. I totally forgot. I’m really sorry," Julie said, her shoulder slumping, voice low with guilt.

"It’s okay. I already waited, my dear. You don’t have to keep saying that," Ava replied with a warm smile, pulling Julie into a soft hug.

"But it’s really bad to leave someone out like that. I feel terrible." I just left you out there for thirty whole minutes..." Julie said, her eyebrows drawn together.

Ava’s smile deepened, amused by her friend’s persistence.

"My ever-kind Julie," she said, but her voice rose slightly as she snapped, "Would you stop feeling guilty already? For God’s sake, it’s in the past.

" I’ve already done the long wait. What matters now is that I’ve finally met you. Just don’t forget about it next time, okay?"

Julie nodded quickly. "I won’t. Never. Brain, you hear me?" she said, patting her temple as if talking directly to her brain.

Both of them burst into laughter.

"Come, let’s go in," Julie said, motioning her toward the main entrance.

"Wow, Julie..." Ava breathed as she stepped into the large parlor, her eyes darting around with open admiration.

"You like the living room?" Julie asked, watching Ava’s amazed expression.

"Of course! Who wouldn’t like such a beautiful living room?" Ava said, her steps slow as they walked to the center of it.

"Sit," Julie offered, noticing Ava was still standing in awe.

"Rose," Julie called out.

"Bring us something nice that we can pass the time with," she said with a little turn toward the housemaid.

Rose gave a small nod but couldn’t help smiling when she noticed Ava’s enchanted expression.

Julie, noticing the smile, turned and followed Rose’s gaze—only to find Ava still admiring the room.

Her head was raised as she scanned every corner, drinking in the grandeur.

"You still didn’t sit down," Julie murmured to herself, amused. A playful thought crept into her mind, and a sly smile touched her lips.

"If he comes down and sees you gawking at his living room like that, I swear you’ll feel embarrassed," Julie said.

Ava gasped, eyes widening, and dropped down onto the plush couch like she’d been burned.

"Wait—is he home?" she asked.

Julie nodded, grinning. "He’s upstairs, doing something," she replied, her smile stretching from ear to ear.

"Well... how have you been, in the days we haven’t seen each other?" Ava asked, finally relaxing.

"I’m alright. Everything is well," Julie answered softly.

"You’re well dressed. Were you out earlier?" Ava asked, eyeing Julie’s elegant outfit.

Julie nodded again. "Yes, we went out earlier. If I hadn’t forgotten you were coming, I wouldn’t have even gone."

"You see? If you hadn’t forgotten, you wouldn’t have gone out—and I’m sure, hearing your tone, you enjoyed the outing," Ava teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

Julie laughed gently and nodded. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Just then, Rose returned with a polished tray carrying two elegant pinjaal tea cups and a plate of golden biscuits.

She gracefully placed the tray on the center table and began pouring the tea—its sweet, creamy aroma filling the room.

Julie waited until Rose filled both cups, milk swirling in the hot brew, and stepped back quietly before continuing their conversation.

"But I want to ask you something," Julie said, leaning in slightly, her voice dropping.

"Okay, I’m listening."

Before Julie could speak again, Ava suddenly leaned in and asked instead, "Wait... did you move in with him?" Her eyes widened like saucers.

Julie blinked. "Didn’t I tell you earlier that we moved in?" she asked, surprised.

"Oops... it may have slipped out of my mind," Ava admitted with a sheepish smile.

Julie pouted. "Stop forgetting about things easily. Don’t I matter to you? Because if you forget someone’s things that easily, it says you don’t care about them."

Ava burst into laughter. "Hah! Look at her pouting," she giggled. But her laughter softened into a tender tone.

"Do you know how much you affect me, love?"

"Oh my!!!" Julie exclaimed, placing a hand on her chest dramatically as if she were about to faint.

"Hehe," both of them laughed wildly, falling back against the couch cushions as their laughter filled the room.

—

Meanwhile, on the second floor where Julie and Roman’s room was located, Azazel and Roman were seated in the home office, discussing something important.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the echoing sound of laughter floating up from the ground floor.

"It seems I have to take a look at who’s making my sister laugh more than me," Azazel said, half-rising from his chair.

But before he could get far, Roman shot him a piercing glare.

"Oh. I’ll take a look later," Azazel muttered quickly, sinking back into his seat.

"You should give them some time together," Roman said thoughtfully, fingers laced beneath his chin.

"Yes, you’re right, bro. Let’s proceed," Azazel agreed.

"Now... what are we going to do about this Javier Bekora?" Azazel asked, his tone darkening, eyes narrowing with loathing.

"We wait—but stay alert. Everything should be in place," Roman said, his voice low and cold. "I believe it will be a silent attack."

"So this is the silence before the storm," Azazel murmured. Roman simply nodded.

They continued talking—strategizing, planning, and making calls—until, finally, Roman rose from his seat, his movements smooth and commanding.

Azazel followed a second later, the serious conversation hanging in the air between them.

—

Back downstairs, Julie twirled her teacup between her fingers and said thoughtfully, "Roman bought me a necklace... and the problem is, I don’t know what to do to thank him."

She had been thinking about it since they returned, though Roman had clearly told her there was no need to thank him.

Still, it felt wrong not to. It was the only thing she could do.

"Oh? Did you already thank him?" Ava asked, intrigued.

Julie shook her head, lips pressed together.

"Hmmm... okay," Ava said, leaning back into the cushion, her eyes taking on a dreamy glimmer. "Let me think about this..."

A moment passed in silence. Then Ava suddenly gasped and leaned closer to Julie with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Julie, I’m going to ask you one personal question... even though it’s not my cup, nor am I supporting it," she said with mock seriousness.

Julie tilted her head in confusion.

"Did you do that thing couples do?" Ava whispered, like it was a sacred secret even the air shouldn’t hear.

Julie blinked in confusion for a moment. Then her eyes widened in realization.

Her cheeks turned crimson, and she quickly looked away, avoiding Ava’s eyes.

Ava smirked. From that reaction alone, she thought she had her answer.

"Ohhh, I knew it! From the way you blushed and looked away, I knew you did it."

Julie shook her head furiously. "No, we didn’t!" she exclaimed.

"That should be after marriage! Of course, we won’t do it!" Her eyes were still wide with embarrassment.

"Alright, alright," Ava said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Now, here’s the plan. Let me list a few options so you can choose one."

Julie listened attentively.

"One: You give him a kiss and say, ’That’s my thanks to you.’"

Julie’s eyes grew wider.

"Two: You call him with a sweet endearment. Your voice soft and cute, and you whisper it at night when you say goodnight."

Julie giggled, half-horrified.

"Three: Hold his hand, look him in the eyes, and tell him how grateful you are to have him in your life," Ava continued, counting each one on her fingers.

She continued, listing all the way to seven creative ideas, each more dramatic or intimate than the last.

When she finally stopped, Julie just looked at her and said in disbelief, "You’re not as innocent as you seem to be."

"Hehe! You’re seeing the other side of this dear friend of yours," Ava said with a playful smirk.

Dear Reader,

If you’ve made it this far into the journey, I want to pause and say — thank you.

This story isn’t just ink on pages or words on a screen. It’s built from pieces of my heart, late nights, silent tears, and moments where I nearly gave up... but didn’t. And the reason I kept going?

You.

Yes, you — reading this, maybe curled under a blanket, maybe sitting in a noisy room with your phone lit up, or maybe escaping into this world because real life has been too much lately. I see you. I wrote this story for you.

Julie’s strength, Roman’s quiet protection, the laughter, the hurt, the healing — they are reflections of what we all long for: to be seen, to be loved, to be fought for.

So if you’re going through something, let this story be a reminder: you’re not alone. You’re stronger than you think. And just like Julie, you deserve a love that chooses you — every day.

Thank you for reading, supporting, feeling, and dreaming with me.

With all my heart,

MIDNIGHT_STAR07