**Chapter 74: Uncharted Desires** *By Evelyn Mm* Ava The weekend had unfolded like a soft melody, each note subtle but significant. I cherished the quiet moments shared with my parents, Nora and Theo. They were everything I had longed for in a family—warmth, affection, and attentiveness. In stark contrast, my biological parents had been anything but nurturing, particularly when it came to Emma and Travis. Even Rowan and Gabriel always seemed to bask in more affection than I ever received, despite their bold claims of love for me as their daughter. Yet, with every heartbeat of laughter and every exchange of tender glances, I discovered a deeper bond forming with Nora and Theo. It was becoming increasingly clear why Ethan had held them in such high regard; the way his voice would light up when he spoke of them was a testament to their greatness. They were the epitome of parental love, and anyone with sense could see it. “Where on earth is she?” Corrine’s voice sliced through my reflection, irritation curling her perfect lips. We were nestled in a quaint café, the air thick with the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastry. We awaited Letty, who, as per usual, had decided that punctuality was merely a suggestion. A secretary by profession, she had a notorious disregard for the concept of time. “She’ll be here. She’s probably just running late,” I mumbled around a mouthful of blueberry muffin, the sweet craving of my pregnancy crashing over me like a wave. Muffins and cupcakes were my lifeline—my desires twisted around these sugary delights, while everything else tasted like the inside of a shoe. “We agreed to meet at two!” Corrine huffed, her frustration clear as she shifted back and forth in her seat, the annoyance distorting her typically lovely expression. A teasing laugh escaped my lips as I observed her wrath. “You’ll soon learn that Letty thrives on her own clock. The sooner you accept that, the easier life will be for you.” Her silent fuming spoke volumes about her personality. Corrine was punctual to the core, the type of woman who despised being even a moment late. As she simmered, I continued to indulge in my muffin, which seemed to bring me some semblance of comfort during this incessant hunger. The contrasting memories flooded back; with Noah, I could barely keep anything down, facing the torment of persistent nausea. When medicine failed, it was a full six months before I found any relief. Rowan’s abandonment during that time had cut me deeply. There I was, struggling to survive, losing weight, while he drowned in his self-pity over Emma. It stung to think he was too captivated by her to notice the toll my pregnancy was taking on both Noah and me. The hospital visits dished out by my concerned doctor were just a reminder of how little he cared. I pushed those memories aside as I focused again on Corrine, whose foot tapped furiously against the ground. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked, sensing her growing impatience. “I had a business proposal for you and Letty,” she said, her voice tight with urgency, “but since she’s not here yet, I’ll just blurt it out because it’s driving me insane.” “Okay…” I prompted, my curiosity piqued. “It’s going to sound utterly absurd and not like something women of our … status would usually consider.” Her words struck a chord within me, sparking intrigue. What could she possibly have in mind that would make her express such reluctance? “Go on,” I urged. “I want us to open a sex toy company,” she declared with unsettling calm. I nearly choked on the delicious morsel I had been chewing, my brain pausing in disbelief. “Come again?” “A sex toy company,” she reiterated. “Think about it. With their skyrocketing popularity, I’d wager that at least seventy percent of women own one—single or otherwise. Even men are embracing these items to spice things up!” My jaw dropped, my astonishment evident. “What has Ava shocked?” Letty chimed in as she quickly settled into her seat, her eyes darting from me to Corrine, trying to grasp the sudden tension. “I just told Ava that we should consider starting a sex toy company,” Corrine answered. Surely, I expected her to share my disbelief. Instead, Letty’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s a fantastic idea!” “Are both of you out of your minds?” I shot back, incredulity spilling from my lips. But they were too caught up in the newfound prospect to notice. “It’s brilliant! Seriously, who doesn’t own a little pleasure-inducing gadget?” Corrine pressed, her enthusiasm unfazed by my protests. “I don’t,” I declared firmly, but their expressions of disbelief were nearly comical. “You don’t have one?” Letty gasped, and the shock on her face was almost theatrical. “Nope, and I’ve never had one,” I added, crossing my arms as if that would shield me from their scrutiny. “Well, you are missing out,” Corrine chimed, almost scolding me for my ignorance. I considered it briefly. Sure, I had once pondered the idea but my experiences with Rowan hadn’t opened a door for them. For Rowan, the encounter had always felt driven solely by physical release, while I craved something deeper—a connection that we lacked in other corners of our chaotic lives. “I really think we should do this,” Letty continued, her voice vibrating with uncontained energy. “Like Corrine mentioned, it’s a lucrative business. We just need to figure out how to differentiate ourselves from the competition.” “Okay then,” Corrine said, her smile widening, “I’ll draft a proposal and shoot it over to both of you once it’s polished up.” “Hold on a second! I didn’t agree to anything!” I spluttered, but my protests fell on deaf ears as they continued planning. “We need to do extensive market research, and I think Ava should be our secret weapon. Since she’s a total newbie to sex toys, she can explore all the top brands and report back on what we can improve,” Letty concluded, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Corrine nodded eagerly, her delight shimmering through the air like the setting sun. Meanwhile, I felt the impending dread of becoming their experimental subject approach me like a freight train. “Do I even get a say in this?” I asked, my irritation bubbling over. “Not really. Think of all the money you'll be making!” Letty practically sang. “I don’t need the money! I’m already loaded!” She merely shrugged, brushing my concerns aside. “It doesn’t matter. Didn’t you mention wanting something new? Challenge yourself? Here’s your golden opportunity. It might even inject some excitement back into your life without burning you out.” I mulled over her words, weighing the possibilities amidst my initial frustrations. How chaotic could it really turn out? “Fine,” I sighed, conceding defeat. The two women erupted into squeals of joy, their exhilaration enveloping me as they crushed me in a tightly knit embrace, the excitement radiating between us was infectious. Even in my exasperation, I felt a flicker of hope—the idea of breathing new life into my days made my heart flutter. “Okay,” Letty said, breaking our huddle, “now that we’ve officially started this wild venture, I have to ask—who is Calvin?” Her question surprised me. I hadn’t uttered a single word about him, and since that day our paths first crossed, he had stayed away. Not like Gunner, who popped by almost every day; Calvin was nowhere to be found. “He’s my new neighbor. How do you know about him?” “Travis mentioned him,” she shrugged, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes. “Apparently, at the get-together, Noah made a comment about him. He mentioned that Calvin made you happy and wouldn’t mind if you two got married and had more siblings for him and Calvin’s son.” “Seriously?” Corrine’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Yeah! Travis said Rowan nearly lost it when he heard that.” Letty grinned, clearly enjoying the saga unfolding. I erupted into a fit of laughter, the absurdity crashing over me like a tidal wave. Noah’s attempt to provoke his father next to Rowan’s potential jealousy felt like a comedic subplot from a soap opera. “You can’t be serious!” I managed between gasps. “It’s true! Travis said Rowan was so jealous he almost broke the table!” Letty chimed, practically collapsing into her mirth. I couldn’t contain the laughter, my stomach alight with the ridiculousness of it all. Rowan, jealous? That would be like claiming the sky was green. No, he wouldn’t care even if I were quite literally involved with the whole male population! “That was just a joke, right?” I managed, shaking my head in disbelief. “Not a joke at all. Travis is genuinely questioning Rowan’s feelings toward you,” Letty insisted. “Why would he even feel that way?” I asked, incredulously. “Because he’s starting to see past all the resentment, Ava. It's possible he might have some hidden feelings for you,” Corrine pointed out, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. Please. I recalled Travis’s earlier warning when Emma returned. He was merely worried I might rock the boat, standing in the way of his sister and her “happily ever after.” “The only feelings Rowan Woods has ever had for me are rooted in hate,” I said firmly. “Trust me, what you’re saying sounds utterly insane. He spent nine years cultivating resentment, and now, all of a sudden, he’s supposed to have a change of heart? Impossible!” “It could be possible if those feelings were buried deep inside him all along,” Corrine countered, her gaze steady on me. Annoyance flickered through me. “No, Letty, just drop this subject. I don’t want to hear about Rowan, okay? And even if he miraculously developed feelings, which I doubt, don’t you think it’s too late now?” The table fell silent, Letty’s mouth clamped shut while Corrine stared down, deep in thought. The atmosphere grew dense with unspoken tension, and all I really wanted was to vanish back home, leaving the resplendent café behind and the weight of their words in the past. “Why can’t they just let this go? This unwillingness to accept reality is maddening! They truly believe in this nonsense,” I thought angrily. But Rowan was history, unwritten and unchangeable. He belonged in the past, a chapter closed off from the pages of my life. Shaking my head, I tried to dismiss all those thoughts that plagued my mind. Now, my focus was on my children, our foundation, and the outrageous new business venture we were starting. Rowan would remain where he belonged—in memories, safely tucked away, forever unchanged.