Chapter 45 Am I His First Choice?

• Ava was in the middle of tidying up the living room when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught her attention. She glanced toward the window, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she saw Alexander's car parked ahead of schedule. He was early-far earlier than he usually was for their tense dinners. The moment felt different, charged with anticipation. But as she stood there, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't quite explain, she quickly masked the smile that crept to her lips.
• It wasn't like her to feel this way. She'd spent so much time guarding her emotions, building walls between them, but something about tonight felt different. Maybe it was the idea of finally addressing the issues that had been quietly growing between them. Maybe it was the unexpected chance for them to reconnect without the weight of their families hovering over them. Either way, she couldn't let herself get too hopeful.
• A moment later, Alexander knocked softly on the door, and without waiting for an invitation, he entered. His gaze met hers as he stepped inside, a faint flicker of surprise on his face as he took in the stillness of the room. His usual sharp composure seemed slightly softer tonight, and Ava couldn't help but notice how the tension in his posture had lessened.