CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN - Finding Balance in the Eye of the Storm

As she hung up the phone, Ava's eye caught a notification on her computer. It was an invitation to a "Welcome Back" party for Max at the Bennett family estate. The invitation had arrived just minutes ago, clearly an afterthought. The next evening, Ava found herself driving up to the imposing gates of the Bennett estate. She'd debated not coming at all, but she knew she needed to face this head-on. As she entered the lavishly decorated main hall, she could hear the party in full swing. Following the sound of laughter and clinking glasses, she made her way to the grand ballroom. The scene that greeted her made her heart sink. Max was at the center of a group of Evelyn's hand-picked guests, laughing and chatting animatedly. And there, by his side, was Vanessa, looking perfectly at ease in the high-society setting. Evelyn spotted Ava and glided over, a champagne flute in hand. "Ava, darling! So glad you could make it. We were just regaling everyone with stories from the international t