Chapter 329

Chapter 329 Earning Back Trust
Joseph’s POV

I couldn’t believe it. For the first time in days, I had hope that Ava might forgive me. When I stepped into the elevator and opened her card, I wanted to rush back out and kiss her senseless, but the doors had already closed.

“Make me believe,” she’d written. Those three simple words contained so much more meaning than their face value, and I didn’t need anything else to reignite my hope. I still had a chance to win her heart back.

“What’s got you smiling like an idiot?” Dean, my wolf, asked within my mind.

“She’s giving us another chance,” I replied silently, feeling the excitement course through my veins.

“Don’t screw it up this time,” Dean warned, but I could feel his happiness mirroring my own.

I attended a meeting that couldn’t be postponed, then rushed back to the Storm Valley pack house. Before arriving, I made a quick detour to the mall.

At the candy store, I asked the clerk to arrange a special box. She positioned twelve red rose buds, placed a bottle of Amarula liqueur between the stems, and surrounded them with chocolate-covered strawberries. She closed the box and tied it carefully with a red ribbon. I attached a card that read: “I will do everything in my power to prove I can be the most important person in your life.”

When I returned to Draven’s office and placed the box on Ava’s desk, the small smile that graced her lips was worth every penny.

But what started wonderfully ended in disaster. After they found Caroline and Liam and confirmed they were safe, they discovered I had purchased Sophia’s father’s ranch. The property was nestled between three other plots with difficult access. I explained I’d been there before and knew the area well, but the moment I mentioned I’d been there last week with Sophia, I noticed Ava entering the room.

The disappointment in her eyes crushed me. I’d been trying to explain things to her for days, only to make this massive mistake. The truth was, after Ava caught us together, Sophia had called me crying, begging me to meet her and take her to the ranch. But I never met her. I just didn’t know how to explain that to Ava.

Before I could talk to Ava, I had to share all information with the investigators, which took forever. When I finally left the room, I went straight to find her.

But Ava seemed to have left already. She was nowhere to be found.

Eleanor was busy comforting Caroline and Liam, Kyle was handling the arrangements for all the pack members who participated in the search and rescue, and Nina wasn’t around.

I finally found Ruby. When Ruby saw me, she turned and walked away.

I immediately called out to her, “Where did Ava go? I have to explain to her.”

Ruby was a bit angry, but because I was her boss, she was still respectful. She patiently explained, “Ava heard that you went to that ranch with Sophia and broke down. Nina took her home.”

Without thinking, I wanted to go find her.

Ruby stopped me, “Alpha Joseph, Nina has been exhausted these past few days because of Liam’s kidnapping and Caroline’s disappearance. Let her rest for a while. Don’t disturb her.”

I stopped in my tracks. Ruby was right. Thinking about how she’d been so distracted these past few days while still having to arrange all kinds of work, but seeing those disappointed eyes looking at me, my heart ached again.

Seeing that I was convinced, Ruby sighed and said to me, “Ava may have a strong personality, but she’s been hurt a lot inside. You can’t think that begging and sending gifts will make up for it every time you hurt her. That’s not how you love someone.”

I listened in a daze. Before I met Ava, I had never seriously entered into a romantic relationship. Only sex, money, alcohol, and endless playing around. A home, a commitment, all seemed so far away.

“Alpha Joseph, you can’t say you love Ava when you don’t know how to love someone. I suggest you think it through before you go find her.” Ruby left after saying that.

Ouch. Ruby’s words were harsh but hit right where it hurt.

I definitely love Ava, but do I really love her? Did I give her what she wanted? Do I really know how to love someone?

Just like that, I went back to my quiet, lonely penthouse apartment feeling lost.

I spent most of the night thinking alone, for the first time not relying on alcohol to numb myself.

Then I went back to the pack house to seek relationship advice from my sister Flora and Scott.

Two days later, I went to Draven’s company again to find Ava.

“Ava, can we talk?” My voice was pleading.

“No, Joseph, we can’t. I’ve had enough!” Ava stated firmly.

“Ava, I can explain…” I attempted to defend myself.

“Don’t you think it would be better if you didn’t have to explain anything?” She stared at me coldly.

“Ava, please!” I begged.

“Alpha Joseph, I’m working. This isn’t the time.” She spoke to me in an ice-cold tone.

I felt lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. Just moments ago I thought I still had a shot at her forgiveness, but now it felt like everything was completely over. I’d become some kind of villain who didn’t even deserve a chance to explain.

But I wasn’t ready to give up that easily.

“Ava, I’ll sit right here in this chair until you’re finished, but I will explain.” I said seriously, sitting in the reception chair I’d pointed to.

But things got worse. My mother showed up unexpectedly—my father was still in town, but she wanted to support Draven. Of course, she had to throw some nasty comments about my girlfriend.

Ava was angry, hurt, and disappointed. She had every right to hate me, yet I wanted her to love me. When I got the chance to be alone with her, I couldn’t resist grabbing her on the fire escape. Holding her felt incredible, but seeing the disappointment in her eyes killed me inside.

Afterward, during our remaining time at Draven’s company, Ava took every opportunity to call me an asshole and express her anger toward me.

By the time we left Draven’s company, I was exhausted, but thankfully Eleanor had cleared my schedule for the rest of the week. I needed to use this time to talk to Ava, and I had to act fast—I had an idea and needed to arrange everything quickly. My male friends had promised to help, and I needed to take advantage of that opportunity.

But I decided to let her rest tonight; I was tired too.