Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 170: Lets Do It

Chapter 170: Lets Do It

"Sid, I think you need to leave."

Sidney’s brow furrowed, confusion evident on his face. "What do you mean? Where am I supposed to go?"

Ava gave a slight shrug, her gaze steady. "Anywhere you want. Just... somewhere that isn’t here. I’m about to let everyone know that the engagement is off."

Sidney’s expression hardened as he spoke in a tense voice. "Ava, stop acting like a child. This isn’t some joke." He gestured toward the doorway where the guests were gathered. "Uncle Matthew is about to announce our engagement! If you’re going to be so foolish—"

Ava’s jaw tightened as she clenched her hands at her sides, glaring at him. "I am not being foolish, Sidney. I know exactly what I’m doing. I’ll talk to Dad myself, explain everything. The business deal can go ahead as planned, just without the wedding. The only reason Dad insisted on us marrying was because he thought it would make me happy."

She took a steadying breath, meeting Sidney’s disbelieving gaze head-on. "And I’ve decided I’d be happier without you. So, I won’t be marrying you."

Sidney looked at her, trying to keep his composure. He took a deep breath, forcing calm into his tone. "Ava, this is not the time for tantrums, okay? Think this through. I know you are angry about the whole clothing thing and what not, but really, this is barely the time for all this nonsense."

But Ava shook her head, her lips curving into a bitter smile. "What’s the matter, Sid? Tell me. You don’t love me. You don’t care about me. And you certainly don’t want to be with me. You’re not even attracted to me." She let out a humorless laugh. "The only reason for this engagement was the merger between our families. But I’ve already told you that the business deal will go forward, with or without us getting married. So, tell me... why are we even doing this?"

Sidney stayed silent, staring at her as though seeing her for the first time. Something about her was... different. Could she really be serious this time? He shook his head slightly, refusing to believe it. Ava loved him—that much he’d always been certain of. That certainty had allowed him to feel secure, even confident in their arrangement. Her love wouldn’t just disappear over a few words, or even over some trivial thing like her dress.

Finally, he spoke, his tone biting. "Tell me why, Ava. Give me the real reason you’re doing this."

She tilted her head, giving him a hard look. "Maybe you should give me one good reason we should get engaged, Sid. Just one."

Sidney sighed, frustration evident in his face. "Ava..."

But Ava had already turned her back on him. She crossed the room, picked up a thin file from the table, and threw it down at his feet with a loud thud. "Could this be your reason?"

Sidney glanced down at the file, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What is this?"

She folded her arms across her chest, her gaze steady and unyielding. "Pick it up, Sid. Look for yourself."

Sidney hesitated, but after a moment, he bent down and picked up the file. He flipped it open, his brows knitting as he scanned the contents. "Who gave you this?"

"It was an engagement present, Sidney," Ava said quietly, her voice edged with bitterness. "Ironic, don’t you think?"

She had already guessed who the sender was—after all she had made no effort to hide it. In fact to make sure she knew who that was, she had sent her audio recordings of Sidney’s plans to break things off if she didn’t go along with it. The recording still echoed in her mind, his cold, calculated words as he spoke to Serena, about how he’d walk away if she said so.

Even now, as she stood there confronting him, a small part of her had still clung to hope that he’d offer some real reason for their engagement, something beyond business. Or at least, that he would deny her accusations, show even a shred of emotion. But Sidney Price just stood there, unflinching. He was every bit the ruthless man she now saw him as—a side she’d somehow missed before or rather buried her head in the sand to avoid acknowledging it.

"Are you really not going to try to deny it, Sid?" she asked, almost daring him. "Are you going to pretend this engagement isn’t just a tool for you? Because your stepmother is pushing to have her own son take over the Price Empire, isn’t she? And you’re desperate to secure your father’s favor. The best way to do that is by aligning yourself with a powerful family like mine."

Sidney’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing. She watched his silence with a growing sense of disappointment—and, strangely, relief. At least now, everything was clear. And she could not fool herself anymore.

Ava shook her head, ready to turn and walk away, when Sidney’s voice stopped her.

"Stand by me, Ava."

She froze, turning slowly to look at him, shock evident in her eyes. "Sid?"

He took a deep breath, his gaze steady but filled with something she hadn’t seen before—vulnerability. "Stand by me. There are things you don’t know about me, things I haven’t shared with anyone." He paused, as if weighing his words. "Right now, I’m completely alone, Ava. If there was ever a time when you truly loved me, even a little... then stand by me now."

Ava’s heart pounded as she took in his plea.

"It’s a sacrifice, I know that," he continued, his voice low, almost pleading. "Especially when I have nothing to give you in return. Nothing but a promise. But I can promise you this: I will try. I’ll try to be the man you want and will keep you happy. I made the promise in the past and I still stand by it."

"Actions speak louder than words, Sidney. Your actions..."

"Serena has always been my weakness. You might not like this, but her and I are similar in many ways. Also, I am a loyal person, Ava. Serena has done a lot for me. Can you overlook this as repaying a debt?"

Ava looked at him, her mind racing. Was this just another of his carefully calculated moves, or was there something real beneath the surface? As she searched his face, something in his expression—a hint of desperation, maybe—made her heart soften. Against all reason, she realized that no matter how many walls she put up, she couldn’t ignore the part of her that had always wanted to believe in him.

Taking a breath, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She rose onto her tiptoes, hesitating for a moment before pressing her lips to his in a searching kiss. Sidney didn’t kiss her back right away, but his hands found her hips, pulling her closer, steadying her.

When she finally drew back, her eyes met his with a fierce intensity. "Sid," she said softly but firmly, "can you promise me one thing?"

He blinked, a flicker of vulnerability in his gaze. "Anything, Ava."

"Promise me you won’t cheat on me." She felt her voice tremble slightly, but she held his gaze. "If you feel like you owe Serena a debt, repay it however you need to. But I won’t share you, Sid. Not now, not ever."

Sidney’s grip on her tightened, and for a moment, he looked away as if gathering his thoughts. He looked back at her, his expression unreadable, "Ava... I promise. I will be yours, and yours alone."

She studied him carefully, searching for any sign of dishonesty. His words seemed sincere, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope. Still, she knew actions spoke louder than words, and Sidney had a long way to go if he wanted to prove himself.

"I’m trusting you, Sid," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Don’t make me regret it."

He nodded, his hands still resting on her hips, grounding her in that moment. "I won’t, Ava. I swear I won’t." His voice was a murmur, a promise hanging in the air between them.

They stood in silence, each searching the other’s eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. She wasn’t entirely convinced, not yet. But as his arms wrapped around her a little more tightly, she allowed herself, just for a moment, to believe that maybe, just maybe, he meant it.

***

Serena stared at the couple on the podium, looking at them happily exchange rings and raised a brow. It seemed Sidney had better acting skills than she’d given him credit for. He’d actually made Ava agree to go through with the engagement despite every evidence that had been presented to her. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was a genius or Ava was a fool.

But then she shrugged philosophically. These two people were alike so they might very well deserve each other.