Chapter 4 Shattered Truths

Ava stormed out of the Carter estate, her mind reeling. The night air was cold against her skin, but it did nothing to numb the storm raging inside her. Lies. All lies. She had spent her entire life believing her father was an honest businessman who had been unfairly ruined. But now... Now, she wasn't sure what to believe. Her feet moved instinctively, taking her down the long, winding driveway. She barely registered the grand iron gates swinging open as she stepped out onto the street. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Her father had forged documents? Promised money he didn't have? If Mr.

Carter was telling the truth, then everything she had believed about her childhood had been a fabrication. A hand grabbed her arm. "Ava, wait," Ethan said, slightly out of breath from chasing her. "You can't just run off like that." She yanked her arm away. "Why not? Because your father still has more secrets to drop on me?" Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Ava, I know this is a lot, but you have to understand-my dad isn't a liar. He has no reason to make something like this up." She swallowed hard. "So you believe him?" Ethan hesitated, and that pause was all the answer she needed. "You do," she whispered, her chest tightening. "You believe him over me." "Ava, it's not about taking sides-" "Then what is it about?" she demanded, eyes blazing. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like your family destroyed mine, and you're asking me to just accept it." Ethan let out a heavy breath. "I'm asking you to be open to the possibility that maybe your father wasn't the man you thought he was." Ava shook her head. "No. My father wasn't perfect, but he wasn't a criminal. And I'm going to prove it." Ethan's jaw tightened. "How?" "I'm going to find out exactly what happened." She turned, determination burning in her veins. "And if your father is lying, I'll make him regret ever speaking my father's name." Ethan's expression darkened. "And if he's not lying?" Ava froze. She had no answer for that. Two Days Later Ava sat at her desk, her laptop open in front of her. The dim light of her apartment flickered against the walls as she scrolled through old newspaper archives, financial reports, and business records. She hadn't spoken to Ethan since the night at the Carter estate. She wasn't ready to face him. Not until she knew the truth. After hours of searching, she finally found something. A news article dated fifteen years ago. "Local businessman Richard Hayes under investigation for fraudulent financial practices." Ava's breath caught in her throat. She clicked the article, her heart hammering as she read. "Authorities suspect Richard Hayes of engaging in financial fraud after investors reported missing funds. The investigation is ongoing, though sources suggest that Mr. Hayes' business dealings involved high-risk investments with no financial backing." The words blurred before her eyes. She clenched her fists. No. This wasn't proof. This was just speculation. Just a smear campaign, right? She scrolled further down, looking for more records, more proof that this was all a mistake. But the more she found, the harder it became to deny the truth. There were court documents. Bank statements. Evidence of something shady happening behind closed doors. And then- A name she wasn't expecting. William Carter. Ethan's father. Her hands shook as she clicked on the document. "William Carter exposed fraudulent dealings within Hayes Corporation, preventing a large-scale financial collapse." Ava leaned back in her chair, staring at the screen. Mr. Carter had saved his company from her father. Was he telling the truth all along? Had her father really been the villain in this story? Ava squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to scream. Then her phone buzzed. A message from Ethan. Ethan: I know you're mad at me. But I'm here if you want to talk. Ava stared at the message, her emotions tangled in a mess of confusion, anger, and doubt. Her whole life, she had sworn revenge on the Carter family. But now, for the first time... She wasn't sure who the enemy really was.