Chapter 3 3

The elevator ride felt endless.

Ava gripped her phone tightly, her eyes fixed on the screen. The message-just one word, Run-burned into her mind like a warning siren.

Who was sending these?

Her heart pounded as the elevator ascended, smooth and silent, the tension between her and Ethan crackling like a live wire.

"You gonna tell me what that message said?" Ethan's voice was quiet but firm.

Ava hesitated. Something in his tone-something almost protective-made her want to trust him.

But she remembered how trusting Ethan once had cost her everything.

She shoved the phone into her pocket. "It's nothing."

His jaw tightened. "You're a terrible liar."

"Still better than you."

The doors slid open before he could respond, revealing the penthouse suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, showcasing the city skyline, the glittering lights reflected in the marble floors.

Ethan strode inside, shrugging off his jacket. "Make yourself comfortable."

Ava remained by the door. "I'm not staying here."

"You are."

"You can't force me."

He exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. "Ava, I-" He stopped himself, his expression unreadable. Then he turned toward the bar. "Drink?"

"I'd rather jump off this balcony."

"Still dramatic, I see."

"Still controlling, I see."

Ethan poured himself a glass of whiskey and took a slow sip, watching her over the rim. "You think I like this? Having to drag you out of harm's way when you won't even tell me what the hell is going on?"

Ava crossed her arms. "You lost the right to ask questions a long time ago."

Ethan set the glass down with a quiet clink. "Then let's talk about that, shall we?"

Ava froze.

He took a step closer, his blue eyes locked on hers. "You want to pretend that night never happened? Fine. But you don't get to rewrite history, Ava."

She clenched her fists. "History? You mean when you betrayed me?"

His jaw tightened. "Is that what you really believe?"

"What else am I supposed to believe, Ethan? I watched you hand over my father's company like it meant nothing. You destroyed my family."

Ethan's eyes darkened, but he didn't look away. "And you think I did that willingly?"

Ava laughed, but there was no humour in it. "Don't you dare stand there and act like-"

"I was set up."

Silence.

Ava's breath hitched. "What?"

Ethan stepped even closer, his voice low. "You never asked what happened that night, did you? You just assumed I betrayed you."

Ava swallowed, her mind racing. "Because I saw the papers. Your name was on the deal. You-"

"I was blackmailed."

The words knocked the air from her lungs.

Ethan's face was unreadable, but his hands clenched at his sides. "They threatened to ruin you. Your father. Your entire family. I had two choices-sign the deal, or watch everything you loved get torn apart in a way that couldn't be repaired."

Ava's world tilted.

No. It couldn't be true.

She searched his face, looking for deception. But Ethan had never looked more serious in his life.

"You're lying," she whispered.

"I wish I was."

The walls around her mind started to crack. Had she spent the last ten years hating him for something he never did?

But before she could say another word, her phone buzzed.

Another message.

This time, it wasn't a warning.

It was a picture.

Ava's breath caught.

It was her apartment. The lights inside were on. A shadowy figure stood just outside the window.

The message beneath it read:

"You should have run when you had the chance."

Ava's phone slipped from her fingers.

Ethan caught it before it hit the ground.

His entire body tensed as he read the message. Then, without a word, he grabbed his car keys.

"Let's go," he said, his voice lethal.

Ava's heart pounded as she followed him out the door, realizing one terrifying truth.

Whatever danger was coming for her-Ethan was willing to face it.

And this time, she didn't know if she could stop him.