Chapter 3

The party for Seraphina was at Ethan's lavish Upper East Side townhouse, a place Ava now knew was built on lies. Mr. Vance had insisted she attend, to project an image of family unity before her quiet banishment. She felt like a condemned prisoner forced to attend the executioner's ball.

She stood in a corner, a ghost at the feast, nursing a glass of water. The music was too loud, the laughter too bright. Ethan was playing the charming host, Seraphina radiant by his side, lapping up the attention.

Suddenly, Ethan was before her. His eyes, dark and intense, scanned her.

"Ava. You've barely said a word all night. Are you feeling alright?" His voice was low, possessive. He was too close.

"I'm fine, Ethan," she said, her voice flat.

"Just fine?" He frowned. "After what happened... I expected you to be leaning on me a little more."

"Why would I lean on you, Ethan?" Ava asked, a dangerous edge to her voice. "What are you to me now? My... keeper?"

His eyes narrowed. A flicker of anger, quickly suppressed. He reached for her arm, his grip surprisingly strong.

"Don't be like this, Ava."

"Like what?" she challenged, pulling her arm free. "Honest?"

His jaw tightened. He was about to say something, something cutting, she was sure, when Chad and Bryce, his ever-present sycophants, ambled over.

"Ethan, man! Seraphina's asking for you," Chad said, then his gaze fell on Ava. "Oh, hey, Ava. Didn't see you there. Still moping about that video?"

Bryce snickered. "Yeah, tough break. But hey, at least you're famous now, right?"

Ethan shot them a warning look, but the damage was done.

"Seraphina?" Ava feigned ignorance, looking directly at Ethan. "Is she a special friend of yours?"

Chad guffawed. "Special friend? You really don't know, do you? Oh, this is rich."

Bryce leaned in conspiratorially. "Let's just say Ethan and Seraphina go way back. You'd be shocked if you knew the truth, sweetheart."

Ethan's face was a mask of controlled fury. "That's enough, both of you. Go find Seraphina. Tell her I'll be there in a minute."

They sauntered off, still chuckling.

Ethan turned back to Ava, his expression unreadable. "Don't listen to them. They're idiots."

"Are they?" Ava asked quietly.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Ava, things are... complicated. But I care about you. I do."

She almost laughed. He was still trying to manipulate her.

Internally, a cold resolve solidified. She was done. Done with him, done with Seraphina, done with this whole toxic charade. She would play her part tonight, as her stepfather demanded, and then she would disappear from their lives.

Later, the chatter died down as Arthur Vance tapped a glass for attention. He beamed, expansive and proud.

"My dear friends, thank you all for coming to welcome my wonderful daughter Seraphina home. And on this joyous occasion, Ethan has an announcement he'd like to share."

A spotlight found Ethan and Seraphina, standing close together. Seraphina's smile was triumphant.

Ethan took her hand. "Seraphina and I," he announced, his voice ringing through the room, "are delighted to announce our engagement."

A wave of applause. Chad and Bryce were watching Ava, predatory grins on their faces, clearly expecting a breakdown, tears, a scene.

Ava felt a strange detachment. She had already seen the truth on his tablet. This was just the public confirmation. She kept her expression neutral, her gaze steady. She even managed a small, polite clap along with the others.

She saw Ethan's eyes find hers across the room. He looked... unsettled. Her composure was not what he had expected. He wanted a reaction, a sign that he still had power over her emotions.

She gave him nothing.

The magnificent diamond on Seraphina's finger glittered under the lights, a symbol of their victory. But Ava felt a flicker of something new: not despair, but a cold, hard anger, and beneath it, the first stirrings of a will to survive this.