Chapter 4

Ava got out of the car and hailed a taxi.

The city hall was bustling, but her lawyer had prepared everything.

Signing the annulment papers, the application for a legal name change, it felt... clean.

A severing.

Each signature was a step further away from Ava Croft, from Ava Chen.

Soon, she would be Anna Cole, a ghost with no past.

When Julian returned to the penthouse hours later, he was carrying a ridiculously large bouquet of lilies, Ava' s least favorite flower.

"My love, I am so, so sorry," he began, his voice dripping with contrition. "Liv' s ankle was just a sprain, thank heavens, but your mother was hysterical. You know how it is."

He tried to embrace her, but Ava sidestepped him.

"The flowers are... lovely, Julian," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.

She was tired. So incredibly tired of his lies, of his performance.

She didn't have the energy to play along anymore.

She walked towards the bedroom, needing space.

Julian followed, misinterpreting her withdrawal.

"Ava, don't be like this. I know I messed up today. Let me make it up to you. Dinner tonight, just us? Your favorite place?"

He thought she was merely angry, petulant.

He had no idea the ground had shifted beneath their feet, that she was already gone in spirit.

He spent the next few days in a flurry of "making it up" to her.

Lavish dinners, expensive gifts, tickets to exclusive events.

Ava went through the motions, a detached observer of her own life.

Each gift, each forced smile, was another nail in the coffin of their marriage.

A week later, Julian insisted they attend a charity auction at a new art gallery.

"It will be fun, darling. A night out."

As they mingled, Ava saw a familiar figure across the room.

Liv.

She was laughing, holding court with a group of admirers, looking radiant.

Julian' s eyes found Liv, and a subtle shift came over him.

A softening, a longing, quickly masked.

But Ava saw it. She always saw it now.

"I'm not feeling well, Julian," Ava said, feigning a slight dizziness. "Perhaps we should go."

It was a strategic retreat. She couldn't bear to watch them tonight.

"Of course, my love," Julian said, instantly concerned, guiding her towards the exit.

He was probably relieved. An excuse to leave, perhaps to circle back to Liv later.

They were in the gallery's underground parking lot, waiting for the valet, when the fire alarm shrieked.

Panic erupted. People started running.

Smoke, faint at first, then thicker, began to fill the air.

"What' s happening?" Ava felt a surge of adrenaline.

Julian grabbed her arm. "Stay with me!"

Then, through the chaos, they heard Liv' s voice, high-pitched with fear.

"Julian! Julian, help me! I' m over here! I can' t see!"

Julian' s head snapped towards the sound.

His concern for Ava evaporated.

His face was a mask of terror, but not for her.

"Liv!" he yelled, his voice hoarse. "Where are you?"

Security guards were shouting, "Everyone evacuate! This way!"

Julian started to pull away from Ava, towards the direction of Liv' s cries.

"Julian, no!" Ava cried. "The guards said to go this way! It' s too dangerous!"

He didn't listen.

His eyes were wild, fixated on finding Liv.

"I have to get her!" he yelled back, already plunging into the smoky haze, disappearing from Ava' s sight.

He ran towards danger, towards Liv, without a second thought for the wife he claimed to adore.

Just like the ski lodge. History repeating itself, more terrifyingly this time.