Chapter 4

Liam Sterling called a few days later.

He was an early angel investor in "The Daily Rise," a respected local venture capitalist.

Always professional, always insightful.

"Ava, I heard about the memorial. And I' ve heard... some whispers. I was concerned."

His voice was grave.

"Whispers?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

"About Ethan. And Chloe Hayes. Look, Ava, I don't want to cause you more pain, but I have something you need to see."

He emailed me a file. Security footage from a business near our home.

Dated two days before Ethan' s "disappearance."

It showed Ethan, clearly, loading several large duffel bags into the trunk of Chloe' s distinctive red convertible.

He looked casual, almost cheerful.

"He told me he was going to a hardware store," I said, my voice flat.

"There's more," Liam said. He sent another file. A video, discreetly taken on a phone.

Ethan and Chloe. Dining at an exclusive, out-of-state restaurant.

Weeks ago. While I was supposedly a grieving widow.

They were holding hands across the table. He leaned in and kissed her.

Not a friendly kiss.

"A mutual acquaintance sent this to me," Liam said. "They were uncomfortable, didn't know what to do with it until they heard about the memorial. Ava, I always had reservations about Ethan's commitment, his ethics. He was charming, but... lazy. You were the talent, the driving force behind The Daily Rise. I invested in you."

His words were a strange comfort. Validation.

"Thank you, Liam. For showing me this. For believing in me."

"Always, Ava."

The evidence was piling up. Irrefutable.

Each piece a nail in Ethan' s coffin. A coffin of his own making.