Chapter 2

Ethan woke up before dawn.

The signed divorce papers were still on his desk.

He felt a strange lightness, a terrifying freedom.

He started the process.

First, the UK Global Talent visa. Chloe had sent him the links weeks ago.

"Just in case," she'd said.

He filled out the application, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

He thought of all the sacrifices.

The career opportunities he' d turned down to stay in New York, for Ava.

The friends he' d drifted from because Ava found them "too boisterous."

The hobbies he' d abandoned because they didn't fit into her perfectly curated world.

His classic car, a vintage Mustang he' d lovingly restored, now sat gathering dust in the garage of their penthouse. Ava preferred her chauffeured sedans.

He' d tried to take her for a drive once, windows down, music blaring.

She' d endured it with a tight smile, then pleaded a headache.

He finished the visa application and hit send.

A small act of rebellion.

A first step.

He needed to reclaim himself.

He called his old friend, Mark, a guy he used to play poker with, a guy who owned a string of nightclubs.

"Ethan Miller! Long time no hear, man! Thought you' d ascended to high society and forgotten us mortals," Mark boomed.

"Not quite," Ethan said, a ghost of his old smile touching his lips. "Feel like some noise. You got anything happening tonight?"

Mark laughed. "For you, Ethan? Always. My new place downtown. Come down. First drink' s on me."

That night, Ethan found himself in a dark, throbbing nightclub.

The bass vibrated through his chest.

It was a world away from Ava' s silent penthouse and sterile charity galas.

He felt...alive.

Mark clapped him on the shoulder. "Good to see you out, man. You look like you' ve seen a ghost."

"Maybe I have," Ethan said, taking a long sip of his whiskey.

Then he saw her.

Ava.

Standing near the VIP section, her expression unreadable.

She wasn' t looking at him. Her eyes were scanning the crowd.

What was she doing here? This wasn' t her scene.

Her friend, a woman Ethan vaguely recognized from some gala, leaned in and said something. Ava nodded, her gaze still sweeping.

Ethan felt a familiar chill. Her indifference.

Even here, in his space, she seemed to radiate a cool disapproval.

Suddenly, Ava' s posture changed.

Her eyes locked onto something, or someone.

A flicker of... something. Not warmth. Possessiveness?

Ethan followed her gaze.

Liam Harrison.

Her adopted brother.

He was at the bar, laughing, his arm slung casually around a pretty brunette.

He looked every bit the spoiled, wannabe rockstar, all ego and tight jeans.

Ava moved.

Not towards Ethan.

Towards Liam.

She didn' t say a word. She just appeared at Liam' s side.

The brunette looked surprised, then annoyed.

Liam, however, preened. He smirked at Ava, then back at the brunette, enjoying the attention.

Ava' s hand rested lightly on Liam' s arm.

A silent claim.

The brunette excused herself, clearly uncomfortable.

Liam turned to Ava, his expression petulant.

"What was that about? You scared her off."

"She wasn' t right for you," Ava said, her voice low, but firm.

"And you get to decide that?" Liam challenged, but there was no real heat in it. He seemed to enjoy her control.

"Yes," Ava said simply.

Liam' s eyes then found Ethan across the crowded room.

A sneer twisted his lips.

"Look who it is. Big brother-in-law slumming it."

He sauntered over, Ava a step behind him.

"Didn't expect to see you in a place like this, Ethan," Liam said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Thought you'd be at home, polishing your... software."

Ethan ignored him, looking at Ava. "What are you doing here, Ava?"

"Liam wanted to come out," she said, as if that explained everything.

Liam leaned in, his breath smelling of stale beer and arrogance.

"She worries about me. Can't let little brother have too much fun without his minder, right, Ava?"

He nudged her playfully. She didn't react.

Ethan felt a surge of anger.

This manipulative little prick.

"Stay away from my car, Liam," Ethan said, his voice tight. He was thinking of the incident a few months back. Corrosive chemicals "accidentally" spilled on his Mustang. Ava had paid for the repairs, lavishly, but excused Liam' s behavior. "Just a prank, Ethan. Boys will be boys."

Liam' s eyes narrowed. "Or what, Ethan? You gonna cry to Ava?"

He deliberately bumped Ethan' s shoulder.

Hard.

Ethan stood his ground.

"I' m serious, Liam."

Liam laughed, a harsh, ugly sound.

"You think you scare me?"

He shoved Ethan again.

Ethan saw red.

Years of frustration, of being dismissed, of watching this spoiled brat manipulate everyone around him, boiled over.

Ethan shoved back.

Liam stumbled, surprised.

Then his face contorted with rage.

"You bastard!"

He lunged.

Ethan braced himself, but Liam wasn't aiming for a fistfight.

He saw the glint of glass.

A broken champagne bottle, jagged and sharp.

Liam swung it wildly.

Ethan tried to dodge, but it was too fast, too close.

A searing pain shot through his arm.

He looked down.

Blood.

A lot of it.

Soaking his shirt, dripping onto the sticky floor.

The music seemed to fade.

The crowd blurred.

He heard a scream. Ava' s?

He felt himself falling.

The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Liam, standing over him, the broken bottle still in his hand, a look of savage triumph on his face.

And Ava...rushing to Liam' s side.