Chapter 2

The world outside the penthouse window was a blur of city lights.

Inside, it was just me and the echo of their laughter.

My healed back, the skin now smooth and flawless, felt like a cruel joke.

I remembered the accident.

The sun, hot on my skin, the smell of salt and diesel. Chad at the helm, laughing, carefree.

Then the jolt. The orange flash.

Screaming.

Instinct took over. I threw myself over Chad, my body a shield.

The searing heat. The tearing pain.

Later, in the hospital, the smell of antiseptic and Chad' s tearful face.

"Ava, you saved me. My angel. I'll love you forever. I'll take care of you, always."

His promises, whispered against my bandaged skin.

Empty words.

Now, those words were ash in my mouth.

I touched my back. The surgeon Julian had anonymously recommended. World-class.

He' d given me back my skin, but Chad had stolen something deeper.

The reflection in the dark window showed a stranger.

Pale, eyes wide with a pain that had nothing to do with physical scars.

The Ava who believed in Chad, who endured years of recovery for him, was gone.

She died in the doorway of the master suite.

This new Ava, she was made of something colder.

Something harder.

The next morning, I walked into the kitchen.

Izzy was there, humming, making coffee. Dressed in one of my silk robes.

Chad emerged from the bedroom, stretching, a fake yawn on his lips.

He saw me. His eyes widened for a second, then relief.

"Ava! You're back! You should have called, honey."

He rushed to me, arms open for an embrace.

I didn't flinch. I let him hug me.

His touch felt like ice.

"I just got in," I said, my voice even. Too even. "Long flight."

"Poor baby," he cooed, stroking my hair. "You must be exhausted."

Izzy watched us, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Morning, Ava," she said, overly bright. "Coffee?"

"Thank you, Izzy," I replied, meeting her gaze. "Just black."

They didn't know. They didn't know I knew.

Let them play their game.

I had my own.