Chapter 3

Five years.

Five years since Liam' s face, contorted with false sincerity, had burned itself into her memory.

Five years since Chloe' s sly smile had been the last thing she saw of her supposed best friend.

Ava Thorne was now in Lynwood, her old hometown, for a reason entirely unrelated to her past.

Julian' s foundation was considering a significant grant for the struggling children' s wing of the local hospital. Ava, having a soft spot for the cause and knowing the area, had offered to do some preliminary, discreet groundwork.

She was dressed simply – jeans, a comfortable sweater, her hair tied back. She wanted to blend in, to observe, not to be noticed as Mrs. Julian Thorne.

She' d just left a meeting with a hospital administrator and was walking through the Lynwood Plaza, an outdoor mall, heading to a small bakery Julian loved, to pick up a birthday cake for him.

It was a crisp autumn afternoon. The plaza was bustling.

And then she saw them.

Liam Peterson and Chloe Davis.

They were standing near the central fountain, the centerpiece of a local business expo. Liam was at a podium, speaking to a small crowd.

He looked largely the same – still handsome, still radiating that same arrogant confidence. He' d gained a bit of weight, perhaps, a certain puffiness around the jaw.

Chloe stood beside him, impeccably dressed, her hand possessively on his arm. She scanned the crowd with an air of smug satisfaction.

Ava' s heart hammered against her ribs.

She hadn' t expected this. Not now, not ever, really.

She' d thought she was done with them, that they were a closed chapter.

Apparently, the universe had other plans.

Liam was, according to the banner above his head, "Lynwood' s Rising Star – Peterson Developments." He' d achieved some local success, it seemed.

Ava quickly ducked behind a large potted plant, her breath catching in her throat.

She should just leave. Turn around, walk away.

But a morbid curiosity, a need to see them, to confirm they were real and not just ghosts from her nightmares, rooted her to the spot.

Liam finished his speech to polite applause. He stepped down, beaming, accepting congratulations.

Chloe preened, her smile wide and predatory.

Ava watched, a strange detachment settling over her. They looked... happy. Or at least, they projected an image of happiness.

She started to back away, intending to slip out unnoticed.

Too late.

Chloe' s sharp eyes, always scanning for an audience or a rival, landed directly on Ava.

Chloe' s smile froze. Her eyes narrowed.

She nudged Liam, whispered something in his ear.

Liam turned. He looked. His eyes widened, first in surprise, then in a slow, dawning recognition that quickly morphed into a smirk.

They knew. They knew it was her.

There was no escape now.