Chapter 9

"Come on," Ava said, gesturing to her sleek Tesla. "Let' s get you to Malibu."

Liam slung the duffel bag over his shoulder and followed her.

Unseen, a few cars down, Noah Walker watched them drive away, his jaw practically on the steering wheel of his own much more sensible sedan.

He fumbled for his phone.

"Grandma? You are not going to believe what Alistair is up to now."

Meanwhile, at the Ashworth estate, Richard and Eleanor were growing impatient.

"Where is Ava?" Richard snapped, checking his watch for the tenth time. "We have that lunch with the Hendersons. Chloe needs to make a good impression."

Ethan, lounging on a sofa, waved a dismissive hand.

"She' ll be here. She' s probably just fussing over some last-minute detail for that new client."

He sounded supremely confident. Too confident.

Eleanor paced. "This is unacceptable. Call her again, Ethan! If she jeopardizes Chloe' s chances with the Henderson boy..."

Chloe, ever the peacemaker, placed a gentle hand on Eleanor' s arm.

"Mother, please. I' m sure Ava has a good reason. She wouldn' t want to upset you or Father."

Her eyes, however, held a glint of triumph.

Ava' s phone, sitting on the console of her Tesla, remained stubbornly silent to their calls.

She' d put it on Do Not Disturb.

Richard Ashworth muttered under his breath, "If she costs Chloe this opportunity, I' ll disinherit her. I swear I will."

He' d always seen Ava as a tool. A talented, useful tool. But ultimately, disposable.

Chloe and Eleanor exchanged a subtle, satisfied glance.

The facade of family unity was wearing thin.