Chapter 1

The lake trip was Ethan' s idea, a last hurrah with friends before the wedding madness consumed them.

Ava packed for two, her suitcase next to Ethan' s by the door.

He was her fiancé, a rising star in finance, charming when he wanted to be.

Lately, he rarely wanted to be, at least not with her.

The Hawthorne Inns, her family' s legacy, felt more like a gilded cage than a birthright.

Her family often seemed to prefer Chloe, the daughter of their old estate manager. Chloe, a single mother, always knew how to play the victim.

The morning of the trip, Ethan was loading his SUV when Chloe pulled up.

Her daughter, Dahlia, was in the passenger seat.

"Surprise," Chloe said, her voice sweet. "Ethan invited us."

Ava stared. Ethan hadn't mentioned this.

"Yeah, thought it would be fun," Ethan said, not meeting Ava's eyes.

Ava felt a familiar knot in her stomach. Neglected. Overlooked.

The SUV was a five-seater. With Ethan, Ava, and their two friends, Mark and Sarah, it was full.

Now there was Chloe and Dahlia.

"Oh, seating," Chloe said, feigning concern. "Dahlia gets car sick in the back."

Ethan looked at Ava. "Ava, honey, would you mind waiting? I can drop them off and come right back for you. It' s only an hour to the resort."

His voice was casual, like he was asking her to pass the salt.

Mark and Sarah looked uncomfortable but said nothing.

Ava felt the blood drain from her face. Humiliation burned.

"Fine," she said, her voice tight. She grabbed her small weekend bag from the trunk.

Ethan squeezed her arm. "Thanks, babe. Be back before you know it."

He didn't look sorry. He looked relieved.

Chloe offered Ava a small, triumphant smile as she settled Dahlia into the front passenger seat, then took the spot next to her in the back.

Ava stood on the curb, watching them drive away.

The promise felt hollow.

An hour passed. Then two.

Her phone buzzed. It was an Instagram notification.

Chloe had posted a story.

It was a video: Ethan laughing, steering a speedboat on the lake. Chloe was beside him, her hair blowing in the wind, Dahlia waving from the back.

The caption: "Lake life with the best crew! So grateful for friends like Ethan."

Another photo: Chloe and Ethan, heads close together, a picturesque sunset behind them. He had his arm around Chloe's shoulder.

Casually dismissing her feelings. Casually replacing her.

Ava' s fingers tightened on her phone.

The pain was sharp, but something else was sharper: clarity.

She wouldn't wait anymore. Not for Ethan. Not for anyone.

Her family owned The Hawthorne Inns. The flagship inn at Lakeview was where Ethan' s group was heading. Where Ava had booked their best suite for herself and Ethan.

She scrolled through her contacts, found the number for David, the manager of the Lakeview Hawthorne.

He owed her father a few favors. He definitely owed her one.

"David," she said, her voice calm, "it's Ava Hawthorne. I need a small favor regarding a suite booking."