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Ava sat at her vanity, running a brush through her hair as her thoughts continued to swirl. Her second chance had brought her back to a place she thought she could never return—back to the man she had once pushed away, and the friend who had once been her closest confidante. But things weren't as they seemed this time. Lily, her best friend, wasn't the sweet, understanding person Ava had believed her to be.
And Ethan… Ethan wasn't as unaware as Ava had once thought.
The soft click of the door interrupted her thoughts. She turned to find Ethan standing in the doorway, his tall, commanding presence filling the frame. His dark suit was impeccably fitted, but it was the way he looked at her that drew her in—his gaze steady and unflinching, full of unspoken understanding.
"Ava," he said, his voice rich with concern, "are you alright?"
The words seemed simple, but Ava could hear the layers beneath them—the hint of worry, the careful attention to her well-being. She had never truly seen it before in her past life, always too wrapped up in her own confusion to recognize what was right in front of her.
"I'm fine," she said, the lie coming easily. "Just thinking."
Ethan didn't step closer, but his eyes narrowed slightly, as though he were reading her, probing for the truth beneath her words. "About what?"
Ava hesitated, unsure how much she could tell him. Could she trust him with everything? Could she trust him with Lily's betrayal, knowing it would put a strain on the fragile trust they were beginning to rebuild?
But then she saw it in his eyes—the same depth she had seen when he had first looked at her all those years ago. He wasn't just her husband; he was her partner, her equal in every way. And this time, she would not hide the truth from him.
"It's about Lily," Ava finally said, her voice barely a whisper.
Ethan's expression didn't change, but the muscles in his jaw tightened. "I know," he said simply.
Ava blinked, surprised by his calm response. "You know?"
Ethan stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him. "I've known for a while now. The way she's been acting, the way she's always hovering, making subtle comments…" He trailed off, his eyes darkening. "I'm not blind, Ava."
Ava's heart thudded in her chest. She had thought that Ethan, the cold CEO, was too distant to notice the subtle games Lily played, but he had seen it all. And yet, despite knowing the truth, he had never confronted her about it.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice shaky, unsure of whether to feel relief or unease.
"I wanted to see if you'd notice on your own," he said. "I didn't want to make things more complicated than they already were."
Ava nodded slowly, her mind still processing everything. It was a strange comfort, knowing Ethan wasn't oblivious to the danger lurking around them. He had been watching, waiting for her to catch up.
She turned away, facing the mirror again. "I don't know what to do about it. I thought I could trust her."
Ethan's footsteps were light on the carpet as he crossed the room to her. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, his touch a silent promise. "You don't have to do this alone."
The warmth of his hand sent a shiver down Ava's spine, and without thinking, she turned to face him, her eyes searching his. In that moment, the tension between them crackled, as if they both knew what was about to unfold. Ethan leaned in slowly, his gaze never leaving hers, before pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was gentle at first, exploratory.
Ava responded instantly, her arms winding around his neck as she deepened the kiss. There was something in the way Ethan kissed her—something raw and desperate that spoke of longing and love. Their lips parted for a moment, and in the space between them, words failed. There was no need to speak; everything they needed to say was already being conveyed.
Ethan pulled her closer, his hands sliding to her waist as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms. Ava gasped in surprise, but the heat of his touch, the strength in his movements, only fueled the desire that had been building between them for so long. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands roaming to the back of his neck as she kissed him again, this time with more urgency.
He carried her to the bed, his lips trailing hot kisses along her jawline, her neck, as he gently laid her down on the soft sheets. Ava's heart raced, her body humming with anticipation. She had missed this—missed him—in a way that she hadn't realized until now.
"I need you, Ethan," she whispered against his lips, her breath hitching with every word. "Please."
His eyes darkened with intensity, and he kissed her again, more fervently. "I'm here, Ava," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "I'm not going anywhere."
And with that, he let his instincts take over, his hands moving with practiced precision as he undressed her slowly, savoring every moment. Ava's body responded to him, the years of distance between them melting away with each touch, each kiss. When he finally entered her, there was no hesitation, no fear—only the overwhelming sense of belonging.
For a moment, everything else faded—the looming threat of Lily, the uncertainty of what the future might bring. There was only Ethan, and only Ava, entwined in a dance they had both longed for but had never truly allowed themselves to experience.
Their movements were slow at first, exploring, testing the boundaries of their desire. But as the heat between them built, so did their passion, until they were both lost in the feeling, in the connection that had always existed between them.
When it was over, they lay together, their bodies entwined, their breaths heavy and synchronized. Ava rested her head against Ethan's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She felt safe, protected. She had her second chance, and with Ethan by her side, she knew she could face whatever came next.
But even in the warmth of his embrace, Ava couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Lily's betrayal wasn't over yet. The knife had been the first sign. But what would come next?
And how far was Lily willing to go to get what she wanted?
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