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Ava's mind raced as she left her father's study. The shock of his words still echoed in her ears, but there were pieces of the puzzle she still couldn't fit together. Everything she had known about her life, about her family, had been shattered. The truth her father had just hinted at—her family's sinister influence and their long-standing manipulation—was almost too much to bear.
But Ava wasn't one to back down. If there was one thing she had learned, it was that she needed to confront this head-on. Her father's words lingered, "You were never meant to know, Ava. You were supposed to stay in the dark." But why? What had they been hiding from her all these years? And more importantly, *why had Max been involved in all of this?*
Her father's chilling declaration that Ethan was just another piece in their game gnawed at her. Ethan, who had shown her love and care. Ethan, who had been by her side when no one else had. Could he really be a part of this web of lies? Had he known more than he had let on?
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The estate felt like a mansion of secrets now. As Ava walked down the long hallways toward her mother's study, she thought about everything she had just learned. Ava had always believed that her mother, **Rachel Carter**, was distant but loving in her own way. Rachel had always been wrapped up in charity events, socializing with the right people, and maintaining the family's perfect image. Ava's mother wasn't cruel, but she wasn't exactly kind either. She had never been the mother figure Ava had longed for, and now Ava understood why.
When Ava entered her mother's study, Rachel was sitting by the window, looking out at the sprawling garden. There was a stillness to her—an air of someone who had already anticipated what was coming.
"Ava," Rachel said, her voice soft but carrying the weight of years of silence. "I knew you'd come."
Ava closed the door behind her. She was done being cautious. It was time for answers. "I just spoke to Dad," she began, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "I need to understand. Why didn't you tell me the truth? Why didn't you tell me what this family has been doing all these years?"
Her mother turned to face her, and for the first time in Ava's life, there was something vulnerable in Rachel's eyes. "What do you want to know, Ava?"
"I want to know about Max," Ava demanded. "I want to know why he's been involved in this—*why you and Dad have been manipulating me, using me all this time*."
Rachel sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of years of secrets was finally too much to bear. "Max didn't always know. But he learned. And once he did, he became part of it. We never wanted you to be a part of this world, Ava. You were always supposed to be above it."
Ava stared at her mother in disbelief. "Above it? What do you mean by that? You've been using me as a pawn. I trusted you. I trusted both of you!"
Rachel's eyes softened. "Ava, your father and I—we built this empire together. But it wasn't just about business. It was about power. It was about controlling the people around us. Your father did what he had to do to protect his legacy, and I… I did what I had to do to keep you safe, even if it meant lying to you."
Ava's heart sank as her mother's words sank in. *Her whole life had been built on lies.* She took a step back, struggling to make sense of everything. "Safe? By keeping me in the dark? By keeping me away from the truth? You've been protecting me by isolating me from everything? From reality?"
Rachel stood and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but Ava recoiled from her touch. "We did it for you, Ava. We wanted you to have the life you deserved, not the one filled with betrayal and deceit. Your father and I both… we had our reasons. But now, it's all coming to the surface. You need to understand, Ava. Max's actions, your father's plans—they were all part of the same picture. And Ethan… Ethan was never supposed to be part of your life. Not the way he is."
Ava froze. "What are you saying?"
Rachel's eyes darkened. "Ethan was never meant to be your husband. He was meant to be a tool—a way to solidify the Carter legacy. You and him, together, were supposed to be the face of the empire. But you didn't see it. You weren't supposed to."
The room spun as Ava tried to digest this new revelation. "So, *all of this*—everything—was a lie? Everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I wanted, was just part of a plan?"
Rachel nodded. "Yes. But you have to understand, Ava. It wasn't just about Ethan or your father's business. It was about power. And power changes people. It changes everything."
Ava's mind was in turmoil, but one thing was clear now: *Max*—her brother—had been a part of this all along. But why? Why had he chosen to follow in their footsteps? What had driven him to betray her? Her thoughts were interrupted when her mother spoke again, her tone now more urgent.
"You need to understand something, Ava. You're not just part of our family. You were always meant to be more. We have big plans for you—plans that go beyond Ethan. And once you see the truth, once you understand the game we've been playing, you'll realize that it's not just about power anymore. It's about survival."
Ava's eyes narrowed. "Survival? What do you mean by that?"
Rachel's gaze flickered toward the window, and her voice grew colder. "There are others—people who want to take everything we've built. And if you're not careful, Ava, you'll be just another pawn in their game. But you can be more. You can help us protect everything we've worked for. You just need to trust us."
Ava's heart pounded as she tried to comprehend the weight of her mother's words. *Survival? More?* She had thought her family's dysfunction was bad, but this was something else entirely. The more she learned, the less she knew. But one thing was clear: she could no longer rely on the people she had trusted most. The family she had once known was nothing more than a façade—a mask they wore to hide the truth.
As she left her mother's study, Ava felt a storm brewing within her. She had to make a choice. The pieces were all falling into place, and there was no turning back now.
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