The morning light streamed through the windows, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow. Ava lay on the bed, still tangled in her dreams. The warmth of the sun touched her skin, pulling her out of the haze of sleep. But it wasn't just the sun that had her senses alive—it was a vision in her dream that felt almost too real.
She saw her father standing by the sea, his back to her, looking toward the horizon. His smile was gentle, calm, almost as though everything in the world was right. Ava's heart ached as she called out to him, her voice echoing across the beach.
"Dad!" she shouted, her voice breaking the silence of the dream.
But he didn't hear her. She could see his lips moving, but no sound reached her ears. She called again, louder this time, her voice filled with desperation.
"Dad! Please, hear me!"
But still, no response. Her heart sank, and her eyes began to fill with tears. Why wouldn't he hear her? Why was he so far away? She took a step forward, but something held her back—an invisible barrier between them.
Determined, she gathered all her strength. She screamed his name one last time, her voice loud and clear, the wind carrying it far across the sea. And then—finally—her father turned. His face broke into a smile, his eyes lighting up as he looked directly at her.
Ava's heart skipped a beat. She had never felt so relieved, so overjoyed in her life. But her father, ever wise, raised his hand and pointed toward the horizon. She followed his gaze and saw a small boat drifting in the distance.
In the boat lay her mother, motionless, unconscious, as though something terrible had happened to her. Ava's heart dropped into her stomach, and she rushed toward her father.
"Dad! What's wrong with Mom?" Ava called, fear creeping into her voice.
But her father only shook his head, his face serious. "Don't come closer, Ava. It's too dangerous. Stay back and follow me."
Confusion swept over Ava. "But what about Mom? What happened to her? Where are you going?"
Her father didn't answer. He only pointed toward the boat again, urging her to understand. Ava's eyes locked onto her mother's still form, and she felt a surge of panic. Without thinking, she bolted toward the water, desperate to reach her.
"Mom! Please wake up! I'm here!"
But as she neared the boat, something strange happened. A thick, invisible glass wall rose between them. She tried to break it, to push through it, but it wouldn't budge. She screamed again, her voice becoming frantic, but her mother didn't respond. She was still, like a lifeless doll.
Her hand slammed against the glass, but it wouldn't break. She felt the heat of the sun fading, the light dimming as the air grew heavy. The water beneath her feet began to change color, turning from the usual bright blue to a dark, foreboding black. She looked around in confusion. Her father was gone. The sun was no longer shining. The world was slipping away from her, and she felt herself sinking into the darkness.
"Mom!" Ava screamed, trying to break free from the darkening water that seemed to pull her deeper and deeper. But just as she felt herself losing control, she heard a voice.
"Ava…"
She whipped around, but there was no one there. The voice was faint, barely a whisper, yet it felt as though it was coming from everywhere, filling her ears with an eerie echo.
"Ava…"
Her heart raced as dizziness swept over her. She couldn't breathe. Her vision blurred. She felt her body going limp, her strength fading. She collapsed, unable to fight the pull of the blackness. And then, everything went silent.
Ava's eyes snapped open, gasping for air. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she sat up quickly, disoriented. The room was quiet, the soft hum of the morning outside the only sound. The sunlight filtered in through the curtains, and she blinked, trying to shake off the remnants of the terrifying dream.
"Ava?"
She turned toward the voice and saw Kayden standing in the doorway, his face drawn with concern. He was holding a microphone in his hand, which seemed odd to her. Why would he have that?
Before she could process it, Kayden approached, his brow furrowed. "Hey, are you okay? You were… you were saying things in your sleep," he said gently, setting the microphone down on the table beside her.
Ava's heart skipped a beat. Had he heard her calling out in her sleep? She didn't know what to say. She felt embarrassed, vulnerable. She pulled herself up from the bed, trying to steady herself.
"I'm fine," she muttered, her voice shaky. "It was just a dream."
Kayden raised an eyebrow, his face still filled with concern. "A dream? It didn't sound like a normal one."
Ava sighed, rubbing her face. "It was nothing, really. Just… a bad dream."
But Kayden didn't seem convinced. He stepped closer, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Ava, talk to me. You've been through a lot, and if you need to talk about it, I'm here."
Ava swallowed, her throat tight. She wanted to tell him everything, to let him in on her fears, but she couldn't. The weight of her secrets—everything she had been hiding—was too much to bear. She didn't want to drag him into this nightmare. Not now.
"Thanks, Kayden," she said softly, forcing a smile. "But I'm okay. I'll be fine."
Kayden seemed to study her for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But if you ever need me, I'm here."
Ava nodded, and for a moment, there was a peaceful silence between them. But then, suddenly, she heard Jia's voice from downstairs.
"Kayden, Ava! Are you up yet?"
Ava gave Kayden a small smile before heading to the door. "I'll go check on her. You stay here."
"Jia, what's wrong?" Ava asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Just… water… my head…" Jia muttered, swaying on her feet. They guided her back to her room, where Ava prepared a glass of lemon water. Jia gulped it down with a groan, her expression softening as the drink worked its magic.
Back in the living room, Ava and Kayden flopped onto the couch, the tension from the morning easing.
"So, about last night," Ava began, shooting Kayden a look. "Remind me whose idea it was to have a drinking competition?"
Kayden raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, you were the one who said, 'I can outdrink anyone!' I was merely accepting the challenge."
Ava laughed, rolling her eyes. "Right. And who ended up passed out on the floor?"
"Details, Ava. Minor details."
Their laughter filled the room, a much-needed reprieve from the heaviness of Ava's dream. For a brief moment, life felt normal again.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of conversation and ordinary tasks, but Ava couldn't push the dream from her mind. She was unsettled, and as much as she tried to focus on the present, the past kept creeping back into her thoughts. How had she gotten herself tangled in this mess? What had she become?
Kayden, noticing her somber mood, tried his best to distract her. He pulled her into a spontaneous dance in the middle of the living room, humming an off-key tune that made her laugh despite herself.
"Kayden," she said, pushing him away playfully, "you're the worst dancer I've ever seen."
"Hey now!" Kayden protested, clutching his chest as if wounded. "I'll have you know my moves are legendary."
"Legendary for being terrible," Ava quipped, earning a mock glare.
The lighthearted moment was interrupted when Jia emerged from her room, looking far more refreshed than earlier. She plopped down on the couch beside Ava, her expression softening as she noticed her friend's troubled gaze.
"You've been quiet all day," Jia said gently. "What's going on?"
Ava hesitated. She hadn't shared the details of her nightmare with anyone, not wanting to burden them. But as Jia and Kayden waited patiently, their concern evident, she decided to open up.
"I had a dream about my parents," Ava began, her voice barely above a whisper. She recounted everything—the serene beach, her father's warning, her mother's lifeless form in the boat, and the overwhelming darkness that followed. As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
When she finished, the room fell silent. Jia reached out, placing a comforting hand on Ava's shoulder. "Dreams can be strange," Jia said softly, "but sometimes they're our mind's way of processing things we're too scared to face while awake."
"Or," Kayden interjected, "it's your subconscious telling you to take a break from all the heavy stuff. You've been carrying a lot lately, Ava."
Ava looked between them, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I just feel like there's something I'm missing," she admitted. "Something my father was trying to tell me."
Jia frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe there's a connection between the dream and what we've been uncovering about Michael Black. Your father's warning might be symbolic."
"Or," Kayden said with a grin, "it's the result of the cheap tequila we drank last night."
"Kayden!" Ava and Jia said in unison, glaring at him. But the tension in the room eased as Ava let out a small laugh.
Later That Evening
As night fell, Ava found herself alone in her room, staring at her father's old journal. She had read through it countless times, searching for clues about his dealings with Michael Black, but it always left her with more questions than answers.
This time, though, something caught her eye—a faint impression on one of the pages. She held it up to the light, revealing a hidden message written in her father's handwriting: "Trust no one."
Ava's breath caught in her throat. The message felt like a warning meant specifically for her. She traced the words with her fingers, her mind racing. What had her father been so afraid of? And how much danger was she truly in?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at her door. "Ava?" Jia's voice came from the other side. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah," Ava replied, quickly closing the journal and tucking it under her pillow.
Jia entered, holding two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. She handed one to Ava and sat on the edge of the bed. "I thought you might need this," Jia said with a small smile.
"Thanks," Ava said, taking a sip. The warmth of the drink spread through her, calming her frayed nerves.
"I've been thinking about what you said earlier," Jia began. "About your dream. Maybe it's not just a dream. Maybe it's a sign that you're stronger than you think."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure?"
"Because," Jia said, her tone firm, "even in your dream, when everything was falling apart, you didn't give up. You fought to save your mother. That takes strength, Ava. And if your father saw you now, he'd be proud of how far you've come."
Ava felt tears prick her eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude. She set her mug down and hugged Jia tightly. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Always," Jia replied, her voice warm.
Unable to sleep, Ava wandered into the kitchen later that night, only to find Kayden rummaging through the fridge. He jumped when he saw her, a carton of milk in one hand and a slice of leftover pizza in the other.
"Midnight snack?" Ava teased, leaning against the doorway.
"Don't judge me," Kayden said, taking a bite of the pizza. "Some of us deal with stress through carbs."
Ava rolled her eyes but joined him at the counter. They sat in comfortable silence for a while before Kayden spoke.
"You know," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious, "you don't have to face all of this alone. Jia and I—we're here for you."
Ava nodded, her chest tightening with emotion. "I know. And I'm grateful for that. More than you know."
"Good," Kayden said, his playful grin returning. "Because without me, your life would be a lot less interesting."
Ava laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
"Ridiculously charming," he corrected, winking.
The Next Morning
The sun rose on a new day, but the weight of Ava's dream still lingered in the back of her mind. As she stepped out onto the balcony, the fresh morning air filling her lungs, she made a silent vow: no matter what the future held, she would honor her parents' memory by living fully and fearlessly. She wasn't sure what the dream meant or what challenges lay ahead, but she knew one thing for certain—she wouldn't face them alone.
Kayden and Jia joined her on the balcony, each holding a cup of coffee. They stood together in quiet solidarity, watching the sunrise. For the first time in a long time, Ava felt a glimmer of hope
Finally, Kayden's phone buzzed on the table, and he picked it up. His face darkened as he read the message.
"What's wrong?" Ava asked, her curiosity piqued.
Kayden looked up at her, his jaw clenched. "It's about the shipment. The goods we were importing from country F… they were destroyed. The workers were attacked by some unknown gang."
Ava's heart sank. The weight of what had just happened hit her like a punch to the gut. "How bad is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kayden's expression hardened. "The goods are gone, and the workers… they didn't make it. Only the driver survived."
Ava felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She had been trying so hard to protect Kayden, to keep him out of this mess, but now it seemed like everything was falling apart.
"Who did this?" Jia asked, looking up from her plate, her eyes filled with worry.
Kayden's tone was cold. "I think it's the work of Graceful Holdings. Stella has been threatening us ever since Ava disappeared. I should've known something was coming."
Ava felt a chill run down her spine. Michael Black's influence was spreading. The weight of it was unbearable. She had been trying to protect everyone, but now her fear was growing. What was Michael's next move? And what would happen to the people she cared about?
Later that afternoon, as Kayden and Jia discussed their next steps, Ava sat quietly in the background, her heart heavy. She had caused so much trouble. She had lied to Kayden, to Jia. She was the reason they were caught in this dangerous game with Michael Black.
The guilt surged within her, and she knew that there was only one thing left to do: come clean. But how could she face them? How could she tell them everything?
Kayden left the house with urgency, the door slamming behind him. Ava stood there for a moment, her hand gripping the doorknob, her mind racing. She hadn't told him everything. She couldn't. Not yet. The call with Michael Black echoed in her mind, each word leaving a sting she couldn't shake. She had been so close to breaking, to giving him everything he wanted, but her conscience had held her back.
Ava exhaled sharply, pushing the thought aside. She had to stay strong. Kayden, Jia—they were depending on her. But the guilt clawed at her. The news of the shipment—destroyed, the workers killed—was too much to ignore. The mysterious gang attack couldn't have been just coincidence. Stella's shadow loomed large, and Ava knew she had to face her fears. If Michael Black was involved, then she was tangled in something much bigger than she had ever imagined.
Her phone vibrated, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw Michael's name flash across it. Her heart skipped. She didn't want to answer, but she had no choice.
"Ava," his voice was smooth, calculated. "I know what you're up to. Don't think for a second that I don't see through you."
Ava's stomach tightened, her fingers gripping the phone so hard her knuckles whitened. "What do you want, Michael?" she asked, her voice steady but her insides a mess of nerves.
"I know you've been gathering evidence, trying to play the hero," he chuckled, a dark sound that made her blood run cold. "But you're wasting your time. It's all going to come crashing down on you, just like the shipment you thought you were protecting."
Ava's breath hitched. "How do you know about that?"
"I know everything, Ava," he continued, the sinister edge to his voice growing sharper. "Everything. And I want you to remember—when it all falls apart, you'll be the one responsible. Watch your back. I'm always one step ahead."
The call ended abruptly, and Ava was left holding her phone, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Was it really Michael behind the attack? Was he somehow pulling the strings behind the scenes? She couldn't be sure, but his threats were real—and she felt the weight of them pressing on her chest.
Just then, Jia appeared at her side. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly, noticing the tension on Ava's face.
Ava didn't answer immediately. Instead, she lowered her phone and stared at the screen, her thoughts racing. Finally, she nodded slowly. "I need to talk to Kayden. We need to figure out what's really going on."
Jia frowned but didn't argue. "You're right. But be careful, Ava. We don't know who we're really dealing with here."
Ava glanced at her friend, her resolve hardening.
Meanwhile, Kayden was already at the site of the destroyed shipment. The police were there, doing their best to investigate the aftermath, but they were clearly out of their depth. Kayden stood beside the wreckage, his eyes scanning the scene, taking in every detail. He could feel the tension in the air, the coldness of betrayal lingering like a dark cloud over the scene.
He spoke to his secretary on the phone, arranging for the workers' families to be informed. It was a small consolation, but Kayden refused to let their deaths go unacknowledged. He promised them justice, and he meant it.
But even as he spoke, something gnawed at him. It wasn't just Stella he had to worry about. He had seen Michael Black's name in the shadows of this whole situation. Ava had tried to protect them—she had been hiding something. He didn't know what, but the guilt in her eyes when she had explained the attack wasn't something he could ignore.
He tried to push it aside. He couldn't afford to get distracted. But he couldn't help himself. His instincts screamed at him that something wasn't adding up.
"Ava," he muttered under his breath, frustration rising in him. She wasn't telling him everything. He had seen it in her eyes—the way she tried to push him away when he had asked about Michael. She was too protective, too closed off. And that made him worry.
He clenched his fists, determined to get to the bottom of this. He couldn't allow Michael to have any power over them. But with each passing moment, the danger felt more real. The feeling that they were being watched—like there was someone just out of sight, always waiting for the right moment to strike—was growing stronger.
Kayden's thoughts were interrupted by a call from the driver who had survived the attack. His voice trembled as he explained the details of the ambush, painting a picture of ruthless, organized violence. It wasn't just random. It was planned. Someone had orchestrated this with the knowledge of every step they had taken.
It was then that Kayden realized the gravity of the situation. Whoever was behind this, they were not going to stop until they had everything they wanted—and they would go to any lengths to get it.
Back at the house, Ava paced anxiously in the living room, her mind spinning. She had given everything to Michael, but she still felt like a pawn in his game. Kayden's words from earlier echoed in her mind. He had asked her to stay out of everything, to keep her distance. But how could she? How could she stand by and do nothing when the lives of those around her were at stake?
The silence in the house was suffocating, each passing minute heavier than the last. Ava sat on the couch, her mind racing, her thoughts tangled in a storm of guilt and fear. She had tried to hide the truth, to protect those she loved, but the weight of her secrets was crushing her. Every time she thought about Michael Black, her stomach twisted. The situation was spiraling out of control, and there was no way to fix it.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated, pulling her from her thoughts. She hesitated, staring at the screen. It was Michael again. With a deep breath, she answered the call.
"Yes?" she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.
"You're still in, aren't you?" Michael's voice was smooth, almost soothing. "You know what happens next. You know where to meet me."
Ava bit her lip, but before she could respond, a voice interrupted her.
"Ava," Kayden's voice called out from the doorway, cold and sharp. She froze, her heart sinking as she slowly turned around to face him. The door creaked open, and Kayden stepped inside. His eyes were cold, his face hard, and there was a tension in the air that made her stomach tighten.
Kayden's gaze flickered to the phone in her hand, and Ava's heart raced. He knew. She had never meant for him to find out this way. She had hoped to keep him out of it, but now, everything was unraveling in front of her eyes.
"Ava," he repeated, his voice edged with disbelief, "what's going on? His eyes darkened, and there was a hurt in his gaze that she couldn't ignore.
Ava stood up, her legs trembling beneath her. She wanted to explain, to make him understand, but the words were stuck in her throat. She couldn't lie anymore—not to him. Not to Jia. The weight of her secret felt unbearable.
"Kayden, I—" Ava started, but she was cut off by his sharp gaze. He was waiting for her to speak, but the words felt like stones in her mouth.
"You've been working with him, haven't you?" Kayden's voice trembled with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You've been helping Michael Black, haven't you? All this time…"
Ava could feel her heart breaking I—" She paused, trying to gather her thoughts, but her emotions overwhelmed her. "I didn't want to get you involved. I thought I could fix it on my own. I was trying to protect you both, but I… I don't know how anymore."
Kayden stood frozen for a moment, his face a mixture of shock and betrayal. His fists clenched at his sides, and for a brief moment, Ava saw a flash of anger in his eyes that terrified her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded, his voice rising. "Why didn't you trust me, Ava? After everything we've been through, you kept this from me? You were working with the one person who has been a threat to everything we've built!"
Ava's voice cracked as she responded, her eyes brimming with tears. "I was trying to protect you, Kayden. I thought if I helped Michael, he would leave us alone. I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't want you or Jia involved in any of this."
"But we are involved, Ava!" Kayden shouted, his anger spilling out. "We're already in this together, whether you like it or not. And now, you've put us all at risk. Do you understand that?"
Ava's heart shattered at the hurt in his voice. She had never wanted to hurt him. But everything had spiraled out of control so quickly, and now, all she could do was watch as Kayden's face twisted with betrayal.
"I'm sorry, Kayden," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I never meant for this to happen."
Before she could say anything else, the door opened again. Jia stepped into the room, her face pale and filled with confusion. She had heard the raised voices and had come to check on them. But when she saw Ava and Kayden standing there, the tension in the air was palpable. Jia's eyes flickered between the two of them, and then she looked at Ava, her expression hardening.
"Ava," Jia said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "Is it true? Were you really working with Michael?"
Ava nodded, her throat tight. She didn't know how to explain it to Jia, how to make her understand. But before she could speak, Jia's face crumpled with emotion.
"I can't believe this," Jia whispered, her voice shaking. "How could you, Ava? After everything we've been through, you were working with the one person who's been trying to destroy us?"
Ava felt the weight of Jia's words like a slap to the face. She had never wanted to hurt her. Jia was her friend—her sister, even. But now, all Ava saw in Jia's eyes was betrayal.
"I didn't want this to happen," Ava pleaded, stepping toward Jia, but Jia backed away.
"No, Ava," Jia said, her voice full of hurt. "You kept this from us. You lied to us. And now, I don't know what to think anymore."
Kayden didn't speak. He just stood there, fists clenched, his eyes still locked on Ava with a mixture of anger and disappointment.
Finally, Kayden broke the silence. "I'm going to handle this," he said, his voice cold and detached. "I'll take care of Graceful Holdings and whatever this mess is with Michael Black. You two stay out of it. This is my responsibility now."
Ava felt like she had been hit with a cold wave of ice. He was cutting her off, shutting her out. The words stung, but she couldn't blame him. She had brought this on herself.
"Kayden, please…" Ava started, her voice trembling, but he didn't look at her.
"I said stay out of it," he repeated, his voice hard. "I don't need your help. Not now. Not after everything that's happened."
He turned on his heel and walked toward the door, not looking back. Ava watched him go, her heart aching with every step he took. She felt like she was losing him, losing everything.
Jia didn't say anything as she watched Kayden leave, but the silence between them was deafening. After a long moment, she spoke softly, her voice breaking the stillness.
"Ava, I don't know if we can fix this. I really don't."
Ava didn't know what to say. She had no answers. She had made so many mistakes, and now she was alone—alone with her guilt and her fear of what was coming next.
As Jia left her side and went to her room, Ava sank to her knees, the weight of her actions finally sinking in. She had lost the trust of the people she cared about the most. Now, it seemed like there was no turning back.
The tension in the house was palpable. The silence between Ava, Kayden, and Jia had become unbearable. After the confrontation, Kayden had stormed out, unable to look at Ava. Jia, too, had retreated into herself, trying to process the truth that Ava had been hiding from them for so long.
Ava sat on the couch, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, guilt, and shame. The world seemed to close in on her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the consequences of her actions. She had chosen to protect them by hiding the truth, but in the process, she had betrayed the very people she cared about most.
In the silence of the house, Ava's thoughts kept circling back to the same question: What had she done?
The phone call came in the middle of the night.
Ava had been lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless, when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She picked it up, the screen lighting up with Michael Black's name. Her stomach churned. She didn't want to pick up, but she knew she had no choice.
"Hello?" Ava's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Ava." Michael's voice was low, almost like a warning. "It's time."
Ava froze. The weight of his words hit her like a ton of bricks. It's time. The time to meet, the time to settle everything. Her stomach tightened. She had been dreading this moment, and now it was finally here.
"I'll be there," she said, her voice betraying no emotion. But inside, she was a storm of panic and regret.
The next morning, the atmosphere in the house was thick with unspoken words. Kayden had been distant, cold—his heart clearly still angry, but his concern for the business and their employees hadn't wavered. Jia, too, was distant, her face pale, her eyes tired from the strain of the past few days.
Kayden barely acknowledged Ava as she entered the kitchen. He was busy checking emails, his expression unreadable. Ava stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say, before she spoke quietly.
"Kayden… I need to talk to you," she said, her voice steady but trembling beneath the surface.
Kayden didn't look up. "There's nothing left to say, Ava."
Ava's heart sank. She had known this moment was coming, but the reality of it was still too painful. "Kayden, please…" Her voice cracked, but she quickly regained her composure. "I'm going to meet with Michael. I need to face him and end this."
Kayden's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with fury. "No. You're not going alone, Ava. Not after everything."
"I have to do this, Kayden. I've already made the mistake of dragging you into it. I can't do that again," she said, her voice soft but resolute.
"You don't get it," Kayden said, his voice cold now. "You think you're protecting me by hiding everything from me, but you're not. You're just making it worse."
Ava's chest tightened. The hurt in his eyes was too much to bear. "I didn't want to hurt you. I thought I was protecting you from the mess I got myself into."
Kayden took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. "If you go to him, you're on your own. I can't keep doing this with you, Ava."
Ava left the house, her heart heavy as she drove to the meeting point Michael had arranged. The roads were empty, and the world felt far away. All she could think of was how much had changed since she met Kayden and Jia—how everything had seemed so perfect, so full of promise. But now, it felt as though everything was falling apart.
When she arrived at the meeting location, a secluded part of town, she felt her heartbeat quicken. Michael Black stood in the shadows, his cold eyes locking onto hers as she approached.
"You came," Michael said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I thought you'd run away. You've always been a smart one, Ava."
"I'm not running, Michael. I'm here to end this." Ava's voice was firm, but her insides churned with fear. She had no idea how this confrontation would unfold, but she knew one thing for sure—this had to be the end.
Michael stepped closer, his presence imposing. "You think you can just walk away from me, Ava? After everything you've done? You're mine now. You've made your choice."
Ava's stomach twisted. "I made the wrong choice," she whispered, regret flooding her heart. "But I'm trying to fix it."
Michael's eyes narrowed, and he stepped back, his expression darkening. "Fix it? The damage is done. There's no fixing it now."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folder. "You know what this is, don't you?" he said, handing it to her.
Ava took the folder hesitantly, her hands trembling. She opened it, her eyes scanning the contents. It was evidence—documents, photos, everything linking her to Michael's shady operations. It was the leverage he had over her. The evidence that could ruin everything.
"This is what you wanted, right?" Michael taunted. "You wanted power. You wanted security. But now, you're just as trapped as I am. We're in this together, Ava. You and me. Whether you like it or not."
Ava's mind raced. She knew she couldn't go back. But she also knew she couldn't continue down this path. The truth hit her like a cold wave.
She looked up at Michael, her expression hardening. "You're wrong. I'm done with you."
Michael's smirk faltered, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "You think you can just walk away? You think it's that simple?"
"It is," Ava said, her voice steady. "I'm walking away, Michael. This ends now."
Later that evening, Kayden sat at the table, his hands resting on his face, exhausted. He hadn't heard from Ava in hours, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. When the door opened, he looked up, and there she was—Ava, standing in the doorway. Her eyes were red, her face pale.
"You're back," Kayden said, his voice cold, but there was a glimmer of something else in his eyes. Hurt? Concern? He wasn't sure.
Ava stepped inside slowly. "I did what I had to do, Kayden. I confronted him. It's over."
Kayden stood up abruptly, his anger flaring again. "Over? You think it's over? After everything?"
Ava swallowed hard. She had hoped this moment would bring relief, but instead, it was just another painful chapter in their fractured relationship.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you."
Kayden shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "You don't get it, do you, Ava? It's not just about you and me. It's about trust. You've lost that."
Ava felt her heart crack. She had lost him. And no matter what she did, she couldn't take back the damage she had caused.