Ava let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh as she slowly turned her head to gaze out the window, watching the unfamiliar city blur past her like a painting in motion.
The low hum of the car engine filled the silence as the driver maneuvered through winding streets, taking her to a destination she hadn't chosen, yet couldn't refuse.
She had no real choice—Ethan's request had come with a sort of finality she couldn't argue with, and before she knew it, she was slipping into the elegant dress he had handpicked for her.
Now she sat, clad in a sleek, figure-hugging mini gown that shimmered under the dim interior light, paired with delicate hand gloves that somehow complimented her skin so perfectly it felt deliberate.
But Ava didn't feel beautiful. She felt like a pawn—dressed and placed on a board she didn't understand.
Perplexed and restless, she lowered her head to stare at the outfit, her mind running in circles.
The moment Ethan had stepped out of the room, she had hurried to call Liam, her voice low but urgent.
She'd explained everything—at least, everything she understood—and to her surprise, Liam hadn't reacted with anger or concern.
He was calm. Too calm. As though the chaos wasn't chaos at all.
Just as she was losing herself in her thoughts, her phone vibrated on her lap. Her heart skipped slightly as she glanced down, expecting a familiar name. But what she saw instead made her brows draw together. An unknown number.
Still, she answered.
"Hello?"
"Ava?" came the gentle voice of a woman—soft, familiar, and completely unexpected.
Ava blinked. "Anitta?" she gasped, stunned. Her sister's voice—absent for two long years—echoed like a ghost returning.
"Who else would it be?" Anitta teased.
Ava's lips curved in disbelief. "I can't believe this. I thought you'd turned into an alien or something," she joked, warmth returning to her voice.
"Really? You naughty girl," Anitta laughed, and for a moment, the tension in Ava's chest melted away in the sound of shared laughter.
"I just got into the city," Anitta said casually. "Thought I'd let you know."
"Wait—seriously?" Ava said, her tone rising with excitement.
But just as quickly, the smile on her face faded. Reality struck like a cold wind—she was technically homeless, being tossed between uncertainty and manipulation.
How could she involve Anitta in this mess?
"Are you… planning to come to my place?" she asked cautiously.
But Anitta, sharp as ever, caught the hesitation. "Relax, I'm not coming to your place. I know something's up. I've got a fiancé now—he's hosting me. I just wanted to see you while I'm around."
Ava chuckled, slightly relieved. "Oh really? Who's the poor man stuck with the most troublesome woman in the world?"
"Stop it!" Anitta squealed playfully. "You're so silly."
Ava laughed, her heart feeling lighter, even if just briefly. "You better send me his photo. I need to know who I'm dealing with."
"I will," Anitta said with a grin in her voice.
But when Ava pulled the phone back to check the picture Anitta sent, her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the image. It couldn't be.
"Lucas?" she whispered, stunned.
"Did you say something?" Anitta's voice chimed in on the line.
Ava couldn't speak. Her eyes were locked on the smiling face of her sister and the man who had once promised her forever.
How could this be real? Her heart clenched.
"Ava, are you still there?" Anitta asked again, but the words barely registered.
The car came to a sudden halt, jolting Ava from her spiral.
A knock on the window snapped her attention back to the present. She turned to see Ethan standing outside, his expression unreadable.
"I'll call you back," she muttered quickly and ended the call before Anitta could protest.
Ethan gestured for her to roll down the window, and she did so with stiff fingers.
"Are you planning to sit there all day?" he asked coolly.
Ava forced a smile, nodded faintly, and stepped out. Her heels clicked against the polished driveway as she looked up—and froze. A grand mansion loomed ahead, regal and imposing.
Could this be his family's home?
"I hope this doesn't intimidate you too much," Ethan said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
Ava turned to him, shaking her head. "No," she said quietly.
"Good. Now listen," Ethan leaned in, his tone firm. "Be nice. Act sweet. And don't say a single word unless I tell you to. Got it?"
She nodded again, but her thoughts were a whirlwind.
Lucas… with Anitta?
How long had that been going on? How had she missed it?
Ethan frowned, noticing her distracted gaze. Her twitchy movements told him she was slipping out of focus, and that didn't sit well with him.
"Are you even here right now?" he said sharply.
Startled, Ava looked at him and blinked, nodding. "Yeah. I'm here."
Ethan straightened his suit, casting her a side glance. "Stick to the script," he warned, and she nodded numbly.
*
After parting ways with Ava earlier, Ethan stepped out of the hotel with his usual cool composure, every movement sharp and deliberate.
He didn't wait for the valet—he knew where the car would be.
As he approached, the black sedan's engine was already purring, the driver alert and waiting.
Caleb sat at the wheel, one hand draped casually over it as he flicked his gaze toward Ethan.
"So," Caleb started casually, tilting his head, "how did it go?"
Ethan slid into the passenger seat without a word, his eyes fixed ahead, a quiet storm brewing behind them. The door shut with a soft thud. Caleb raised an eyebrow, sensing the energy change instantly.
"Didn't go as planned, did it?" Caleb said with a small smirk, trying to lighten the tension.
"It went exactly as I intended," Ethan replied, voice cold and clipped. There was no hesitation in his words, but the stiffness in his jaw told another story.
Caleb nodded slowly, unconvinced. "Right. Because dragging a woman you barely know into this elaborate charade without a single word of real explanation is exactly what the handbook recommends."
Ethan leaned back in his seat, head resting against the cushion. "I don't need a handbook. I need results."
"But Ethan…" Caleb paused, throwing him a side glance. "You don't even know much about her. Where she's from, what her real story is. All you've done is follow her trail to this rundown place. That's not enough."
"I don't care," Ethan cut in sharply, eyes narrowing.
Caleb chuckled dryly. "Of course you don't. Why would you? Just another pawn in the game, right?"
"She's not a pawn," Ethan snapped, then caught himself. He shut his eyes, jaw clenching again. "Her name is Ava Patel."
Caleb blinked. "So now you know her name. Great start. Did you at least tell her what this whole thing is about?"
"She'll get the details from my secretary," Ethan muttered. "Right now, I just want to get this damn day over with."
Caleb was about to let it go when he noticed something. His eyes dropped to Ethan's hand, resting tensely on his knee—knuckles bruised, a faint cut trailing across the skin.
"Your hand," Caleb said, nodding toward it. "Let me guess… Ava?"
Ethan opened his eyes slowly, staring at the injury with a dark expression. His lips curled slightly—not in amusement, but in simmering anger. "Yeah."
"You've got to be more careful," Caleb warned, starting the car. "You can't afford mistakes right now. Not with everything that's on the line."
"I'll take care of it," Ethan said through gritted teeth, his voice low. "But first… I'll make sure she regrets ever making me feel pain. I won't make it easy for her."
Caleb gave a short, knowing laugh. "Poor girl. Didn't know she'd end up in the hands of royalty with a vendetta."
Ethan didn't respond. He leaned his head against the window, lost in thought. But Caleb wasn't done.
"So… about Grace."
Ethan's eyes snapped open again, cold and focused. The car seemed to shift with the weight of the name.
Caleb hesitated for only a second. "She's getting married. To him."
Ethan turned slowly, his stare now razor sharp. "What did you say?"
"I figured you'd hear it sooner or later," Caleb said, trying to stay level. "Thought I'd rather you hear it from me."
Ethan didn't blink. He just stared, as if processing the words in slow motion. But when he finally spoke, his voice was icy.
"Then it's settled," he said, sitting up straight, brushing invisible dust off his jacket. "I'll introduce Ava to my family. This noon."
Caleb's head jerked slightly, eyebrows raised. "Wait, are you serious?"
"I don't care if it makes sense or not," Ethan said, voice unwavering. "They'll meet her. And they'll believe it."
Caleb let out a long breath, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. "Well then. Your game, your rules."
Ethan leaned back again, his eyes now distant, but the smirk playing at the corner of his lips was anything but warm.