Ava let her head sink into the couch cushions, the quiet of the house wrapping around her like a heavy blanket.
For a moment, it was almost normal. Almost. Then the memories came crashing in.
Candlelight. Warm, golden.
A diamond ring catching the light. Adam slipping it on her finger.
And then… another presence. A shadow at the edge of her mind. A laugh she thought she knew.
Who… was that?
Her chest tightened, her pulse thumping in her ears. The warmth of the memory didn't feel right. Something was wrong—too many people, too many layers. Vanilla candles. A door creaking. A soft voice she didn't recognize.
Ava pressed her palms to her temples, teeth gritted. Pieces of a puzzle she didn't know she'd started clicking together, but each piece made her stomach churn with dread.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, Daphne paced the hospital hallway, heart hammering. She spotted a doctor and ran toward him.
"What happened to him? Is he okay?" she demanded, voice tight.
"He's stable," the doctor said. "He fainted from stress. If this keeps up… he could be at risk. Needs rest. Avoid stressful situations."
Daphne sagged onto a bench, hands trembling. She cursed herself under her breath. This is my fault. I gave up hope on Ava waking… and now Dawn's mixed in.
A few minutes later, Dawn came rushing down the hallway, hair messy, panic written all over her face.
"Where is he? Is he okay?"
"Yes, he's fine," Daphne said quickly. "Doctor says he just needs rest."
Guilt hit Dawn like a wave. "Don't worry. I—I'm gonna fix this." She hurried into Adam's room.
"Hey… Adam?" Dawn's voice trembled when she entered. She found him lying on the bed, pale but awake.
"I'm fine," he said, smiling faintly. "You don't have to worry."
"I'm… I'm sorry, Adam. Please… forgive me," she choked out, tears streaking her cheeks. "I thought I was helping you… helping Ava… by pushing you away, but I was just hurting you. I didn't see it until now."
Adam reached for her hand. "I know your intentions, Dawn. You're not to blame."
Her mind went blank for a moment. She had thought he was hers, that everything was perfect… or at least, that's what she'd believed. Now it all felt tangled, messy. She didn't know what to do, how to fix it—but she had to try.
"You… you're stressed, Adam. All of this… it's too much," Dawn said softly. "Ava's awake. You should be happy… not feeling like this."
"I am happy," he murmured. "Having you and… Ava… both of you here, it makes me happy."
Dawn's throat tightened. She nodded, forcing a small smile, though her chest burned. "I… I want to get you out of this mess," she said softly.
"How?" Adam asked, confused.
"You need rest. We'll talk later." She leaned her head on his chest, silently fighting the jealous ache twisting in her chest.
* * * * * *
Back at the Manchester house, Ava was fuming. No one answered her calls. She called the doctor and learned Adam had been at the hospital. Panic and guilt twisted in her stomach. She grabbed her wheelchair and left, demanding answers.
* * * * * *
At Dawn's home, Alex tried to explain, Jason joked poorly, Leslie rolled her eyes—typical chaos.
"I can barely handle Leslie as a sister," Jason said. "Imagine two wives!"
"I can't with you," Leslie shot back.
"Women," Jason teased, grinning like he'd just said something hilarious—until Alex shot him a glare and Leslie rolled her eyes so hard it practically made a sound. Jason's smile faltered. "Okay, okay, sorry, I didn't mean ...."
They all let out a short, awkward laugh, the kind that fills the silence after a bad joke, before grabbing their things and heading toward the hospital to check on Dawn.
* * * * * *
Ava arrived at the hospital, Daphne rushing to meet her.
"Where's Adam? Why wasn't anyone answering?" Ava demanded.
Before Daphne could answer, Adam's voice floated down the hall.
Ava wheeled toward it and then froze. Dawn's head rested on Adam's chest. Quiet, intimate.
Her chest twisted, her stomach turned. She turned away, wheeling herself back to the exit, face pale, jaw tight.
Daphne hurried after her.
* * * * * *
A few minutes later, Adam's room filled with Dawn, Alex, Leslie, and Jason. Everyone teasing, laughing, but Dawn wasn't laughing. Not really. Her smile felt brittle, forced.
Adam smiled faintly, still recovering.
"Y'all should keep your lovey-dovey stuff to a minimum," Leslie teased.
"Then get your own house," Dawn muttered.
Jason cracked a joke about Adam's recovery, Alex teased back, but Dawn's thoughts weren't in the room anymore. She could still see Ava—pale, angry, hurt, and accusing.
* * * * * *
Later, at home, Daphne knocked on Ava's door. Locked.
"Ava? Sweetheart, open the door, please," she said, trying to keep her voice calm.
Silence.
Daphne tried again, softer this time. "I know you're upset. Just… talk to me."
Still nothing. She rested her forehead against the door, guilt pressing down heavier than before. She could hear faint movement inside—drawers opening, something being zipped, the sound of wheels bumping against the floor.
"Ava, are you packing?" Daphne's voice cracked. "Please don't do this. We can fix it. All of us."
The only response was the click of a suitcase handle sliding up.
Daphne's hand trembled on the doorknob. "Ava, I'm begging you. Don't shut us out."
A beat of silence—then the lock shifted.
But the door didn't open.
Ava's voice came through, quiet but sharp enough to cut.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm not shutting you out. I'm just leaving before I break."
Daphne's eyes filled. "Ava…"
Ava unlocked the door and wheeled herself out, brushing past Daphne without a word. She wasn't packing. She wasn't hiding. She was done crying.
Halfway down the stairs, she heard the front door open.
Footsteps. Voices.
She didn't need to see them to know who it was.
Adam.
And if fate wanted to annoy her even more; Dawn wasn't far away.
Ava's grip tightened on the rail.
She didn't slow down. She wanted answers, and she wanted them now.
"Dawn… right?" Ava's voice was sharp, cold.
"Yes," Dawn said, voice small, uneasy.
"I saw you holding him. Laughing. No cameras. Why?" Ava demanded.
"I… I don't know what you mean," Dawn whispered.
"I called, Adam. I saw everything and his friend confirmed the 'movie' story is nonsense!" Ava's voice shook.
Adam stepped forward. "Ava, look..."
"You're cheating on me. Both of you lied to me. I know it!" Ava yelled.
Dawn froze. She wanted to vanish. She had planned to leave to end this mess but Ava had found out first.
"You were in a coma! I… I'm sorry," Daphne said, but Ava cut her off.
"You'll understand when you have kids," Daphne pleaded, voice breaking.
"Look… it's not Mom's fault. Not Adam's..." Dawn tried.
"Why are you even here? You want Adam's money, nothing more!" Ava snapped.
Adam stepped closer. "Ava, stop..."
"Why are you defending her?" Ava demanded. "What is she to you?"
"She is… my wife," Adam said firmly.
Ava froze. The world tilted. The truth hit. Lightning struck silent between them all.