Chapter 2
The message on Ava's phone disappeared from the screen.
But the fear remained.
Ethan noticed immediately.
Her expression changed.
The color drained from her face.
"He's looking for you."
Ethan said quietly.
Ava slowly nodded.
"He always knows."
Those three words disturbed him more than anything else.
Not because Andrew was powerful.
Ethan had dealt with powerful people his entire life.
It was because Ava said it like a fact.
Like there was no escape.
"How long?"
Ethan asked.
Ava looked down.
"Almost a year."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"A year?"
She nodded.
"A year of pretending everything was fine."
"A year of smiling at charity events."
"A year of standing beside him while everyone called him a hero."
Her voice cracked.
"And every night, I wondered if tomorrow would be worse."
Ethan looked away for a moment.
Trying to control his anger.
Because if he allowed himself to feel everything he was feeling...
He knew exactly what he wanted to do.
But Ava didn't need another person losing control.
She needed someone to protect her.
"Why didn't you leave?"
Ethan asked softly.
Ava laughed bitterly.
A painful sound.
"You think I didn't try?"
She looked at him.
"The first time I tried leaving, he found me before I reached the airport."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"What did he do?"
Ava remained silent.
That silence was enough.
Ethan understood.
"The second time..."
Ava continued.
"He reminded me how many people trusted him."
She looked toward the ballroom.
"He told me nobody would believe me."
Her fingers touched the engagement ring.
"He said everyone would believe a famous surgeon before they believed a woman who was emotionally unstable."
Ethan stared at the ring.
"Then why are you still wearing it?"
Ava looked down.
For the first time...
Her expression showed something besides fear.
Shame.
"Because taking it off would make him suspicious."
Ethan closed his eyes.
The realization hit him.
She wasn't staying because she loved Andrew.
She was surviving.
Suddenly, the sound of applause exploded outside.
The gala had begun.
A voice came through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Dr. Andrew Vaughn..."
Ava froze.
Ethan looked toward the ballroom.
The man who hurt her was walking onto a stage.
Smiling.
Receiving praise.
Andrew appeared on the large screen.
Perfect suit.
Perfect smile.
Perfect image.
The audience applauded.
"Tonight, we honor a man who has dedicated his life to saving others..."
Ava watched silently.
Ethan looked at her.
"How many people know?"
She shook her head.
"Nobody."
"Not one person?"
Ava whispered:
"Not until now."
Ethan took a breath.
Then reached into his pocket.
Pulled out his phone.
Ava looked at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Making sure you never have to hide again."
He contacted his security team.
His legal department.
His private investigators.
Ava looked shocked.
"You can't just destroy him."
Ethan looked at her.
"I don't want to destroy him."
A pause.
"I want the truth to destroy him."
For the first time in months...
Ava felt something unfamiliar.
Hope.
But then...
The dressing room door handle moved.
Both of them froze.
A familiar voice came from outside.
"Ava?"
Andrew.
His voice sounded gentle.
Concerned.
The same voice everyone loved.
"Ava, sweetheart..."
The door slowly opened.
Andrew stood there.
Perfect smile.
Perfect appearance.
Then he saw Ethan.
For a fraction of a second...
His expression changed.
Only a fraction.
But Ethan noticed.
Andrew recovered quickly.
"Mr. Carter."
He smiled.
"What a surprise."
Ethan stared at him.
"Is it?"
The two men looked at each other.
One hiding power.
One hiding evil.
Andrew's eyes moved toward Ava.
And Ava immediately stepped back.
Ethan saw it.
The fear.
The instinct.
The way her body reacted.
And that was all he needed.
Andrew smiled.
"What happened here?"
Ethan answered calmly.
"I was about to ask you the same question."
The smile on Andrew's face disappeared.
May you like
Because for the first time...
Someone had seen behind the mask.
