Chapter Four

Ava

The moment he left my room, my legs gave out. I didn’t even realize when I sat down on the bed.

My heart was still racing and my thoughts were running faster than I could hold onto any of them.

Marry him?

Lucien?

I placed my hands on my face to try to calm my breathing. But the more I thought about what he said, the more the past started rearranging itself in my head.

Small things, things I never questioned before, like the day he told me not to call our parents Mom and Dad.

I was nine.

We were having dinner, and I remember calling Seraphina “Mom”. Lucien’s voice cut in immediately.

“Don’t call her that.”

I had looked at him, confused.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because they’re not your parents,” he said flatly.

I remembered how quiet the table had gone.

Seraphina had tried to smooth it over, saying I could call them whatever made me comfortable but Lucien didn’t agree.

Back then, I thought he was just being rude and cold. I thought he didn’t like me.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think he was drawing lines on purpose… separating me from the family label in his own mind.

My stomach twisted.

I needed to talk to someone, anyone, so I grabbed my phone and called Stella.

She picked up after a few rings, but the background was loud with music, cheering, and voices overlapping.

“Ava?” she said. “I’m at a concert right now. It’s crazy loud. Can I call you later?”

My throat tightened suddenly.

I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear someone’s voice until that moment.

“Stella…” My voice cracked.

There was a pause on the line.

“Ava? Are you crying?”

I tried to speak, but the tears came faster than the words.

“I… I need to talk to someone,” I managed. “I need to talk to you.”

Stella’s tone changed immediately, sounding so concerned.

“Hey, hey… it’s okay,” she said quickly. “Hold on, alright? Give me a few minutes. I’ll step out and call you back.”

“O-okay…”

“Don’t hang up on me mentally,” she added softly. “I’m calling you back soon.”

The line ended.

I dropped the phone beside me and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

My chest still felt tight.

Everything Lucien said replayed in my head.

YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN MINE.

I covered my eyes with my arms

“This is insane,” I whispered.

My phone rang again. It was Stella.

I sat up quickly and answered. This time it was quiet on her end.

“You okay?” she asked immediately. “I left the concert.”

Guilt flashed through me. “You didn’t have to-”

“Stop,” she cut in. “What’s going on?”

I swallowed.

“It’s Lucien.”

“What about him?” she asked. “Is he sick?"

"No." I answered.

"Did something happen? Was there an accident?” She pressed.

“No,” I said quickly.

“Then what?” she pressed, losing patience. “Ava, just say it.”

I took a deep breath trying to summon enough courage to talk, then I answered. “Lucien wants to marry me.”

There was a beat of silence over the phone, then I heard her scream.

“WHAT?”

I winced as her voice burst through the phone.

“You heard me,” I muttered weakly.

She went quiet again for two seconds.

Then she laughed, a full disbelieving laugh.

“Ava, stop joking,” she said. “That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Wait...you’re serious?” she asked slowly.

“Yes.”

“Okay. Start from the beginning.”

I swallowed.

“He announced it at dinner,” I said. “In front of our parents like it was already decided.”

“Announced?” she repeated. “Like a proposal?”

“No,” I said quickly. “Not a proposal. More like… a declaration.”

“What does that even mean?” she asked, confused.

“It means he didn’t ask me,” I said quietly. “He told them we were getting married.”

Stella inhaled sharply on the other end. “You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was.” I muttered.

“Did he hit his head recently?”

Despite everything, I let out a weak laugh. “No.”

“So he just woke up and decided to marry his adopted sister?” she said, her disbelief turning into anger. “Is he insane?”

“I told him that,” I murmured.

“And?” she demanded.

“He said I’m not his sister.”

“What?”

“He said he never saw me as one."

“Ava… that’s not normal.” She said.

“I know.”

“That’s not romantic either,” she added quickly. “That’s controlling.”

I didn’t answer immediately because the truth was… it didn’t feel simple enough to label.

“I’m scared,” I admitted. “But I’m also… confused.”

“Confused how?” she asked gently.

I stared up at the ceiling again.

“It’s the way he said it. He was so certain. He wasn’t hoping I’d agree… he already believed I would.” I explained.

“That’s called arrogance,” Stella muttered.

“Maybe,” I said. “But it didn’t feel like arrogance. It felt like…”

I struggled to find the word.

“Like inevitability,” I finished softly. “Like I don’t actually have a choice.”

Stella swore under her breath.

“Ava, listen to me,” she said firmly, “You do have a choice. He doesn’t get to decide your life just because he’s rich and powerful.”

I didn’t respond right away because Lucien’s voice echoed in my head again

You’re still free to say no… but you won’t.

“I don’t think he sees it that way,” I admitted.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… he talked like I’ve always been his. Like this was decided years ago.”

Stella let out a frustrated breath.

“That’s obsession, not love.”

“He admitted that,” I muttered.

“He admitted it?” she repeated.

“Yes.”

“Okay, that’s worse,” she said immediately.

I laughed weakly.

“I don’t know what to do, Stella.”

Her tone softened. “First,” she said, “you breathe.”

I exhaled slowly.

“Second, you remember you’re not trapped,” she continued. “You’re an adult. You can leave that house if you want to.”

The thought made my chest tighten.

Leave?

I had just gotten back.

“I don’t even know if I want to run,” I admitted.

“Why not?” she asked.

“I just… need to think,” I said instead.

Stella was quiet for a moment, then she spoke again, calmer but still protective.

“Okay. Think but don’t let him pressure you into anything.”

“I won’t.”

“I’m coming back.” She announced.

I blinked. “What?”

“I’m coming back to Port Elam,” she repeated. “Give me two days.”

I sat up quickly. “Stella, no. You’re not supposed to come back yet. You said you and Mark were waiting until his project was done.”

“Forget Mark,” she said instantly. “My best friend needs me. I’m not waiting around for a man.”

“Girls over guys,” she added firmly.

I could picture her shrugging as she said it.

“You’re serious?” I asked.

“Dead serious,” she replied. “You sound shaken, Ava. I’m not staying miles away while you deal with this alone.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said softly.

“I want to,” she corrected. “Two days. I’ll be there.”

"Thank you." I murmured.

“Take care,” she said and ended the call.

I stared at my phone for a moment, then it buzzed in my hand.

Maya calling.

My heart skipped.