chapter four- Blood is louder than love

Ava hadn’t seen her mother in seven years.

Not since the night she packed her suitcase, signed the divorce papers, and chose silence over another argument that went nowhere.

Now her mother’s name stared back at her from legal letterhead like a threat.

“I don’t understand,” Ava said, sitting on the couch, the envelope shaking in her hands. “My mother has nothing to do with the house. Or the divorce.”

Ethan stood near the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. “Then why would she suddenly be involved?”

Because she always appears when something is about to break, Ava thought.

Her phone rang.

She stared at the screen.

Mom

Of course.

She answered, voice cold. “What do you want?”

“Still dramatic,” her mother replied smoothly. “I was hoping motherhood would soften you.”

Ava’s stomach dropped. “How do you know—”

“I know everything,” her mother cut in. “Including what Ethan hid from you.”

Ethan stiffened across the room.

Ava’s heart pounded. “What are you talking about?”

“There was money,” her mother said calmly. “A large sum. Paid during your marriage. Funneled through a business account in Ethan’s name.”

“That’s not true,” Ava said, but doubt crept in anyway.

Her mother sighed. “I warned you about him. Now the property dispute makes sense, doesn’t it?”

Ava hung up without another word.

The room felt smaller. Suffocating.

She turned to Ethan slowly. “Tell me she’s lying.”

He didn’t answer right away.

And that hesitation was louder than any confession.

“Ava—”

“Did you hide money from me?” she demanded.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I was trying to protect us.”

“By lying?” Her voice broke. “By letting me believe we were broke while you handled money behind my back?”

“I didn’t touch it for myself,” he said. “It was an investment. I planned to tell you once it stabilized.”

“When?” she shouted. “After I lost our baby? After you left?”

Silence swallowed him.

Tears streamed down her face. “I trusted you with everything.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“And now I’m pregnant,” she continued, voice shaking. “And I don’t know if I can trust you again.”

She grabbed her coat.

“Ava, please,” Ethan said, stepping forward.

She stopped at the door. “If you follow me, we’re done.”

He stayed where he was.

The door slammed.

And this time, she didn’t know if love would survive the truth.

Write

The Night Everything Almost Ended

Ava drove without direction.

Rain poured relentlessly, blurring the city into streaks of light and shadow. Her chest hurt like something was clawing its way out.

She pulled over near Lake Michigan, hands gripping the steering wheel as sobs finally broke free.

She had loved Ethan with her whole soul once.

That was the problem.

Her phone buzzed repeatedly.

She ignored it.

Then another call came through.

Unknown number.

She answered out of exhaustion.

“Ava Carter?” a male voice asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Detective Harris. I’m calling regarding Ethan Mitchell.”

Her heart stopped. “What about him?”

“We need you to come to the station.”

Fear flooded her veins. “Why?”

“There’s been an accident.”

The world tilted.

She barely remembered driving to the station. Barely remembered signing in, sitting under harsh lights that made everything feel unreal.

When the detective returned, his expression was grim.

“He was involved in an altercation,” Harris said. “Outside his apartment. Looks like someone was waiting for him.”

“Is he alive?” Ava whispered.

“Yes. But there’s more.”

Her hands shook. “Tell me.”

“He was protecting documents,” the detective continued. “Financial records. Someone wanted them badly.”

Ava’s mind raced.

Her mother.

The money.

The timing.

“This wasn’t random,” she said.

“No,” Harris agreed. “And there’s another issue.”

He slid a photo across the table.

It was Ethan.

Bloodied. Bruised. Unconscious.

Her heart shattered.

“He asked for you before he passed out,” the detective said quietly.

Ava stood so fast her chair fell backward.

At the hospital, machines beeped steadily as she sat beside Ethan’s bed, tears dripping onto the white sheets.

“I’m here,” she whispered, clutching his hand. “You don’t get to leave this time.”

His fingers twitched.

Her phone buzzed.

A text from her mother.

You should have stayed away. Some secrets are dangerous.

Ava stared at the message, rage replacing fear.

She leaned down to Ethan’s ear. “Wake up,” she whispered fiercely. “Because when you do, we’re fighting back.”

Outside the room, footsteps paused.

Someone was watching.

And Ava suddenly realized the truth.

This was never just about love.

It was about survival.