Chapter Seven – Cracks in the Mask

Mark Collins did not feel relieved after Ava left.

He told himself that he was overthinking.

He told himself that Ava had always been obedient, always soft, always dependent on him. A woman like her could not suddenly become dangerous.

Yet unease lingered.

Something about her eyes this morning bothered him.

They had been too calm.

Too empty.

Not the eyes of a woman who had run away in fear.

Not the eyes of a woman clinging desperately to her fiancé.

They were the eyes of someone who had already made a decision.

Mark stood alone in the bedroom, staring at the spot where Ava had been standing earlier.

He moved toward the bathroom.

Checked the cabinets.

Nothing seemed out of place.

He walked toward the wardrobe.

Still normal.

Then, almost unconsciously, he knelt near the wall.

His fingers brushed the hidden panel.

His heartbeat skipped.

No.

He shook his head.

You’re being ridiculous.

Still, he pressed the latch.

The panel slid open.

The safe stared back at him.

Open.

Empty.

Mark’s blood ran cold.

The room felt like it tilted.

The flash drive.

The backup drive.

Gone.

Impossible.

No one knew about it.

Except—

Ava.

Mark’s breathing grew shallow.

No.

She was stupid.

She never paid attention to business matters.

She never snooped.

She trusted him completely.

Didn’t she?

Mark forced himself to calm down.

Maybe he had moved it.

Maybe he stored it somewhere else.

He checked his desk.

His study.

His private drawer.

Nothing.

Cold sweat broke out on his back.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Lily.

She answered quickly.

“Mark?”

“Did you touch anything in my bedroom recently?” he asked.

“What? No,” Lily replied. “Why?”

“The safe. The backup drive is gone.”

Silence.

Then Lily sucked in a sharp breath.

“What do you mean gone?”

“It’s missing.”

Lily’s voice trembled. “Could someone have broken in?”

“No signs.”

Another pause.

Then Lily said carefully, “Mark… could Ava have found it?”

Mark clenched his teeth.

“Impossible.”

But even as he said it, doubt gnawed at him.

Lily whispered, “She disappeared last night. She came back this morning. What if…”

Mark slammed his fist into the desk.

“She doesn’t have the brain for this.”

Lily hesitated.

“People change under stress.”

Mark’s jaw tightened.

He ended the call.

His phone buzzed again.

A system notification from Reed Holdings:

Internal audit request submitted.

Mark froze.

Internal audit?

Who requested it?

Only high-level executives could initiate that process.

His hands began to shake.

Too many coincidences.

Too many.

Mark immediately logged into Reed Holdings’ internal system.

He checked access logs.

His face turned pale.

Someone had accessed the financial backend early this morning.

Not his account.

Not Lily’s.

An anonymous administrator override.

Mark felt a wave of dizziness.

Someone was digging.

Someone was targeting him.

His mind raced.

Who?

Investors?

Competitors?

Authorities?

Then one name surfaced.

Ava.

No.

Impossible.

Yet, her calm face replayed in his mind.

Her obedient apology.

Her lowered eyes.

A mask.

A perfect mask.

Mark suddenly realized something terrifying.

He had never truly known Ava.

—

At Kane Estate, Ava sat quietly in Lucas’s study.

The flash drive was plugged into the computer.

Lines of data filled the screen.

Lucas stood beside her.

“Audio recordings,” he said. “Emails. Transfer trails.”

Ava watched as file after file opened.

Mark’s voice.

Lily’s voice.

Planning.

Laughing.

Discussing how to frame Ava.

Discussing how to split Reed Holdings.

Ava’s fingers dug into her palm.

Even though she remembered everything…

Hearing it again still made her chest ache.

Lucas glanced at her.

“Do you want to listen?”

“Yes.”

He clicked play.

Mark’s voice filled the room.

“Once Ava takes the blame, everything becomes ours.”

Lily giggled.

“She’s so stupid. She still thinks I admire her.”

Ava closed her eyes.

In her past life, she had loved these two people.

Loved them with her whole heart.

Lucas turned off the audio.

“That’s enough.”

Ava opened her eyes.

“No,” she said. “I need to hear it.”

Lucas studied her for a moment.

Then nodded.

The recording continued.

Ava listened without speaking.

Her face remained calm.

But inside, something solidified.

The last remaining softness died.

When the recording ended, Ava spoke.

“Back up everything.”

“Multiple locations.”

“Encrypt copies.”

Lucas nodded.

“I already started.”

Ava leaned back slightly.

“Next step.”

Lucas crossed his arms.

“Expose them?”

“Not yet,” Ava said.

Lucas looked at her.

“If we release this now, Mark and Lily will panic and destroy remaining evidence,” Ava continued. “They’ll also try to run.”

“So what do you want?” Lucas asked.

“I want them desperate,” Ava replied.

“Desperate people make mistakes.”

Lucas’s lips curved faintly.

“What’s your move?”

Ava’s eyes darkened.

“We leak a small portion of suspicious financial activity to Reed Holdings’ minor shareholders.”

“Not enough to collapse Mark.”

“Just enough to start rumors.”

Lucas nodded slowly.

“And?”

“And I return to Mark,” Ava said.

Lucas turned sharply.

“You go back?”

“Yes.”

“As bait.”

Lucas stared at her.

“That’s dangerous.”

Ava met his gaze calmly.

“He still believes I’m weak.”

“That’s my greatest weapon.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Lucas said quietly.

“You’re colder than I expected.”

Ava replied.

“I learned from the people who killed me.”

Lucas exhaled slowly.

“Fine.”

“But you don’t go unprotected.”

Ava nodded.

“Of course.”

She stood.

“Let the rumors start tonight.”

Lucas looked at her.

“Mark Collins has no idea what’s coming.”

Ava smiled faintly.

“He will.”

“Soon.”