**Ava’s POV**I was tired and weak. A dull, throbbing ache pulsed behind my temples—a relentless reminder of the blow that had brought me here. Ethan must be going out of his mind with worry. I hoped he wouldn’t blame himself. I prayed he would find me before Sophie’s cruelty escalated from threats to something irreversible.Ethan will find me. I'm positive about this. Judging by how dark this room was, it must already be night. My stomach growled, a hollow ache that reminded me I hadn’t eaten all day. Fear had stolen my appetite, but now weakness was setting in.“Is someone there?” I called out from where I was tied. “I need some water, please. Is anybody out there?”I was about to call out again when the door creaked open. I flinched, swallowing hard. Finally, someone came.“Please, I need—” I paused as I saw Sophie. Behind her was Grace and my long-lost, nothing-but-trouble uncle.“I told you,” Sophie sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. “You can scream until your voice gives
Sophie's POVI walked out, seething with anger. If Grace didn’t arrive soon, I wasn’t sure I could keep myself from doing something drastic—something final. The thought of ending Ava ahead of schedule flickered in my mind, a dark temptation that almost brought a smile to my lips. At least then, I’d feel like I was back in control."What are you thinking about?" David’s voice cut through the quiet, pulling me from my thoughts.I didn’t turn. “I told you not to come out until I called for you.”“Your phone kept buzzing. Sounded like the world was ending.” His tone was light, almost teasing. “And I missed your pretty face.” He stepped closer, his presence warm and familiar even before I turned to face him. He stood shirtless, the dim outdoor light catching the lines of his muscles. He was beautiful, and he knew it. But tonight, his charms felt like a distraction I couldn’t afford.“Hey, baby,” he murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “You need to calm down.” His lips
Ava's POV"Baby, Gabriel has been calling nonstop," the man's voice said. He held out a phone to Sophie."I told you not to come here until I called for you," Sophie snapped, snatching the phone from his hand.My head was still throbbing, but a cold laugh escaped me. "Did he just call you baby?" I said, my voice dripping with mockery. "And I thought Gabe was the scumbag. But you... you're a whole other level of sneaky bitch."I couldn't stop the bitter laughter that shook my chest. "You two truly deserve each other. So it was you and your little boyfriend who planned this whole thing?""Shut your mouth, you crazy bitch!" she screamed, storming toward me. Her hand cracked against my face, the force snapping my head to the side. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I spat it onto the floor."Tie her up!" Sophie shrieked.As she turned back toward the table, her phone rang. Her expression shifted instantly from rage to cold calculation."She's with me," she said into the phon
Ava's POVMy eyes opened slowly. Everything was blurry. My head was pounding like a drum. Where am I? Did Ethan find me?I looked down at my hands. One had a hospital drip in it. The other was handcuffed to the bed. I looked around the room. It was dark and dirty. This was no hospital.I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my head made me fall back down.“I told you not to hit her that hard!” a female voice snapped from the other side of the door.“I didn’t know how else I was going to bring her here without a struggle,” a man’s voice replied.“I swear, if anything happens to her before I get the information I need, I’ll kill you first,” the woman hissed.“The doctor said she’s fine. No need to worry. I hate it when you’re angry…” The man's voice trailed off. I didn’t hear anything else for a moment—maybe they’d left. Then I heard a low moan, the sound of a kiss, and finally, a door shutting.My heart was beating so fast. I had to get out. I used my teeth to tug at the medical tape,
Ethan's POVThe police were already there for further investigation. I’d already pulled Liam aside. “Call your investigators. The private ones. I don’t trust a single person in a uniform right now.” He’d just nodded, phone already to his ear.A flurry of movement caught my eye. My mother was running toward me, her face pale with a fear I’d put there.“Ethan! What’s going on? Are you hurt? What happened?” Her eyes darted around, searching for the one person she couldn’t find. “Where’s Ava?”“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, my voice hollow. I was anything but fine.“The chief of police called your father. He had to end the event early. What’s happening?” she asked, her eyes wide with worry.“Mom, you’ll catch a cold out here,” I muttered, shrugging off my suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders.A new, colder voice cut through the night. “What is the meaning of this nonsense?”My father stood framed in the exit. “I’m being told your… little girlfriend was kidnapped?” He said the word like
Ethan’s POVAs much as I dislike being in the same room as my father, I have to put it aside when it comes to business talk.I stood behind him on the dais, my face a carefully neutral mask as he addressed his gala guests. But my mind wasn't on his words or the crowd of investors. My eyes were constantly scanning, searching for one person in a sea of hundreds.Where is she?I saw my mom, but Ava wasn’t beside her.Then, my phone vibrated. A text from Ava.Ava: Out back in the alley. Need air. Sophie happened.I called her immediately, stepping off the stage and moving toward the nearest exit. The phone was picked up, but there was only silence. No hello, no background noise—just dead, terrifying air.“Ava? Ava, talk to me!”Nothing.I dialed her number again, but she wasn’t picking up. I stormed out and made my way to the back exit.“Ava!” I screamed her name, but there was no response. I heard footsteps running toward me.I turned to see Noah and Liam behind me; they were breathing h