Chapter 6: A New Home

Ethan's heart raced as he opened the door to Ava's hospital room, his mind filled with a mix of worry and anticipation. The soft sound of the door clicking open caught her attention, and she turned to look at him, her gray eyes sharp but cautious. The sight of her there, sitting up in bed, made him feel like he could breathe again. He tried to play it cool, lifting a shopping bag as if it were no big deal.

"I got you some clothes," he said, his voice a little too loud in the quiet room. "Mr. Robert says you're good to leave whenever you’re ready."

Ava's lips curved into a smile, and for a moment, Ethan felt like the world had shifted under his feet. That smile. It did something to him, something he couldn’t quite name. "Thank you," she replied softly, reaching out to take the bag.

As she pulled the clothes from the bag, Ethan’s eyes lingered on them. They seemed too big for her, and he felt a sudden stab of guilt. He’d spent hours the night before browsing different websites, trying to estimate her size based on what little information he had. He’d figured she might be around 250 pounds, maybe a little less, but he’d gone with a looser fit, just to be safe.

"I wasn’t sure about the size," Ethan said quickly, scratching the back of his neck. "I thought comfort was more important."

Ava glanced down at the oversized clothes, her smile unfaltering. "It’s fine," she said, her voice soft but steady. "Really, it’s fine."

That smile again. Ethan’s heart gave an odd little kick, and he swallowed, unsure why he was so affected by her. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Oh... okay."

There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before Ava broke it. "I’m Ava, by the way," she said, offering him a small nod.

"Ethan," he replied, grateful for the chance to introduce himself properly. "Just Ethan."

"Thank you, Ethan," she said again, her voice carrying a warmth that made something twist in his chest. Did she have any idea how powerful that smile of hers was? Or was he just losing his mind?

"You’re welcome, Ava," he managed to say, though his voice sounded strangely tight in his own ears. "I’ll let Mr. Robert know you’re leaving."

After excusing himself, Ethan hurried back to his office to change into something more casual. His heart was still racing, his thoughts tangled with the image of Ava’s smile. When he returned to her room, he was relieved to see that the clothes fit her better than he’d feared. He handed her a baseball cap and a face mask.

"For a little disguise," he explained with a half-smile. "Just to avoid any unwanted attention."

Ava nodded, slipping them on. Together, they took the back door out of the hospital, slipping unnoticed into the parking lot. The ride home was quiet, the weight of everything that had happened hanging in the air. Ethan’s mind kept wandering back to her smile, the way it seemed to light up her whole face, even after everything she’d been through.

---

Ava’s eyes widened in disbelief as they pulled up to Ethan’s house. No, not a house—a mansion. The building loomed large and imposing, with tall, gleaming windows that seemed to reflect the sky, and gardens so perfect they looked like they belonged in a magazine. She felt tiny and out of place, her earlier confidence slipping away as she followed Ethan up the front steps.

Inside, the mansion was even more overwhelming. The guest room Ethan led her to was bigger than her entire apartment, with a bed that looked like it had been made for royalty and furniture that probably cost more than she made in a year. Ethan paused at the door, watching her carefully.

"Make yourself at home," he said gently. "If you need anything, just call me."

Ava nodded, still too stunned to speak. She waited until Ethan had left before sitting on the edge of the bed, staring around the room in awe. How could anyone live like this? And why was Ethan being so kind to her? The questions swirled in her mind, but she was too exhausted to make sense of them.

Hours passed, but the quiet felt suffocating. Boredom and curiosity finally won out, and Ava slipped out of the guest room, her bare feet making no sound on the plush carpet. She wandered down the hall, gasping as she reached the grand entrance hall. Twin staircases spiraled up to the second floor, their polished banisters gleaming under the soft light of the chandelier. The marble floors reflected the golden light, making the space seem even larger than it was.

She drifted into what could only be described as a living room, though it was the size of a ballroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a view of the sprawling gardens outside, and a swimming pool stretched out into the distance. The furniture was sleek and modern, the kind of designer pieces you only saw in magazines. And the art, each painting on the walls looked like it belonged in a museum.

"Who is Ethan?" Ava whispered to herself, a cold shiver running down her spine. A new thought entered her mind, one that filled her with dread. Could Ethan be part of the mafia? Did he have some dark, dangerous secret?

"No," she whispered again, shaking her head to banish the thought. But the fear lingered, curling tightly in her chest.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open. Ava froze, her heart pounding. She turned to dash back to her room, but collided with a firm chest. Stumbling back, she looked up to see Ethan standing there, his expression a mix of concern and amusement.

"What are you doing out here?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle but teasing.

Before Ava could answer, a new voice cut in. "Well, well, what do we have here?"

Ava turned to see two men, both as handsome as Ethan, standing by the doorway, watching her with curious eyes.

"Nothing!" she blurted, her voice way too loud. She winced, embarrassed at her outburst. Why was she yelling?

The first man grinned, stepping forward with open arms. "Hello, cupcake!" Before Ava could react, she was pulled into a tight bear hug, her feet nearly leaving the floor.

She stiffened, unsure what to do. Thankfully, Ethan stepped in. "Back off, Noah," he said firmly. "Don’t make her uncomfortable."

Noah laughed, letting her go. "Sorry, cupcake," he said with a wink. "I’m Noah, your favorite big brother!" he announced.

The other man rolled up a document and playfully smacked Noah on the head. "Don't mind him," he said to Ava. "He's always like this. "I’m Liam," he said, his smile much softer. "Nice to meet you, Ava."

Before Ava could reply, the doorbell rang, and her heart leapt into her throat. How many people lived in this mansion?

"That must be dinner," Ethan said, heading to the door. "I ordered food earlier."

As they sat down to eat, Ethan handed Ava a familiar-looking backpack. "This was with you when I found you," he said softly. "Everything inside is still untouched."

Ava's breath caught in her throat as she took the bag. Inside was her father’s laptop, the one she’d grabbed from his office that day. Whatever secrets it held, she was about to find out.