All Chapters of One night stand with my ex husband that Ruined me: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The rain fell harder now, drumming against the city streets like a warning. Ava’s coat clung to her, soaked, but she barely noticed. Her mind was entirely on Ethan, who had stayed close since the alley attack. Every brush of his hand, every protective glance sent heat crawling across her skin, unbidden and insistent. “We can’t stay here,” he said, voice low, rough with exhaustion and something darker. “Grant will come back. He won’t stop.” Ava nodded, chest tight, heart racing, but the danger made every nerve in her body alive, and something else too a fire that had nothing to do with fear. She pressed closer to him, inhaling the familiar scent of his jacket, the warmth radiating from his body. “You’re trembling,” he said, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered longer than necessary, and her stomach clenched, a delicious ache she couldn’t control. “Not from the cold,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. The words carried something unspoken, a hun

When Love Becomes the Target The glass shattered before Ava even understood what she was hearing. One second she was wrapped in Ethan’s arms, breath tangled with his, heat and fear still burning through her veins. The next, the balcony doors exploded inward, shards raining across the marble floor like ice,Ethan reacted instantly. He pulled her down hard, covering her body with his, turning them so his back faced the open space. The crash of another shot ripped through the room. The smell of gunpowder mixed with rain. “Ava, stay down,” he ordered, voice sharp, protective, controlled. Her heart was pounding so violently she could feel it in her throat. She clutched his shirt, fingers trembling, but her mind was clear. This wasn’t random. Grant wasn’t trying to scare them anymore. He was escalating. Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Heavy. Intentional. Not rushed. They wanted them to know. Ethan reached behind the overturned couch, pulling the handgun he had hidden

The drive to the hospital feels unreal. Too quiet. The city moves like nothing happened. Traffic lights change. Pedestrians cross streets. Someone laughs on the sidewalk outside a café. Ava stares out the window and feels like she is underwater. Ethan drives. Too calm. That is how she knows he is furious. Caleb sits in the back seat, phone in his hand, working contacts, pulling reports, calling in favors. “Brake failure,” he says after a while. Ava turns slowly. “What?” “That’s what the preliminary report says. Her car lost brake response before impact.” Ethan’s jaw tightens. “Brand new car.“Yes.” Silence. No one says it out loud.But all three of them are thinking it.Convenient.Too convenient. Ava’s heart is pounding now, but not from fear. From something colder. If this was Grant, then this is escalation. If it was not Grant Then someone else is moving pieces. And that is worse. They pull into the private wing of the hospital. Press is already g

The drive back to the penthouse was silent. Not tense. Not angry. Just heavy. Ava sat in the passenger seat staring out at the city lights, but she wasn’t really seeing them. Her mind was replaying one sentence over and over. He was there that night. She did not look at Ethan. Because she was not ready for what she might see. Grant had gone his own way after the hospital. Caleb stayed behind to secure the security footage before it “disappeared.” They would meet again in the morning. But tonight— Tonight it was just husband and wife. And the truth. When they stepped inside the penthouse, the silence felt different. More intimate. More dangerous. Ethan removed his jacket slowly and placed it on the chair. “Ava,” he started. She turned to face him. “No,” she said softly. “You don’t get to lead this conversation.” He swallowed. She walked toward him, not angry, not emotional. Just steady. “You funded the warehouse investigation.” It wasn’t a questio

The name did not just landIt detonatedAva felt it before she fully understood itDanielShe turned to Ethan slowlyHis face had changed in a way she had never seen beforeNot angerNot fearSomething deeperRecognition mixed with something close to dreadCaleb remained by the door, watching both of them carefully, as if waiting for something to breakAva took a step closer to EthanHer voice came low, controlledYou are going to explainEthan did not answer immediatelyHis jaw tightened, his eyes dropping for a brief second before lifting back to hersThat hesitation told her everythingYou know himNot a questionA statementEthan exhaled slowlyYesThe room seemed to close inHowAva askedEthan ran a hand through his hair, pacing once before stoppingDaniel was part of the original investment circleAva frownedThe same one tied to the shell companiesEthan noddedYesHer stomach tightenedSo he is connected to all of thisNot just connectedEthan said quietlyHe helped build it