All Chapters of FRACTURED VOW : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ava barely slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the cream-colored scarf embroidered with V.S.Victoria Sinclair.The name lingered in her mind like a wound that refused to heal.At six the next morning, she heard the front door open and close.Ethan had left for work.Or at least, that's what he wanted her to believe.She waited another twenty minutes before getting out of bed.She wasn't following her husband because she enjoyed invading his privacy.She was following him because he had destroyed hers.---By 7:15 a.m., Ava sat inside her car across the street from their apartment building.The moment Ethan's black Mercedes pulled away from the curb, she started her engine and followed at a safe distance.Years of driving through Manhattan traffic made it easy to blend in.Ethan never once looked in his rearview mirror long enough to notice her.He headed toward Midtown.Exactly where Kingston Global's headquarters was located.For a brief moment, guilt washed over Ava.May

Time seemed to stop.The man standing at the doorway pulled a black pistol from inside his jacket, his cold eyes fixed on Ethan.Victoria gasped and instinctively stepped backward.Ava stood frozen, her heart pounding so violently she could barely hear herself breathe.Ethan immediately moved in front of her."Stay behind me," he ordered.Ava stared at him in disbelief."After everything, you still think I'll trust you?""I don't have time to argue," he said without taking his eyes off the armed men. "Just stay behind me."The leader of the group chuckled."How touching."He slowly entered the suite, followed by two other men.They were dressed like businessmen, but their expressions were anything but professional."We've been looking for you, Ethan," the leader said."I figured you would.""You've made a very expensive mistake."Ethan's jaw tightened."My problem is with you, Marcus. Leave them out of this."Marcus smiled."I wish I could."His gaze shifted to Ava."But your wife has

The rain had stopped by the time Daniel pulled into an underground parking garage beneath an old office building in Lower Manhattan.The building looked abandoned.Several windows were boarded up, while faded signs hung crookedly above rusted entrances.Ava looked around uneasily."You brought me here?"Daniel switched off the engine."Nobody knows about this place.""You sound very sure.""I have to be."He got out of the car, motioning for Ava to follow.Inside, they entered a small office that had obviously been used as a safe house. A desk stood in one corner, surrounded by filing cabinets and a laptop covered in dust.Daniel locked the door behind them."For now," he said, "this is the safest place in New York."Ava wasn't convinced, but she was too exhausted to argue.Her mind was still trapped in that hotel suite.She could still see Ethan standing beside Victoria.Still hear Victoria's voice."I thought you said your wife would never find out."The words replayed over and over

Marcus's words echoed through the narrow maintenance room.> "Ask Ethan how he knew your name... months before he ever introduced himself."Silence settled over the room.Ava's eyes slowly shifted toward Daniel.His face had gone pale.He knew."Daniel..." Ava whispered. "Tell me he's lying."Daniel remained silent."Tell me."Victoria watched him carefully."You knew this would come out eventually," she said quietly.Daniel rubbed a hand over his face."I was hoping Ethan would be the one to tell you."Ava's chest tightened."So it's true."Daniel closed his eyes."Yes."Ava took a step back."No...""Listen to me.""No!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Everybody keeps asking me to listen! Ethan listened to himself. You listened to Ethan. Lucas listened to his conscience. But nobody thought I deserved the truth!"Outside, Marcus laughed."There it is.""The truth always hurts."Daniel ignored him."Ava, Ethan didn't meet you by accident."Her heart sank."What do

The word lingered in the air like a death sentence.Genesis.No one spoke.Ava looked from Ethan to Daniel, then to Victoria."What is Genesis?"Ethan's face was drained of color."It was never supposed to be opened.""That's not an answer."Daniel stepped forward."It's the name of the master file.""The one containing everything."Ava frowned."Everything?"Ethan nodded grimly."Every illegal transaction.""Every politician.""Every judge.""Every executive.""Every law enforcement officer Marcus bribed."Victoria added quietly,"And the name of the person who created the entire network."Ava looked down at the note in her father's watch."Trust no one... not even Ethan."Her father's warning suddenly felt heavier."If someone has Genesis," she asked, "doesn't that mean they can expose everyone?"Daniel slowly shook his head."Or control everyone."Silence followed.Ethan's phone buzzed again.This time, a message appeared.> One hour.Come alone.Bring Ava.Or Genesis goes public.