Shadow Of Her Past

CHAPTER ONE : THE END BEFORE THE FLAME The sound of her heels echoed in the empty hallway like gunshots. Ava Blake was late. Again. She knew it wasn’t just about time — it was symbolic. She was always running behind, chasing things already out of reach: love, truth, and trust. Especially trust. Tonight, she wasn’t just chasing; she was confronting. She pushed open the mahogany door of Suite 804, where the party still roared behind her. Inside, the lights were dimmed, casting golden shadows over expensive whiskey bottles and a bed that looked too neatly made. She knew this room too well. And the man in it even more. “Didn’t expect to see you tonight,” came the voice. Low. Dangerous. Tempting. Julian Hale. Ex-lover. Ex-liar. Still sinfully good-looking in a black shirt rolled at the sleeves, veins flexing against his wrist as he poured himself a drink like she didn’t shake his world just by standing there. “I found this,” Ava said, tossing a small flash drive onto the table. “Recognize it?” He looked at it, then at her — slowly. The way he used to, before he ruined her life. “What’s on it?” he asked. “Proof. That you lied. That you and Rachel—” her voice cracked, “—set me up.” He took a slow sip, eyes never leaving her. “You came here to accuse me?” “No,” she said, stepping closer. Her voice dropped. “I came here to watch you squirm.” But she didn’t expect him to cross the room in two strides. Didn’t expect him to touch her the way he used to — like he still had a claim. Didn’t expect her breath to catch when he whispered, “Still want me to burn?” Ava shoved him back. Her hand trembled, but her voice didn’t. “You’ll burn, Julian. Just not the way you think.” --- 💥 Cliffhanger! Ava’s been betrayed — but the fire between her and Julian is far from gone. And what’s on that flash drive? What really happened in her past?