Chapter 11: His Ex Returns
565 Words
The gunshot echoed through the ballroom.
Screams erupted as guests scattered in every direction.
Crystal glasses shattered against the marble floor.
Without thinking, Ava threw herself toward Ethan.
The bullet missed him by inches, striking a marble pillar behind them.
"Ethan!" she cried.
He caught her before she fell.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, her heart pounding wildly.
"I'm fine... but the waiter—"
The man had already dropped the silver tray.
Instead of running toward the exit like everyone expected, he pulled another weapon from beneath his jacket.
Before he could aim again, Blackwood security rushed forward.
"Protect Mr. Blackwood!"
The ballroom descended into chaos.
Guests ducked behind tables while bodyguards surrounded Ethan and Ava.
The gunman glanced around, realizing he was trapped.
A cold smile crossed his face.
"You were supposed to die tonight, Ethan."
Before anyone could stop him, he bit down on something hidden inside his mouth.
Within seconds, he collapsed to the floor.
One of the guards knelt beside him.
"Sir... he's dead."
The room fell silent.
Ethan stared at the lifeless assassin.
"Cyanide."
Someone had planned this carefully.
No witnesses.
No answers.
...
An hour later, the ballroom had been sealed off by police.
Detectives questioned every guest.
Ava sat quietly in a private lounge, still trembling.
She replayed the moment over and over.
If she hadn't seen the gun...
If she hadn't pushed Ethan...
He might be dead.
The door opened.
Ethan walked inside.
He looked calm, but Ava noticed the tension in his eyes.
"The police are finished with us," he said.
"They still don't know who sent him?"
"No."
Ava lowered her head.
"This is my fault."
Ethan frowned.
"What?"
"Ever since I entered your life, everything has become more dangerous."
He walked closer.
"No."
"They're attacking you because of me."
"They've been attacking me long before you arrived."
She looked up in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Ethan looked out the window overlooking the city.
"My father didn't die in an accident."
Ava's eyes widened.
"He was murdered."
The words hung heavily in the room.
"For ten years," Ethan continued, "I've searched for the people responsible."
"And tonight..."
"They reminded me they're still watching."
Before Ava could respond, someone knocked on the door.
Sophia stepped inside.
"Sir."
"What is it?"
"You have a visitor."
"I told everyone to leave."
"I know."
She hesitated.
"But she insisted."
"Who?"
Sophia took a slow breath.
"Miss Victoria Hart."
Ethan's expression immediately hardened.
"Let her in."
A few moments later, the door opened again.
Victoria entered wearing a white dress, her makeup slightly smudged as though she had been crying.
The moment she saw Ethan, she rushed toward him.
Without warning...
She wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh, Ethan!"
"I'm so glad you're alive!"
Ava stood frozen.
Ethan gently pulled Victoria away.
"I'm fine."
Victoria looked into his eyes.
"When I heard about the shooting, I thought I'd lost you."
She reached for his hand.
"You should never have married her."
The room became silent.
Victoria turned slowly toward Ava.
Her expression softened into a polite smile.
"I'm sorry."
"But ever since she entered your life..."
"...everything has gone wrong."
Ava clenched her fists.
She knew Victoria wasn't offering sympathy.
She was placing the blame.
And judging by the look in Victoria's eyes...
This was only the beginning of a much bigger battle.
- Writer
