TITLE:BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND

Chapter 7: FORCED TRIP TO MONACO

2 weeks later. Private Jet to Monaco.

Ava stared at the contract on her lap.

`Addendum to Contract: Trip to Monaco. 5 days.

Public appearances required. -E.C.`

She signed it because she had no choice.

Because her mom’s hospital still needed payment.

Because Ethan said: "You’re coming with me."

No explanation. No "please". Just: "You’re coming."

The jet was bigger than her apartment.

Leather seats. Champagne.

And Ethan across from her in a black suit, working on his laptop.

He hadn’t looked at her since they boarded.

"You didn’t have to bring me," Ava said quietly.

Ethan didn’t look up. "Victoria told everyone at the gala that I was taking her to Monaco.

I can’t let her win."

Ava’s chest tightened. "So this is still about her."

Ethan finally looked up. Dark eyes.

"This is about protecting what’s mine," he said.

"For 6 months. You’re mine."

Mine. Again.

---

Hotel de Paris. Monaco.

The suite had an ocean view. 2 bedrooms.

But only 1 bed in each room. And the rooms were connected.

Ava dropped her bag. "Which room is mine?"

Ethan was on his phone. "Take the left one.

I have meetings all day. Gala tonight."

He left before she could answer.

The gala was on a yacht.

$100,000 dresses. Billionaires. Models.

And Victoria.

Of course Victoria was there.

Red dress again. This time with a slit to her thigh.

She walked straight to Ethan. Kissed his cheek for the cameras.

"Ethan baby," she purred. "You came.

I told everyone you were bringing your... assistant."

The word assistant cut.

Ethan pulled Ava forward by the waist.

"She’s not my assistant," his voice was ice.

"This is my wife. Ava Carter."

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Victoria’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Wife. Right. For 6 months."

She turned to Ava. "Enjoy it while it lasts, sweetheart."

The night was hell.

Ethan didn’t leave Ava’s side.

His hand on her back. His hand on her waist.

When men talked to her, he answered.

When women looked at him, he pulled her closer.

Possessive.

At midnight, fireworks over the ocean.

Everyone went to the deck to watch.

Ethan and Ava stood at the railing. Alone.

For 2 minutes.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked. Quiet.

Ava nodded. "Just tired of pretending."

Ethan turned to her. "What if we weren’t pretending?"

Ava’s heart stopped. "What?"

Ethan looked out at the water. Jaw tight.

"Nothing. Forget it."

Before Ava could ask, Victoria appeared.

With champagne. And her phone recording.

"Oh look! The happy couple!" Victoria said loud.

"So in love. So real.

Tell me Ava, how much did he pay you again? $5 million?"

The deck went quiet. People were listening.

Ava froze.

Ethan stepped in front of her.

Shielding her.

"Delete the video," Ethan said. Low. Dangerous.

Victoria smiled. "Or what? You’ll break the contract?

You can’t. We both know this is fake."

Ethan’s hand clenched.

Then he did the last thing anyone expected.

He turned. Cupped Ava’s face.

And kissed her.

Not a quick camera kiss.

Not fake.

It was slow. Deep. Real.

His hand in her hair. Her hands gripping his suit.

For 10 seconds the whole world disappeared.

When he pulled back, Ava couldn’t breathe.

The whole deck was silent.

Ethan looked at Victoria. "Was that real enough for you?"

Then he took Ava’s hand and walked off the yacht.

---

Back in the suite. 1 AM.

Ava was shaking.

Ethan was pacing. Tie gone. Jacket off.

"Why did you do that?" Ava whispered.

Ethan stopped. Looked at her.

"I don’t know," he said honestly. "I just...

I couldn’t let her talk to you like that."

"So it was to protect me?" Ava asked.

Ethan laughed. Bitter. "Is that what you think?"

He walked to her. Stood too close.

"I’ve been trying to hate this contract, Ava.

I’ve been trying to hate you.

Because you’re making this really f*****g hard."

Ava looked up. "Hard how?"

Ethan’s eyes dropped to her lips.

Then he cursed and stepped back.

"Go to bed," he said. Voice rough.

"We fly back tomorrow."

He went to his room. Slammed the door.

Ava stood alone in her room.

Touching her lips.

Rule #1: No feelings.

She was so screwed.

Outside, Victoria was posting the video.

Caption: `Fake kiss for fake marriage #BillionaireHusband`

But she didn’t see Ethan watching it from his room.

And deleting it.

And calling his lawyer.

Because something had changed.

And Ethan Carter didn’t lose what was his.