Chapter 7: The Woman from Ethan's Past
693 Words
The next morning, the city woke beneath a blanket of silver clouds.
Inside the Blackwood mansion, silence filled the dining room.
Ava sat alone at the long marble table, staring at the untouched breakfast before her. She had barely slept after everything that had happened the previous day.
Ethan's unexpected promise echoed in her mind.
"You won't have to do it alone."
Those words had sounded sincere.
Too sincere.
She shook her head.
"No," she whispered to herself. "Don't be fooled."
This marriage was only a contract.
Nothing more.
The moment real feelings entered the picture, someone would get hurt.
Before she could take another bite, footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Ethan entered wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. His hair was neatly styled, and the expensive watch on his wrist reflected the morning light.
He looked every bit the billionaire the newspapers loved to write about.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
"Good morning," Ethan finally said.
Ava blinked.
He had actually greeted her.
"Good morning."
The awkward silence returned.
Mrs. Harper, the housekeeper, smiled to herself while pouring coffee.
"You two already look like a married couple."
Ava almost choked on her juice.
Ethan calmly picked up his coffee.
"We're getting there."
Ava shot him a glare.
He ignored it completely.
Just then, Ethan's phone vibrated.
His expression changed the instant he looked at the screen.
His jaw tightened.
"What is it?" Ava asked.
"Nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing."
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
"I have to go to the office."
"You were already going."
"This is different."
Before Ava could ask another question, Ethan had already walked away.
---
At Blackwood Corporation...
The atmosphere inside the executive boardroom was unusually tense.
Every director looked nervous.
Lucas, Ethan's assistant, stood beside him with a tablet in his hands.
"We have a problem."
Ethan sat at the head of the table.
"I'm listening."
Lucas hesitated.
"Someone has begun buying large amounts of Blackwood Corporation shares."
The room became silent.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"Find out."
Lucas swallowed.
"The purchases are being made through dozens of fake companies."
One of the directors stood.
"This could be a hostile takeover."
Another director added nervously,
"If they gain enough shares, they'll have influence over the board."
Ethan remained calm.
"How much have they acquired?"
"Almost nine percent."
Several directors gasped.
That was enough to make anyone nervous.
Ethan slowly leaned back in his chair.
"They've planned this for months."
Lucas nodded.
"We believe so."
Ethan's blue eyes grew colder.
"Then it's time they learned whose company they're trying to steal."
---
Meanwhile...
Ava decided to leave the mansion for the afternoon.
She wanted fresh air.
Being surrounded by luxury every second made her uncomfortable.
She walked through a quiet shopping district wearing a simple white dress and sunglasses.
No bodyguards.
No expensive cars.
Just freedom.
For the first time in days, she smiled.
She entered a small bookstore.
The familiar scent of paper and coffee instantly relaxed her.
As she browsed through the romance section, someone spoke behind her.
"Ava Carter?"
She froze.
Slowly, she turned around.
Standing a few metres away was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and an elegant black designer dress.
The woman smiled.
But it wasn't a friendly smile.
It was the smile of someone who already knew exactly who she was.
"So..." the woman said softly.
"You're Ethan's wife."
Ava frowned.
"And you are?"
The woman extended her hand.
"Victoria Sinclair."
The name meant nothing to Ava.
Until Victoria added four simple words.
"Ethan's former fiancée."
The world seemed to stop.
Ava stared at her.
Former... fiancée?
Victoria noticed the surprise on Ava's face and smiled with quiet satisfaction.
"Oh..."
"So he didn't tell you."
Ava's heartbeat quickened.
"What are you talking about?"
Victoria stepped closer.
"We were supposed to get married."
She paused just long enough for the words to sink in.
"Until you appeared."
Ava felt the floor beneath her suddenly seem less steady.
For the first time since entering the Blackwood family...
She realised she knew almost nothing about the man she had married.
- Writer
