Chapter 4: One Month to Prove It
1227 Words
The silence inside Ethan's office felt suffocating.
Ava stared at him.
He stared back.
Neither of them looked away.
His challenge still hung between them.
Prove you're my wife.
How was she supposed to do that?
Memories couldn't be touched.
Love couldn't be measured.
And the man standing before her no longer remembered any of it.
Sophia suddenly laughed.
The sound was sharp and mocking.
"This is ridiculous."
She turned toward Ethan.
"Ethan, surely you don't believe her."
Ethan remained calm.
"I didn't say I believed her."
"Then why are we still talking about this?"
His eyes moved toward Ava.
"Because there are questions that need answers."
Sophia's expression darkened.
She hated the way he kept looking at Ava.
Even if he didn't remember her, his attention kept returning to her.
And Sophia didn't like that at all.
Ava clenched her hands.
"What exactly do you want me to prove?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"If everything you're saying is true, then there should be evidence."
"There is."
"The marriage certificate isn't enough."
Ava's heart sank.
Of course it wasn't.
Anyone could claim paperwork had been forged.
What Ethan needed was something more personal.
Something undeniable.
He studied her carefully.
"You said we lived together."
"Yes."
"You said we loved each other."
Ava swallowed.
"Yes."
"Then there should be memories. Places. People. Proof."
Ava nodded.
"There are."
For the first time, Ethan seemed interested.
"Then show me."
The room fell silent.
Sophia stepped forward immediately.
"Ethan, this is a mistake."
He ignored her.
Instead, he continued speaking to Ava.
"I'll give you one month."
Ava blinked.
"What?"
"Thirty days."
Sophia's eyes widened.
"Ethan!"
He still didn't look at her.
"If you can convince me that everything you're saying is true, then I'll accept it."
Ava could barely breathe.
A month.
He was actually giving her a chance.
"If I can't?"
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Then you leave my life permanently."
The words hit her like a punch.
Permanently.
No second chances.
No more opportunities.
This was everything.
Thirty days to reclaim the man she loved.
Or lose him forever.
Ava lifted her chin.
"I accept."
Sophia looked ready to explode.
"Ethan, this woman is obviously after your money."
Ava laughed bitterly.
Money.
If only Sophia knew.
Three years ago, Ava had signed away every right to Ethan's fortune.
She had never wanted his wealth.
Only him.
Ethan stood.
"The discussion is over."
Sophia stared at him.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious."
"Ethan—"
"Enough."
The authority in his voice silenced the room.
Sophia's face turned pale.
She had known Ethan for years.
She knew when he had made a decision.
And right now, his mind was made up.
The meeting was over.
Ava should have felt relieved.
Instead, anxiety twisted inside her stomach.
One month.
Thirty days.
It sounded like a lot of time.
But it wasn't.
Not when she was trying to make someone remember an entire life.
---
Outside the office, Ava waited for the elevator.
Her thoughts raced endlessly.
The elevator doors opened.
Before she could step inside, someone grabbed her arm.
Sophia.
The blonde woman pulled her aside.
Her perfectly polished smile disappeared instantly.
Only anger remained.
"You think you've won?"
Ava pulled her arm free.
"This isn't a competition."
Sophia laughed.
"It is for me."
Ava sighed.
She was exhausted.
Emotionally drained.
The last thing she wanted was an argument.
But Sophia clearly wasn't finished.
"You don't belong here."
Ava met her gaze.
"I was Ethan's wife."
"According to you."
"It's the truth."
Sophia stepped closer.
Her voice dropped.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"Then let me give you some advice."
Ava remained silent.
"Leave while you still can."
The threat was obvious.
Ava felt her pulse quicken.
"You sound worried."
Sophia's eyes narrowed.
"I'm not worried."
"Then why are you threatening me?"
Sophia looked away first.
A small victory.
But a victory nonetheless.
Without another word, Sophia turned and walked away.
Her heels echoed through the hallway.
Ava watched her disappear.
Something wasn't right.
The hostility felt deeper than jealousy.
Much deeper.
And Ava couldn't shake the feeling that Sophia knew more than she was admitting.
---
That evening, Ethan sat alone in his penthouse.
The city lights glowed beyond the glass walls.
Normally, work helped him think.
Tonight, it wasn't enough.
His mind kept returning to Ava.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
The pain on her face when he failed to recognize her.
It bothered him.
More than it should.
He picked up the marriage certificate again.
The paper looked ordinary.
Yet every time he touched it, something stirred inside him.
Fragments.
Pieces.
Shadows of memories.
Nothing clear.
Nothing complete.
Just enough to make him question everything.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
His assistant entered.
"Sir."
Ethan looked up.
"What is it?"
"The background check you requested."
A folder was placed on the desk.
Ethan opened it.
Inside were records about Ava.
Employment history.
Financial records.
Residence information.
Everything.
His eyes moved quickly through the pages.
Then stopped.
No suspicious bank accounts.
No unusual transactions.
No evidence of fraud.
Nothing.
In fact, the report showed something surprising.
Ava lived a simple life.
A difficult life.
A lonely life.
The kind of life a billionaire's wife shouldn't have been living.
Ethan frowned.
If she wanted money...
Why hadn't she tried to claim anything during the last three years?
Why wait until now?
The question lingered.
Unanswered.
His assistant hesitated.
"Sir?"
Ethan looked up.
"What?"
"There's one more thing."
The assistant slid a photograph across the desk.
Ethan picked it up.
The picture showed Ava.
She was standing outside a cemetery.
Alone.
Holding flowers.
Ethan's gaze narrowed.
"What is this?"
"The photograph was taken six months ago."
Ethan turned the image over.
Nothing.
Just a picture.
Then his assistant spoke quietly.
"She visited that cemetery every week for three years."
Ethan froze.
"Why?"
The answer came softly.
"Because that's where she believed you were buried."
Silence filled the room.
For the first time all day...
Ethan felt something c***k inside his chest.
A strange pain.
A strange guilt.
And he had no idea why.
---
Across the city, Ava sat alone in her apartment.
The wedding ring rested in her palm.
She stared at it for a long time.
One month.
Thirty days.
That was all she had.
Thirty days to bring Ethan back.
Thirty days to prove their love was real.
Thirty days to fight for a marriage only she remembered.
Slowly, she closed her fingers around the ring.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
But her eyes remained determined.
"I won't give up on you, Ethan."
No matter how difficult it became.
No matter who stood in her way.
She would fight.
Because love like theirs was worth fighting for.
Even if she had to start from the beginning.
Even if she had to make him fall in love with her all over again.
And somewhere in the darkness, unseen by both of them...
Someone was watching.
A man lowered a pair of binoculars.
A phone appeared in his hand.
The call connected immediately.
"Boss."
A cold voice answered.
"Report."
The man glanced toward Ava's apartment.
Then smiled.
"The woman has started moving."
A long silence followed.
Then the voice spoke.
"Keep watching her."
The line disconnected.
And for the first time...
The true enemy made his move.
- Writer
