CHAPTER 12: THE SECRET MEETING
446 Words
Ava kept glancing over her shoulder as she entered the small cafe.
Her pulse hammered in her chest. She knew Rhys would be furious if he found out.
But she needed answers.
Gabriel was already there, swirling a cup of coffee as if he had all the time In the world.
He smirked as she sat down.
“You’re braver than I thought, Mrs. De Montaigne.”
Ava folded her arms. “Tell me what you know.”
Gabriel took a slow sip, watching her over the rim of his cup.
“Did Rhys tell you about his father?”
Ava blinked. His father?
Rhys never talked about his family.
Gabriel’s smirked deepened. “I didn’t think so.”
Then, in a quieter voice, he said,
“Your father and his father had a history. A deal that was never meant to be broken.”
Ava’s hands tightened around her coffee cup. A deal?
Was this why she was forced into this marriage?
Before she could press further, a sudden chill ran down her spine.
Someone was watching her.
Ava turned toward the entrance, her breath catching.
Rhys was there.
Standing still. Silent. But his eyes— dark, unreadable, and dangerously intense— were locked on her.
Her stomach dropped. He found her.
Gabriel chuckled, breaking the heavy silence.
“You’re late, De Montaigne. I was just about to tell your wife the truth.”
Rhys moved before Ava could react. In three quick strides, he was at their table, his towering presence casting a shadow over Gabriel.
His voice was eerily calm. “You talk too much.”
Gabriel’s smirk never wavered.
“And you lie too much.”
Rhys jaw ticked.
Ava, caught between them, felt the tension coil like a storm about to break.
Then Rhys turned to her.
“We’re leaving.”
His voice left no room for argument.
He grabbed her wrist, pulling her to her feet.
Ava’s pulse hammered. No. Not this time.
She yanked her arm free.
“Not until I hear the truth!”
Rhys eyes darkened. The cafe was silent, all eyes on them.
For a second, he didn’t move.
Then Gabriel leaned back, watching them with mild amusement.
But when he spoke, his tone was different— low, almost warning.
“Careful, Mrs. De Montaigne.”
His gaze flickered to Rhys.
“You might not like what you find.”
Ava felt Rhys grip tighten— just slightly.
She turned to him, searching his face. Why did he look.. uneasy?
For the first time, it wasn’t just anger in his expression.
It was something else.
Something like fear.
And that terrified her more than anything else
- Writer
