HE'S MINE NOW, BACK OFF SISTER

CHAPTER 3: THE FIRST MOVE

Ava made it to the bathroom before her hands started shaking.

She locked herself in the furthest stall and pressed her back against the cool marble wall, forcing air into her lungs. The phone call with Nina had confirmed her worst fear. Noah's fever had spiked to dangerous levels again. They'd rushed him to the hospital. He was stable now, but the episodes were getting worse.

Four months. Maybe five.

She didn't have time for games. She needed Ethan's bone marrow, and she needed it soon.

But Chloe had just complicated everything by mentioning Noah. Now Ethan thought she had a boyfriend. A child that belonged to someone else. He'd build walls, pull away, and she'd lose her chance to get close enough to ask for what she needed.

The bathroom door opened. Heels clicked against the tile.

"I know you're in here, Ava."

Chloe's voice.

Ava closed her eyes and counted to five. Then she unlocked the stall and stepped out, her face perfectly composed.

Chloe stood by the sinks, reapplying lipstick in the mirror. She looked at Ava's reflection, her smile venomous.

"You look upset. Boyfriend trouble?"

"What do you want, Chloe?"

"To give you some advice. Sister to sister." Chloe capped her lipstick and turned. "Whatever you're planning, stop. Ethan is mine. This life is mine. You had your chance five years ago and you ran."

"I ran because you destroyed everything I had."

"I took what should have been mine from the beginning." Chloe stepped closer. "You were always the favorite. Quiet, sweet little Ava. Dad loved you more. Grandma Blackwood loved you more. Even Ethan" Her voice turned bitter. "He looked at you like you were the sun. Do you know what that's like? Watching someone worship my plain, boring sister?"

"So you drugged him and faked a pregnancy?"

The words were out before Ava could stop them.

Chloe's face went white, then red. For a moment, pure panic flashed in her eyes. Then she laughed, but it sounded forced.

"Drugged him? What kind of fantasy have you been living in? Ethan and I slept together. I got pregnant. End of story."

"Except you lost the baby conveniently on your honeymoon. Before any real doctor could examine you."

"I had a miscarriage!"

"Did you?" Ava moved closer, dropping her voice. "Or did you never have a baby at all?"

Chloe's hand flew up. The slap cracked across Ava's cheek, snapping her head to the side.

They both froze.

Ava touched her burning cheek, then looked at Chloe with cold fury.

"Do that again," Ava said softly, "and I'll destroy you."

"You can't touch me. I'm Mrs. Blackwood. I have everything."

"You have a title. A cold husband who doesn't love you. A marriage built on lies that's rotting from the inside." Ava smiled without warmth. "And I'm back. How secure do you feel, sister?"

The bathroom door opened. An older woman in diamonds entered, glanced at them curiously, and headed to the stalls.

Chloe grabbed her clutch and moved to the door. She paused, looking back.

"Stay away from my husband."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of woman you really are. A gold-digger who seduced a married man and ran when she got caught."

Chloe left before Ava could respond.

Ava stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her cheek was red where Chloe had hit her. Five years ago, that slap would have made her cry. Now it just made her angry.

She pulled out her phone and texted Nina: I'm coming home. Book the first flight tomorrow.

Then she fixed her lipstick, straightened her dress, and walked back into the ballroom with her head high.

Ethan watched Ava return from wherever she'd disappeared to and noticed immediately that something was wrong. She held herself too stiffly. Her smile was too bright.

He excused himself from a conversation with the mayor and intercepted her near the silent auction tables.

"Are you alright?"

Ava turned, surprise flickering across her face before she controlled it. "Fine. Why?"

"Your cheek is red."

Her hand moved unconsciously to her face, then dropped. "I'm fine."

"Did someone

"Mr. Blackwood, I appreciate your concern, but I'm perfectly capable of handling myself." Her tone was professional, distant. "If you'll excuse me, I need to leave early. Please give my apologies to your grandmother."

She started to walk away.

Ethan caught her wrist gently. "Wait."

She looked down at his hand on her wrist, then up at his face. Something vulnerable flashed in her eyes for just a moment.

"Please don't," she said quietly. "This is already hard enough."

"What is?"

"Being this close to you and pretending I feel nothing."

The honesty shocked them both. Ava pulled her wrist free and stepped back, rebuilding her walls.

"Forget I said that. I'll see you Monday, Mr. Blackwood."

This time when she walked away, Ethan let her go. But he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to his head of security: I need everything on Ava Monroe for the last five years. Where she lived, who she worked for, who she was with. Everything.

He looked up and saw Chloe watching him from across the room. She smiled and raised her champagne glass in a mock toast.

Something was wrong. Something had always been wrong.

And Ethan was finally ready to find out what.