Chapter 1: A Mistake That Changed Everything
1060 Words
"Say yes!"
"Come on, Ava!"
"Accept it!"
The chants rose from every direction, echoing across the crowded plaza.
Ava Bennett stood frozen in the center of the spectacle, staring at the man kneeling before her.
A bouquet of crimson roses filled her vision.
Around them, dozens of candles flickered against the Paris evening, casting warm golden light across the stone pavement.
She hadn't expected any of this.
One moment, her classmates had insisted on meeting after their final presentation.
The next, she had been led into the square and pushed toward the center of a carefully orchestrated proposal.
"Ava."
Nathan Walker smiled nervously.
The handsome architecture student had been popular since his first year at the university. Wealthy, talented, and charming, he was the kind of man every girl seemed to adore.
Unfortunately for him, Ava wasn't one of them.
"I've liked you for two years."
His voice trembled slightly.
"Maybe I'm not perfect, but I promise I'll spend the rest of my life making you happy."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Ava's headache immediately worsened.
She had never enjoyed being the center of attention.
Relationships had never interested her much. While she wasn't lacking admirers, she had always kept everyone at arm's length.
Perhaps it was because she'd learned early that promises rarely lasted.
At seven, she'd lost her mother.
At eight, her father had shipped her overseas and practically forgotten she existed.
Love wasn't something she believed in.
Nathan suddenly stood.
Before Ava could react, he shoved the bouquet into her arms and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I love you."
The crowd exploded.
Someone even began recording.
Ava stiffened.
Not from nervousness.
From discomfort.
Her brows furrowed.
He was standing far too close.
His cologne invaded her senses.
His grip tightened around her waist.
And then she realized something else.
Nathan was leaning closer.
Much closer.
As if he intended to kiss her.
"Please step back."
Her voice was calm but firm.
The cheers drowned her out.
Nobody heard her.
Or perhaps nobody cared.
Nathan lowered his head.
Ava's hand immediately lifted, ready to push him away.
Then chaos erupted.
Several emergency vehicles suddenly pulled onto the road beside the square.
A firefighter jumped out.
Seconds later, a powerful stream of water blasted across the pavement.
The carefully arranged candles were extinguished instantly.
People screamed and scattered.
"What the hell?"
Nathan stumbled backward.
The romantic atmosphere vanished within moments.
Laughter broke out among the spectators.
Somebody shouted that the event violated safety regulations.
Others were already posting videos online.
Ava used the confusion as an escape route.
Without looking back, she slipped into the crowd and disappeared.
The temperature had dropped considerably by the time she left the city center.
Early autumn had arrived in Paris.
Cold wind brushed against her face as she walked toward her small apartment.
The distance wasn't far, but she welcomed the quiet.
The proposal had left her strangely unsettled.
Not because of Nathan.
Because of something else.
For the past week, she'd had the persistent feeling that someone was watching her.
Following her.
Observing her.
At first, she'd dismissed it as imagination.
Now she wasn't so sure.
Ava glanced behind her.
The street remained nearly empty.
A few pedestrians.
A passing bicycle.
Nothing unusual.
Yet the feeling lingered.
She quickened her pace.
Several minutes later, her apartment building finally appeared.
Relief washed through her.
She reached the entrance.
Then froze.
A tall figure stepped from the shadows.
Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.
The next second, her back hit the wall.
Hard.
A startled gasp escaped her lips.
The man stood impossibly close.
One arm braced against the wall beside her head.
The other trapped her against him.
His familiar scent immediately filled her senses.
A scent she hadn't encountered in nearly a year.
Her pulse stopped.
No.
Not here.
Not in Paris.
Dark eyes met hers.
Cold.
Intense.
Dangerous.
Ethan Sterling.
The man who haunted every corner of her memory.
The man she had spent the last year trying to forget.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
Instead of answering, his gaze hardened.
"Why didn't you reject him?"
His voice was low.
Controlled.
But underneath, she heard anger.
Real anger.
Ava's heart stumbled.
He had seen the proposal.
Of course he had.
"What?"
"The guy tonight."
His jaw tightened.
"Why didn't you stop him?"
His hand settled beneath her chin, forcing her to look up.
The wall behind her felt ice cold.
The heat radiating from him felt worse.
"What difference does it make to you?"
A dangerous silence followed.
His eyes darkened further.
Then he laughed.
A short, humorless sound.
"What difference does it make?"
He leaned closer.
Too close.
Ava could feel every breath he took.
"Have you become that desperate for attention?"
Her expression immediately cooled.
"That's none of your business."
She pushed against his chest.
He didn't move.
Not even an inch.
The realization irritated her.
Six feet three.
Broad shoulders.
Years of discipline and training.
Ethan had always possessed a frightening physical presence.
Even now.
Especially now.
His gaze traveled across her face.
Slowly.
As if searching for something.
"I used to think you were still a child."
A faint smile appeared.
It never reached his eyes.
"But maybe I was wrong."
Ava's chest tightened.
Those words carried memories she didn't want to revisit.
Memories of stolen glances.
Dangerous attraction.
And one reckless night she had sworn never to think about again.
The silence stretched.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Then Ethan suddenly released her.
Without another word, he turned and walked back into the darkness.
Leaving her standing there.
Confused.
Shaken.
And completely unaware that this night would alter the course of her life forever.
Ten Months Later
Paris.
Saint Laurent Private Hospital.
Ava slowly opened her eyes.
Everything hurt.
The room smelled faintly of disinfectant.
Her body felt exhausted.
Heavy.
As though she'd run a marathon and collapsed at the finish line.
For several seconds she stared blankly at the ceiling.
Then a nurse appeared beside the bed.
A warm smile spread across her face.
"Congratulations."
Ava blinked.
The nurse carefully placed a tiny bundle into her arms.
Emotion caught in Ava's throat.
The baby's tiny fingers curled instinctively.
So small.
So fragile.
So beautiful.
"It's a girl."
And in that moment, Ava Bennett's world changed forever.
- Writer
