Ava volunteered to handle the grocery shopping at the mall that morning. Adam had offered to go with her, but she waved him off gently.
“Let me handle this one,” she said with that calm determination that always melted him.
He hesitated. “Alright,” Adam said finally, voice soft but steady. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
Ava gave a faint smile and nodded before heading out the door.
* * * * * *
The afternoon sun poured over the city like honey as Ava pushed her cart through the supermarket aisles. The air was filled with soft music, idle chatter, and the steady squeak of her wheels. She reached for a box of cereal—then froze at the sound of a woman’s voice.
“Excuse me, are you Ava?”
Ava turned, brows knitted. The woman before her was elegant, confident—too composed.
“Yes… who are you?”
