A Rose Among Ashes

Chapter Thirteen

Kiera's POV

Ryan Montenegro's glare feels like a blade pressed against my throat.

My breath quickens, and my knees tremble.

"P-please..." My voice cracks before I can even form a coherent sentence. "Let me explain."

I'm terrified by the fury etched across his face. Is he going to hurt me like Alex did?

"I'm sorry, please. Let me explain," I beg him, fear coiling in my chest.

Ryan steps forward, slow and predatory, every muscle in his body vibrating with rage. I retreat, one shaky step at a time, my back trembling, my nerves screaming. He closes the distance between us, step by step, while I am unaware of his intentions. His eyes blaze with an intensity unlike Alex's, who wore a devilish smile when he threatened me. Ryan doesn't smile; he looks like he wants to tear the truth from my very lungs.

"Explain?" Ryan's voice is deceptively quiet. "Go on. I'm listening."

But I am unable to speak. Panic clogs my throat, suffocating me. My mouth opens, but no words escape. I feel restless, my lips refusing to move. I stumble backward until my spine collides with the wall. My escape ends here.

He closes the distance in two long strides, and his hand clamps around my throat.

I choke, my feet scrambling against the marble floor as he lifts me just enough to steal my balance. My fingers claw at his wrist, the pressure on my windpipe blinding and immediate.

"I said speak! Explain everything to me!" he roars, his voice a thunderous storm.

I'm trying. I'm trying so hard.

But no air comes in, no voice escapes.

I still can't speak. I struggle to catch my breath, using both hands to push against the grip restraining my neck, but my efforts feel futile.

"Please..." is all I can manage to murmur.

Suddenly, the door bursts open, and I hear a scream. "Ryan!"

A woman rushes in, tugging desperately at his arm, her hands frantic and clumsy. "Ryan, STOP! Please! Let her go!"

He doesn't budge; his grip doesn't loosen.

"Ryan, please, let her go. I beg you," the woman cries.

"Mum, look," he says, and at that moment, I realize it's his mother. "She is not Ava. She is an impostor. I'm going to kill her!"

At this point, I believe everyone just wants to kill me.

"I knew it. I knew it all along. I was the one who got her to marry you in Ava's place because Ava ran away from the wedding," Ryan's mum screams.

Ryan's hand freezes. For the first time since entering the room, his fury slips.

Then he drops me.

He releases me completely.

I crash to the floor, pain shooting through my back and elbows. I cough and gasp, clutching my throat as spots dance in my vision.

Ryan turns on his mother, his eyes cold enough to freeze bone, staring at her intensely. "I'm sorry, Ryan. It was an impulsive decision. I needed to act fast, or our reputation would be completely ruined. The public must not hear that Ryan Montenegro, the CEO's fiancée, ran away from the altar. It would be embarrassing and disastrous for the company. I hadn't had the chance to explain the situation to you because you disappeared immediately after the ceremony."

In a storm of rage, Ryan storms out of the bedroom without uttering another word.

His mother approaches me and helps me off the ground.

"Get up, dear. I'm sorry for how he reacted. I'll talk sense into his head. Amanda will bring in some ointments to help you," she says gently as I adjust the towel tied around me, which has loosened.

Ointment? I've never been offered such a thing after being beaten up. I typically just heal on my own unless I have something to apply to ease the pain.

"Thank you, ma'am," I murmur.

"Get dressed and come down for breakfast. I wanted to speak to you, but that can wait," she says before leaving, and I prepare myself.

*******

Accompanied by Amanda, I head downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. Just as I enter, someone rushes toward me and wraps me in a tight hug, nearly knocking the breath out of me. Her hair is pulled into a high ponytail, and she radiates the energy of someone powered by pure caffeine.

"Good morning, Sister-in-law!" she exclaims, her smile bright and infectious.

Sister-in-law? Then she must be Ryan's sister.

"Good morning," I manage, returning her wide smile.

She appears to be a high school student, given her school uniform.

"I'm Arya, and you are Ava, right?" she introduces herself, her enthusiasm evident as she asks, clearly confident that I am Ava.

I glance at Ryan's mum, who gives me a slight nod. I believe she wants me to confirm Arya's assumption.

"Yes, Arya. I'm Ava," I reciprocate her expression.

"Arya, you're already late for school!" someone yells from outside.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming!" she replies impatiently, her excitement barely contained.

"Once I'm back, we need to chat and chat and chat," she insists, moving closer to gossip. "I have so much to share with you about your grumpy husband," she adds playfully, and I nod, trying to mask my unease.

She rushes to her mother, kisses her cheek, and bids goodbye before taking her leave.

"Come sit, Kiera," Mrs. Montenegro calls to me, beckoning toward a seat.

A helper - perhaps the cook - serves me a plate of an appetizing meal. As I begin to eat, Mrs. Montenegro speaks again. "Don't mind Ryan. He can be like that at times, but don't worry. Something like that won't happen again."

"It's okay, ma'am," I reply.

"What's your name, dear?" she asks.

"Kiera Sinclair," I say.

"Sinclair," she repeats, as if trying to discern something about the name.

She seems to push her thoughts aside and continues with other questions about my parents, my schooling, and more. I explain that my parents are deceased and share a bit about my artistic skills. I provide other information according to her inquiries, though normally I'm not the forward type. We talk and laugh, and I realize what a sweet woman she is. This makes me wonder if Ryan inherited his awkward, grumpy behavior from his father. I suddenly realize that I have yet to hear anything about his father.

******

AVA's POV

Who is calling me repeatedly so early in the morning? I had finally gotten a good night's sleep in a luxurious penthouse after a week filled with the rollercoaster of stressful and unnecessary wedding preparations.

I pick up the phone, still half asleep. Glancing at the screen, I see that it's Kaitlyn, my best friend. "Kaitlyn, what is it?" I ask, my voice thick with sleep.

"You're still asleep, Ava?" she laughs.

"What do you want? You're disturbing my sleep," I murmur, clearly irritated.

"Where are you? Where are you staying now that you've run away?" she asks.

I hiss at her question. This had better not be the reason for her call, interrupting my much-needed peace. "I told you already, I can't reveal this place to anyone. No one must know where I am."

"Not even me? Your best friend? What if you've been kidn*pped?"

I laugh. "Then would you be able to save me? Besides, if I tell you, it could lead to my hideout being discovered."

"Whatever." I can tell from her tone that she isn't satisfied with my response.

"Thalia is coming back today!" she exclaims, her excitement clear.

"What? Today? Not next week?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah, I don't know why, though. But there's a party tonight to welcome her back. Will you be there?"

"For sure!" I reply, my excitement bubbling over.

I hang up feeling exhilarated beyond words. I've been waiting for this day for a while.