His Contract Her Rules

Chapter 3: Glimpse Of Betrayal

Ava's POV

I kept trying to reach out to Edward. Call after call. Text after text. Nothing. He didn't reply, didn't even acknowledge me. His silence hurt more than any answer ever could.

All l wanted was an explanation.

My heart was already heavy,but when l saw a message from an unknown number,it sent chills down my spine.

Who would send something like that especially now,when everything between Edward and me was falling apart?

I pushed the thought aside, trying to stay calm. Maybe it was just someone messing around. But deep inside,it made me feel uneasy…watch, even.

And then it hit me again Edward never used to post me . Not ever once. But now,out of nowhere,he is posting my cousin?

“Ava,our ride is here!”Kylie's voice broke into my thoughts.

“Okay”,I said quietly,still shaken.

When l got home,I rushed in, hoping to find my cousin. I needed to see her face,to clear the storm in my head . But she wasn't there I checked everywhere,every room, called her name over and over .

Nothing.

Now,panic started crawling under my skin.

What …if…?

A few hours passed.l had calmed down a little,but l kept trying Edward. Again, nothing.

That's when l knew something was definitely wrong.

A sharp pain hit my chest,like a c***k straight through my ribs.l tried to move,but everything felt heavy.

My eyes burned. I closed them for a moment

And then…

Darkness

Kylie's POV

I knew something was wrong with Ava. This wasn't her. The way she spoke tonight, It was like someone else had taken over.

Her voice held panic…not not pain like a pain like usual. Fear.

I could see it in her eyes. The life in her …the spark she always had…it was fading. And the only person I could blame was Edward.

Honestly,l've always found him strange. This way he always avoided us,the way he kept her hidden. And now, getting close to her cousin? In the same house?

Disgusting.

The thought alone makes me sick. And yet Ava still tried to smile like she was okay. She always does that.

She's strong, but this…this could break her.

She's the kind of girl who makes men clase her who walks in and owns the room. But tonight,that girl was gone. Completely.

She even spoke to me with a cold tone l wasn't used to. Like she was trying to protect herself…or shut down.

I wanted to talk to her,ask what was really going on. But it was late. Tomorrow. I'll do it tomorrow.

The Next Morning

Birds were singing. The sun was up. But Ava felt nothing.

She woke up with a pounding handache, and a swollen eyes .

Her phone buzzed

One message

It was from Fred “Are you okay”

Her heart skipped. She stared at screen,unsure of what to say . After a while ,she typed:

“I'm okay”

That was all she could manage.

She dragged herself to the bathroom,got a quick bath,and dressed casually. She wasn't in the mood for anything extra. Today, she just wanted to survive.

Kylie's POV

I was almost at school entrance when l saw something.

Someone

It felt …familiar and yet unfamiliar at the same time. I stopped. My heart raced.

But l said nothing. It wasn't the right time.

Still. I couldn't keep it to myself. Something felt off. So l messaged Ava:

“Ava, there's something l haven't told you.

Can we talk during break?”

Ava's POV

I read Kylie's message and frowned.

What could she possibly want to say now?

Before l could respond,my phone rang. My heart jumped .

Edward

I smiled without even thinking finally.

But the moment l answered,that smile died .

His voice was cold. Flat.

“Hello. Ava,we need to talk”

Then

Click.

Just like that,he hung up.

I stared at my phone, Frozen.

My hands were shaking.

What now?