Chapter 6: The Past Revealed
408 Words
Chapter 6: The Past Revealed
Ava wasn’t supposed to go into the restricted wing of the mansion.
But curiosity got the best of her.
She opened a door—
—and found a room filled with photos.
Lucas… smiling.
With a woman.
Laughing. Holding hands. Looking *alive*.
Ava’s chest tightened.
So he *could* love.
The door slammed behind her.
“What are you doing here?”
Lucas’s voice was sharp. Dangerous.
Ava turned slowly.
“Who is she?”
“Leave.”
“No.”
Big mistake.
Lucas grabbed her wrist—not painfully, but firmly.
“I said leave.”
Ava pulled back.
“You loved her, didn’t you?”
Silence.
Then—
“She betrayed me.”
His voice was cold… but his eyes weren’t.
“They always do.”
Ava swallowed.
“Not everyone.”
Lucas laughed bitterly.
“Don’t be naive.”
But Ava saw it now.
His distance.
His control.
His fear.
This wasn’t just a man who didn’t believe in love—
This was a man who was destroyed by it.
---
That night, a storm hit.
Thunder roared. Lightning flashed.
The power went out.
Ava sat in the living room, hugging her knees.
“I hate storms…” she muttered.
Another thunderclap.
She flinched.
Then—
Footsteps.
Lucas.
He stood there, watching her.
“You’re afraid?” he asked.
“No,” she said quickly. “…Maybe.”
Lucas walked closer.
For once, he didn’t look like the cold CEO.
Just… human.
“Come on,” he said quietly.
Ava blinked.
“Where?”
“Somewhere quieter.”
They sat together in a dim hallway, away from the windows.
Silence.
But not uncomfortable.
After a while, Ava spoke.
“You know… you don’t always have to be so distant.”
Lucas didn’t respond.
“I mean,” she continued, “you’re not as heartless as you pretend to be.”
He let out a soft, almost amused breath.
“You don’t know me.”
“Then let me.”
That hung in the air.
Dangerous words.
Lucas turned to her.
Lightning flashed—
Illuminating their faces.
Close.
Too close.
For a moment… everything stopped.
And then—
Lucas looked away.
“Don’t,” he said quietly.
Ava’s heart sank.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t make this more complicated than it already is.”
Because deep down—
He knew.
If he let her in…
There would be no going back.
- Writer
