Chapter 7 : A Shadow From The Past
536 Words
The next morning, Ava woke up with a smile she couldn't hide.
For the first time in years, she felt hopeful.
The memory of Ethan's kiss lingered in her mind as she got ready for work. Every time she thought about it, her heart raced.
When she arrived at the office, however, something felt different.
People were whispering.
A few employees glanced at her before quickly looking away.
Confused, Ava walked to her desk.
A folded piece of paper sat on top of her keyboard.
There was no name on it.
Slowly, she opened it.
Her smile disappeared.
"You don't know who Ethan Carter really is."
That was all it said.
No signature.
No explanation.
Just one chilling sentence.
Ava looked around the office.
No one seemed suspicious.
Yet she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
Before she could think about it further, her phone rang.
It was the hospital.
Her stomach dropped immediately.
"Hello?"
"Miss Williams, your mother's condition has worsened. We need you to come in as soon as possible."
The world seemed to stop.
Without another word, Ava grabbed her bag and rushed out.
---
The hospital corridors felt colder than usual.
Ava hurried into her mother's room.
Mrs. Williams looked pale and weak.
But when she saw her daughter, she smiled.
"Ava."
"I'm here, Mom."
Ava sat beside her and held her hand.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then her mother sighed.
"You're working too hard."
Ava laughed softly.
"Someone has to pay the bills."
Her mother squeezed her hand.
"You deserve happiness too."
The words hit harder than Ava expected.
Because for the first time, she thought maybe happiness was possible.
Maybe because of Ethan.
---
That evening, Ethan arrived unexpectedly at the hospital.
When Ava saw him standing in the doorway holding a small bouquet of flowers, her heart warmed.
"You came."
"Of course I did."
He handed the flowers to her.
Then he introduced himself to her mother.
To Ava's surprise, her mother immediately liked him.
Very quickly.
Perhaps too quickly.
As Ethan stepped out of the room to answer a phone call, Mrs. Williams turned to her daughter.
"He's in love with you."
Ava nearly choked.
"Mom!"
"I'm serious."
"We just started getting close."
Her mother smiled knowingly.
"Sometimes that's all it takes."
---
Outside the hospital, Ethan stood alone with his phone pressed to his ear.
His expression was tense.
"What do you mean she's back?" he asked.
The voice on the other end answered.
Ethan closed his eyes.
"This isn't happening."
The caller continued speaking.
"No," Ethan said firmly. "She cannot come here."
But deep down, he already knew it was too late.
---
Two days later, Ava walked into the office and froze.
A beautiful woman stood beside Ethan.
Tall.
Elegant.
Confident.
The woman smiled when she noticed Ava.
"Ethan," she said. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Ethan's jaw tightened.
For the first time since Ava had met him, he looked genuinely nervous.
"Ava," he said quietly, "this is Sophia."
The woman's smile widened.
"I'm Ethan's ex-fiancée."
Ava felt the blood drain from her face.
And judging by Sophia's expression, she hadn't returned by accident.
She had come back for Ethan.
- Writer
