Chapter 56: The accusation
Ava’s expression hardened. She wasn’t about to back down now. She shook her head firmly, rejecting his plea. "No one else will stand up to Dylan, and no one will help us. Nicholas is the only one who can stand up to Dylan. I’ve made up my mind. There is no turning back."
Ethan’s frustration boiled over as he tried to reason with her. "How are you so sure he’ll help us? He is a complete stranger! You shouldn’t get close to him. What if he deceives you? Uses you to get back at Dylan, or even hurt us more than we can imagine? And who knows what he’ll want in return?" His voice rose with each word he uttered.
"I’m not ’getting close’ to him," she shot back, her gaze sharpening as she locked eyes with Ethan. "This is just a business deal. We’ll offer him a share of the profits in exchange for his investment. That’s it. Why are you acting so panicked?"
Ethan’s restlessness sparked a flicker of doubt in her mind. "Are you hiding something from me?" she asked skeptically, her eyes narrowing as she studied him more closely.
Ethan immediately looked away, his heart sinking. He feared that she would learn the darkest past of him. "No, I’m not hiding anything," he lied, his muscles taut with tension. "I’m just worried. That’s all."
Ava’s expression didn’t soften. "I know what I am doing, Ethan," Ava said with cold certainty. "And I’d appreciate it if you’d cooperate with me instead of trying to stop me. This is the best for the company’s interest."
She turned around and walked away.
Ethan stood frozen, his hands curling into tight fists as he watched her leave. He felt powerless, his heart racing with frustration and anxiety. "Why won’t you give me a chance?" he muttered under his breath.
Ava came out to the parking lot, heading toward her car. Someone tugged at her arm from behind and pulled her to the corner with a force that made her gasp. Before she could understand what was happening, she was shoved against the wall.