Chapter 271: Did he find out about his condition?
Ava sat rooted to the spot, the file clutched tightly in her hands, her heart pounding against her ribcage. Her mind was a battlefield of emotions: disbelief, anger, fear, and confusion. Could Ethan truly be capable of such betrayal? Or was this just a misunderstanding?
Her shoulders sagged as her mind fixated on a single, jarring thought: ’Papa prepared legal documents.’
"He suspects Ethan’s loyalty," she murmured in a daze.
Her thoughts swirled in confusion. When had her father started doubting Ethan? She had seen them work together for years, her father placing unwavering trust in the man who had stood by him through thick and thin. What could have possibly shifted that dynamic?
Questions churned in her mind, leaving her restless and uneasy. ’This must be a precautionary measure,’ she rationalized.
Ava clung to the hope that her father’s actions stemmed not from doubt but from an abundance of caution. Ever since his heart attack, he had been increasingly protective of her. Perhaps this was just another attempt to safeguard her future.
"Yes. It’s not about Ethan’s loyalty. Papa is just being cautious for my sake."
Ava refused to believe that Ethan would ever think to betray them. She looked down at the file in her hand and then opened it, her eyes skimming on the content. She hesitated. Signing the document and resigning from the Ace Group—it all felt selfish and untimely when Dylan’s well-being was at stake.
Right now, Dylan needed her. "No," she murmured, closing the file. "I can’t do this right now."
"Ava." Ava’s focus shattered at the sound of a familiar voice. She glanced up, startled, and found herself meeting Nicholas’s steady gaze. His presence was unexpected yet oddly comforting amidst the chaos swirling in her mind.
She forced a smile. "You... you heard the news too."