Chapter 317: The fake news
"Ava," he grimaced. "Do you think I haven’t been looking into this? I’ve already gathered plenty of evidence against him. I was preparing to have him locked away. Why did you risk meeting him alone—knowing exactly what kind of man he is? You are pregnant, for God’s sake."
Ava lowered her head. She had no defense, no excuse. She had been reckless. And if Dylan’s guard hadn’t arrived in time, she could have been kidnapped today.
The chilling thought of being trapped in Ethan’s grasp, at his mercy, sent a shudder through her.
"Can you be a little more faithful to me?" He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Let me handle these problems, Ava. I need you to be safe—for me."
"I am sorry," she whispered, embarrassed. "I just... I wanted to help. I wanted to share the burden."
"Of course, you can share the burden," he murmured, brushing his thumb lightly against her cheek. "But you have to tell me. Don’t ever do something like this again—without letting me know." He pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
Ava let out a small hum, melting into his embrace.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The news of Nicholas’s demise crashed over the city like a tidal wave, leaving devastation in its wake. The corporate world stood still, mourning the loss of a promising young businessman.
For Ava, the blow was unbearable. It struck her like a violent storm, shaking her to her core. Just two days ago, she had seen him—alive, hopeful, fighting. And now, he was gone.
"No... This is not true," she sobbed, her breath hitching. "After everything he went through... after finally finding a donor... how could he die?"