Chapter 13: The Healing
Healing was not linear.
Some days, Ava felt strong. She would wake up in Ethan’s guest room, make coffee, and feel like she could finally breathe. Other days, the fear came rushing back. She would flinch at sudden sounds or check her phone obsessively, half-expecting Adrian to appear.
Ethan never pushed her.
He gave her space when she needed it and stayed close when she didn’t want to be alone. He never asked for more than she was ready to give. But slowly, the walls Ava had built around herself began to crack.
One evening, almost two weeks after the gala, Ava found Ethan in his home office, reviewing documents late at night.
She stood in the doorway for a moment, watching him.
He looked tired. The past few weeks had taken a toll on him too — the constant meetings with lawyers, the media attention, and the weight of protecting her while managing his own empire.
Ava walked over and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
“You should sleep,” she said softly.
Ethan looked up at her. For once, he didn’t hide the way he felt when he looked at her.
“I will,” he said. “Soon.”
Ava hesitated, then spoke.
“I never thanked you properly. For everything. For taking me in. For believing me when I had no proof. For not treating me like I was broken.”
Ethan turned his chair to face her fully.
“You’re not broken, Ava,” he said. “You were surviving. There’s a difference.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she did something she had wanted to do for a very long time.
She leaned down and kissed him.
It was soft, hesitant, and full of everything she had been holding back for nearly a year. Ethan didn’t rush it. He let her lead, his hands resting gently on her waist, giving her complete control.
When she pulled away, her eyes were shining.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “But I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
Ethan rested his forehead against hers.
“You don’t have to be,” he said. “Not with me.”
That night, Ava didn’t sleep in the guest room.
May you like
She stayed with Ethan.
And for the first time in a long time, she felt safe enough to let her guard down completely.
