Ethan’s Pov“I don’t believe you.” The words fell from my lips before I could check myself. They sounded mean, harsh. Ava’s eyes widened and she took a step back. The way her smile disappeared broke my heart in two and I knew right then that I said the wrong thing.“Okay,” She lowered her gaze to th
“Would you love Ava if you weren’t mates?” Mars spoke up, Olivia watched me intently.I thought about it. I really thought about it. Part of me wanted to say that it doesn’t matter because that would mean that she had a mate and I had one; love would be out of the equation.I didn’t say that, though
Ethan’s POV Andrew’s finger was an inch away from my face as he seethed at me. His breathing was ragged, hard. I could feel the angry heat radiating from his skin.He was really mad.“Andrew,” I greeted, keeping my voice calm and smooth. It only upset him that much more,“I know what you have been
Ava’s POVSarah turned to follow Andrew right after she dropped that bomb on me.My heart was pounding dangerously loud against my ribcage. It beat so hard I thought it might break out through my sternum and deposit itself on the floor between Ethan and I.I was standing there, frozen as I watched S
“I started my life in an orphanage,” My mother began her story solemnly, “There wasn’t much for me to do once I got old enough to be self-sufficient besides work and do chores. I had nothing to my name, nowhere to go, and no promise of a future.“When I turned seventeen, I was cast out of the orphan
Ethan’s POVAva and I returned home shortly after her conversation with her mother.She was angry. I could feel the energy pouring out of every pore on her body. I didn’t think she was mad at me or her mom, but she was mad for sure.“Are you okay?” I asked once we pulled into the driveway. I turned
I spent a lot of my day in my room. I showered and pampered myself with lavish oils and masks. I dried and styled my hair afterwards, but still dressed in a simple pair of sweatpants and a comfortable sweater for the casual dinner and movie.When I was ready, I stepped down the stairs. Mars and Oliv
Ethan’s POVAva shut down and retracted back within herself after our simple dinner date. I wanted her to know that I appreciated her and did love her. Despite what her family situation was and despite the fact that she thought I only liked her because we were mates.I liked her before that, I just
Ethan’s face morphed into one of ecstasy and despair mixed together. He had found me, he found his son, but he missed the first three years of his son’s life. He missed his birth, my pregnancy, he never got to pick the name.Part of me felt guilty for hiding him away all these years, but I knew in m
It’s been three years since I saw Ethan. Three years since that night when I escaped Andrew. Three years since I found out I was pregnant with Ethan’s son.I named him James.My mother and I had run ‘Wonder Dough’ bakery ever since we escaped. It was flourishing within the new city that we inhabited
I bit my lip, hearing Ethan’s voice was enough to cause my heart to skip a beat.“If you do not back down, I will take one of Ava’s fingers for every failed business deal you cause me,” Andrew growled. I took a step away from the door, still listening. My breathing became ragged.“Why do I care?” Et
Running away from Ethan that night was one of the hardest things I’d ever had to do. Only followed by having to pretend to be madly in love with Baron.After I left Ethan in the bathroom, I went back to Baron and wrapped my arms around him. The same arms that were previously around Ethan’s shoulder
Barging into the bathroom, I let the tears of stress and heartache flow freely down my face. I gripped the marble countertop and let my head fall as I sobbed. I didn’t know how much longer I could take this.“Ava?” Ethan’s voice echoed in the empty bathroom.I quickly wiped my eyes and turned to see
Baron told me he loved me. He said he always had, even when he knew I was with Ethan. He said he loved me, and I didn’t say it back.I couldn’t even stomach the idea of loving someone like Baron back.“Baron said he loves me,” I told Andrew one night over dinner. My mother took dinner in her room, s
Even if it also broke mine.“Ethan,” I gave Andrew a sideways glance, “I can’t go back with you.”“Why?” Ethan pleaded, “What happened that made you leave me?”I furrowed my brow and cocked my head to the side. As if he didn’t know? He acted as though he didn’t ignore me for a week and immediately r
Ethan’s Point of View- Ava leaving was one of the worst things to happen in my life. The day I went to work extra early, I came home to an empty house.Ava and I hadn’t been talking, but I was always hyper-aware of where she was in the house, what she was doing, whether she was taking care of herse
Ethan left after I told him who my father was. He wanted nothing to do with me, or he needed time to think it over. I didn’t know, he didn’t say anything.I didn’t see him for days. He avoided me every chance he got, and it tore apart my heart each time I woke up to an empty bed. He started sleeping