Chapter 4

Moving in with them

Mark’s expression hardened. “Go to bed, Ethan.”

Ethan’s fists clenched at his sides. “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna say?”

Mark’s jaw ticked. “Drop it.”

Ethan let out a bitter laugh. “You really think I’m just going to let this go?”

Mark turned to leave, but Ethan’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

“I’m going to find her,” Ethan said, voice low but full of determination. “And when I do, you better pray I don’t hate you more than I already do.”

Mark didn’t turn around, but the stiffness in his shoulders said enough. Without another word, he walked out, leaving Ethan standing there, heart pounding, mind racing.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

___

It had been two weeks since Ava found out about her mother’s relationship with Mark and the sale of their house. Two weeks of tense silence, of pretending not to care, of keeping her emotions locked up because if she let them out, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop.

Today was the day. The day they were officially moving into Mark’s house.

Ava sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the empty walls of what had once been her safe space. All the posters, pictures, and little decorations that made this room hers were gone. Packed away in brown boxes that now sat by the door, waiting to be loaded into the moving truck. It didn’t feel real.

She hadn’t spoken much to her mother these past two weeks. Only the occasional hi and hello when necessary. Natasha tried, of course, knocking on her door, leaving her favorite snacks on the kitchen counter, asking how her day was but Ava ignored all of it. She wasn’t ready to forgive her. Not yet.

A soft knock on her door broke her thoughts. “Ava, sweetheart, are you ready?” her mother’s voice called out.

Ava didn’t respond immediately. She took one last glance around the room before standing up. “Yeah.”

Natasha opened the door, hesitating in the doorway. She looked tired, like she hadn’t slept well in weeks. “The movers are almost done. We should get going.”

Ava simply nodded and grabbed her backpack, walking past her mother without another word.

The drive to Mark’s house was quiet. Ava kept her earbuds in, staring out the window as the familiar streets of her childhood faded behind them. She tried not to think about how this was the last time she’d see them as home.

When they finally pulled up to Mark’s house, Ava’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. It was massive, way bigger than their old house. A fancy two-story home with tall windows and a perfectly manicured lawn. It screamed money.

As soon as the car stopped, the front door swung open, and there he was.

Ethan.

Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking entirely too smug for Ava’s liking.

“Welcome to your new home,” he said, voice dripping with fake warmth.

Ava rolled her eyes and grabbed her bag, stepping out of the car. “Spare me.”

Ethan smirked. “Aw, come on, baby sister. Aren’t you excited to live with me?”

Ava turned to glare at him. “Call me that one more time, and I swear—”

“Okay, okay,” he laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “No need to get violent.”

Natasha and Mark were busy talking with the movers, so Ava took the opportunity to walk past Ethan and into the house.

The inside was even worse than she expected. Everything was pristine, modern, and cold. It didn’t feel like a home,it felt like a showroom.

“Your room’s upstairs,” Ethan said, following behind her. “Second door on the left.”

Ava didn’t thank him. She just grabbed one of her boxes and made her way up the grand staircase.

When she stepped into her new room, she let out a heavy sigh. It was nice, sure,bigger than her old one, with a walk-in closet and a private bathroom. But it wasn’t hers. It wasn’t home.

Dropping her bag onto the bed, she flopped down beside it and stared at the ceiling.

She was really here.

She was really stuck living with them.

Later that evening, dinner was… awkward.

Natasha and Mark sat at one end of the long dining table, chatting quietly. Ethan sat across from Ava, casually scrolling through his phone while picking at his food.

Ava barely ate.

“So, Ava,” Mark finally spoke up, trying to break the silence. “How was school today?”

She stabbed at her food with her fork. “Fine.”

Mark smiled politely. “Ethan says you’re in some of the same classes.”

Ava shot Ethan a look, but he just smirked. “Yeah, she’s my favorite classmate.”

Ava clenched her jaw. “Lucky me.”

Natasha sighed. “Ava, please try to be nice.”

“Nice?” Ava scoffed, dropping her fork. “You want me to be nice about all of this?”

Mark cleared his throat. “I know this is a big change—”

“Big change?” Ava laughed bitterly. “That’s an understatement. I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to move into some stranger’s house, live with him—” she threw a glare at Ethan, “—or pretend like everything’s fine when it’s not.”

Natasha reached for her hand, but Ava pulled away. “Sweetheart, I know this is hard—”

“No, you don’t,” Ava snapped. “You don’t know how it feels to have everything taken away from you. To lose your home, your memories,Dad’s memories. You chose this, Mom. I didn’t.”

Natasha’s face fell, guilt flashing in her eyes. Mark opened his mouth to say something, but Ethan spoke first.

“Wow,” he said, shaking his head. “Way to make dinner fun.”

Ava shot up from her chair. “Screw this.”

Without another word, she stormed out of the dining room, up the stairs, and into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, watching Mark let out a tired sigh.

“She just needs time,” Natasha murmured, looking down at her plate.

Mark nodded. “I get it.”

Ethan scoffed, taking a sip of his drink. “She’s got a temper.”

Natasha gave him a sharp look. “She’s hurting, Ethan.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, she’s not the only one.”

Natasha frowned. “What do you mean?”

Ethan shrugged, pushing his plate away. “Forget it.”

Mark studied him for a moment before speaking. “Ethan.”

Ethan sighed. “It’s just… this whole situation is weird, okay? One day it’s just us, and now we suddenly have a whole new family? You expect me to act like it’s normal?”

Natasha softened. “No one’s asking you to pretend, Ethan. We’re all adjusting.”

Ethan let out a humorless chuckle. “Right.”

Mark sighed, rubbing his temple. “I know it’s not easy. But we’re trying to build something good here. We just need to be patient with each other.”

Ethan didn’t say anything.

Because patience?

That was the last thing he had left.