Chapter 7 - Heartbreak and New Beginnings

Ava stared out the window, watching raindrops race down the glass. She had been living in this house for four months now, and every day felt the same. Wake up, eat, sleep, and watch her favorite TV shows—that was her routine. Ever since Ethan gave her a new phone, her days had been spent scrolling through the internet, mostly stalking Gabe and Sophie’s profiles. It was official—they were dating. They flaunted their relationship online like they were the perfect couple.

Each new picture of them together felt like a stab in Ava’s heart. Gabe had never had time to travel with her, yet in just a few weeks, he had flown to several countries with Sophie. He never posted her on his social media either, always claiming, "People will think I’m with you for your dad’s money." Now, it was clear that had been an excuse all along.

When she wasn’t torturing herself by looking at their profiles, Ava was checking the reports coming in on her dad’s hotel from his laptop. The numbers were still good, but the reviews had dropped by 10%, and that worried her. With Grace in charge now, and Gabe as the head manager, the company’s reputation was slipping. It was as if they didn’t care anymore.

This morning felt different. Maybe it was because two weeks had passed since she had last seen Ethan, Noah, or Liam. Ethan had left her his black, unlimited debit card to buy anything she needed, but she had been alone in this massive house. Liam had come home last night, but all they exchanged was a brief hello before he disappeared into his room.

As Ava made her way downstairs, she heard male voices. Grabbing a tennis bat that lay by the door—just in case—she followed the sounds to a room and burst through the door, only to be met with four pairs of eyes staring at her.

Embarrassed, she quickly dropped the bat. "Sorry, I thought someone broke in," she mumbled.

“Good morning, cupcake!” Noah called out with his usual grin. Ava glanced around and realized they were all working out in a fully equipped gym filled with machines and gear she didn’t even recognize.

"Do people come here to work out?" she asked, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

Noah chuckled. "No, these are all Ethan’s. He’s a gym freak."

Ava turned to Ethan, who was focused on lifting weights, his expression unreadable. He didn’t even crack a smile. Wandering over to a punching bag, she gave it a light punch.

“Wait, cupcake—" Noah started to warn her, but it was too late.

Her fist connected with the bag, which barely moved. The impact sent a shockwave up her arm, causing her to lose her balance. She stumbled backward, tripping over her own feet, and landed hard on her backside.

Noah and Liam rushed to help her. "Are you okay?" Liam asked, pulling her up.

Ava rubbed her fist. “Yeah, I think so.” But Ethan? He didn’t even glance in her direction. He put down his weights and walked out of the room without a word.

"Did I piss him off?" she wondered aloud, watching him leave.

Noah laughed, sitting her down on a nearby bench. "Nah, he’s just in a mood. Here, put this on your fist." He handed her an ice pack. It wasn’t from Noah, though—it was from Ethan. He had returned quietly, handed her the ice, and left again without saying a word.

"Is he always that grumpy?" she asked, more to herself than anyone else.

After the little gym incident, they all left to clean up. Ava wandered into the kitchen and found a woman in her early forties busy at the stove. Noah was grabbing water from the fridge when Ava walked in.

“Cupcake, meet the new cook. Ethan hired her for you,” Noah announced proudly.

“A cook?” Ava asked, surprised.

"Yeah, he thought you might need one since we’ve been so busy," Noah explained. "He felt bad for not being around much lately."

Ethan had cared enough to hire someone to take care of her. The thought made Ava smile, even if just a little.

After freshening up, Ava headed downstairs for breakfast. The boys were already there, dressed casually and lounging around the dining table. It looked like they had the day off, and she did a small happy dance in her head—finally, some company.

But as she neared the dining room, something on the TV caught her attention. Her breath hitched in her throat. There, on the screen, were Gabe and Sophie. Her ex-fiancé and her best friend. The news anchor was announcing their wedding, which was only a week away.

Ava’s world froze.

They were getting married in a week? The shock hit her like a tidal wave, and before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face. She stood there, rooted to the spot, as images of them flashed on the screen—Gabe beaming, Sophie looking like she had just won the lottery. It was like a punch to the gut.

How could he move on so quickly? She could hardly breathe. They had been together for five years. Five years! Gabe had taken two whole years just to say "I love you," and now, not even a year after she was declared dead, he was marrying Sophie.

Without thinking, Ava ran upstairs and locked herself in her room. Sobs wracked her body, tears spilling from her eyes as the betrayal, heartbreak, and pain she had buried for so long overwhelmed her. It all came crashing down at once.

They’re getting married. He’s forgotten me.

The weight of it was suffocating. She had never felt so small, so insignificant. The man she had once trusted with her whole heart had cast her aside like she meant nothing.

---

Ava wasn’t sure how long she stayed in that room, crying, but eventually, there was a soft knock on the door.

“Ava?” It was Ethan’s voice, low and gentle.

She wiped her face and opened the door, barely holding herself together. Ethan stood there, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes. Concern? Pity? Or maybe something else she couldn’t quite identify.

Without a word, Ethan pulled her into a hug. For a brief moment, Ava forgot everything. All she felt was the warmth of his embrace, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and a sense of safety she hadn’t realized she needed.

“I’m here,” he whispered softly. "Whenever you're ready to talk, I’m here."

For the first time in a long time, Ava felt like she wasn’t alone.