Chapter 5

Ava woke up in a daze, her head throbbing from the blow she had received. She couldn't see anything at first, and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the room.

As she looked around, she realized she was in a small cell, with Max lying next to her. He was unconscious, but she could see the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

Ava tried to move, but she was tied up, her hands and feet bound tightly. She tried to speak, but a gag was preventing her from making any noise.

Suddenly, the door to the cell creaked open, and Alexander stepped inside. Ava's heart raced as he approached, a cruel smile on his face.

"Well, well, well," he sneered. "Look who decided to join us."

Ava glared at him, trying to keep her fear at bay. She knew she couldn't let him see how scared she was.

"What do you want?" she managed to say, her voice muffled by the gag.

Alexander laughed. "Oh, I think you know what I want," he said, stepping closer to her. "But don't worry, I'll make it quick."

Ava could feel her heart racing as Alexander leaned in, his breath hot on her face. She tried to pull away, but she was trapped, with nowhere to go.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise from outside the cell, and Alexander jerked back in surprise. Ava could hear the sound of footsteps approaching, and she felt a rush of hope.

But before she could do anything, Alexander lunged forward, grabbing her by the throat. Ava gasped for air, her vision starting to blur.

As everything went dark once again, she heard a voice, faint but familiar. "Don't worry, Ava," Max said. "I've got you."

Ava woke up to the sound of voices in the distance. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy and sluggish like she had been drugged. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw that she was in a hospital room, with Max sitting in a chair next to her bed.

"Max," she whispered, her throat dry.

He looked up, his eyes lighting up when he saw that she was awake. "Hey, you're finally up," he said, his voice soft.

Ava tried to sit up, but he gently pushed her back down. "You need to rest," he said.

"What happened?" she asked, her mind still foggy.

Max took her hand, his touch gentle but reassuring. "Alexander's men attacked us," he said. "But we managed to fight them off."

Ava felt a surge of relief, but she knew there was still more to the story. "And Alexander?" she asked.

Max's expression grew serious. "He's still out there," he said. "But we'll find him."

Ava nodded, her mind already working on a plan. She knew they couldn't let Alexander get away with what he had done.

As she lay in bed, Ava felt a sense of clarity wash over her. She knew that she had feelings for Max, stronger than she had ever felt before. And she knew that they had to work together to bring Alexander to justice.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and a nurse poked her head in. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's someone here to see you," she said.

Ava and Max exchanged a look, both of them curious. As the door opened, a figure stepped into the room, and Ava's heart skipped a beat.

It was Alexander.

Ava's eyes widened in shock and fear as Alexander strode confidently into the hospital room. Max immediately stood up, ready to defend Ava if necessary.

"What are you doing here?" Max demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Alexander ignored Max and walked straight over to Ava's bedside, his gaze intense. "I came to see how my dear wife is doing," he said, his lips curving into a sinister smile.

Ava felt a chill run down her spine at his words. She knew that Alexander was dangerous, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was planning.

Before she could say anything, Max stepped forward, blocking Alexander's path. "You have no right to be here," he growled.

Alexander's smile turned into a sneer. "I have every right," he said. "After all, Ava is still legally my wife."

Ava felt a surge of anger at Alexander's words. She was determined to fight him and put an end to their sham of a marriage once and for all.

As Max and Alexander glared at each other, Ava's mind raced with possibilities. She knew that she needed to come up with a plan, and fast.

Just then, there was a commotion outside the room, and a group of people burst in, their faces set with determination.

"Police!" one of them shouted. "Everyone freeze!"

Ava felt a wave of relief wash over her as the police arrested Alexander and his accomplices. 

As Ava watched Alexander being taken away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She knew that he wouldn't give up so easily, and she was afraid of what he might do next.

Max came over to her, his face full of concern. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Ava nodded, but she knew that she wasn't really okay. She was still in danger, and she knew that Alexander would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

"I have to go home," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to make sure that everything is okay."

Max nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll come with you," he said.

As they walked out of the hospital, Ava couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that Alexander was still out there somewhere, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching her.

When they arrived at Ava's house, Max went to check the perimeter, making sure that there were no signs of anyone else lurking around.

Ava went inside and immediately went to the safe where she kept all of her important documents. She needed to make sure that everything was still there.

But when she opened the safe, her heart sank. Everything was gone. Her passport, her birth certificate, and all of her money were missing.

She turned around to call out to Max, but before she could say anything, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and everything went black.

When she came to, she was tied up in a dark room, with no idea where she was or how long she had been there. She knew that she was in serious trouble, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the end.

Ava struggled against the ropes, but they were tight and unyielding. She tried to call out for help, but her mouth was gagged, and no sound came out.

As she lay there, she couldn't help but think about Max. Where was he? Was he okay? Had Alexander gotten to him too?

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. Ava strained her eyes, trying to make out who it was, but it was too dark.

The figure walked closer, and Ava could see that it was Alexander.

"Hello, my dear," he said, his voice cold and menacing. "I hope you're comfortable."

Ava tried to speak, but the gag muffled her words.

"Don't bother," Alexander said. "I know what you're going to say. You're going to ask me why I'm doing this, why I'm so obsessed with you."

He walked closer, until he was standing right over her.

"Let's just say that you represent something that I've always wanted," he said, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "And now, I'm going to take it."

Ava's heart raced as she realized the full extent of the danger she was in. She knew that she had to find a way to escape, but she didn't know how.

As Alexander reached down to touch her face, Ava closed her eyes and prayed that someone would come to her rescue. But as she felt his cold fingers on her skin, she knew that she was completely alone.

Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the door. Alexander's head shot up, and he glared at Ava.

"Don't think you're getting out of this so easily," he said, before quickly exiting the room and slamming the door shut.

Ava heard footsteps hurrying down the hallway, and then the sound of a key turning in the lock. The door swung open, and Max burst into the room, his face flushed with anger.

"Ava, are you okay?" he asked, rushing over to untie her.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice hoarse. "But Alexander, he-"

Max's eyes narrowed. "What did he do?"

"He...he said that he wants me, that he's always wanted me," Ava said, her voice trembling. "And then he...he tried to touch me."

Max's expression darkened, and he clenched his fists. "That bastard. He's not going to get away with this."

What are we going to do now that the police can't hold him down Ava looked up at him, her heart racing. "What are we going to do?"