Ava had just arrived at Brera after Leo had dropped her off in his car. Before leaving, he said, "I have a couple of interviews and will be a bit busy before heading to Canada next week. But I want to spend as much time with you as I can. And, I have to say, yesterday was one of the best days of my life, my love. Thank you for planning such a wonderful date." He cupped her cheek, then gently tilted her chin up and kissed her.
She hadn't expected it, but to her surprise, she kissed him back. This time she meant it. He pulled away slightly, then placed another kiss on her cheek before tilting her head to the side and leaving a soft kiss on her neck. Their eyes met, and he deepened the kiss, his hands sliding into her hair, playfully biting his lower lip,making him smile before he kissed her forehead.
"You will be the death of me, Ava Sinclair." He dropped her off in front of her apartment, securing a second date before parting ways. She smiled and waved as he drove off. Just as she searched for her house keys, her phone rang.
Ethan.
She sighed. She had been trying to avoid him, which was why she had gone on a date with Leo to Lake Como. But she knew she couldn't run from him forever.
She picked up the call.
Ava: Hello? Ethan?
Ethan: Ava, $ )@+#($@=@%
Ava: What?
Ethan: I'm $%!=%+ sorry for $-%@! notcalling&-#-#+= you.
Ava: What?? Ethan? Are you there?
Then she heard a loud thud. The line went silent.
Her heart raced. "Ethan?" She called his name over and over, but there was no response.
She ended the call and redialed his number repeatedly until someone finally answered.
Ava: Hello? Ethan?!
Unknown: Your friend fainted.
Ava: Who is this?
Unknown: Michael.
Ava: Where did you find him?
Michael: In front of the Rosa Grand Hotel.
Ava: Can you do me a favor? Please wait there. I'm coming now.
Michael: Okay. Do I need to call an ambulance?
Ava: Yes! Thank you and wait for me, please.
Michael: Okay, okay. I'll wait here.
She rushed to hail a taxi and sped to Rosa Grand Hotel, where a small crowd had gathered around Ethan, trying to wake him. She quickly paid the driver to wait, then the attendant lifted Ethan into the ambulance.
She turned to Michael and thanked him. Then she instructed the taxi driver to follow the ambulance, "Casa di Cura La Madonnina, please. Quickly."
At the hospital, while registering Ethan, she hesitated. She barely knew anything about him—just his name. Desperate, she scrolled through his phone, searching for a familiar contact. She found Luca's number and called.
Luca: Boss? Where are you? It's been half an hour. Everyone's waiting for you.
Ava: Um, hi, Luca. It's Ava. Do you remember me from last time? Hurmm… Ethan collapsed while calling me. Long story short, I brought him to Casa di Cura La Madonnina. Can you come here?
Luca: What???! Of course! I'm on my way now!
She heard Luca shouting something to the people in the background before hanging up.
Ten minutes later, he arrived and immediately arranged for Ethan to be transferred to Milan Medical Center S.R.L. Ava followed Luca while Ethan was taken in an ambulance. At the hospital, doctors rushed to check on Ethan while she and Luca waited outside.
Luca exhaled, finally looking relieved. "Thank you for bringing him. I was really worried."
Ava nodded. "I was worried too. He called me, mumbling something, then went silent."
Luca glanced at her before offering his hand. "I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Luca Albetroz, but you can call me Luca."
Ava shook his hand. "Ava Sinclair but please call me Ava."
Luca smirked. "I know who you are. My boss has a huge crush on you."
Ava blinked. "Did he now?"
Had Ethan actually talked about his feelings with Luca?
Luca chuckled. "Well, I figured. He's been different lately —a good kind of difference. More gentle, more considerate. And coming from someone who's worked for him for five years, that says a lot."
Ava hesitated. "I do like him too… but I don't know if I like him like that yet. You did know that he was kind of a jerk to me before."
"But he apologized?" Luca prompted.
Ava nodded. "Yeah. Then he left for the Bresso event, and now I have no idea where we stand."
Luca leaned forward. "Do you want it to be more?"
She sighed. "I really don't know. I'm kinda in between with someone else now, but I don't want to hurt Ethan's feelings either."
Luca chuckled. "I'm becoming quite the relationship guru these days. My advice? Be honest. If it's meant to be, it'll happen."
Ava nodded. He was right. She needed to be honest with Ethan. After a few hours, the doctor returned with a report.
"He's dehydrated and has a minor stomach ulcer from irregular eating habits. We'll keep him here for observation."
Luca yawned. Ava smiled. "Go home, Luca. I'll stay. My friend Maya is bringing me some of my things anyway." Luca nodded and left an hour later.
Maya and Milo arrived soon after, looking worried. "You okay?" Maya asked.
Ava blinked. "It's not me who fainted. It's Ethan."
Milo, expecting to meet Leo, frowned.
Later, when they found a quieter spot, Ava whispered to Maya, "Ethan kissed me."
Maya gasped. "Wait. I thought you went on a date with Leo?"
"I did. Yesterday. And we kissed too. But Ethan kissed me the day before." She said without looking at Maya's eyes.
Maya's eyes widened. "Damn, girl. You've got a game."
Ava smacked her arm. "It's not funny! I don't know how to tell Ethan without hurting him."
Maya folded her arms. "You're worried about Ethan? What about Leo? How do you think he'd feel if he found out?"
Ava groaned. "I don't know, Maya! How did this even happen?"
Maya smirked. "So, who do you like more? Ethan or Leo?"
For the first time, Ava had no answer.
That night, as she sat by Ethan's bedside, she absent mindedly held his hand, resting it against her cheek. When did things become so complicated?
The next morning, Ethan woke up, smiling at her.
She smiled back—before suddenly getting mad. "Do you even take care of yourself?! You scared me!"
But when she saw his exhausted face, guilt replaced her anger. She quietly helped him eat, wiping his lips as he finished. It reminded her of taking care of her father before he passed away.
Then, just as she was about to pull away, Ethan grabbed her wrist and kissed her. Again. Before she could react, Luca barged in—followed by Ethan 's parents and a woman.
Ava stepped back, stunned as a heated conversation erupted. When Ethan 's father asked them to leave, Ethan protested, but Ava gently pulled Luca out of the room, giving them privacy.
She went home for a while to change her clothes before heading back, crossing paths with Luca. Luca told her they were still inside the room.
A few minutes later, Bruno walked out, followed by Delilah, whose eyes were red from crying, and another woman—Lidya, Ethan 's birth mother—who also stepped out. She looked exhausted.
Delilah and Lidya whispered to each other before walking toward Ava, leaving her confused. "Hi, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Ethan's mother, Delilah, and this is his birth mother, Lidya Engkeranji. And you must be Ava Sinclair. I've heard a lot about you."
"Pleasure to meet you." Ava shook hands with both of them as they smiled at her.
"We're going to excuse ourselves for now. We'll be back tomorrow if he's not discharged yet," Delilah said. Ava nodded as Luca drove them to Ethan 's penthouse.
When she stepped inside Ethan's VVIP room, she found Ethan sobbing. She held back her urge to tell him the truth and hugged him instead. He stopped crying and looked up at her.
"Thank you for being here with me." He kissed her cheek softly. She smiled and asked him what had happened. Ethan started explaining—how he had been abandoned by his birth mother, raised by his adoptive parents, and how his biological father was alive but had no idea he existed. Most shockingly, Lidya Engkeranji was dying. And his name wasn't Ethan. It was Enzo Matteo Marchesi.
'How about that?' Ava listened patiently.
When Ethan finally seemed calmer, she spoke softly. "You have two wonderful mothers who love you dearly and an adoptive father who loves you even more than your own. And now, as her last wish, your mother wants to introduce you to your biological father. I don't know about you, but if I had that kind of support in life, I would give anything in the world to make it come true but whatever you decide, I'll support you no matter what. Choose what you think is best for you."
Ethan looked at her with admiration before suddenly asking, "Ava, thank you for being here with me." She was frozen for a moment. Then, she nodded.
Just then, a message popped up on her phone. It was from Leo. 'I miss you. Can we talk?'
She excused herself and stepped outside. Before she could call him, her phone started ringing. It was Leo. She picked up, grinning.
Leo: "My love. I've missed you."
Ava smiled shyly but kept her cool. "Thank you."
Leo: "HAHA. So,.. I have a meeting with James and an interview session, but after 7 PM, I'll be free. Can I call you then?"
Ava: "I'll try." She was still playing hard to get—she didn't want Leo to think she was easy.
Leo: "Okay. I have a surprise for you. Can't wait to see you again, baby. I miss you."
Ava: "Yeah yeah… miss you too."
Leo: "Miss who?"
Ava: "Miss you."
Leo: "Who do you miss?"
Ava: "Leo."
Leo: "Leo who?"
Ava: "Leo Vargas-Clairmont. Okay, bye bye."
Leo :"Okay my love, see you soon."
She hung up, still smiling.
But when she turned around, she froze.
Ethan was standing there, frowning.
After a brief silence, he asked, "So… who's Leo?"
Shit.