CHAPTER FIVE
Ava's breath came in ragged bursts as she stared at Zoe. The woman's calm composure was infuriating. Every movement, every glance screamed control,the control Daniel had never given Ava, the control he had always reserved for her.
"Zoe," Ava whispered, clutching the folder against her chest. "What are you doing here?"
Zoe's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I came to see for myself," she said. "To make sure the truth was being told… and to protect him, of course."
Ava's stomach twisted. Protect him? Protect Daniel? After everything, she could hardly breathe. "Protect him?" she spat, stepping forward. "He's been lying to me for years! Protect him? Do you know what that feels like?"
Zoe's smile faltered slightly. "I know exactly what it feels like. I loved him first. And I still do."
Ava's knees threatened to buckle. The rage, the betrayal, the fear,it all surged at once. "Loved him? While he married me? While he promised me a life?"
"He didn't promise you anything," Zoe said softly. "You were convenient. Comfortable. Safe. But he never chose you. He's mine, Ava."
Ava's hands shook, but a fierce fire ignited inside her. "Mine? He is the father of my child! And you,you have no right!"
Zoe stepped closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "I have every right. He loves me. He always has. And now… it's my turn."
Adrian moved slightly between them, his expression grim. "Enough." His voice was low but carried authority. "This isn't the time for fights. She came here for the truth. You are not helping anyone by threatening her."
Zoe's gaze flicked to him, and for a moment, Ava thought she might attack. Instead, Zoe leaned back, her smile returning, colder this time. "We'll see about that."
Ava sank into a chair, shaking. She felt like she had been plunged into a nightmare. Every plan she had made, every expectation, had been torn away. She looked down at the folder,every lie, every betrayal laid bare in black and white.
Then she noticed something she hadn't before: receipts for flights, payments to a private clinic, correspondence between Daniel and an unknown number. Her hands flew across the papers. Something new. Something bigger than she had imagined.
Adrian noticed her attention. "That," he said, voice low, "is not just about Serena or Zoe. There is more. Something he's been hiding even from both of them. Something that changes everything."
Ava's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
"I can't say yet," Adrian said. "But you need to understand,you are in more danger than you realize. And Daniel… he will do whatever it takes to keep it hidden."
The warehouse door creaked again. Ava's head snapped up, fear slicing through her like a knife. Another figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted in shadow.
Daniel.
His face was unreadable, his eyes flicking between Ava and Zoe. For a moment, the tension was unbearable. Then he spoke, voice low and dangerous. "Ava… why are you here?"
"I could ask you the same," she said, her voice shaking but defiant. "But I already know the answer."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "You don't understand. None of this is what you think."
Ava laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. "I understand perfectly. You lied. You cheated. You hid everything from me. And now Zoe stands here claiming your heart while I carry your child."
Zoe stepped closer to Daniel, her hand brushing against his arm. "He's mine, Daniel. He always was."
Daniel's eyes flicked to Ava, then back to Zoe. "It's not like that"
"It's exactly like that!" Ava shouted, her anger spilling over. "I trusted you. I believed in you. I gave you everything!"
Daniel's shoulders slumped slightly, but his expression remained guarded. "Ava… I never meant for it to be like this."
Adrian stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Enough talk. This is not the time to argue. You are all risking more than you know."
Ava's eyes narrowed. "More than we know? Adrian, tell me,what else is there?"
Adrian hesitated. "He has another secret. One that neither Serena nor Zoe knows about. One that, if revealed, will change everything. You have to decide quickly. Do you want to know?"
Ava's stomach twisted. She wanted answers, even if they hurt. Even if they destroyed what little stability she had left.
"Yes," she said, voice firm despite the fear curling inside her. "I want to know."
Adrian nodded and pulled out a small, black envelope from his coat. "This contains proof. Proof of everything Daniel has hidden. And it's not just about love or betrayal. This is bigger,much bigger. And it will put everyone in danger."
Ava took the envelope with trembling hands. She felt the weight of it, heavier than any physical object she had ever held.
Daniel stepped closer, eyes hard. "Ava… you don't know what you're doing."
"I know exactly what I'm doing," she said, her voice steady. "I'm taking control of my life. Of my child's life. And of the truth. No more lies."
Zoe laughed softly, almost mockingly. "Good luck with that. He's always been cleverer than you think."
Adrian's gaze darted toward the door, tension visible in every line of his body. "We don't have much time. He will try to stop us. And this time… he will not hesitate to use everything at his disposal."
Ava's hands clenched the envelope tightly. She felt fear, yes, but it was laced with determination. She would not run. She would not hide.
Suddenly, the lights in the warehouse flickered and went out, plunging them into darkness.
Ava froze. Her heart pounded as the sound of footsteps echoed in the shadows.
Then, a voice she thought she would never hear again cut through the darkness:
"Going somewhere, Ava?"
And in that moment, she realized,this fight was far from over.