He was thirty-eight, a charismatic tech CEO in New York

first three years of marriage, he made

often fixed on her with an ado

ed him without question, and no

an beneath his focused attention, a flicker in his gaze whe

he was loved, and th

s world fractured. Her mother ca

her. A heart attack

ne, her hands shaking as she dialed Ethan. He

cem

d again.

texts pleading for him

le

iend who happened to be in London

as E

round a woman, their heads cl

Hayes, Ava's older,

er bones, stealing the air from her lungs. The man i

ady passed. He walked into their apartment, his face a mas

at the summit venue, a total nightmare,

mises of a memorial trip, anythi

ng but a chill

truly looked at him

she said, her voice flat, devoid

on the marble isla

of surprise in his eyes. "Papers

lder, his demeanor cas

smile playing on his lips. "Or perhaps that littl

tention elsewhere, already planning his next

temporary, a grief-stricken

ed he had her,

reaching for his pen. "Especially now. We

gesture that once filled her with

ntended, no inkling of the chas

is study. His voice was low, intimate, a tone she h

eing you." A pause. "London was good

words confirming the betrayal that had

a future that clearly included

lked silently bac

l sound that echoed the desolation in her heart. She packed not

he was a photography student, interning at a galler

ttention unwavering. He pra

ly, and he made her

nd of expensive dinners, surp

terested in her, in her dream

her great love story. Now, that story

ays been eage

he'd say, his voice soft, "or a

y, of the joy a child would

seemed natu

amily deeply, ha

ss took on a sin

, or a child that fit a di

s a cold stone

frantic calls to Ethan, the desperate hope that h

ever

n was in London, chasing a ghost, or p

r were about wanting to see her happy,

burned in Ava's memory, fueled by Et

ther grain of sand in th

eeting, Ava felt a desperate need for answers. She wen

told her once, casually,

ked drawer in his antique desk. She found the key hidden

bled as she tu

revealing not business

f them. Olivia laughing, Olivia

notes from Ethan to Olivia, fill

-bound digital journ

nded as she s

is consuming love for Olivia, his devastation when

. He wrote about seeing A

triking resemblance

e about

ng to ice. Ethan had orch

re he had played the hero, rushing to her aid afte

red the

all because she l

ire for a child that would carry Olivia's featu

er love, her pregnancy – all built on

d. Ava sank to the floor, the

m. She was a stand-i

very identity in their ma

nd sharp, began to b

via. She would not be a

not be a pawn in

new resolve ha

his lie. She woul

her heart clea

reconciliation, Ava approached Etha

t property investment, darling," sh

a call, and signed w

were not fo

ng her full control over their p

cal cons

ld not know for a long time, was th

e had made a painf

no baby to lo

o child to bind

eady had th

substitute, and nei