The apartment in New York

Chapter 3: Unveiling shadows

Ava couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach. Ethan's temper and the strange outbursts were becoming more frequent, and she felt the need to keep her guard up. She confided more in Jess, who was always there with a comforting word and a shoulder to lean on.

One afternoon, while sitting in her room, Ava received a text from Ethan asking if she could come over. He said he had a surprise for her, and despite her reservations, she decided to go. She hoped that whatever he had planned might ease the growing tension between them.

When she knocked on Ethan's door, he greeted her with a broad smile. "Hey, Ava. Come in. I have something to show you."

Ava stepped inside, her eyes immediately drawn to a large canvas covered by a cloth in the middle of the living room. "What's this?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

Ethan grinned, pulling the cloth off to reveal a beautiful painting of the New York skyline at sunset. "I made this for you. I know how much you love the city."

Ava was genuinely touched. "Ethan, it's amazing. Thank you." She reached up to kiss him, feeling a moment of genuine happiness.

"I'm glad you like it," he said, his eyes softening. "I wanted to do something special for you."

For a moment, all her doubts faded. They spent the evening talking and laughing, and Ethan seemed like the charming, caring person she had first met. But as the night wore on, Ava noticed subtle changes in his demeanor—tension creeping back into his features.

As they sat on the couch, Ethan's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and his expression darkened. "Excuse me for a moment," he said curtly, stepping into the hallway.

Ava couldn't help but overhear the heated conversation. Ethan's voice was low but angry, and she caught snippets of words that made her heart race—"money," "deal," and "don't call me again."

When he returned, Ethan's face was a mask of calm, but Ava's unease had returned. "Everything okay?" she asked cautiously.

"Yeah, just work stuff," he replied, but his tone was clipped, and Ava knew he wasn't being entirely truthful.

The next day, Ava met Jess for lunch at their favorite café. Jess could tell immediately that something was wrong. "What's going on, Ava?"

Ava sighed, stirring her coffee absently. "Ethan's been acting strange. His temper is worse, and he's secretive about things."

Jess frowned. "You need to be careful, Ava. This doesn't sound good."

"I know," Ava said quietly. "I just... I don't know what to do. I care about him, but I can't ignore the warning signs."

Jess reached across the table, taking Ava's hand. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, whatever you decide."

Ava smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Jess. I appreciate it."

As the days passed, Ava found herself increasingly torn. She wanted to believe in Ethan, to think that the good she saw in him outweighed the bad. But the shadows in their relationship were growing darker, and she couldn't ignore the nagging voice in her head telling her to be cautious.

One evening, after another argument with Ethan that left her shaken, Ava decided to dig a little deeper. She needed to understand what was going on in his life that he wasn't telling her.

Ava called Mark, the neighbor who had previously expressed concern about Ethan. "Hey, Mark. Can we talk? I need to ask you something."

"Of course, Ava. Come over," Mark replied, sounding genuinely concerned.

When Ava arrived at Mark's apartment, she felt a sense of relief. Mark and his wife Rachel welcomed her warmly, offering her a seat and a cup of tea.

"So, what's on your mind?" Mark asked, sitting across from her.

Ava took a deep breath. "It's about Ethan. He's been... different lately. More angry, secretive. I overheard a phone call about money and deals, and I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."

Mark exchanged a worried glance with Rachel before turning back to Ava. "We've noticed some things too. Ethan's always been a bit volatile, but lately it's been worse. We've heard the arguments and seen the mood swings."

Rachel leaned forward, her expression kind but serious. "Ava, you need to be careful. If you ever feel unsafe, you can come to us."

Ava felt a lump in her throat. "Thank you. I just don't know what to do."

Mark nodded. "Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Keep your distance if you need to, and don't hesitate to call the police if you feel threatened."

Ava left their apartment with a mix of gratitude and fear. She knew she had to confront Ethan, but the thought of it made her stomach churn. She decided to take Mark and Rachel's advice seriously—she would trust her instincts and prioritize her safety.

That night, Ava lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't keep ignoring the signs. Ethan's charm and moments of kindness couldn't overshadow the growing darkness she sensed in him. She resolved to talk to him the next day, to get answers and make decisions based on what she discovered.

The following morning, she called Ethan. "Hey, can we talk? I think we need to clear the air about some things."

"Sure, come over," Ethan replied, his voice unusually calm.

Ava felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest as she walked to Ethan's apartment. She knocked on the door, and when he opened it, she could see the tension in his eyes.

"Ava, what's this about?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Ethan, I need to know the truth. What's going on with you? You've been angry, secretive, and it's starting to scare me."

Ethan's expression hardened for a moment before he sighed, rubbing his temples. "I've been under a lot of stress, Ava. Work has been hell, and I've got some family issues that I didn't want to burden you with."

"That phone call I overheard... it didn't sound like just work or family issues," Ava pressed, her voice shaking slightly. "I need you to be honest with me."

Ethan's eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly composed himself. "It's complicated. I didn't want to drag you into it because I care about you."

Ava felt a mix of frustration and fear. "I care about you too, Ethan, but I can't keep ignoring these warning signs. I need to know what's really going on."

Ethan looked at her, a battle waging behind his eyes. Finally, he nodded. "Okay. I'll tell you everything. But you have to promise not to judge me until you hear the whole story."

Ava nodded, her heart pounding. "I promise."

As Ethan began to explain, Ava braced herself for the truth, knowing that whatever he revealed could change everything.