Millionaire Marriage

The Threat Within

Chapter 12

The days that followed were tense. Ethan tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, but Ava could see the worry in his eyes every time they spoke. She felt like a ticking time bomb, knowing that her father's decisions were about to catch up with her.

David had sent another message, this time more cryptic. "Stay sharp. They're watching." Ava read it over and over, her mind racing with what it could mean. Did these people already know where she lived? Were they waiting for the right moment to make their move?

Ethan had insisted on staying close. He refused to leave her alone, even for a second. They spent most of their time at his apartment, locked away from the outside world. Ethan was always checking the locks, making sure the security system was armed, and keeping his phone nearby in case of an emergency.

But Ava knew they couldn't hide forever.

One evening, as they sat together on the couch, a silence stretched between them. The TV was on, but neither of them was paying attention. Ava could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on them both. She had to say something—anything to break the tension.

"Ethan," she began, her voice soft, "I'm so sorry I brought this into your life. You didn't sign up for this, and I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to walk away."

Ethan looked at her, his brow furrowing. He reached for her hand, pulling her closer. "Ava, I told you—this is our life now. You don't have to apologize for anything. I'm not going anywhere."

She looked down, biting her lip. "But what if something happens to you because of me? What if these people hurt you to get to me?"

He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "I'm not afraid of them. I'm not afraid of anything as long as I'm with you."

His words were like a balm to her soul, but the fear still lingered in the back of her mind. She wanted to believe that they could get through this together, but the danger felt too close, too real.

The next morning, Ava woke up to find Ethan already up, pacing the living room. He had his phone pressed to his ear, his expression tense. Ava's heart raced—she could tell something was wrong. She quietly stepped closer to listen.

"Are you sure?" Ethan was saying, his voice low and controlled. "Alright. Thanks for letting me know."

He hung up the phone and turned to her, his face serious. Ava's stomach tightened with dread.

"Ethan, what's going on?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over to her, taking both of her hands in his. "That was my security contact. He got a tip that someone's been asking questions about us. Someone connected to your father's debts."

Ava felt the blood drain from her face. "So they know where we are?"

"Not yet, but it's only a matter of time. We need to be careful, Ava. They're getting closer."

The fear that had been simmering inside her now boiled over. She had hoped, maybe foolishly, that they could avoid this, but now it seemed inevitable. These people—whoever they were—would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.

"What do we do?" she asked, her voice shaky.

Ethan pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "We'll leave the city. We'll go somewhere safe, where they can't find us."

Ava looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Leave? But where would we go?"

"I have a place," he said, his voice calm and steady. "It's off the grid, outside the city. They won't be able to track us there."

Ava felt a rush of relief, but it was quickly followed by a sinking realization. "What about my brother? David's still here. I can't just leave him."

Ethan's expression darkened. "I know. But right now, we need to make sure you're safe. We can figure out how to help David once we're out of harm's way."

Ava knew he was right, but the thought of abandoning her brother in the midst of all this turmoil made her stomach churn. Still, the fear of what might happen if they stayed was too great.

She nodded, her voice barely audible. "Okay. Let's go."

They packed quickly, gathering only the essentials. Ethan's cabin was a few hours away, deep in the mountains where no one could find them. As they drove, the tension in the air was palpable. Ava stared out the window, her mind racing with a hundred different thoughts—what if they were already being followed? What if they couldn't outrun the danger?

Ethan kept one hand on the wheel and the other on hers, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. "We'll be alright, Ava. I promise."

Ava tried to believe him, but the fear gnawed at her insides. She wasn't just worried about herself anymore. Ethan had become part of this—part of her life, her future. And now he was at risk because of her past.

As the city disappeared behind them and the road stretched out toward the mountains, Ava felt a strange mix of fear and hope. She didn't know what was waiting for them on the other side, but she knew one thing for certain: as long as she and Ethan were together, they had a fighting chance.

But the shadow of her father's choices loomed large, and Ava couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.