Millionaire Marriage

New Beginnings

Chapter 20

The cabin stood quietly amid the trees, a quaint refuge in the midst of chaos. Its rustic charm was both welcoming and reassuring, with warm wooden tones and the scent of pine wafting through the air. As Ava stepped inside, she felt a flicker of hope ignite within her—a sense of safety they hadn't experienced in what felt like ages.

"Welcome to the safe house," the driver said, ushering them inside. "It's not much, but it'll keep you hidden for now."

Ava took in the small living area, which had a cozy fireplace, a small kitchen area, and a couple of comfortable-looking chairs. A staircase led up to what she assumed were the bedrooms. "It's perfect," she said, unable to hide her relief.

Ethan stepped further into the cabin, his eyes scanning the space. "Is there a way to secure the windows and doors?" he asked the driver, his protective instincts kicking in.

"Absolutely," the driver replied, nodding. "There's a lock on the door, and the windows are all reinforced. Just make sure to keep the curtains drawn."

As they settled in, Ava felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "I need to sit down for a minute," she said, sinking into one of the chairs.

"Same here," David muttered, flopping down on the couch. "I didn't realize how tired I was until now."

Lisa moved to the kitchen area, rifling through cabinets. "I'll see if there's anything to eat," she said, her voice brightening. "I think we could all use a meal."

"Good idea," Ethan replied, finally relaxing a bit as he leaned against the wall. "Let's regroup and come up with a plan once we've eaten."

Ava watched as Lisa pulled out some canned goods and rummaged for a can opener. "What's our next move?" she asked, turning to Ethan. "How do we get to the bottom of this?"

Ethan's expression grew serious again. "First, we need to figure out who's behind all of this. I still have my contact who might be able to help, but we need to be careful. If they're looking for David, we can't risk putting anyone in danger."

"I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me," David said, his voice low.

Ava reached out, squeezing his hand. "We're all in this together, David. No one's getting hurt. We'll protect you."

"Thanks," he replied, a hint of gratitude lighting his eyes.

After a simple meal of canned soup and crackers, they gathered around the small table. Lisa poured everyone some water, and they all took a moment to catch their breath.

"Alright," Ethan began, folding his hands in front of him. "Here's the plan. I'll reach out to my contact and see if they can help us find out who's after David. In the meantime, we need to stay hidden and keep a low profile."

"Should we contact the police?" Ava suggested hesitantly.

Ethan shook his head. "We don't know who we can trust right now. If the wrong people are involved, it could put you all at greater risk. Let's keep it between us for now."

Ava nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "What if they find us here?"

"We'll deal with that if it happens," Ethan said firmly. "For now, we need to focus on gathering information."

After their discussion, they moved into the living area, each finding a place to sit. The tension in the room was palpable, but there was a sense of camaraderie as they faced the uncertainty together.

As the sun began to set, casting golden rays through the trees, Ava felt a wave of comfort wash over her. They were safe, for the moment, and they were together.

"Let's set up a watch," Ethan suggested, looking at each of them. "We can take turns keeping an eye out while the others rest."

David volunteered first. "I'll take the first shift. I feel restless anyway."

"I can go after you," Lisa said. "I'm not that tired."

"Sounds good," Ethan replied. "I'll take the last shift. Ava, you should get some sleep."

Ava hesitated, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on her. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine," Ethan assured her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You need to rest so you're ready for whatever comes next."

With a nod, Ava finally agreed. She headed upstairs to the bedroom, her mind racing as she climbed the stairs. The cabin felt oddly serene, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.

Once inside the small room, she closed the door and took a deep breath. The bed looked inviting, and she finally allowed herself to sink into it, exhaustion pulling her under almost immediately.

Ava awoke hours later, her mind groggy as she rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was dark outside, and she felt a moment of disorientation. But as she remembered where she was, a sense of calm settled over her.

As she slipped out of bed, she heard muffled voices coming from downstairs. Curiosity piqued, she quietly opened the door and crept down the stairs, wanting to see what was happening.

When she reached the bottom, she paused, listening to the conversation. Ethan and David were discussing something, their voices low but intense.

"I just don't understand why they're after me," David said, frustration seeping into his tone.

Ethan sighed. "I know it doesn't make sense, but we need to figure it out. You have to trust me on this."

"I do trust you," David replied, his voice earnest. "It's just... I feel like I'm a target for something I didn't even do."

"Let's not dwell on that right now," Ethan said. "We'll get to the bottom of it. Right now, we need to focus on keeping you safe."

Ava stepped into the room, her presence breaking the tension. "What's going on?"

Ethan turned, relief washing over his face. "I was just filling David in on what we know so far. It's not much, but we're working on it."

"Have you heard anything from your contact?" Ava asked, her heart racing with hope.

"Not yet," Ethan replied, running a hand through his hair. "But I'll reach out again in the morning."

"Okay," Ava said, moving to sit beside David on the couch. "We'll figure it out together."

As they sat in the warmth of the cabin, a sense of determination began to blossom. They were together, united in their fight against the unknown.

Hours passed, and the night stretched on, filled with conversation and plans for the future. They shared stories of their lives before this chaos began, laughter breaking through the tension like rays of sunlight piercing through dark clouds.

As the clock ticked toward midnight, Ava felt a sense of peace settle over her. They were a family, bound by more than blood, and together they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

But just as she felt herself beginning to relax, a sudden loud bang echoed through the cabin, shattering the calm.

"What was that?" David exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear.

Ethan's expression hardened as he shot to his feet. "Stay here," he commanded, his voice low and fierce.

Ava's heart raced as she exchanged glances with Lisa, who had just come down from her watch. "What do we do?" Ava whispered, fear creeping back in.

"We prepare for the worst," Ethan replied, moving toward the door, his determination palpable.

As they stood together in the dim light, Ava knew that their journey was far from over. The calm before the storm had shattered, and they were now faced with the reality that danger was always just a heartbeat away.