Millionaire Marriage

Confrontation

Chapter 21:

Ava's heart raced as she exchanged fearful glances with Lisa and David, the echoes of the bang still reverberating in her ears. The cabin felt suddenly too small, the walls closing in with a sense of impending danger.

"Ethan, wait!" Ava called out as he moved toward the door, his body tense with purpose.

"Stay back, Ava. I need to check it out," he said, his voice steady, though she could see the tension in his jaw.

She hated the idea of him going alone but knew there was no reasoning with him in this moment. "I'm coming with you," she insisted, stepping forward.

"Ava, it's not safe!" he shot back, his protective instincts flaring. But the look in her eyes told him she wouldn't back down.

With a resigned sigh, he relented. "Fine, but stay close."

They moved together toward the door, and Ethan carefully opened it, revealing the darkened porch outside. The moonlight cast eerie shadows across the ground, and the silence that followed the noise was deafening.

"Did anyone else hear that?" Lisa whispered, her voice trembling as she peeked over Ava's shoulder.

"I heard it," David said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It sounded like it came from the back of the cabin."

"Let's check it out," Ethan said, stepping outside with Ava at his side.

As they moved around the cabin, Ava felt her senses sharpen. The chill in the air seemed to intensify as they approached the back, and every rustle of leaves made her jump.

They reached the rear of the cabin, and Ethan motioned for them to be quiet. The moon illuminated a small clearing, revealing nothing but trees and shadows. But Ava couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Suddenly, another noise broke the stillness—a sharp crack, like a twig snapping underfoot. Ethan's body stiffened, and he turned to face the direction of the sound.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice low but commanding.

Silence hung in the air for a moment, tension thick as they all waited for a response. Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward—a tall man, his face partially obscured by a hooded sweatshirt.

"Ethan," the man said, a sly grin creeping across his face. "I didn't expect to find you here."

Ava's heart sank as recognition washed over her. It was Marcus, Ethan's estranged brother, the last person they wanted to see right now.

"Marcus, what are you doing here?" Ethan demanded, anger and disbelief flooding his voice.

"I came to see how you were doing," Marcus said, his tone deceptively casual. "You've been quite the busy little bee lately, haven't you?"

"What do you mean by that?" Ethan snapped, stepping protectively in front of Ava and David.

"Oh, you know—hiding out in the woods, playing house with your little friends," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Ava and David. "You think this will keep you safe?"

Ava felt a shiver run down her spine, the hostility in Marcus's voice palpable. "We're not here to cause trouble," she said, trying to diffuse the situation. "We just want to be left alone."

"Too bad," Marcus replied, his grin widening. "You're in my way now, and that's a problem. I didn't come all this way just to let you walk away."

"What do you want?" Ethan growled, fists clenched at his sides. "If this is about the past, I'm not interested in your games."