Millionaire Marriage

Threads of Deception

Chapter 23

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the warmth of the light brought a false sense of security to the cabin. Ava felt a mix of hope and anxiety as they gathered around the kitchen table, each of them aware that the peace could shatter at any moment.

Ethan looked around at his friends, determination etched on his face. "Alright, let's lay out the plan. David, you're right; we need to gather intel, but it'll be risky. We can't let Marcus see you coming."

"I can wear a hoodie and cap," David suggested. "I'll blend in better that way."

"Good idea," Ethan replied. "And keep your phone on you. Text us if you see anything suspicious."

Lisa chimed in, "I can stay here and monitor everything. If I hear anything or see anyone approaching, I'll call you."

Ava felt a knot of worry tightening in her stomach. "What if Marcus shows up while we're apart? I don't want anyone to be alone."

"We'll be fine," Ethan assured her, his voice firm yet gentle. "We're stronger together, but we can't let fear paralyze us. We have to take action."

Ava took a deep breath, knowing he was right. "Okay, let's do this. But we need a backup plan, just in case."

They discussed their strategies, each of them feeling the weight of their choices. With the plan set, David and Ethan prepared to head out, while Lisa stayed behind to watch over the cabin.

Ava stood by the door, her heart racing as she watched them leave. "Be careful," she called out, anxiety flooding her voice.

"Always," Ethan replied, turning back to give her a reassuring smile before disappearing into the woods.

Once the door closed behind them, Ava felt the silence in the cabin envelop her. "What do we do now?" she asked Lisa, trying to focus on something other than her rising fears.

"Let's clean up a bit and prepare the cabin," Lisa suggested, glancing at the messy kitchen. "If we're going to be here for a while, we need to make sure it's livable."

As they tidied up, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Each creak of the floorboards made her jump, and every rustle outside sent shivers down her spine.

"Do you think they're out there?" Ava asked, trying to suppress her fear.

"I don't know," Lisa replied, her brow furrowing. "But we can't let it get to us. We need to focus on what we can control."

After an hour of cleaning, Ava and Lisa settled at the table with mugs of coffee, the warm aroma filling the air. "So, what do you think Marcus wants?" Ava asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the lingering tension.

"Power, control—whatever he thinks he lost," Lisa said, her tone thoughtful. "But it's not just about Ethan. There's more to it. Maybe it's about the family business, too."

Ava nodded, deep in thought. "Ethan mentioned that Marcus was angry about losing control after their parents died. But it feels like there's something deeper going on."

Just then, Ava's phone buzzed on the table, jolting them both. She grabbed it, her heart racing as she read the message from Ethan: "We're heading into town. Will text you soon."

Relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by the nagging feeling that something was off. "I just wish we had more information," Ava murmured.

Hours passed, and they fell into a routine of waiting and cleaning. Every time the wind rustled the leaves outside, Ava's heart skipped a beat. But as evening approached, a strange feeling settled in her gut.