The midnight cravings

Shadows of Trust

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Word count- 729

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Ava Sinclair had never doubted her father. To her, Victor Sinclair was more than just a name that carried power—he was her anchor, the steady presence who had always protected her. He had built a world where she felt untouchable, even amidst the ruthless dealings that came with being a Sinclair.

So when the unknown message lit up her phone screen that afternoon, it shook her more than she cared to admit.

"Stay out of it, or you’ll regret it."

The words were unsettling, but what gnawed at her more was the implication—it. Whatever it was, Ava was certain she wasn’t part of it.

The phone almost slipped from her hands as her thoughts raced. At first, she considered dismissing it as a mistake or a random act of intimidation. But the pit in her stomach told her otherwise. Someone knew her name, and they wanted her to feel the weight of those words.

She dialed her father’s private number, the one few had access to. He answered on the first ring.

"Ava?" His voice was sharp, alert.

"I got a strange text," she said, her voice steady despite her nerves. "It’s... threatening. I forwarded it to you."

A brief silence stretched before Victor replied, his tone unreadable. "Come home. Now."
    
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The Sinclair estate was as grand as ever, a fortress of glass and stone that overlooked the city. But tonight, it felt more like a cage. Ava walked into the study to find her father standing by the massive oak desk, his face shadowed in the dim light of the room.

Victor glanced at her phone, now sitting on the desk with the ominous message still visible. His jaw tightened as he picked it up, his sharp eyes scanning the words.

"Where were you when you got this?" he asked.

"In my office," she replied.
"What does it mean? Is someone targeting us?"

He set the phone down with a deliberate motion, his expression hard to read. "It’s nothing you need to worry about. Just take it seriously."

"Seriously?" she repeated, frowning. "Dad, someone is threatening me, and you’re telling me it’s nothing to worry about? That doesn’t make sense."

Victor exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked... tired, she realized. More so than usual.

"It’s complicated," he said finally. "What I need from you is to stay cautious. Don’t step out unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you do, take the bodyguards—no arguments."

Ava’s frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior. "Why won’t you tell me what’s going on? Is it a business rival? Some deal gone bad? I’m not a child, Dad. I can handle the truth."

Victor’s gaze softened for a moment, but the steel returned just as quickly. "I know you’re not a child, Ava. You’re smart, capable, and stronger than you realize. But this... this isn’t something you need to know about right now."

"Why not?" Her voice rose slightly, uncharacteristic of her. "If it’s dangerous enough that I need protection, shouldn’t I at least know what I’m protecting myself from?"

Victor took a step closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Because there are things in my past—choices I’ve made—that I never wanted to touch you. This is one of them. And the less you know, the safer you’ll be."

His words struck her like a blow, and for the first time, she saw something in her father’s eyes that she couldn’t quite place: regret.

She swallowed hard, the fight leaving her voice. "Okay," she said quietly. "I’ll stay home. I’ll take the guards. But I trust you, Dad. Don’t shut me out completely."

Victor nodded, a faint trace of relief crossing his features. "I promise. You’re my priority, Ava. Always."

But as Ava left the study, her mind raced. Her father had never let her see the cracks in his armor before. What could be so dangerous that he was keeping it from her?

And why did she feel like the shadows creeping into their lives were only the beginning?

°°°°°

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Will upload the 3rd part soon because this one isn't very interesting
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