ings that were not clean. It wasn't just about dirt or mess. It was abou

by shattered picture frames. Her father' s clothes were already gone. He had left a note, explaining that he

to a quiet, sad woman who was afraid to trust anyone ever again. Ava promised herself she would never be her mother. She

had been so hes

boy of the city's real estate scene. She was a quiet, gifted architect, more comfortable with blueprint

with a portfolio full of heavy design boards. Ethan was waiting outside for her. He took the portfolio from her without a word. On the way to his car, he missed a step on the wet paveme

ppeared in her defenses. He s

he had just completed, a building she had consulted on. The room was filled with whit

ill spend the rest of my life cherishing you, protecting y

herself imagine. Her internal voice screamed warnings, reminding her of her father, of her mother's broken heart.

d her work, celebrated her successes, and seemed to adore her completely. The perf

e video

ject, just a single video file attached. She opened

as with a woman, a younger woman with ambitious eyes whom Ava recognized instantly. Chloe, a ris

ir with a desperate familiarity that made Ava's stomach clench. The camera angle

er belly. "She's kicking," Chloe said, her voice

eft inside her. She stayed on the cold tile floor for hours. The perfect life, the solemn vows, the man who had stumbled on the step

molished the entire structure, leaving nothing but dust and rubble. He hadn't just lied to her. He had built a whole other li