AVA

The moment he left my room, my legs gave out. I didn't even realize when I sat down on the bed.

My heart was still racing and my thoughts were running faster than I could hold onto any of them.

Marry him?

Lucien?

I placed my hands on my face to try to calm my breathing. But the more I thought about what he said, the more the past started rearranging itself in my head.

Small things, things I never questioned before, like the day he told me not to call our parents Mom and Dad.

I was nine.

We were having dinner, and I remember calling Seraphina "Mom". Lucien's voice cut in immediately.

"Don't call her that."

I had looked at him, confused.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because they're not your parents," he said flatly.

I remembered how quiet the table had gone.

Seraphina had tried to smooth it over, saying I could call them whatever made me comfortable but Lucien didn't agree.

Back then, I thought he was just being rude and cold. I thought he didn't like me.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think he was drawing lines on purpose... separating me from the family label in his own mind.

My stomach twisted.

I needed to talk to someone, anyone, so I grabbed my phone and called Stella.

She picked up after a few rings, but the background was loud with music, cheering, and voices overlapping.

"Ava?" she said. "I'm at a concert right now. It's crazy loud. Can I call you later?"

My throat tightened suddenly.

I didn't realize how much I needed to hear someone's voice until that moment.

"Stella..." My voice cracked.

There was a pause on the line.

"Ava? Are you crying?"

I tried to speak, but the tears came faster than the words.

"I... I need to talk to someone," I managed. "I need to talk to you."

Stella's tone changed immediately, sounding so concerned.

"Hey, hey... it's okay," she said quickly. "Hold on, alright? Give me a few minutes. I'll step out and call you back."

"O-okay..."

"Don't hang up on me mentally," she added softly. "I'm calling you back soon."

The line ended.

I dropped the phone beside me and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

My chest still felt tight.

Everything Lucien said replayed in my head.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN MINE.

I covered my eyes with my arms

"This is insane," I whispered.

My phone rang again. It was Stella.

I sat up quickly and answered. This time it was quiet on her end.

"You okay?" she asked immediately. "I left the concert."

Guilt flashed through me. "You didn't have to-"

"Stop," she cut in. "What's going on?"

I swallowed.

"It's Lucien."

"What about him?" she asked. "Is he sick?"

"No." I answered.

"Did something happen? Was there an accident?" She pressed.

"No," I said quickly.

"Then what?" she pressed, losing patience. "Ava, just say it."

I took a deep breath trying to summon enough courage to talk, then I answered. "Lucien wants to marry me."

There was a beat of silence over the phone, then I heard her scream.

"WHAT?"

I winced as her voice burst through the phone.

"You heard me," I muttered weakly.

She went quiet again for two seconds.

Then she laughed, a full disbelieving laugh.

"Ava, stop joking," she said. "That's not funny."

"I'm not joking."

"Wait...you're serious?" she asked slowly.

"Yes."

"Okay. Start from the beginning."

I swallowed.

"He announced it at dinner," I said. "In front of our parents like it was already decided."

"Announced?" she repeated. "Like a proposal?"

"No," I said quickly. "Not a proposal. More like... a declaration."

"What does that even mean?" she asked, confused.

"It means he didn't ask me," I said quietly. "He told them we were getting married."

Stella inhaled sharply on the other end. "You're kidding."

"I wish I was." I muttered.

"Did he hit his head recently?"

Despite everything, I let out a weak laugh. "No."

"So he just woke up and decided to marry his adopted sister?" she said, her disbelief turning into anger. "Is he insane?"

"I told him that," I murmured.

"And?" she demanded.

"He said I'm not his sister."

"What?"

"He said he never saw me as one."

"Ava... that's not normal." She said.

"I know."

"That's not romantic either," she added quickly. "That's controlling."

I didn't answer immediately because the truth was... it didn't feel simple enough to label.

"I'm scared," I admitted. "But I'm also... confused."

"Confused how?" she asked gently.

I stared up at the ceiling again.

"It's the way he said it. He was so certain. He wasn't hoping I'd agree... he already believed I would." I explained.

"That's called arrogance," Stella muttered.

"Maybe," I said. "But it didn't feel like arrogance. It felt like..."

I struggled to find the word.

"Like inevitability," I finished softly. "Like I don't actually have a choice."

Stella swore under her breath.

"Ava, listen to me," she said firmly, "You do have a choice. He doesn't get to decide your life just because he's rich and powerful."

I didn't respond right away because Lucien's voice echoed in my head again

You're still free to say no... but you won't.

"I don't think he sees it that way," I admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... he talked like I've always been his. Like this was decided years ago."

Stella let out a frustrated breath.

"That's obsession, not love."

"He admitted that," I muttered.

"He admitted it?" she repeated.

"Yes."

"Okay, that's worse," she said immediately.

I laughed weakly.

"I don't know what to do, Stella."

Her tone softened. "First," she said, "you breathe."

I exhaled slowly.

"Second, you remember you're not trapped," she continued. "You're an adult. You can leave that house if you want to."

The thought made my chest tighten.

Leave?

I had just gotten back.

"I don't even know if I want to run," I admitted.

"Why not?" she asked.

"I just... need to think," I said instead.

Stella was quiet for a moment, then she spoke again, calmer but still protective.

"Okay. Think but don't let him pressure you into anything."

"I won't."

"I'm coming back." She announced.

I blinked. "What?"

"I'm coming back to Port Elam," she repeated. "Give me two days."

I sat up quickly. "Stella, no. You're not supposed to come back yet. You said you and Mark were waiting until his project was done."

"Forget Mark," she said instantly. "My best friend needs me. I'm not waiting around for a man."

"Girls over guys," she added firmly.

I could picture her shrugging as she said it.

"You're serious?" I asked.

"Dead serious," she replied. "You sound shaken, Ava. I'm not staying miles away while you deal with this alone."

"You don't have to do that," I said softly.

"I want to," she corrected. "Two days. I'll be there."

"Thank you." I murmured.

"Take care," she said and ended the call.

I stared at my phone for a moment, then it buzzed in my hand.

Maya calling.

My heart skipped.

AVA

"So you're back with your rich family now?" Maya, my blood sister, said. I could clearly hear the resentment in her voice.

"Maya," I said softly. "Hi."

She laughed. "Hi?" she repeated. "That's all you have to say after disappearing into luxury for six years?"

My fingers tightened around my phone.

"I didn't disappear," I said carefully. "You knew where I was."

"Oh, I knew," she replied quickly. "London...private university...private jet rides... living the dream."

"Must be nice," she added.

Guilt flickered through me, but I kept my voice calm.

"I didn't choose how things happened."

"No," she said. "You just benefited from it."

I closed my eyes briefly.

"Maya-"

"Do you know when I left the orphanage?" she cut in.

"Yes," I muttered. "Five years ago."

"Eighteen, Ava. I was eighteen." she repeated. "I stayed there until I aged out. No rich family came back for me."

Her words weren't loud but they hit hard anyway.

"I tried to stay in touch," I said softly.

"You called sometimes," she corrected. "From your perfect life."

I didn't argue because any defense sounded hollow.

"And now you're back," she went on. "Back to privilege."

"It's not like that." I murmured.

She ignored that. "So tell me," she said, her tone shifting slightly, "are they finally treating you like one of them?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Did they give you their last name yet?" she asked casually. "Or are you still the charity case they keep around?"

My stomach tightened.

"They never gave you the Hale name, did they?" she continued. "Funny. You lived there all those years, but they still kept that distance."

I didn't answer because I never understood that part either.

"And Lucien?" she added suddenly. "How's your cold, untouchable brother?"

My heart raced immediately.

"He's fine," I said shortly.

"Still ignores you?" she asked.

"I'm tired, Maya." I answered, exhaling through my nose.

She went quiet for a second, then she hummed.

"Alright," she said. "Keep your secrets."

My grip tightened on the phone.

"Maya..."

"I'm just saying," she continued, almost lazily. "So... enjoy being back with your rich family."

I took a breath, then replied, "Goodnight, Maya."

Before she could respond, I ended the call. I stared at my phone for a moment, then let out a long breath.

The irony of it all sat heavy in my chest. To everyone else, my life looked perfect.

I lay back on the bed slowly.

'Perfect.'

I let out a soft, tired laugh, then I curled on my side, pulling the blanket around myself.

I barely slept.

Even when exhaustion pulled me under, my mind never fully rested. Lucien's voice kept echoing in fragments.

"You've always been mine."

"We're getting married."

By morning, I was too drained to think about it anymore. So I focused on the one thing I could still control.

My life.

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of my blazer.

I was dressed corporately, wearing a structured jacket, fitted trousers, and low heels. My hair fell neatly down my back, and my makeup was light but professional.

If nothing else, I could still choose my career. Lucien wasn't going to decide that too.

I picked up my bag and headed downstairs.

Seraphina and Alaric were already at the breakfast table.

The moment Seraphina saw me, guilt crossed her face. It was subtle, but I caught it.

"Good morning, darling," she said softly.

"Morning," I replied.

Alaric gave a small nod. "You're up early."

"I have somewhere to be."

Seraphina's brows pulled together. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to apply for a job."

Seraphina hesitated. "But... Lucien said you shouldn't-"

"I know what Lucien said," I cut in. "I want to work at Greenfield. I don't need his help."

Alaric didn't say anything, but his expression had tightened a little.

I adjusted the strap of my bag and started heading towards the door.

"Ava, wait." Seraphina's voice stopped me.

I sighed, then turned back slowly.

She looked... uncomfortable. More than that, remorseful.

"About yesterday," she began awkwardly.

I shook my head before replying, "There's no need to explain, Sera."

Her lips parted, but I continued before she could speak.

"I don't expect much from any of you anyway."

The words came out calmer than I felt, but they seemed to have landed hard because her face fell instantly.

"Ava..."

"You know," I added, "it finally makes sense now."

She frowned. "What are you saying?"

"Everything."

I met her eyes directly.

"So I was being groomed for your son all along."

The hurt on her face was immediate.

"That's not true," she said quickly. "Ava, that's not true at all."

I didn't respond.

"Everything Lucien is doing," she continued, "It's his decision. His alone."

"But you support him," I said.

She went silent because she couldn't deny that. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"You know Lucien," she finally said, "When he makes a decision... no one can change it."

I held her gaze.

"And that makes it okay?"

She didn't answer, she couldn't.

I glanced at my wristwatch, I had one hour before my interview.

"It's fine," I said. "My appointment is at nine. I need to leave now."

I turned before the conversation could drag any further. As I reached the door, I heard her voice behind me.

"Good luck, Ava."

I paused for a second, then I stepped outside without responding because luck wasn't what I needed.

I needed control and I was determined to take some of it back, starting with my career.