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Ethan Hawthorne was once deeply in love with Ava Carter-until betrayal shattered their world. Now a self-made billionaire, he's retreated into isolation, building an empire but losing himself in the process. When fate forces Ava back into his life, old wounds resurface, and buried emotions ignite. Can they find their way back to each other, or is their love beyond repair?
Chapter 1 1
The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of vanilla and cinnamon. Ava Carter stood behind the counter of Coastal Brews, wiping her hands on a towel as she watched the early morning crowd filter in. The little café had been her sanctuary for the past five years-a small, warm space with wooden tables, soft yellow lighting, and a wall filled with handwritten notes from loyal customers.
It was a place built on love, on memories, on survival.
She had fought tooth and nail to keep it running.
And she wasn't going to lose it now.
The moment the door swung open, a gust of cold ocean air rushed in, along with the deep, controlled footsteps of a man she hadn't seen in ten years.
Ava's fingers tightened around the coffee mug in her hand.
Ethan Hawthorne.
He stepped inside like he owned the world-which, in a way, he did. The man who once kissed her like she was his last breath, who whispered promises under the stars, who vanished from her life without looking back.
He had changed.
The warm, easy-going Ethan she had once loved was gone.
In his place stood a ruthless billionaire, his presence commanding the entire café. Dressed in a sharp black suit, he looked like he had just walked out of a Wall Street meeting rather than a sleepy coastal town. His face, all sharp angles and dark stubble, was unreadable.
But his eyes-those piercing stormy-blue eyes-landed on her.
And Ava felt herself being dragged back in time.
Silence stretched between them. The noise of the café faded, drowned out by the roaring pulse in Ava's ears.
She forced herself to breathe, setting down the mug before she shattered it.
Ethan, for his part, remained perfectly composed.
Until he spoke.
"You look well."
The deep timbre of his voice sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.
Ava swallowed, keeping her expression neutral. "You don't."
A flicker of something-amusement? Annoyance?-passed through his gaze before it vanished behind a mask of indifference.
"I see you still have a sharp tongue," he murmured.
"And I see you still have a habit of showing up uninvited," she shot back.
That got a reaction. His jaw tightened.
"Actually," he said, sliding a document onto the counter, "I have every right to be here."
Ava frowned, hesitating before reaching for it. As her eyes scanned the bolded words at the top, her stomach dropped.
Hawthorne Industries is now the official owner of this establishment.
The words blurred.
Her fingers clenched the paper as she lifted her gaze, her heart hammering. "No. This... this is a mistake."
Ethan's expression remained infuriatingly calm.
"It's not a mistake," he said, tilting his head slightly. "I own this entire block, including your café."
Ava felt like the ground had been yanked from beneath her.
"You're lying."
Ethan arched a brow. "I don't waste my time lying."
Her chest tightened. No. No, no, no.
This café was her everything. Her safe place.
And now, it was his.
Ava forced herself to hold her ground. "So, what? You came all this way just to throw this in my face?"
Ethan let out a slow breath. "I didn't come here to argue, Ava."
Her laugh was sharp, bitter. "Then what did you come for, Ethan?"
Silence.
His lips parted, as if he was about to say something, but then he stopped himself.
His hesitation sent a sharp pang through her chest.
She knew this man. She once knew him better than anyone.
And the fact that he was hesitating meant one thing-there was more to this than he was letting on.
Ava's hands trembled, but she gritted her teeth and steadied herself. "You should go."
Ethan's eyes darkened. "Ava-"
"I don't care why you're here. I don't care what games you're playing. But you're not getting this café without a fight."
A slow smirk curled at the edge of his lips. "Oh, I was hoping you'd say that."
The moment Ethan walked out, Ava collapsed onto a chair, gripping the paper in her hands.
This couldn't be happening.
Not now.
Not when she had finally rebuilt her life.
She took a shuddering breath, forcing herself to focus. There had to be a way out of this.
But before she could even form a plan, her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown Number: "He's back. You need to leave. Now."
Ava's heart stopped.
Her blood turned to ice.
She stared at the screen, reading the words again and again.
Unknown Number: "You're not safe, Ava. Get out while you can."
Her breath caught.
Because she knew exactly who had sent that message.
And if they were reaching out now...
It meant the past was catching up to her.
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Chapter 1 1
01/04/2025
Chapter 2 2
01/04/2025
Chapter 3 3
01/04/2025
Chapter 4 4
01/04/2025
Chapter 5 5
01/04/2025
Chapter 6 6
01/04/2025
Chapter 7 7
01/04/2025
Chapter 8 8
01/04/2025
Chapter 9 9
01/04/2025
Chapter 10 10
01/04/2025
Chapter 11 11
01/04/2025
Chapter 12 12
01/04/2025
Chapter 13 13
20/04/2025
Chapter 14 14
20/04/2025
Chapter 15 15
21/04/2025
Chapter 16 16
21/04/2025
Chapter 17 17
23/04/2025
Chapter 18 18
23/04/2025
Chapter 19 19
24/04/2025
Chapter 20 20
24/04/2025
Chapter 21 21
26/04/2025
Chapter 22 22
26/04/2025
Chapter 23 23
28/04/2025
Chapter 24 24
28/04/2025
Chapter 25 25
28/04/2025
Chapter 26 26
30/04/2025
Chapter 27 27
01/05/2025