THE STAIN: CONTRACT WIFE FOR THE COLD BILLIONAIRE.

at on the nights

s dead, They had photos,A gra

it in Ava's diary photos,The on

at the broken phone on the floor,Li

d again,But his voice c

d, Smelled like old perfume,Roses an

d, Not from crying,From not sleeping

whispered "I don't k

hospital,No sign of forced entry,No cameras caught a

before she hit the floor Pulled her int

"Don't t you fall a

t is my mom ,And Ava ,Ava's suppo

et Car accident,Face I did not see her face,

pulled back Stared at

e ICU. Three broken ribs, Punctured lung, They s

t felt like they were underwater."11 PM," Lia w

ed "Where I

Lia snapped,Then softer

down gentle Like she had shatter,He walke

mourn her for two years, She let me destroy

lass,Did not break

nding up, Shaky legs but sta

ned "No It

steady even though her hands shook

oth hands on her face again,Like he ha

alone?" he said. "I' would rather die on

hed. "Then come wi

Wh

finally fell "If Ava's really

her tears away, Like he

live, ghost or real, you are the one who stayed You are the

yes, Leaned into

ehead. "We leave in 2 hours,No board,No securi

as 4 hours,Night,Rai

first hour, Both hands on the wheel

s not CEO Ethan. This was a boy who had lost hi

me," she

ur parents died,She taught me how to ride a bike,How to tie

ire's brother, Political deal, She hated it,She told me the ni

the gear shift. "And you fought bec

her to die alone. I thought if I could make her stay, she had b

I have been trying to punish myself for that then you walked in and

lid across the seat until her shoulder touched

her," she

"You are louder,You ar

ey hit Lia harder than "I lo

said: Arriving

e,Black ice from earlier rain

d at the end,

ngine,Silence,Just

," he said. Already

an,If it is her if she is

face,thumb brushed her lip like

aid simply,"But she does n

d hit her face,She wrapped Ethan

ne, Someone was walking

heart s

ed into the one w

, Hair longer now. Face thinne

A

rm, Not sisterly, S

,Voice rough like she had not used

id not breathe, For 10

"You ar

Then who is this?" Sh

Oxygen tank, Lia's mom. E

Half sob, half scre

ot out, stoppin

ike she was an insect, "So this is

" Lia said, Voice shaking

Right, For how long? Until he

t did I do, Ava? Tell me, Because I have b

t away,Close enough Lia could see

d marry her friend to save the Company you had said I was 'too

ted you to be scared, I wanted you to choose me, Instead y

ch dropped.

out downstream,disappeared,Because if I was dead, you

ething inside him snapped. "You let m

Ava said. Then her eyes moved

out from behind Ethan

And dying Just like I was s

himself between Lia and A

at, brother? You wil

d. Like she ha

ngers together"Stop," she said. Not to A

he boy from his story,the one Ava rais

zed her h

ld. "Or I call the police,Right now,and tell them you have b

altered. "You

your death,You kidnapped a sick woman. You have been watc

ted. "You would

world to keep her

oined hands. at the way Ethan

cracked,Just for a se

whispered, Like she

d,"Two years ago I chose g

, Then at her mother on

et, Threw it on the ground,"I have bag's i o

m,Checked her pulse,Weak but there,

kept his eyes on Ava,Li

the edge of the bridge"You

k, the one who taught me to be strong, not t

But no tears fell "

,but not soft enough to forgive. "B

ast time. "You will lose

up from her mom's IV. "He would

then she stepped

peared ove

h,Fog swa

rked up

he ran to the edge, Looked

e," he said,

the distance,Thomp

o Lia, Dropped to his kne

om's pulse.,Then

"For two years I thought I killed her,and

with both hands,"She is not your responsibi

,Like he was seeing h

ehead to hers,Bot

d "I am so sorry I dr

"Do not Don't apolo

er waist, Pulled her close until her mom's gur

into her hair,"Over grief,Over

l on his shirt,"

hers, then he kisse

m back,because

humb brushed her cheekbone,He

did not exist.the water

coughed, Eyes

t instantly,Both

pered, Tears and smi

at Ethan,then at Lia, th

good one," s

ot let go of

le in the back, paramedic

at the dark road

w tight"And she

she com

he does, I will be ready. But I am done livi

im, "Come here,"

ed at her. "

gain,Slid closer until her head was on his shoulder, He

he had been holding h

like rain,"

ke home," Lia

Behind them, Lyon bridge fade

s lights, and maybe,

his mouth. Kissed her knu

secrets,

running,

up, Into the

st them,Door clicks shut Lights dim, Ethan backs her to the wall,his hands

ens,no ghosts,Just Ethan's

nce on the nightsta

hoto,

n Ethan's arms,taken th

3 words in Av

watc