The rain came down in sheets that night, soaking the city in silver. Ava stood by the window of Ethan's penthouse, her arms wrapped around herself, watching the streaks race down the glass like tears she didn't have the strength to shed anymore.
Behind her, Ethan moved quietly—checking on Liam, sending firm, clipped messages to PR, legal, and security. The storm outside mirrored the one they were now facing. But through it all, he kept glancing at her like he couldn't believe she was still here. That she hadn't run.
"You should sleep," he said softly.
Ava shook her head without turning. "I'm too wired to sleep."
Ethan stepped behind her, placing a hand gently on her arm. "We're going to be okay."
She looked up at him, her eyes tired but resolute. "You don't know that."
"No," he admitted. "But I believe it."
She studied his face—the sincerity in his voice, the protectiveness in his posture—and felt her guard weaken. The man who once walked away without knowing the truth was now the one shielding her from it all.
"What happens now?" she asked.
Ethan took a breath. "Now? We stop hiding."
"You mean… publicly?" Her heart twisted.
"Yes." His voice was calm, but certain. "They want to scare us into silence. Make you feel like you're some scandal waiting to happen. But if we let them do that, then they win. Claudia. Victoria. Everyone who thinks love is a weakness."
Ava turned to fully face him. "This isn't just about love, Ethan. This is about Liam. About the life we're giving him."
"Exactly," he said. "And I want him to see what it looks like when his parents fight for something. For each other."
Her breath caught.
"You still want that?" she whispered. "After everything?"
He cupped her face gently. "I never stopped."
Just as his lips brushed hers, soft and slow, the thunder cracked overhead. But inside the room, everything went still—just the two of them, hearts pounding in sync, a kiss that tasted like hope and rain and everything they almost lost.
When they broke apart, Ava leaned into his chest, closing her eyes.
And for a moment, it didn't matter who stood against them.
Because they were standing together.
The calm didn't last long.
The next morning, the media storm erupted.
A blurry photo had made its way online—Ava and Ethan standing too close, her hand on his chest, his eyes on her like she was the only person in the room. It was taken the night before, just outside the building, by someone who clearly had a motive.
The headline?
"CEO Caught in Scandalous Reunion with Ex. What About the Fiancée?"
Ava stared at her phone in disbelief as the article exploded across the web. Comments flooded in, speculation spun wildly, and the buzz was deafening.
Ethan's phone rang non-stop. His executive assistant, the legal team, even some board members—everyone demanding answers. Demanding control.
But Ethan? He didn't flinch.
He stepped in front of the cameras that afternoon.
No PR prep. No teleprompter. Just him, raw and real.
"I've remained silent for too long," he began, standing tall at a podium outside Cole Dynamics. "But I won't let false narratives define the truth anymore."
Cameras flashed.
"I was never engaged to Victoria Langley," he said, shocking everyone. "That relationship was manufactured and encouraged by people who thought they knew what was best for me… for this company. But they didn't."
A gasp rippled through the crowd. Ethan paused, then glanced straight into one of the cameras.
"The woman in that photo is Ava Bennett. And no one has ever meant more to me than she does. We share a past. A future. And something even more important than that—a child. My son."
The reporters erupted. Questions fired from every direction.
But Ethan held up a hand. "That's all I'm saying for now. Any further questions can go through legal. But know this—I will protect my family. No matter what it costs me."
Back inside, Ava sat frozen, hand over her mouth. Liam peeked up from the puzzle he was working on, unaware of the war that had just started for his family.
A knock sounded at the door.
Ava opened it—and gasped.
It was Victoria.
Not in her usual designer polish.
But stormy-eyed, lips pressed into a venomous line.
"You really think this is over?" she hissed, stepping inside without invitation.
Ava squared her shoulders. "It's over for you. Walk away, Victoria."
Victoria gave a cold laugh. "Not a chance."
Then she dropped something onto the table between them—a sealed envelope, addressed to Ethan Cole. The handwriting was familiar. Almost too familiar.
Ava's blood ran cold.
"Where did you get this?"
Victoria's smile was pure poison. "Let's just say… you're not the only one with secrets."