Chapter 9: Shadows of the Past

Ava's fingers trembled slightly as she slid her student ID across the counter at the campus coffee shop. The barista handed her a steaming cup of coffee, and she managed a weak smile in return. She was running on empty—juggling classes, work, and the emotional fallout from her break with Ethan had taken its toll. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face, the anguish in his eyes as he walked out of her apartment.

But she couldn't afford to dwell on that now. Life had never given her the luxury of wallowing in her pain. She had to keep pushing forward, for herself, for the future she was determined to build, no matter how uncertain it felt at the moment.

As she walked across the quad, she noticed a familiar figure leaning against a tree near the library. Her heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. It was Marcus Stone, a face she hadn't seen in years and had hoped never to see again.

Marcus was from her past—a dark chapter that she had done everything to put behind her. He was the one who had once manipulated and exploited her vulnerability when she was fresh out of the orphanage, desperate for a way to survive. He had presented himself as a friend, a mentor even, but in reality, he had been anything but. His charming smile had masked a cruel streak, and when she had finally seen through his facade, it had taken everything she had to break free from his grip.

And now, he was here.

Ava's breath quickened as she approached the library, hoping to slip inside unnoticed, but Marcus's sharp eyes caught her movement. He pushed off the tree and strolled toward her, his smile as cold as she remembered.

"Ava Morales," he said smoothly, his voice sending a chill down her spine. "Long time, no see."

She stopped in her tracks, her mind racing as she tried to maintain her composure. "Marcus. What are you doing here?"

He chuckled, a sound that made her skin crawl. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"We were never friends," Ava replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "What do you want?"

Marcus's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Still as sharp as ever, I see. I heard you've been doing well for yourself. College, a decent job… not bad for a girl who had nothing."

Ava's stomach twisted with unease. "I'm not that girl anymore, Marcus. Whatever you're here for, I'm not interested."

His eyes darkened, a flicker of anger crossing his face before he masked it with another smirk. "You're right, you're not that girl. But don't think that means you're out of my reach. You owe me, Ava. And it's time to settle up."

Ava's heart pounded in her chest. She had worked so hard to escape Marcus's influence, to build a life where she was in control, where no one could exploit her again. But the fear she had buried deep inside began to resurface as she stared into the eyes of the man who had once made her feel powerless.

"I don't owe you anything," she said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly. "Whatever we had in the past is over. I've moved on, and so should you."

Marcus's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "Oh, Ava. You don't get to walk away from me that easily. You think because you're in college now, with your little jobs and your dreams of a better future, that you're untouchable? You still have debts, girl. And I always collect."

Panic flared in Ava's chest, but she refused to let him see her fear. "I don't have time for this, Marcus. Stay away from me."

She turned to walk away, but Marcus grabbed her wrist, his grip tightening just enough to make her wince. "You're not going anywhere, Ava. Not until we've had a proper chat. You see, I've been keeping tabs on you, and I know you've made some… connections. Friends in high places. A certain rich businessman, perhaps?"

Ava's blood ran cold. Ethan. Somehow, Marcus had found out about her relationship with Ethan. She had never told Marcus about Ethan, had kept her past with him a secret. But now, the man who had once controlled her life seemed to know more than he should.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to pull her wrist free.

Marcus's grip tightened further, his expression turning menacing. "Don't play dumb with me, Ava. You think you can just walk away and forget everything I did for you? You're not going to shake me that easily. You owe me, and now that you've got someone like Ethan Blackwood in your corner, I think it's time to pay up."

Ava's heart hammered in her chest. She had to get out of here, had to put as much distance between herself and Marcus as possible. But fear paralyzed her, memories of the way Marcus had manipulated her in the past flooding her mind.

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind them. "Ava! There you are!"

Ava's head snapped up, relief washing over her as she saw her friend Lena walking toward them, her expression a mix of concern and confusion. Marcus released Ava's wrist, but the cold look in his eyes didn't waver.

"Who's this?" Lena asked, her gaze shifting suspiciously between Ava and Marcus.

"Just an old acquaintance," Marcus said smoothly, stepping back with a mocking bow. "We were catching up."

Ava forced herself to smile, though her hands were trembling. "It's nothing, Lena. I was just leaving."

Marcus smirked, his eyes locking onto Ava's with a silent threat. "I'm sure we'll see each other again soon, Ava. Don't be a stranger."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Ava standing there, her body still trembling with fear and anger.

"What the hell was that about?" Lena demanded, stepping closer to Ava.

Ava swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. "Just someone from my past. I didn't think I'd ever see him again."

Lena frowned, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Ava nodded, though she didn't feel okay at all. "I'm fine. Let's just get out of here."

As they walked away, Ava's mind raced with thoughts of Marcus and the threat he posed. She had escaped him once, but now he was back, and she knew he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. The life she had fought so hard to build was suddenly under threat, and she wasn't sure how to protect it.

And then there was Ethan. She had left him to figure out his life, to deal with the pressures and challenges he was facing. But now, with Marcus back in the picture, she wondered if she should reach out to him, warn him about the danger that lurked in the shadows of her past.

But what would that accomplish? She had been determined to protect Ethan from her past, to keep him safe from the darkness that had once controlled her life. If she brought him into this mess, she could end up dragging him down with her.

Ava's resolve hardened. She had faced worse before, and she had survived. She would find a way to deal with Marcus on her own, without involving Ethan. She couldn't let her past destroy the future she was working so hard to create.

But deep down, a part of her knew that things were spiraling out of control. And as she walked away from the library, the weight of the past pressing down on her shoulders, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a battle she wasn't sure she could win.