Chapter 10: Ava Under Fire

Ava knew Elizabeth didn't like her, but she never imagined the lengths Ethan's mother would go to push her out of his life. What began as cold stares and veiled insults escalated into something more sinister—something designed to break her spirit.

The first sign was the sudden difficulties at work. Her hours at the café were cut without explanation, leaving her struggling to keep up with bills. Her boss, who had always been friendly, suddenly became distant, criticizing her performance over minor mistakes. Ava suspected Elizabeth had something to do with it, but she had no proof—just a gnawing feeling that she was being watched, judged, and undermined from the shadows.

Things grew worse when rumors began to spread at her university. It started with whispers—other students claiming that Ava was using Ethan's influence to secure special treatment. Professors who had once praised her hard work now looked at her with suspicion. When she confronted one of them, she was told, "We've received complaints about academic dishonesty. I hope you're not relying on your connections to get ahead, Miss Morales."

Ava was shocked. She'd worked tirelessly to build her future, and now, all of it was being threatened by rumors she had no idea how to fight. She knew Elizabeth was behind it. The timing was too perfect, the accusations too coordinated. But she couldn't prove anything, and the more she tried to defend herself, the guiltier she appeared.

Meanwhile, Ethan was dealing with his own problems. His company was under pressure, and the board was becoming more vocal in their concerns about his leadership. He could see his mother's fingerprints all over the unrest within the company, but every time he tried to confront her, she deflected with icy calmness.

"Your distraction is costing us," she said one evening during a tense dinner at the Blackwood estate. "You're losing focus, Ethan, and it's affecting everything you've built. Do you really think this girl—this Ava—has what it takes to stand by your side in a world like ours?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Ava's not the problem, Mother. You're making it impossible for us to breathe. Why can't you just leave us alone?"

Elizabeth's gaze hardened. "Because I'm protecting you from a mistake that could ruin your future. She doesn't belong here, Ethan. You know it, even if you won't admit it."

Ethan stormed out, but her words stayed with him, echoing in his mind. The doubts Elizabeth had sown were starting to take root. He hated that he was beginning to question things, but with every new challenge that arose—both in his personal life and at work—those doubts grew stronger.

The real blow came later that week when Ava was called into a meeting with her university's administration. They informed her that her scholarship was under review due to allegations of misconduct. The accusations were vague but damaging: claims that she'd been receiving "undue assistance" from an influential benefactor—Ethan. Despite her protests and attempts to explain, they told her they would be conducting a thorough investigation. Until then, her scholarship was suspended.

Ava left the meeting in tears. She felt like the world was closing in on her. Everything she had fought for, everything she had worked so hard to achieve, was slipping away because of a woman who saw her as nothing more than a threat.

When she finally confided in Ethan, he was furious—not at her, but at his mother. He promised to fix everything, to clear her name and set things right. But Ava could see the weariness in his eyes, the way he was struggling to hold everything together. She worried that the strain was beginning to take its toll on him—and on their relationship.

But Elizabeth wasn't done. She had one more card to play.

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The suspense escalated when Ava received a message on her phone one evening. It was from an unknown number, and it sent a chill down her spine:

"You're out of your league. Walk away before you lose everything."

Attached was a photo of her sitting with Ethan at a recent event, surrounded by people who clearly didn't think she belonged. Ava's hands shook as she stared at the image. Whoever sent this message knew exactly how to get under her skin. But what scared her more was the realization that whoever was behind this was watching her, tracking her every move.

She debated telling Ethan but decided against it. He was already dealing with enough, and she didn't want to add to his burden. But as the days passed, the pressure mounted, and she found herself questioning whether staying in this fight was worth it.

One night, while she was walking home from work, Ava noticed a car following her at a distance. Her heart raced as she quickened her pace, but the car matched her speed, keeping its distance but never leaving her sight. Panic clawed at her chest, and she darted into a nearby convenience store, hoping to lose whoever was trailing her. When she emerged minutes later, the car was gone, but the fear remained.

That night, as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Ava realized just how dangerous this situation had become. Elizabeth wasn't just trying to push her away—she was waging a calculated war, using every resource at her disposal to drive her out of Ethan's life.

And as much as Ava wanted to fight back, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was a battle she was destined to lose.

The chapter ends with a sense of foreboding. Ava knows she's walking a tightrope, and one wrong step could send everything crashing down. But she's not ready to give up—not yet. The suspense lingers as readers are left wondering how far Elizabeth is willing to go, and whether Ava has the strength to withstand the storm that's only just beginning.