CHAPTER FOURTY-THREE

Ethan took Ava to his house and settled her into one of the rooms. He made sure she had everything she needed in case she woke up hungry. After dinner, he went to his room to watch TV.

Ava woke up in the middle of the night, disoriented. She stood up, feeling heavy-headed, and stumbled out of the room. When she saw familiar surrounding, her eyes widened in surprise.

Ethan emerged from his room, finding Ava in the hallway. She put on a tough facade. "What am I doing here? How did I get here?"

Ethan approached her calmly. "Calm down, I can explain everything."

But Ava cut him off. "No, no, no! Don't tell me. I'm leaving this place."

As Ava tried to walk away, Ethan held her hand. "I swear, I'm really sorry, Ava. I know I shouldn't have taken on the contract to kill. I know you're angry at me."

Ava's expression turned cold. "You're sorry? You're sorry for being the Shadow Killer? For taking lives? Do you know what that means? You could get life imprisonment."

Ethan's eyes locked onto Ava's, his expression somber. Ava continued, her voice laced with emotion. "Do you know how I feel, holding back and not telling everyone that I've found the Shadow Killer – the person I love?"

Ethan knelt down, his eyes locked onto Ava's. "Truly, I didn't come to the police station with clean intentions. But later on, I discovered those intentions fading, and I fell in love with you. I swear, when we started talking, I felt I should stop everything because of my love for you. That's what I did, Ava. I'm really sorry."

Ethan stretched his hand, holding Ava's. Ava's thoughts drifted, enjoying the emotional display.

"I swear, I'm deeply sorry for deceiving you," Ethan repeated.

Ava's voice trembled. "Of course, you deceived me. You deceived everyone. Now, tell me, how do you want me to tell them? How do you want them to take the news that you're the Shadow Killer?"

Ethan stood up, holding Ava's hand. "I understand. You were running away from me, and I felt down, planning to leave tomorrow. But then I saw you being assaulted by a stranger."

Ava's eyes widened. "I was assaulted?"

Ethan nodded. "Yes, and if not for me, you would have probably been kidnapped, and I wouldn't have known."

Ava's gaze softened.

Ethan's voice filled with conviction. "Ava, I promise to be a better person for you. I don't want to be the Shadow Killer anymore. I don't want to be a danger anymore. I want to be Jerome, the love of your life. I don't mind paying for my sins; I just want to be a better person for you."

Tears rolled down Ava's cheeks as she reached out for Ethan. They hugged, holding each other tightly.

Ethan whispered, "Have you forgiven me?"

Ava, still tearful, nodded. "Yes, I've forgiven you."

Ethan smiled, relieved. "Why don't you just come to my room with me?"

Ava hesitated, but Ethan reassured her. "Come on, just come."

In Ethan's room, Ava asked, "Besides, how are you going to reveal that you're the Shadow Killer?"

Ethan thought for a moment. "I don't know... maybe you can just put something out there that would expose me, and I'll be arrested."

Ava disagreed. "No, I think you should just announce it. You should go to the station and tell them. That way, your sentence will be lighter."

Ethan was uncertain. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Ava encouraged him. "Come on, just do this for me, for us. The faster you do this, the better. When you come out, we can get married and start a family."

"Instead I will give you all evidence I have,go to the station to expose it" ethan said and ava nodded.

Ava looked at Ethan and asked, "So, should I keep calling you Ethan?"

Ethan smiled. "Maybe you should call me Jerome."

Ava nodded, "You know, I prefer Jerome. Jerome is a nice name... wow, Jerome the Shadow Killer. But how did you manage to be so mysterious?"

Jerome chuckled. "Let's just say I'm skilled."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're skilled."

Jerome's eyes locked onto ava's and they shared a passionate kiss. They made out, lost in the moment, their love strong despite the secrets and danger that had brought us together.

The next morning, Jerome prepared breakfast,ava ate to her satisfaction, took some pictures of Jerome's victims and headed to the station.

After submitting the photos, Ava gathered the detectives and made a shocking announcement. "I've found out that the Shadow Killer was among us all this time. He was a friend to us, but we never knew."

Ryan looked wondering what she was up to, but Ava dropped the bombshell. "The Shadow Killer is none other than ethan, who worked here."

The detectives gasped, shocked to their core. Chief Michaels was stunned. "What are you talking about? Are you crazy?"

Ava presented the evidence, her voice firm. "I admit I love him, but that doesn't mean I'll cover up for him. He must face the law and pay for his crimes. I hope his sentence will be light."

Thompson asked, "How sure are you about this?"

Ava replied, "I visited him, saw the evidence, and he admitted to it."

Chief Michaels shouted, "What are you waiting for? Send officers to arrest him now! How dare he deceive us all!"

Hours later, ethan was arrested and taken to the interrogation room. Chief Michaels,ava,Thompson, and other detectives were present.

Chief Michaels' expression was one of disappointment. "So, you were among us, and you decided to deceive us. What did you gain from what you did?"

Jerome spoke calmly. "First of all, I am not Ethan. My name is Jerome."

One of the detectives nodded. "I had a feeling there was something mysterious about you, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it."

Thompson asked, "Why did you decide to do this? You know how we've searched for you, the pain you've caused, the lives you've taken?"

Jerome shrugged. "I got contracts to kill. It's not my fault."

Chief Michaels' eyes narrowed. "What contract? From whom?"

Jerome revealed, "I got contracts from Victor and Julian, the CEO of TM Corporation. I killed because I was paid to."

The room fell silent, then Chief Michaels ordered, "Officer James, take some men and arrest Julian and Victor now."

The detectives were stunned, unsure of what to say. The room erupted into chaos, with everyone talking at once. Some female detectives exclaimed, "Oh my god, the most handsome detective in the station was the Shadow Killer! Who would have thought?"

The commotion was too much, and the detectives eventually left the interrogation room, leaving Ava and Jerome alone.

Ava reassured Jerome, "Don't worry, I promise to get you a good lawyer. You'll be fine, and your sentence will be light."

Jerome smiled faintly, a hint of relief in his eyes. "You know what, Ava? I'm just happy to face judgment and come out a better person."

Ava smiled back, nodding in understanding.