shadows and secrets

After the Brunch

Ava barely had time to breathe after leaving the charity brunch. The weight of their stares, their smug little smiles, still clung to her skin like an unwanted perfume.

She stepped into the Blackwood estate, her heels clicking against the marble floors, her mind replaying every whispered remark, every carefully veiled insult.

She expected silence—an empty house to retreat into, where she could gather herself before facing Damien again.

But he was already there.

Damien stood by the grand fireplace, a glass of whiskey in his hand, the amber liquid catching the dim lighting. He didn't turn when she entered, but she knew he had been waiting for her.

Ava hesitated before speaking. "Did you put me through that on purpose?"

He finally turned, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Through what?"

"You know exactly what."

His lips curled slightly, almost in amusement. "The brunch?" He took a slow sip of his drink. "That wasn't me, Ava. That was my mother. But I assume you handled yourself well, or else I would've heard about it by now."

Ava crossed her arms, her voice steady. "I did."

Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone before she could place it. He set his glass down and took a step toward her. "Good. But don't get comfortable."

Ava stiffened. "Meaning?"

Damien studied her for a long moment before replying, "This was only the beginning. My mother doesn't just test people once. She'll keep pushing until you either break… or prove you deserve to be here."

Ava swallowed, pushing back the frustration rising in her chest.

"I don't need to prove myself to her," she said.

Damien let out a quiet, humorless chuckle. "Then you really don't understand the world you married into."

His words stung more than she wanted to admit. But she refused to let him see it.

Instead, she lifted her chin. "And what about you? Do you think I deserve to be here?"

Damien's expression remained unreadable. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. But then, he stepped closer, his voice low.

"I think you need to stop asking for validation and start making them regret doubting you."

His words settled deep, igniting something inside her.

Ava took a breath and met his gaze head-on. "Then I guess I'll do just that."

---

Ava's Visit to Her Mother

The next morning, Ava slipped out of the Blackwood estate under the pretense of running errands.

In reality, she was going to see her mother.

The Cole family home was nothing compared to the Blackwood estate, but to Ava, it was still home. A small two-bedroom house, modest but filled with warmth, despite the lingering scent of old books and her mother's favorite herbal tea.

She knocked lightly before stepping inside. "Mom?"

"In here!" her mother's voice called from the kitchen.

Ava followed the sound, finding her mother at the stove, stirring a pot of soup. The sight of her—the familiar kindness in her eyes, the softness of her expression—made Ava's chest tighten.

"Ava, sweetheart," her mother said, turning to her with a smile. But then her eyes roamed over Ava, taking in the expensive coat, the polished shoes. Her smile faltered. "You… you look different."

Ava forced a laugh. "Do I?"

Her mother wiped her hands on a towel and turned to face her fully. "Yes. You do. And not just your clothes. There's something else…"

Ava swallowed, avoiding her gaze. "It's nothing. Just work keeping me busy."

Her mother frowned, reaching out to touch her cheek. "You're not in trouble, are you?"

"No!" Ava said quickly. Too quickly.

Her mother studied her for a moment longer before sighing. "Alright. I won't push. But you know you can tell me anything, don't you?"

Ava nodded, guilt gnawing at her. She had never kept secrets from her mother before. But how could she explain this? The marriage, the cold world she had stepped into, the battles she was already fighting?

Instead, she forced a smile. "Of course. Now, tell me about you. How have you been?"

Her mother sighed. "Same as always. Worrying about you."

Ava laughed lightly, but her heart ached.

She stayed for a while, listening to her mother's stories, eating the soup she made. But all the while, the guilt lingered.

Because the truth was, she didn't know how much longer she could hide the truth.

---

The Mysterious Encounter

By the time Ava left her mother's house, the sun was beginning to set. She walked down the quiet street, pulling her coat tighter around her.

But then—

She felt it.

That prickling sensation at the back of her neck. The kind that told her someone was watching.

She glanced over her shoulder, her heartbeat picking up.

At first, she saw nothing. Just the usual passersby, the distant hum of city life.

But then—

A figure.

Standing by the streetlamp, partially hidden in the shadows.

A man.

Dressed in a dark coat, his features obscured by the dim lighting. But there was something eerily familiar about him.

Ava's breath hitched.

Who was he? And why did it feel like he knew her?

She turned away quickly, her steps quickening.

By the time she reached the car waiting for her, she glanced back once more—

But the man was gone.

A chill ran down her spine.

Something wasn't right.

And deep down, she knew—

This wasn't the last time she'd see him.

The Warning

Later that night, Ava was alone in her bedroom at the Blackwood estate when a knock came at her door.

She opened it to find Caroline standing there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"Damien told you to be careful in this world, didn't he?" Caroline said quietly.

Ava frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Caroline stepped closer, her voice dropping.

"I'm talking about the fact that someone's watching you, Ava. And whoever it is… they're not doing it for fun."

Ava's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"

Caroline's eyes darkened.

"I mean, if you don't start being more careful, you might not make it out of this marriage alive."