09/04/2026
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐
๐ 10 โ ๐ป๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐
The days after the engagement felt unreal.
Ava moved through them like a ghost in her own life.
Meetings.
Fittings.
Public appearances.
Every detail of the wedding was being decided for her.
Every smile she gave felt rehearsed.
Every wordโฆ empty.
The final straw came quietly.
Not with shouting.
Not with anger.
But with a dress.
She stood in front of the mirror as designers adjusted the wedding gown around her.
White.
Perfect.
Heavy.
It clung to her like a promise she never made.
โYou look stunning, Miss Carter,โ one of them said.
Ava stared at her reflection.
She didnโt recognize the girl looking back.
Her phone buzzed softly.
A single message.
Unknown number.
But she knew.
She felt it.
โMeet me. Tonight.โ
No name.
No explanation.
Just him.
That nightโ
she went.
The digital world greeted her like it always did.
But tonight, it felt different.
Quieter.
Like it was waiting for something to break.
Alexander was already there.
No shadows this time.
No distance.
Just the truth standing in front of her.
For a momentโ
neither of them spoke.
Because there was too much to say.
And no safe way to say it.
โYouโre getting married.โ
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Ava swallowed.
โItโs not what you think.โ
A faint, bitter smile.
โThen tell me what it is.โ
She stepped closer.
Her composure cracking for the first time.
โItโs pressure. Itโs expectation. Itโs everything I canโt escape.โ
โAnd Iโm part of that too?โ
That question hurt.
Because she didnโt have an answer that wouldnโt.
โYou think this is easy for me?โ her voice broke slightly.
โYou think I donโtโโ
She stopped.
But it was already too late.
He saw it.
He heard it.
Everything she couldnโt say.
Alexander stepped closer.
Close enough that the distance between them felt meaningless now.
โThen donโt do it.โ
Simple.
Direct.
Impossible.
Ava shook her head, tears finally forming.
โYou donโt understand.โ
โThen make me understand.โ
Silence.
And thenโ
she broke.
โI am tired!โ
The words came out sharper than she expected.
Raw.
Real.
โTired of fighting everything! Tired of choosing between my family and myself!โ
Her voice trembled.
โTired of loving you in a world that wonโt let us exist!โ
The confession hung in the air.
Unavoidable.
Irreversible.
Alexander didnโt move.
Didnโt interrupt.
He just listened.
Because thisโ
this was the truth she had been holding back.
Her voice dropped.
Soft now.
Fragile.
โIโm losing everything, Alexanderโฆโ
A tear slipped down.
โโฆand I donโt know how to stop it.โ
That was it.
That was the moment.
He reached for her.
Not hesitant.
Not careful.
Just real.
His hand found hersโ
steadying the tremble she couldnโt control.
โThen donโt stop it alone.โ
Ava looked up at him.
Eyes filled with everything she was afraid to hope for.
โI meant what I said,โ he continued quietly.
โIf the world wants a warโฆโ
A pause.
His grip tightened slightly.
โโฆthen let it be a war.โ
For the first time in weeksโ
Ava didnโt feel trapped.
She felt seen.
But peace never lasts long in their world.
A notification flashed suddenly in the air around them.
A system alert.
Unusual.
Intrusive.
ACCESS BREACH DETECTED
Avaโs breath caught.
โThatโs never happened beforeโฆโ
A second laterโ
another presence appeared.
Uninvited.
Unwanted.
Daniel.
Standing at the edge of their world.
Watching them.
His expression was calm.
But his eyesโ
cold.
Sharp.
Knowing.
โSo this is where you disappear to.โ
Silence fell like a storm.
And just like thatโ
their one safe placeโฆ
was no longer safe.
