The boardroom was too quiet.
Ares Knight sat at the head of the glossy obsidian table, elbows on the armrest, fingers steepled under his chin. His board of directors sat scattered across the room, each one waiting for the axe to fall — because when Ares summoned them this urgently, someone always bled.
But this wasn't about numbers or market share.
This was personal.
"I want a full security audit," Ares said, voice clipped. "Internal and external. If Liam Voss has so much as brushed a doorknob in one of my buildings, I want to know."
His CFO, a graying man named Trevor Holt, cleared his throat. "Sir, Voss is just a tech dropout. Why the escalation?"
Ares's eyes burned with fury. "Because he's targeting my wife."
That word — my wife — rang through the room like a territorial growl.
No one dared respond.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, Ava sat in a studio with her best friend, Marcie Bell, doing damage control the way she always had — with charm and calculated vulnerability.
"This is Ava Knight, wife of the infamous billionaire Ares Knight," the interviewer purred, "and fashion designer behind the breakout brand Curz & Co. Tell us, Ava, what's it really like being married to one of the world's most talked-about bachelors?"
Ava gave a soft laugh, eyes sparkling. "Well, he doesn't leave the toilet seat up, if that's what you mean."
The audience chuckled, but Ava's smile faltered when a photo flashed on the screen — her and Liam Voss, younger and smiling.
"This photo surfaced yesterday," the host said. "Care to comment?"
Marcie sat upright.
Ava's fingers clenched in her lap. But she didn't break.
"Everyone has a past," she said coolly. "But I married Ares Knight because we believe in the same future. That man doesn't exist to me anymore."
She smiled for the camera — but behind her teeth was steel.
---
Back at Knight Mansion, Ares watched the interview from his office, pride and something else blooming in his chest.
He didn't like the way her voice trembled at Liam's name. But he liked how she stood her ground.
"She's tougher than she looks," Harriet said from the doorway.
Ares didn't look away. "I know."
"Then tell her how you really feel."
He finally turned to her. "It's not that simple."
Harriet raised an eyebrow. "You're Ares Knight. Everything's simple for you—until it involves feelings."
Ares's phone buzzed. A message from his private investigator:
> Voss traced to an abandoned tech lab in Jersey. Linked to stolen AI prototypes and offshore accounts. Shall we intercept?
Ares typed back: Do it. Quietly. And don't let Ava know.
Because she'd been through enough.
But even he didn't know — Ava was already on her way there.
---
Jersey – The Ghost of Innovation
The warehouse smelled like rust and old electricity. Ava had changed into a black trench coat, her hair tied up in a bun, and a small pistol hidden in her purse.
She didn't believe in waiting for rescue anymore.
She crept past a half-closed door and froze.
Liam stood there.
His hair was longer, face leaner, but the same smug smile twisted his mouth. "You came."
She lifted her chin. "I want to know what you want."
Liam stepped into the light. "You used to know what I wanted, Ava. Before you betrayed me."
"You betrayed me, Liam. You used me. Stole from me. Lied to me."
He looked hurt. "We were building something—until you destroyed it."
Ava's voice hardened. "I didn't destroy it. I exposed it. You were scamming people!"
He laughed, low and bitter. "You still don't get it. This world isn't about rules. It's about leverage."
"And what's your leverage now?" she asked.
Liam reached into a drawer and pulled out a thumb drive.
"I hacked into Knight Enterprises' upcoming product launch files. One leak, and their stock plummets."
Ava's heart pounded. "Why would you do this?"
"Because you need to know I'm still smarter than you. And because I want to watch Ares Knight crumble — while you stand by and realize you picked the wrong man."
---
Suddenly, a gun cocked behind him.
"Too bad she didn't."
Ares stepped into the room like a storm, flanked by two private security men.
Liam turned slowly. "Well, well. The knight himself."
Ares's expression was cold as ice. "Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"
"You have no jurisdiction here."
Ares took a step forward. "But I do have money. And friends in the kind of places you used to scam. You're done, Voss."
Liam's confidence cracked, just for a second.
Ava moved to Ares's side.
He glanced at her. "You okay?"
She nodded. "I came here to finish this."
Ares looked at Liam. "Then do it."
Ava pulled out her phone and played an audio file — their entire conversation, recorded.
Liam lunged, but the security team pinned him.
"I'll ruin you!" he spat.
Ares leaned down. "Get in line."
---
Later That Night – Knight Mansion
Ava sat in front of the fireplace, legs tucked beneath her, staring at the flames.
Ares brought her a cup of tea and sat beside her.
"You didn't have to come," she said softly.
"I did."
She met his eyes. "Why?"
He didn't look away. "Because somewhere between faking our smiles and playing house… I started to care."
Her breath caught.
Ares placed the cup on the table and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
"I don't know what this is yet," he said. "But I'm not letting you go. Not now. Not ever."
Ava leaned in, their foreheads touching.
And for once, the silence between them wasn't a lie.
It was a promise.