Suddenly, almost without realizing it, Ava found her fingers intertwined with Ethan's—his grip firm yet gentle, like a silent promise.
Together, with an effortless grace, the two of them stepped into the elegantly lit living room, where the golden afternoon light filtered through sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on everything it touched.
Their entrance was magnetic, commanding the attention of every eye in the room.
For a brief, breathless moment, his entire family stood frozen, captivated by the sight of them.
All except Mason—Ethan's father—who sat rigidly in the corner, his eyes narrowed and unreadable.
His gaze wasn't just cold; it was analytical, almost like a seasoned chess player scrutinizing his opponent's next move. It was clear he wasn't ready to accept what he was seeing.
"Well, if it isn't the stars of the day," Rebecca quipped with a bright smile as she rose from her seat, her tone playful but tinged with genuine warmth.
Amelia followed suit, a sparkle of delight in her eyes as she approached. Without hesitation, she reached forward and gently cupped Ava's cheek, her expression softening as if she were gazing at a rare flower in full bloom.
In that moment, Ava's ethereal beauty seemed to steal the breath right out of the room, and even Amelia found herself briefly speechless, her eyes drifting between Ava and Ethan with something close to awe.
"My son," Amelia finally said, her voice filled with affectionate joy, "you've brought us a true gem."
The words landed deeply within Ava, warming her heart in a way she hadn't expected. A shy blush crept across her cheeks, and for the first time in what felt like ages, she allowed herself to bask in the sweetness of the moment—choosing not to think about her sister's betrayal.
Right now mattered more than anything else. She couldn't afford to lose—not again.
"I know, Mum," Ethan replied, his tone filled with a tender sincerity that made Ava's heart flutter despite her better judgment. He turned to her then, eyes full of adoration, and kept his hand securely around hers as he spoke with quiet conviction. "She's the most precious person in my life. I wouldn't trade her for anything—not fame, not ambition, not even time itself."
But instead of the fluttering butterflies she expected, Ava—Angel—felt a sudden tightening in her chest, a subtle ache that whispered of wounds not yet healed.
How could she accept these words from him?
Yes, he had changed. Yes, he stood here with everything he once claimed to want. But nothing he said could undo the pain he caused in the past.
Still, she had to stay in character. She had to play her role flawlessly. She couldn't afford to stumble now—not in front of them.
Forcing a smile, she responded with a poise that surprised even herself. "No, Ethan... I'm the lucky one to have you."
A chorus of gentle laughter and murmured admiration rippled through the room.
"What a perfect couple," Rebecca commented warmly, her words wrapping around them like a blessing.
"You know what, Mum?" Amelia began with a knowing look, her voice laced with amusement. "From the very first day Ethan started hinting at having someone special in his life, I had a feeling she'd be beautiful. But this—" she gestured toward Ava with admiration gleaming in her eyes, "—girl, you're absolutely heavenly."
Ava responded with a soft, polite smile—gracious on the surface, but just guarded enough to mask the storm of thoughts brewing within her.
Ethan chuckled gently, his tone calm but proud. "Alright, alright. Let's not get too carried away. I think it's time I officially introduce her to everyone."
But before he could continue, Ava gently turned toward him, her expression lit with a warm, practiced smile.
"No, darling," she said sweetly, her tone confident but affectionate. "You've already told me all about who my family is. Let me be the one to address them now."
Her words made Ethan pause, clearly impressed, and in that moment, Amelia let out a quiet, sincere gasp, overwhelmed with affection for the poised woman standing before her. She raised her hand to her lips, almost as if to hold back the sudden swell of emotion.
"Oh my," she breathed with wide eyes, heart fluttering with joy. "So you've already heard so much about us, my dear?"
Ava turned her gaze directly toward Amelia, her eyes soft and steady. With a gentle nod, she replied, "Trust me, there hasn't been a single day when Ethan hasn't spoken about you. He speaks of you with so much admiration... and that's why I already know—you're my mother-in-law."
The sincerity in her voice, the tender warmth of her smile, and the way she said it—like it was a title she wore with pride—touched Amelia deeply. A flush of joy spread across her face, and in that moment, her heart filled with an overwhelming sense of bliss.
"Yes, you're absolutely right," Amelia said warmly, nodding with a smile that reached her eyes.
Ava turned to Rebecca, who stood with quiet dignity, leaning gently on her cane. "And you," Ava said sweetly, "are his grandmother, Rebecca."
She smiled, genuine and affectionate, and then added with a playful glint in her eye, "Ethan's told me all about how you spoiled him endlessly when he was little. Honestly, I'm hoping to get a bit of that pampering myself, Grandma."
With a soft laugh, Ava slipped her arm from Ethan's and walked gracefully toward Rebecca. She tilted her head slightly, meeting the older woman's gaze with endearing sincerity.
Rebecca chuckled, visibly touched, and slowly raised her hand to gently cup Ava's cheek. "You're such a sweet girl," she said with warmth in her voice. "And of course, you'll get all the love this family has to offer."
But just as the atmosphere seemed to be filled with joy and unity, the tone in the room shifted in an instant.
"Well," came a low voice, sharp and deliberate, slicing through the air like a blade. "He must have also told you that we don't tolerate any nonsense in this family."
The words hit like a sudden chill, casting a heavy silence across the room.
For a moment, everyone froze—conversations halted mid-sentence, smiles faltered. The weight of that single line pulled all eyes to one corner of the room.
And there he was.
Mason.
He had risen from his seat, standing tall yet visibly tense, his expression stern and unreadable. For a while, he had listened in silence, holding himself back. But now, his restraint had run dry.
All heads slowly turned toward him, an unspoken tension thickening the air.
Then Ava turned, too—her calm demeanor still intact, though a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes. Their gazes locked, two forces suddenly drawn into a silent confrontation.
At that moment, for reasons she couldn't quite name, Angel felt her heartbeat quicken—hard, fast, almost deafening in her chest—as her gaze locked with his.
Mason Torres.
The name alone stirred something fierce and bitter inside her. This wasn't just Ethan's father—this was the man who, in ways both direct and subtle, had once played a pivotal role in the heartbreak that nearly shattered her.
The man who, with his silence and influence, had allowed the unraveling of her past—the man who stood by when everything went wrong.
And now, here she was. Standing tall, composed, and dressed in grace like armor. The same girl he might not have recognized back then… but now, she stood before him as the woman Ethan loved. The woman he intended to marry.
It was poetic, almost cruelly so.
Their eyes held for just a second too long—his stare sharp and assessing, hers steady but burning with memories she fought to bury.
She lifted her chin subtly, refusing to flinch under his cold scrutiny.
"I suppose," Angel said softly, voice calm but laced with something deeper, "that's what makes this family so strong… the unwillingness to settle for less than truth."
Her words hung in the air, quiet but cutting, and Mason's eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his mouth tightening in response. There was something unspoken between them, a buried history that neither acknowledged, but both felt vibrating just beneath the surface.