51


    Mona''s eyes locked with Maxwell''s, a silent understanding passing between them. With urgency propelling her, she slipped into his car, Nigel at the wheel, ready to rush her to the hospital. As Mona disappeared from view, Maxwell turned to his brother, Gordon. His voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "Gordon, Mona is off-limits. Cross that line, and you might not live to regret it."


    The threat hung in the air, Maxwell''s hands casually in his pockets, exuding an aura of power that made Gordon''s blood run cold. This wasn''t the little brother he used to bully; this was someone dangerous.


    "You wouldn''t dare kill me, would you? Grandfather would never let you get away with it. I''m the eldest son of the Carter family. And you? You''re nothing but a bastard." Gordon sputtered, trying to mask his fear with bravado. But as Maxwell''s icy stare bore into him, Gordon felt sweat beading on his palms. The realization that this ''bastard'' might be capable of anything sent a shiver down his spine. "Kill you? I I wouldn''t t dirty my hands," Maxwell


    As if on cue, police sirens wailed in the distance, drawing ay in line, and you''ll livefortably. Step out of line... well, you''re wee to find out what happens."


    in the


    closer to deal with the ident scene.


    Nigel''s driving was steady and and smooth, maintaining a a constant speed. It wasn''t long before Mona reached the hospital, where she quickly made her way to Ava''s room.


    Meanwhile, Nigel''s steady driving soon brought Mona to the hospital. As she hurried towards Ava''s room, a familiar silhouette caught her eye-Soren Sterling, the man who had stolen Ava''s heart in her past life. Anxiety gripped Mona. Had Ava already met him in this life too?


    Before she could dwell on it, Mona reached Ava''s room. Through the open door, she saw Ava''s smile-innocent and naive, eerily reminiscent of how Mona herself once looked at Teddy in her previous life.


    Mona stood frozen in the doorway of Ava''s hospital room, a wave of fear and helplessness washing over her. Despite her second chance at life, was she still powerless to prevent Ava''s fate on the operating table? Mona


    sat by Ava''s hospital bed, her heart heavy with the weight of her knowledge. Ava''s pale face bore a smile, but Mona could only see the shadow of what mighte to pass. She gripped Ava''s hand tightly, as if she could anchor her friend to this safer present. "Ava, are you alright? How did this ident happen?" Mona asked, her voiceced with concern.


    Ava''s response was surprisingly cheerful. "It''s nothing serious, just a minor ident. I lost my phone after calling you, so I couldn''t reach out again."


    As Ava recounted the incident, Mona''s dread grew. The story was all too familiar-a kind stranger, apologetic and caring. When Ava mentioned Soren Sterling''s name, Mona''s worst fears were confirmed.


    "Ava,"


    Mona asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "who was the person who hit you?" Deep down, she already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from Ava''s lips.


    A soft blush crept across Ava''s cheeks, her eyes sparkling with a girlish shyness that made Mona''s heart ache. "The man who hit me was actually very kind. His name is Soren Sterling."


    Soren Sterling. The name echoed in Mona''s mind, each repetition like a hammer blow. Her grip on Ava''s hand tightened unconsciously as memories of a future she desperately wanted to prevent flooded her thoughts. Soren Sterling-the man with the gentle facade and a heart of darkness.


    Uo. 18 Tue, Oct 24


    "Mona, what''s wrong? You''re hurting me!" Ava''s voice cut through Mona''s spiraling thoughts.


    3


    Instead of loosening her grip, Mona raised their sped hands, bringing them eye-level between them. Her gaze locked onto Ava''s, intense and unwavering. "Ava, do you trust me?" /4%1


    Ava nodded, her trust in Mona unwavering. They had been friends since childhood; if she couldn''t trust Mona, who could she trust?


    Mona swallowed hard, her voice urgent and tinged with fear. "Ava, if you trust me, stay away from Soren. He''s not a good man. If you get involved with him... you''ll end up dead."


    Ava''s initial reaction wasughter, the warning so unexpected and extreme. But as she met Mona''s intense gaze, theughter died in her throat. "Mona... are you serious?"


    "Do you think I''d joke about something like this?" Mona''s eyes never left Ava''s, conveying the gravity of her words.


    In that moment, áva understood. This wasn''t a joke. She nodded slowly, "Okay."


    Mona gripped Ava''s hand tighter. "I mean it, Ava. Soren may seem nice now, but he''s dangerous. He will hurt you. Badly."


    Ava felt torn. Mona''s words had shaken her, but it was hard to reconcile them with the kind man she had just met. Still, she trusted Mona implicitly.


    Seeing that her warning had take


    taken root, Mona felt a small measure of relief. She was about to inquire further when her phone rang shrilly.


    It was ra, her voice panicked and tearful. "Mona, something terrible has happened our studio is on fire!"ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Mona''s hand trembled as: as she


    I her phone, ra''s panicked voice still ringing in her ears. The studio was on fire. Her mind raced to the dress she had poured her heart and soul into, the one that was nearlyplete after days of tireless work. Press? Mona asked, her voice quavering. "The dress- s-what happened to the to the dress ra''s response hit her like a punch to the gut. "Arge part of it burned, along with the fabric we bought. What are we going to do, Mona? Artemis is supposed toe in and pick her dress any day now."


    Mona nced at Ava, torn between her friend''s


    wellbeing and and the


    crisis at her studio. Ava, sensing Mona''s dilemma, urged her to go. "I''m okay. This is your chance-don''t let it slip away." With a heavy sigh, Mona made her decision. "Are you at the studio, ra? I''m on my way."


    "Yes,


    After


    I''m here. I''ll be waiting for you, Mona," ra replied, her voice trembling.


    exchanging a few hurried words with Ava, reassuring her friend that she''d be back soon, Mona rushed out of the hospital room. In the elevator, her fingers flew across her phone screen as she messaged Maxwell about the fire at The Designscape. She informed him that she was about to take a taxi to the studio.


    Maxwell''s response came almost instantly, lighting up her phone screen: [I''m right downstairs at the hospital. I''lle with you.]


    What Mona didn''t know was that Maxwell had already been on his way to the hospital. After dealing with the aftermath of Ava''s car ident, he had instructed Nigel to drive him there.