Chapter 2

Ethan watched Ava from afar, learning her routines, her habits, her fears. He tailored their encounters to seem accidental, weaving his way into her life like a carefully constructed plot. He left books in her path, ones he knew she would pick up, strategically placing himself in the background of her world. One evening, as they chatted over a cup of coffee, he learned about her past heartbreaks. He played the perfect listener, subtly nudging the conversation to learn her vulnerabilities. But when an old flame resurfaces, his jealousy flares, and he begins to scheme.