Chapter 2

The modest funeral was over.

Ava returned to the Hamptons estate, a place she' d once thought beautiful, now just another part of her gilded cage.

Music pulsed from the pool area.

Laughter, splashes.

She found Ethan lounging by the water, Chloe draped over a nearby chaise, a new, nameless model giggling at something Ethan said.

He saw Ava, his eyes cold.

"Ah, the grieving widow returns," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Chloe smirked.

Ava ignored them, heading for the house.

"Not so fast, Ava."

Ethan rose, blocking her path. He held a small, ornate urn. Not the simple one she'd chosen for David.

"I had your brother exhumed," he said, his voice casual, as if discussing the weather. "This is a much finer vessel, don't you think?"

Ava froze. "What?"

"His ashes," Ethan clarified, swirling the urn slightly. "From that pathetic little plot you found. I thought we could keep him closer. Unless, of course, I decide to scatter them. The wind is good today."

Her breath caught. "You wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?" His smile was predatory. "Your father destroyed mine, Ava. He pushed him to suicide. Did you think I'd forgotten? This is just a small taste of what he deserves, through you."

He gestured to Chloe. "Chloe is thirsty. Get her a drink, Ava. And smile. You wouldn't want David to... drift away, would you?"

Chloe held out her empty glass, her eyes gleaming with malice.

She was live-streaming on her phone, pointed directly at Ava.

"Say hi to my followers, darling," Chloe purred.

Ava' s hands clenched. The humiliation was a physical weight.

She took the glass.

She poured the drink.

She served Chloe, the camera capturing every moment.

Online, the comments would be brutal. She knew it. "Gold-digger." "Pathetic." "Serves her right."

Ethan watched, a satisfied glint in his eyes. This was his revenge, playing out in real time.