Chapter 7 No.7

Ava's mind went blank.

The scene she had dreamed of countless times was happening for real.

Ethan's rough hand moved to her chest. She flinched as if electrocuted, struggling to push him away.

Ethan! she cried out, but his caress only grew more insistent.

Chloe, be good, he murmured, his voice thick with desire. The words were like a thunderclap in her ears.

He was mistaking her for Chloe.

He carried her into her room and pushed her onto the bed. The shock brought her back to her senses.

I'm Ava! she screamed, her voice raw with anguish. "I'm not Chloe!"

Ethan froze. He looked at her with drunken eyes, then pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, but made no further moves.

She tried to get up, but his hoarse voice stopped her. "Don't go."

Was he asking her to stay, or the woman he thought she was?

He closed his eyes and fell asleep. She felt powerless, unable to escape the prison of his arms.

Her head throbbed, and exhaustion finally claimed her.

The next morning, she opened her eyes to see Ethan standing by the bed, looking down at her with an unreadable expression.

Why are you in my bed? he demanded.

Ava's face flushed red. She wanted to explain, but he cut her off.

I don't care what you were thinking, he spat, his voice laced with disappointment and disgust. "If this happens again, you can pack your bags and move to the dorms for good."

She swallowed all her explanations and simply apologized. Even if she told him the truth, he wouldn't believe her.

Five more days. Then she would be in New York, and she would disappear from his world forever.

She got up and pulled her disheveled clothes tightly around her as she walked out of the room.

Just as she opened the door, she ran into Chloe coming up the stairs.

Chloe's eyes widened in shock. "Why are you coming out of Ethan's room?"

Ava's face turned pale. She avoided Chloe's gaze and fled back to her own room.

Chloe followed her in, her eyes sharp and scrutinizing. "What did you do with Ethan?"

She accused her, "You shameless bitch. You climbed into his bed while he was drunk."

Ava's head was bowed. Any explanation felt feeble.

Don't even try to deny it, Chloe snapped. "We had a fight, and you saw your chance, didn't you?"

She warned her, "If you ever do something so disgusting again, I'll make sure you get kicked out of this house forever." She slammed the door and left.

Ava slid down the wall, all the strength drained from her body.

Ethan's accusations and Chloe's warnings felt like an invisible hand, squeezing her heart.

Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. The emotions she had suppressed for so long finally broke. She covered her mouth and sobbed.