Time of the Avenger

lmost surreal serenity was under-planned: soft whirring of the engine and scented breeze flowed through the open wi

out of a dream," Sophie murm

than said warmly. "No boardroom

s told her this weekend could be one of the most important in her life. But as much as she endeavored to focus on her purpose, her preoccupation was aurally disarming. Ethan's kind

eard it in his voice, felt it in the way he looke

Vi

of blended in with the landscape. Inside, the house had warmth, housed an impression of ancien

phie praised, following

ught it when Hayes Industries was a small company. He always said i

gaze, Sophie turned to him. "

ucting something that would outlive him and not just in busines

who spoke so warm-heartedly of love and integri

s Cla

with the view of the horizon smeared in orange and pink. Etha

said, "I don't

Sophie as

contemplative. "When you grow up in a family like min

already exploiting that trust, using it as a weapon in her quest for revenge. B

e, trusting me," she

Sophie. You don't hold back with me; you're not afraid to challeng

wanted to believe he was just another rich man who needed to be brought do

s Inner

her bedroom, looking into the moonlit outskirt

me into Ethan's life with the sole intent-finding him, destroying him. Maki

s kind, funny, and candid in his affections for her. And, oh Go

s ruin, her family's agonies-this was not something she coul

not steel. Oh,

ornin

th chatter and laughter floating through the crisp morning air. At the top, Eth

his elaborate," Sophie teas

impress you,"

, then her smile faltered. "Th

ment with warm wind stirring in the t

nly serious, his tone steal

up, her hea

tinued, "but I feel like I've known you forever. Just

yelled at her to stop before it could go

ning

der a tent of stars, he t

he said softly, "but I think

her hands away, tell him the truth, and cast him aside before thei

dered herself. Until I ca

the right words. "I do care f

d pulled her into his arms. While resting o

st time, she was uncerta

e

hind her. She was so furious that her face was a cast of

ed, her voice grating with

red that you spent a whole week with Ethan Hayes - that sonofabitch - the same guy who de

. "Clara, it's not what you thin

falling for him? Because you have forgotten everything he has done? Or maybe becau

ack, sharp in tone. "You don't re

to the air. "Tell me how you can even stand to be near him, much less sp

e's S

Clara, I went there to get close to him. To understand him. To fig

u're not investigating him, Sophie. You're falling for him! Your eyes are showing it,

said Sophie, though

ll me you don't have feelings for him or that your stomach doesn't we

ouldn't deny the spark she felt around Ethan, but she c

d finally. "Ethan... he's not enti

rowing. "What the hell is

t I've been digging into the past, and I've discovered t

evela

er's not innocent in all this; he made risky deals, leveraged costs he couldn't afford to lo

ock. "Now you're saying your

things aren't as simplistic as we thought. Ethan didn't plan it all out. He played

in your father's business partner? The o

o set him up. He manipulated the deals and siphoned money from the compan

is? You actually believe Ethan's excuses? He probabl

found the evidence myself: Emails, documents,

Fiery

. So what if Alex had a hand in it? That vanished Ethan's guilt. He s

rld is not quite so black and white as we painted it. He's human, Clara.

backward to defend the man who destroyed everything you and your family stood for. Even if it were Alex, he

ike I do, Clara. He's not the villain i

to make money. That is not 'complex' at all. How you can still look at him and

Boili

put this all together, Clara. My father's death, Ethan's role in it, Alex's

g your judgment. You are so desperate to convince yourself that he is not

g. "You don't know how it feels to carry this weight. To sho

n who helped destroy your family?" fired back Clara

ed. "If you cannot know what I am going through, perh

with clear vision. You are betraying your father's memory, Sophie. And

ast G

bag and marched out

" Sophie crie

en you finally wake up, and realize what a fool you have be

silence in the apartment. She shuddered under the weigh

for what? A man she wasn't even

every conflicting emotion. She knew Clara was wrong about some