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