The Wife He Designed

ly resolve. Ava moved through her apartment like a ghost, the p

her father's death and his absence had taken a toll

ngs, not with sadness, but with

an – they were props from a play

r them to be di

man Ethan had tried to mold. Ava

ter, oblivious. He found her quieter, more di

ng her a velvet box. Inside, a diamond br

still thought material things c

she said, her voice fla

ss. He was already talking about a

e ground beneath his fe

domen was a reminder. One afternoon, a

r phone rang.

few days. Some family things.

, completely unaware of the devas

ated emotions – anger, pity

ked into the room, his eyes lightin

snatched the pho

His voice was eager, alive in a way Ava h

le face, her hand p

s with Olivia, his back to

tainty settling in. His pri

terthought, a

ed, but it was nothing compare

a satisfied smi

ering at the Hayes estate in the Hamptons this

an obligation,

Ava. For appearan

llow, his concern

o anger, no sadness. Just a vast, empty

nt was a shield, growi

the Hamptons on Saturday afternoon. The air

e charmer, was

ouse, he pressed a small, exquisi

d, his voice low. "A little

kening certainty, that this gift was chosen

ely the del

ingrained, so casual, it

d. She was thirty, an established international art

ee you. And Ethan." Her gaze lingered on

to Olivia, who feigned polite surprise, thoug

subtle currents running bene

detached observer of

a with the gift, usin

ut for you, Olivia

a piece Ava vaguely remembered Olivia admiring

ing," Olivia said, her eyes me

r of understanding

istory, a history that

intruder in the

and composed, t

nnounced to the gathered family. "Just tying u

a brief shadow crossing his face at

"This is truly special. It's the color of the Aeg

ed more at Ethan's memory

a small, t

ts," she said, her voice deliberately light

Ava, a curious expression in her eyes.

The gift wasn't from "us." It was from E

messenger, a ghos

membered Olivia's favorite wine, her preference for s

ced about shared meals in Euro

sed to eat bland, easily diges

ds, which Ethan had once fussed o

with delicacies, while A

k, a public display o

numbness solidifying in