chapter 1

The Hale Estate glittered under golden chandeliers, every corner filled with guests dressed in their finest. Ava Hale stood near the marble staircase, holding a champagne glass she hadn’t touched. The charity gala was supposed to be a peaceful evening—fundraising for the community hospital, her mother had insisted. But Ava knew better. When her family hosted an event, it always ended in tension, especially if the Cross family was present.

And they were.

Her eyes landed on him immediately. Ethan Cross. Tall, sharp-eyed, with that smug expression that made her blood boil. He was standing by the piano, speaking with two investors, his voice smooth and charming. Ava hated how people seemed to lean in when he talked, as if his words were silk. She took a sharp breath and muttered, “Of course he’s here. Like a cockroach.”

“Careful, Ava,” her cousin whispered beside her. “He might hear you.”

“I hope he does,” Ava snapped, lifting her chin. “The Crosses thrive on drama. Let him enjoy a little more.”

As if fate wanted to test her patience, Ethan’s gaze flicked across the room and locked with hers. That infuriating half-smile curved his lips—the one he always wore when he knew he’d gotten under her skin. Ava turned away quickly, but her heart was already hammering. She told herself it was anger, nothing more.

Minutes later, he was at her side. “Miss Hale,” Ethan said smoothly, his tone dipped in mockery. “Always a pleasure to see you glaring at me across the room. Your eyes practically sparkle with hatred.”

Ava forced a polite smile for the guests around them. “Mr. Cross, I didn’t realize the guest list was so… inclusive. Are they letting anyone in these days?”

Gasps and muffled laughter erupted from those nearby. Ethan’s grin widened. “Oh, don’t worry. I won’t take offense. You Hale women always did have a sharp tongue. Though I must admit…” He leaned closer, his voice dropping low enough that only she could hear. “…it’s quite entertaining when you aim it at me.”

Her grip tightened on her glass. She wanted to throw it in his face, but instead, she stepped forward, closing the space between them. “If you think for one second that you can ruin this night, you’re wrong. My family doesn’t crumble because of cheap insults.”

“Crumbled already, didn’t it?” Ethan murmured back, eyes glinting. “Why else would your father’s empire need constant saving?”

The words struck like a blade. Ava’s cheeks burned with fury, but before she could unleash her retort, her mother appeared, smiling nervously at the crowd. “Ava, darling, perhaps you should check on the silent auction table.”

Translation: cause no scene.

Ava set her glass down hard and brushed past Ethan, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her flustered. But his voice followed her, soft and taunting: “Until next time, princess.”

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Later that night, away from the gala lights, Ava slipped into the garden for air. The moonlight painted the hedges silver, and the faint music from inside barely reached her ears. She pressed her palms against the cool stone railing.

Why did Ethan always manage to get under her skin? She had been trained her whole life to carry the Hale name with grace, to never let emotions win. Yet, whenever Ethan Cross was involved, her composure shattered.

She heard footsteps behind her. She spun, ready to unleash fury, but stopped when she saw him again.

“You,” she hissed.

“Me,” Ethan said, strolling casually as if he owned the place. “Don’t look so horrified. I just came for fresh air.”

“Go somewhere else. The garden isn’t big enough for both of us.”

He smirked, leaning against the railing opposite hers. “Funny, I was just thinking the same. But here we are. Rivals under the moonlight. Almost poetic.”

Ava folded her arms. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you,” he said easily, “are predictable. Always on edge when I’m around. Tell me, Ava—do you hate me because I’m a Cross, or because I remind you that you’re not as perfect as you pretend to be?”

Her breath caught, anger surging through her chest. “Stay out of my way, Ethan. I don’t have time for your games.”

“Oh, but you always make time,” he murmured, stepping closer. “Every glare, every retort—you play my game without realizing it.”

For a moment, they stood too close, eyes locked, tension thick in the air. Ava hated that her heart betrayed her with an uneven beat. She turned quickly, storming back toward the hall. “Enjoy your night alone, Cross.”

Ethan stayed behind, watching her go. His expression shifted the second she disappeared—his smirk fading into something more serious. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a slim black phone.

A quiet voice came through the line. “Status?”

“She’s fine,” Ethan said softly, his voice stripped of mockery. His eyes lingered on the doors Ava had disappeared through. “No threats tonight. I’ll keep watching.”

“Good. Stay close. She can’t know the truth yet.”

“Understood.” Ethan ended the call, sliding the phone away. For a moment, he let out a long breath, his gaze lifting to the moonlit sky.

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