Chapter 1 : First Impressions

Ethan’s hands were tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles pale as sunlight streamed through the windshield. He glanced at her again, unable to help himself. Ava sat beside him in the passenger seat, her soft curls falling over her shoulder, her lips tinted with a shade of pink that looked almost too perfect to be real. She had spent an hour getting ready, though she never admitted it, and the faint scent of her perfume was filling the small car with warmth. She was nervous but tried to hide it, her slender fingers twisting her bracelet as she stared out the window at the long driveway that led up to his family home.

“Relax,” Ethan said, reaching over to take her hand. His voice carried that easy calmness he always had, though the way he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles betrayed his own nerves. “They’re going to love you. Honestly, you’ll probably have them all wrapped around your finger in ten minutes.”

Ava smiled softly, her heart thudding in her chest. Meeting Ethan’s family felt like a big step, and she wanted everything to be perfect. She had fallen for him hard. His quiet strength, his warm laugh, and the way he always made her feel safe. She had never felt so certain about someone, and today felt like the beginning of something permanent.

The house came into view, a sprawling home with polished white pillars and a front porch that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover. Ava’s breath caught as Ethan parked the car. The house was larger than she expected, almost intimidating, with flowerbeds in full bloom and tall trees lining the edges of the yard. She smoothed her skirt nervously, wishing she had chosen a different outfit even though Ethan had told her she looked beautiful a dozen times already.

Ethan stepped out of the car first and came around to open her door, offering his hand. She took it, steadying herself as she stepped onto the driveway. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and freshly cut grass, and somewhere in the distance, she could hear the sound of a fountain.

Inside the house, laughter drifted from the living room. The moment they stepped through the door, they were greeted by Ethan’s mother, Claire. She was elegant, with warm hazel eyes and a smile that could light up a room.

“You must be Ava,” Claire said, pulling her into a gentle hug before Ava could even speak. “I have heard so much about you. Ethan has been smitten for months.”

Ava blushed, glancing shyly at Ethan. He grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his touch reassuring. Claire ushered them into the living room, where more family members were waiting. Ethan’s younger sister, Emily, jumped up from the couch, her excitement bubbling over as she hugged Ava too. Ava was surprised at how quickly she felt welcomed, the tension in her shoulders easing as Claire offered them drinks and Emily chatted away.

Then she felt it. A presence.

When Ava turned, her eyes met his.

In the corner of the room stood a man who seemed older than Ethan by at least a decade. He had broad shoulders, dark hair touched with streaks of gray at the temples, and eyes so sharp they seemed to see right through her. He wasn’t smiling, just watching with a quiet intensity that made her throat go dry.

“This is my uncle,” Ethan said, oblivious to the way Ava’s pulse quickened. “This is Victor Hayes.”

Victor stepped forward, his presence filling the room. He was dressed casually, but everything about him screamed wealth and power, from the glint of his watch to the way he carried himself with absolute confidence. When he extended his hand, Ava took it, startled by the strength of his grip and the way his eyes lingered on her face.

“Ava,” Victor said, his voice low and smooth, the kind of voice that lingered even after he stopped speaking. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Her lips parted slightly as she murmured a polite greeting, but there was something in his gaze that unsettled her. It was not rude, not obvious, but there was an intensity there that she could not ignore. She felt as if he was memorizing her, taking in every detail, from the curve of her lips to the nervous way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Victor’s smile deepened slightly, subtle enough that no one else noticed.

Ethan continued making introductions, but Ava could feel Victor’s attention like heat against her skin. She tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the warmth of the family, on Claire’s soft laugh, and Emily’s excited chatter. Yet every time she dared to glance toward Victor, she found his eyes already on her, calm and steady, as if he were quietly assessing her worth.

Dinner was lively and filled with stories about Ethan’s childhood, laughter echoing off the high ceilings. Ava tried her best to keep up with the conversation, smiling and nodding at every joke, every teasing remark. But every so often she would catch Victor watching her, and her heart would skip a beat. There was a weight in his gaze, a confidence she found both intimidating and alluring. She told herself she was imagining it, that he was simply being polite. Yet when their eyes met again and he offered her the faintest hint of a knowing smile, she felt a warmth in her cheeks that had nothing to do with the wine in her glass.

By the end of the night, Ava was certain of one thing: she had made a good impression on Ethan’s family. Claire hugged her warmly before they left, Emily gushed about how she already adored her, and Ethan held her hand all the way back to the car, his eyes shining with pride.

But as they drove away, Ava could still feel Victor’s gaze on her, as if he had branded her with it. She shivered slightly, though the night air was warm.

She told herself it was nothing. She told herself that she loved Ethan and that was all that mattered.

Yet, deep down, she knew she would not forget that look any time soon.

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