Chapter 6: Hidden Agendas

Ava's eyes locked onto Ethan's, searching for answers. She wanted to believe that he was genuine, that he wasn't hiding anything from her. But the doubts lingered, refusing to be silenced.

"Ethan, what's going on?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What secrets are you keeping from me?"

Ethan's expression changed, a subtle shift from concern to calculation. "Ava, I've told you everything," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "You're just paranoid because of the whisper in your ear."

Ava's instincts screamed at her to push him further, to demand the truth. But something in Ethan's eyes made her hesitate. Was it a warning or a threat?

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking the tension. Ethan glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing. "I need to take this," he said, his voice curt.

Ava watched as he walked away, his shoulders tense. She felt like she was caught in a web of lies and deceit, with no escape in sight.

As she stood there, a faint noise behind her made her spin around. A piece of paper on the floor caught her eye, a note scribbled in hasty handwriting:

"Meet me at the old oak tree in the garden at midnight. Come alone."

Ava's heart raced as she recognized the handwriting. It was the same as the note she had found in her bag earlier.