The next morning, Ava sat at the dining table, newspaper in one hand and a cup of untouched coffee in the other. The article had gone viral. Not just gossip sites—but real media outlets. People weren't just whispering anymore; they were yelling.
"Carter Marriage: Business Deal or Real Love?"
"Ava Williams: Heiress or Pawn?"
"New Leaks Suggest Contract Marriage Between Billionaire and Broke Socialite."
Each headline sliced deeper than the last.
Jace entered, his phone glued to his ear, talking numbers and damage control. His eyes met Ava's for a brief second. He paused mid-sentence, mouthed "I'll fix this," and continued walking.
Ava didn't need fixing. She needed truth. And more than that—she needed control.
---
She dressed sharply that day—tailored black slacks, a cream blouse, and a blazer that made her look like someone you didn't cross. Her first stop was the Carter Enterprises PR office.
"I want to speak," she said to the head of media relations. "Publicly."
The woman looked shocked. "Mrs. Carter, that's not advised."
"I wasn't asking."
Later that evening, Ava posted a video.
Raw. Honest. Unapologetic.
"No marriage starts perfect," she began, her eyes steady on the camera. "Ours was unconventional. But it was real. It is real. If people want to know who I am, they don't have to ask tabloids. They can ask me."
The internet exploded.
Some praised her strength.
Some called her a liar.
But none could ignore her.
---
Jace watched the video from his office. He paused it halfway, leaning back, stunned.
"She's not just surviving," he murmured. "She's fighting."
He couldn't decide if he was proud, terrified, or completely in love.
---
That night, Ava entered his office. "How bad is it?"
He looked up. "The board's divided. Stockholders want my resignation."
"And what do you want?"
"You," he said simply.
She crossed to him. "Then we fight."
Jace stood and kissed her—deep, grounding, desperate.
"We make this marriage real on all fronts," she said. "We become a team."
---
The next week was a media circus.
Ava and Jace attended charity events, galas, business meetings—together. They made speeches, gave joint interviews, and stood shoulder to shoulder while the world decided if they were real.
At night, they collapsed into each other's arms—tired, aching, but alive.
One night, as they lay together, Jace whispered, "I never wanted you to become a warrior. But damn, you wear the armor well."
Ava smiled softly. "I was always a fighter. You just gave me something to fight for."
---
But not everyone was clapping.
Lena paced her penthouse, eyes blazing. She slammed her laptop shut, knocking over a glass of wine.
"Why won't they break?" she hissed.
A man stepped out of the shadows. "Because you underestimated her."
Lena turned. "Then maybe it's time we stop playing nice."
The man slid a folder onto the table.
Ava's photo was clipped to the front.
"She has a brother, doesn't she?" he asked.
Lena smirked. "She does now."
---
Meanwhile, Ava sat with Jace, reviewing foundation plans when her phone buzzed.
A message.
> "You don't know the full story. But your mother did."
Her blood ran cold.
"My mother?" she whispered.
Jace looked up. "What is it?"
She showed him the message.
He read it, then stood. "We need to go."
---
They drove to a private home on the outskirts of the city—a place Ava hadn't visited since she was a child.
"Your mother came here before she disappeared," Jace said. "She left something behind. Something I hoped you'd never need to see."
They entered the old cottage, and in the back room, behind a loose floorboard, was a box.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
From Ava's mother.
To her.
Ava opened one with trembling hands.
> "My darling Ava, If you're reading this, it means the truth has started to unravel. I never wanted this life for you. But secrets… they have a way of bleeding through time."
Each letter was more shocking than the last. Mentions of illegal dealings, betrayals, and a name Ava hadn't heard in years—Michael Blackthorne.
Her uncle.
Officially declared dead.
But her mother had feared he was alive.
And worse—active.
---
Jace took one look at the name and went pale.
"I know that name," he said. "He's not dead."
Ava turned to him. "Who is he?"
Jace clenched his fists. "He's the man your father betrayed. The man who started this all."
---
Suddenly, everything changed.
Their marriage wasn't just about business or scandal.
It was about survival.
And the truth was only getting darker.