Ava’s POV

The phone rang, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts. Orion’s name flashed across the screen, and for a moment, I debated letting it go to voicemail. My fingers hovered over the answer button, but I couldn’t bring myself to press it. Not yet. My mind was a battlefield of emotions—anger, confusion, betrayal, and something else I didn’t want to admit.

What if this was a trap? What if answering his call meant walking straight into the jaws of whatever scheme he was tangled up in? But what if it wasn’t? What if this was my chance to finally get answers?

But curiosity, anger, and the faintest sliver...